Cuba Travel Guide

Cuba is a beautiful sub-tropical island located only 145km to the south of Florida. It features glorious coastline, mountainous forests, stunning Spanish colonial architecture and fascinating cities that reflect its unique and tumultuous history and offers the intrepid traveler much more than the average island getaway.

Although it was once the top destination for wealthy and famous Americans, Cuba's strained relationship with the US following the revolution in 1959 led to a travel ban on US citizens and an embargo that cut the island off from its previous tourist market. Since that time, tourism has gradually increased with the Cuban government allowing foreigners to enter Cuba in the mid-1990s and an increase in contact allowed between the Cuban people and tourists, which up until as late as 2008, was outlawed. Today travellers from around the world are re-discovering the magic of Cuba.

Cuba is a nature lover's paradise with a huge array of flora and fauna, spectacular mountains and pristine beaches. Cuba's vibrant and diverse culture is evidenced in the unique rhythms of the afro-cuban and latin music, colourful streets lined with Spanish colonial architecture dating back to 1500s, and hundreds of museums that tell the stories that have formed the country's identity over centuries. For the adventurous traveller, the diving and snorkelling on Cuba's magnificent coral reefs is also excellent.

Visitors to Cuba's capital city Havana will be thrilled by its plethora of museums, art galleries, and concert halls. There are a number of historical sites that are must-do excursions, including Cathedral Square, Revolution Square, Morro Castle, the world-famous Tropicana Nightclub, to name but a few. If you travel six kilometres to the east of the city you can visit Cojimar, a quaint fishing village where Ernest Hemmingway gained inspiration for many of his books. Beyond Havana's east coast, you will discover over 15 km of beautiful beaches including the famous Santa Maria del Mar.

Visitors to Santa Lucia will be blown away by the 21km stretch of dazzling white beaches, complete with coral reefs and rolling green hills. As a main tourist destination, Santa Lucia is well-equipped with hotels and resorts.

Travelling to Cuba's second-largest city Santiago de Cuba is also a must. It is considered to be Cuba's most Caribbean city and is famous for its carnival, exquisite squares and dynamic musical tradition.