There truly is no place like Cuba. Never have I stepped foot in a country so unique and fascinating. The largest island in the Carribean is so rich in history and culture, with a lifestyle I had no idea still existed with such force. I learnt more in my 3 week visit there than in any other country i’ve explored before.

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Top places to visit:

-Cayo Guillermo

-La Habana

-Trinidad

-Santa Clara

-Santiago de Cuba

-Varadero

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Stay:

Personally I think it’s a real shame when people go to a place as unique as Cuba, yet choose to stay in protective, pampering 5 star resorts the whole time. I certainly appreciate luxury, but don’t do it here, or you will miss out on the true Cuban experience.

Stay in a private room at a Cuban families home, called Casa Particular. By meeting and chatting with these families, you will feel involved and part of the Cuban life and culture in a way that just wouldn’t be possible in a hotel. The hosts are wonderfully hospitable and will give you a lovely breakfast to start your day. Definitely book your casa in advance on the Casa Particular website.

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Cayo Guillermo

It was well worth the drive to this island for even one day spent at Playa Pilar. Go to the picture-perfect beach for white sand, turquoise, crystal-clear waters. I was in complete heaven!

Trinidad

The historic town of Trinidad is a World UNESCO heritage site since 1988,  famous for its Neo Classical and Baroque architecture. My experience of Trinidad was one quite unexpected and surreal. Walking through old cobbled streets, weaving through 18th and 19th century pastel-coloured, colonial buildings with their distinctive red-tiled roofs. An atmosphere of romance mixed with an air of peace and silence, it was like we had had been transported back in time by a time machine that no one else on earth has discovered.

The 1962 Unites States embargo against Cuba means that the island is roaming with old classic cars. Cubans cannot buy any ‘new’ car due to the internal economic restrictions. The cars that were first purchased during the Soviet Union influence on Cuba still remain there to this day.

To do: The main square Plaza Mayor is lined with wonderfully unique museums such as Romantic Museum and Cantero Museum. The largest church in Cuba stands tall and proud at this main square, called Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad. The view from the top is picturesque.

Although an actual ghost-town at night, we stumbled across these large wide-set steps leading up to Casa de la Música. Much to our delight it was buzzing with locals and tourists enjoying their beer or mojito whilst watching people displaying their impressive salsa skills, swinging their hips till the small hours of the morning. Close by is Casa de la Trova where we sat with yet another mojito (of course) blissfully taking in delightful sounds of the Cuban bands.

Stay: We stayed in a Casa Particular called Hostel Carlos Sotolongo which was just magical! You couldn’t be in a more convenient location, right in Plaza Mayor with a strikingly large, bright blue doorway to entice you in. On entering his exquisite home it felt like we’d stepped in to a museum with his delicate ornaments and decorations so thoughtfully placed. The comfortable room at the back is set in a lovely private garden.

Vintage cars

Plaza Mayor

Casa de la Musica

La Habana

Such a fantastic city to walk around. This city gave me mixed messages, managing to appear delapidated and seedy one moment, to magnificently spectacular the next. We spent most of our days just walking and exploring, soaking in the architecture and cute city squares. We followed a few of the Lonely Planet walking guide tours which proved to be very useful.

To do: Walk along Havana’s impressive Malécon by the sea in the evening, walk around Havana Vieja and Plaza de le Catedral, see Plaza de la Revolución where the Jose Marti monument proudly stands, have a drink at Hotel Nacional, enrich yourself in history at Museo de la Revolucion.

Feel the pulsating rumba rhythm and beats, don’t resist that itching urge to just let loose and move your body, at Callejón de Hammel. I fell in love with this street, absolutely bursting with energy and colour. Dancing rumba with the locals on this street will be an unforgettable Cuban experience.

Go to the bar La Bodeguita del Medio for a toast to Hemingway, take a guided tour and watch how cigars are made with such attention to detail at Partagas factory, go to the Havana rum factory.

Nightlife: We went to Casa de la Musica, a place with no shortage of energy, life and excitement. We danced salsa with the locals all night, getting whisked on the dancefloor left, right and centre. It was such a memorable, fun time. We also went to the famous Club Tropicana. Although rubbing shoulders with all the other international tourists, being dazzled by a 3 hour long cabaret-style dance show with the comfort of a private booth and table-service, the glitz and glamour of it all never fails to entertain and impress.

Callejón de Hammel

Dance Rumba!

La Bodeguita del Medio

The 3 ladies

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Get around:

(Main arrival airport is Jose Marti International Airport, just outside of Havana).

-Viazal Bus

Excellent method of exploring around the island. The air-conditioned coaches are comfortable and reliable from my experience. They run a number of long-distance routes so do check out the website when planning your trip: http://www.viazul.com/

Trinidad to Habana: Cost $27.00

Ciego de Avila to Trinidad: Cost $9.72

-Taxi

The taxi’s I loved getting were the 3-wheeled small, yellow coco-taxis. One of the most memorable moments was the conversation had with our taxi driver. He gave us such valuable insight in to life as a Cuban, the oppression, censorship, limit of freedom of expression and press. We really appreciated his honesty.

Currency:

Cuba’s suffering as a result of the US embargo is evident. The very distinct dual-currency system on the island was a surprise to me. Visitors in the country use Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), a local currency with no international value, whereas Cubans use Cuban Peso (CUP). Essential living items such as soap, shampoo and kitchen amenities are sold scarce in the state run ‘dollar stores’. Cubans must exchange their currency in order to shop here, therefore not all Cubans can afford these higher priced goods.

Rationing in Cuba:

Most Cuban families rely on the ration system for their food, such as rice, milk, beans and eggs, using a ration booklet. It establishes how much each person can buy. These are purchased at local bodega convenience stores.  Meat and fish are bought at carnicería meat markets. Allowances depend on the age and health of the person.

One day a pregnant woman approached me in desperate plea to follow her to the nearest pharmacy. She pressed my hands to her stomach and explained how she needed some medicine that she could not afford for her unborn baby. I followed her in and immediately the man behind the counter lifted up what must have been about 40 large packets of medicine. The exposure to the life of this woman in Cuba was an eye-opening experience which resonated with me for a long time.

When to go:

-High season is between December and April. There are storms before December that are best to avoid!

Related articles

• Reflections on visiting Cuba (lindsayleaps.com)
• Seeing through the Blinds (cbschazenstudenttravel.wordpress.com)
• Four Squares – Havana, Cuba (travelpod.com)