10 Reasons to Visit Cuba this Year
Miles of white sand beaches, small tucked away towns, striking
architecture, clear blue waters and the best cigars in the world are all found
in the lovely country of Cuba. With an ease on travel restrictions for
Americans to this Island we have conjured up the top ten reasons you need to
visit Cuba this year. From tours of working tobacco farms to world heritage
sites to American classic cars that take you back to the 1950’s visitors will
feel as though they have stepped back in time when they enter this country. The
people of Cuba are really the treasure of this island with their lively
culture, beautiful creativity and welcoming hospitality. If you are a return
tourist to Cuba; you know just how amazing it is and perhaps this article will
uncover a few new things to discover. For the Cuba newbie’s; get ready to
explore how fabulous this country is with the top ten reasons to visit Cuba
this year.
10. Get There Before the Crowds
Traveling to Cuba got a little easier for Americans this year when
the Obama administration announced a thaw in relations between the two
countries. Besides reestablishing the American Embassy in Havana the Obama
Government has relaxed the travel restrictions to Cuba. Although at this time
Americans are still required to travel with a tour group, it is expected that
in the future they will have the same travel rights as everyone else into the
country. What does this mean for tourism? It means that more and more tourists
are going to discover this magical island and all that it has to offer. The
time to get to Cuba is now, before the crowds and before the country is forced
into losing some of their culture in order to please the tourists. Part of
Cuba’s charm is the lack of giant ritzy hotels, overcrowded beaches and
unauthentic restaurants. Cuba stands for authenticity and culture and friendly
people and the more tourists that visit the less likely that becomes. So why
visit Cuba this year? To get the true experience of an unforgettable country
that offers true genuine hospitality, breathtaking landscapes and incredible
people.
9. Oak Aged Rum
One of the most famous products to come out of Cuba besides
tobacco is the sweet delicious Rum. A country made rich by sugarcane it was
only a matter of time before the Cubans discovered that the thick sweet
molasses; a by-product of sugarcane could be used to make rum. Like the country
itself, the history of rum is long and tumultuous. In 1862 The Bacardi Rum
Company was formed and for almost a hundred years was the most well-known rum
in Cuba; that is until the Castro government seized all property and forced the
family into exile. Today the popular Havana Club is found everywhere on this
Island whereas Bacardi now operates out of Bermuda. The Mojito, The Cuba Libre
and the Daiquiri all originated in this country and can be found almost
everywhere you go. Finding the perfect and best one is a challenge a lot of
visitors choose to take. Visits to the Havana Club Rum Museum and the Factory
Bocoy are just a couple stops on any rum tour. The original Bacardi Rum Factory
still exists in Santiago de Cuba and although tours are not allowed inside, it
is worth a visit to the grand grounds for tastings and souvenirs. It would be a
travesty to leave Cuba without trying at least a few types of rums and is just
one more reason to visit this beautiful country.
8. Historical Heritage
Cuba is home to nine UNESCO world heritage sites; places that are
of special cultural or physical significance and therefore are protected and
preserved. This small country boasts sites throughout and some of these places
are special enough to make visitors come just for them. Old Havana and its
fortifications are at the top of this list with many historical landmarks,
interesting architecture and private restaurants on rooftops of mansions. San
Pedro de la Roca Castle in Santiago de Cuba is one of the most complete and
well-preserved Spanish-American defense fortifications and a stunning visual
fort that protected the port of Santiago. Desembarco del Granma National Park
is unique in that it is named for the Yacht that carried Castro and the others
to overthrow Fulgencio Batista. The park features beautiful cliffs, waterfalls
and terraces. The other six heritage sites are just as fascinating and well
educated travelers will delight in finding a country that offers an array of
sites in such a small area. Come to Cuba and cross nine more world heritage
sites off your bucket list!
7. Cigars
Cuba is often called the land of tobacco as tobacco is both grown
and harvested in several regions of the island. There’s little disagreement
that the best cigars in the world come from Cuba and even if you are not a
smoker the urge to find out how and why these cigars are so good is
overwhelming. The area of Pinar del Río is home to the country’s top tobacco
plantations; ironically enough the area is also one of the top eco-tourist
attractions of Cuba. The 2hr drive from Havana to Pinar del Rio will be well
worth it as you can tour a working tobacco plantation and puff on an authentic
cigar in Casa del Tabaco; a large welcoming cigar shop with something for
everyone. Visiting a cigar factory is a must and perhaps the best place to do
this is to head back to the city of Havana where you will come eye to eye with
the workers that spend their lives in these factories making each cigar
perfect. Tobacco has been and will continue to be a huge part of Cuba’s economy
and Cuba offers the chance for outsiders to experience a behind-the-scenes look
at how cigars are produced.
6. Music and Art
5. The Incredible Cars
Cuban
streets are literally filled with American style cars from the 1950’s. If you
love old cars Cuba is the place to go because the country is literally a
rolling car museum. Back in 1960 when Fidel Castro took power there was an
embargo put in place stopping all American imports into Cuba. Since then
innovative Cubans have been finding ways to keep their prized American classic
cars running. It is here where one will find an array of 1950’s convertibles
that have been scratched, bumped, painted and put back together. Lift the hood
of a Chevrolet and you might find a Russian built engine providing the power,
watch a Ford pass by with a Buick grill on the front; none of this out of the
ordinary. There are no junkyards in Cuba and everything that may have once been
junk has been turned into something useful on a car. The taxi drivers take
pride in keeping their vintage wheels looking good and visitors will often see
them shining up the trim and mirrors before picking someone up. The chance to
take incredible pictures and take a ride in a 1958 Oldsmobile convertible you
thought didn’t exist anymore is absolutely reason enough to visit Cuba this
year.
4. The Cuban People
Visitors
to this island often say that the people of Cuba made their trip complete; from
their outright friendly nature to their genuine hospitality it is hard to find
such welcoming locals. Cuba is unique in that it is not overrun with tourists
(yet) and perhaps that is why the locals are so willing to be open, honest and
genuinely happy to see the tourists who do make it here. From opening up their
houses to tourists to join them for a traditional seafood meal to jamming with
them on the beach they are truly one of a kind. Cuba is truly a melting pot of
different cultures and races accepting all sorts of different colors and creeds
without judgment and is an excellent example of how cultural diversity can
work. Through the hardships that they have faced these people still remain kind,
hardworking, friendly and welcoming. Expect to go to Cuba and make new friends,
hear about their lives and country and meet the entire family. If for some
crazy reason you don’t love the white sand beaches, the incredible music and
the interesting architecture; you will most definitely fall in love with the
people.
3. The Architecture
There is nothing boring about the architecture in Cuba as it
assumes a variety of styles, colors, ideas and backgrounds. It is much like the
melting pot of culture that makes up this country. In the early 16th century
Spanish settlers adopted their style of architecture to fit the climate and
lifestyle of Cuba; creating grand covered porches, metal bars over window
frames to allow the breeze in and multi color glass panes above doorways to
diffuse the sunlight. In the 19th century the neoclassic look was brought to
Cuba and throughout the island visitors will find traces of this style in
colonnaded avenues, lavished auditoriums and gold-leafed mosaics. Electric
architecture came to life in the 1920’s with Art Deco constructions, fairy-tale
palaces and mock mansions. Wherever you travel in Cuba, whichever towns and
cities you visit you are sure to be witness to more than one type of
architecture and that is the beauty of this country. Subjected to the eyes of
the artist; this mix of styles makes Cuba what it is today.
2. The Small Towns
We all know the bigger cities of Cuba; Havana, Varadero, Holguin,
Santiago de Cuba and so on but what about the smaller less known hidden gems of
Cuba? Beckoning visitors to the island are such towns as Trinidad and Baracoa.
Trinidad is a picture perfect town with colonial style pastel architecture,
quiet cobblestone streets and town square. There are fascinating museums,
discos at every turn; even one located in a cave and pop up pizza shops that
open for one hour at lunch and then shut down. The beautiful palaces, the white
sand beach a few miles out and the clear waters make this small town a true gem
of Cuba. Baracoa on the other hand is the darker side of Cuba, it’s remote
location on the far southeast coast past Guantanamo Bay, over a mountain range of
tropical rainforest and down a twisty road make it rather hard to reach. The
surrounding hills, fantastic waterfalls, jagged black coastline and black sand
beach make for an incredible setting. Great food, drink, dancing, kayaking and
trekking is found here where the air is hotter and the sea is rougher. Step out
from the comfort zone of the typical tourist areas and discover what the real
Cuba has to offer.
1. Miles of White Sand Beaches
Cuba is home to more than 300 beaches that are spread across the
Northern Atlantic Ocean and its Southern Caribbean Coastline with endless miles
of soft white sand and breathtaking ocean views. Head to Guardalavaca; Cuba’s
prettiest resort area full of lush tropical vegetation, sparkling white sand
and turquoise waters. The coastline here is dotted with cove beaches and
perfect waters for swimming. In Cayo Jutías escape the tourist area and head
along sands dotted with driftwood sculptures on your way to Starfish Beach.
Here visitors are treated to enormous burnt-orange colored starfish in the
shallow waters. For those visitors who are looking for a bit of colonial
culture with their sun and sand; Trinidad is the perfect destination and Playa
Ancon is the beautifully large white sand beach located here. This beach is
great for diving, relaxing and as a base for exploring the town. For serious
divers who are looking for a beach that offers tranquility and numerous diving
spots; Maria La Gorda Beach located on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula is where
you will want to head. With the largest colony of black coral, the richest
biodiversity in Cuba and thirty nine scuba diving spots, the opportunities are
endless. From local hangouts to family friendly beaches to miles of
privacy; there is a beach for everyone in Cuba.
Article Written By Lindsay MacNevin On A Website Called Escape Here. com
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