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Destination

Cuban vacations to discover the surprises close to you

18 Feb 2025

Cuba is the largest island nation in the Caribbean and has a number of smaller islands in its territory. So, you will find a number of beaches for your breaks here, either with a lot of other tourists or away from the crowd. This nation depends a lot on tourism for its economy and almost a third of them are Canadian. As for the Americans, they haven’t had a happy relationship with the Cubans, though there have been signs of improvement in recent years. You will certainly need a visa to get here and your government will expect you to follow their instructions about what you do here, in some cases you can even expect them to have some questions for you. But this doesn’t stop the adventurers from coming here for a holiday here.

Capturing your imagination

When most people think of Cuba, they think of the communist government and the world-famous cigars. You will also expect to see some vehicles of very old models that were used decades ago in most Western countries. Some of you may expect the secret police to follow you, but those days are long gone. Though known for a poor internet connection, with the right apps you will be able to do everything that you may want to do, including booking cabs to travel around. Your US cards may not work at the ATMs, so you can bring some dollars with you, which will be accepted by those involved in the tourism sector. Here we list some destinations and things to do that you can do while you are here.

The beaches

The islands here are located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. So, expect sands of different colors at different parts of this long but not too wide main island. At most of the beaches, you will have some arrangements to sunbathe with thatch umbrellas and wooden benches. At some of the beaches, you will be able to scuba dive too, to see the majestic sea creatures and swim with them. In recent years the government has been focusing on the environment, so they are trying to make your trip as eco-friendly as possible. You will also be able to spot a lot of flamingos at some beaches at the right time of the year.

The architecture

Cuba was a land of natives before the Spaniards established their colony here and now everyone here speaks Spanish. Apart from the language you will find many prime examples of colonial architecture in some colonial towns that still stand. The capital Havana has its own historic part, the Old Havana, where you will get to see the way many old large buildings. You will even find many old churches here and there will be streets with homes with different colors. This will give you plenty of opportunities to go for walks to admire the views around you. You may even find accommodation in hotels that have architecture from an era gone long by. Even some families will rent out a part of the property to you, and serve you all the meals. This will allow you to take a look inside the homes of the locals to take in the ambiance.

The greenery

This territory has a lot of mountains, forests, and plains covered with greenery. If you enjoy horseback adventures, the tour operators will take you or your group for a ride in the interiors of the islands. The mountains give hood hiking opportunities and as the tourism sector is still developing here you may be able to see some virgin territories. Cuba is famous for its cigars and like the rest of the Caribbean, the rum is a popular drink here. You will be able to see the farms and the whole process of their production. In the older days, the Spaniards brought slaves from Africa to work in the plantations, some of which are still in operation, though without slaves but with modern technology.

The cuisine

You will find good restaurants here no matter what city are you in. The popular ones will have good seating arrangements for you and you will be served the local cuisine, with all the items served together, allowing you to choose what you would prefer. The cuisine has evolved with the contact with European, American, and African cultures. Some of the eateries will be close to the sea and you can expect a lot of seafood on offer too. Yes, this country stayed away from the rest of the world for a long time, but you will find a few restaurants serving items from the international cuisine too. You will find plenty of bars here where you can enjoy the drinks mixed the Cuban way.

The dances

If you have come here, you would have heard of the local passion for music and dance. You will find people playing music on the streets with some youngsters dancing if they feel like it. There are clubs where you will be able to find professionals doing the same. This is the country where salsa was born and you will be able to find the performers in public spaces, apart from joining the dancing lessons, something that will impress your friends when you get back. There are other dance forms too that were invented here and have become popular the world over.

Conclusion

Western culture has influenced the cultures the world over, but Cubans have preferred to live their life their way. So, to see a part of the world that is very unlike the wealthy North American nations or the Latin countries, you can come here. But you must make sure that you have the right documents with you.

By FlightsChannel Team
Category
Featured Blog
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