Cuba
Seeking a true Caribbean experience teeming with much more than sun, sea and sand? Head to the enticing and picture perfect island of Cuba where dramatic mountainous landscapes, dozens of kilometers of world's finest beaches with crystal clear waters and uninterrupted blinding white sand, spectacularly beautiful nature with an amazing variety of flora and fauna and sweeping vistas of sugar cane, as well as cultural and historical sites beckon. With everything Cuba has to offer it's easy to see why tourism here is booming and attracting millions of visitors from different corners of the world every year.Located in Central America between Bahamas and Jamaica, some 90 miles south of Miami and covering an overall area of 110,860 sq km, Cuba archipelago comprises the island of Cuba, the island of Pines and around 4,200 cays and tiny islets composed mainly of corals, and is considered the largest Caribbean Island. The largest island surrounding Cuba is the Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island with an area of over 3,000 sq km) situated on the southwestern part of mainland Cuba. Cuba boasts a 5,746 km of total coastline with about 300 natural beaches. There are plenty of mountains and fertile plains with the highest peak being the Pico Turquino, rising over 2,000 meters from sea level.
Cuba is divided into 14 provinces which are Las Tunas, Pinar del Rio, Villa Clara, Guantanamo, Camaguey, Sancti Spiritus, Granma, Ciudad de La Habana, Holguin, Ciego de Avila, La Habana, Matanzas, Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, and Cienfuegos each featuring its own attractions and activities. Cuba enjoys hot sub-tropical climate with average temperatures of 25�C in summer and 22�C in summer. Two seasons are underlined: the dry season runs from November through April, and the rainy season is between May and October. Cuba is a country that can be visited all year-round.
Havana (La Habana in Spanish) is Cuba's vibrant capital and the leading cultural centre, boasting colonial style architecture, really marvelous top notching old hotels, luxurious resorts, year-round pleasant weather and warm friendly people, very eager to get acquainted with foreigners. Havana dazzles tourists with its beautiful sights, landmarks, museums and parks and is also the top getaway for shopping and eating in Cuba. Top attractions worth a visit in Havana include Decorative Arts National Museum, Cafe Cantante Mi Habana, Aula Magna (Great Hall) and Campus of the University, and the Jose Marti Monument and Col�n Cemetery, which artistic values make it one of the most important cemeteries in the world.
Being the biggest country in the Caribbean Cuba is considered a melting pot of different cultures and races. The cultural aspects of Cuba reflect influences of the Spanish culture and African traditions. People in Cuba are warm- hearted and indigenous and are lively and expressive. Cubans greatly enjoy several popular forms of music and dance, including salsa and the cha-cha-cha which have been originated in Cuba. Cubans are also very enthusiastic about sports and other activities, including baseball, basketball, volleyball, amateur boxing and much more.
Cuba attractions and activities
Whether it's your first visit or not, you will always find new adventures and activities to be busy with. Cuba vacations are ideal for singles, couples, families and all kinds of holidaymakers in search of mysteries and contradictions, turquoise seas, awesome pristine beaches, brilliant sandy beaches, exclusive holiday spots and a full contingent of water sports, including excellent diving, snorkeling, sailing, cruising or fishing. With all Cuba has to offer, your vacations will turn into a truly memorable Caribbean experience!- Cuba Beaches are simply some of the best in the world best suited for any and every taste, offering great opportunities to soak up the sunshine, swing in a hammock and listen to the lullabies of the sea. Most beaches are home to dazzling, high-end beach resort complexes, boasting the utmost concerning fun in the sun, day trips to Cuba's best cities and recreation facilities, including awesome pools, game rooms and fitness centers and a plethora of land and water sports. Some of the best beaches include Verdadero Beach, where paradise is combined with adventure, and you can find fine restaurants, bars, museums, amusement parks night clubs and cabarets to make your beach vacation more interesting; Playa Sirena, ideal for water enthusiasts, including incredible scuba diving and snorkeling experiences, swimming, fishing, kayaking and windsurfing, Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo beaches, two superb cays and Cuba's most pristine beach destinations and much more.
- Cigar Factories, offering to come close to the old and traditional art of cigar making and surely to taste one of life's most generous luxuries. There are three main factories in Havana where visitors can see cigars still rolled by hand. Keep in mind that Havana cigars are tightly rolled bundles of dried tobacco, one end of which is always ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the smoker's mouth and lungs, and avoid buying them from people off the street.
- Museums in Cuba represent the cultural and historical wealth of Cubans, exhibiting striking collections of fine arts, natural sciences, antique weapons, etc. The best known museums are Museum of the City (Museo de la Ciudad), exhibiting the tale of Havana from its founding to the present day, as well as several exhibits relating to archaeology, paintings and furniture of historic value; National Fine Arts Museum (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes), boasting the largest collection of Cuban plastic art and others.
- Activities range from scuba diving in the fantastic Cayo Largo featuring some good deep wall dives with a variety of soft and hard corals and a multitude of marine habitats, to snorkeling in the calm, crystalline waters of Ancon Peninsula near Trinidad with high visibility (34m) and shallow coral reefs, to biking through the cave-rich landscape of Pinar del Rio with stunning views of fertile valleys growing tobacco. Other activities you can engage in are jungle hiking in the rainforest, mountain biking, overland tour, yacht cruising, canopy viewing, birding, river tubing, caving and much more.
Cuba Hotels and Resorts
Accommodation options in Cuba vary, giving you the unique chance to choose from all-inclusive hotels, honeymoon hotels, golf hotels, historic hotels, business and events hotels, family hotels, self-catering hotels, countryside hotels, city centre hotels and much more. Nearly all hotels feature the ultimate in convenience, service and luxury.Hotel Santa Isabel is a boutique hotel, perfectly located in Old Havana, on the eastern side of the Plaza de Armas, the city's earliest and most enticing square. This fabulous hotel features 17 standard rooms with colonial-style furniture and with modern amenities, like air-conditioning, private balcony or terrace overlooking the Plaza de Armas (except for one which has a dismal outlook), bathroom, Jacuzzi, mini bar, room service, telephone and cable TV, and 9 major spacious and welcoming suites, all elegantly designed and equipped with all the modern facilities and comforts to suit the needs of even the most discerning travelers. The five-star hotel features a secluded lobby with a patio, an excellent restaurant with fine culinary options and rooftop private patio. Hotel Santa Isabel is considered the most elite hotel in Havana.
Located right in the heart of Old Havana within a walking distance to Plaza de la Catedral, Gran Teatro de la Habana and Havana Harbor, the 5-star Hotel Parque Central is a perfect hideaway combining the elegance of the Spanish colonial style with utmost services and facilities. The 278 well-appointed rooms feature air conditioning, descubierta diaria, telephone and telephone in the bathroom, cable/satellite TV, in room Jacuzzi, cribs on request, twin bed, and 24-hour service. The hotel features classic Greek style swimming pool with exceptional views of the city, fine restaurant, business center, rooftop terrace, pool-side bar, lobby bar and air conditioned gym/fitness centre. Nearby attractions include Capitolio Nacional, 'Garcia Lorka' Theatre, National Fine Arts Museum, Plaza de la Catedral, Handicrafts Palace (market), Cigar Museum and much more.
Meli� Cohiba Royal Floor is another luxury hotel, situated in one of the most central zones of Havana. The property is a 21 storey building with 462 rooms in different options, including standard, suite, interconnected and senior suites, offering exceptional service, luxury treatment and special welcome. Ideal for vacations and business trips, the modern upscale hotel boasts the following facilities: bar with exclusive aperitif service and restaurant, wake-up coffee in the room (on request), magnificent meeting room, daily VIP Turndown service, butler service, complimentary sauna un gym club, late-check out free until 18:00 hours and concierge facilities. You can also find a wide range of restaurants and bars, with buffet service for breakfast, lunch, dinner offering international specialties and live music. Do not miss out local attractions, including the well-known Okd Havana, Plaza de la Revolucion, Xoo, Expocuba and Pabexpo.
Paradisus Princesa del Mar Resort & Spa is an ideal example of beach resort, offering maximum comfort for an unparalleled experience. This all-inclusive adult-only resort is located in the world-famous Verdadero beach and is ideal for weddings, honeymoons and incentive trips. The hotel is home to 434 elegantly-appointed rooms in different categories featuring cozy ambience, and equipped with modern amenities and facilities. The resort boasts fine varied dining options, round-the-clock activities, private cocktail party, and 24-hour service. Recreation facilities include land sports and water sports, such as aerobics, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, billiards, sailing, banana boating, catamaran sailing, waterskiing and pool volleyball. You will surely find various facilities for either relaxing or enjoying fun-filled activities.
Sandals Royal Hicacos Resort & Spa, Varadero, Cuba is a five-star all-suite hotel boasting the utmost in elegance and the highest level of luxury in romantic surroundings for couples. The 404 suites feature chic decor, a private balcony or terrace overlooking the gardens, in-room service and modern exclusive room amenities. The hotel is home to 5 restaurants serving an international menu, Caribbean, Italian and Seafood cuisine, 5 bars, three elegantly designed swimming pools, 4 Jacuzzis, fully equipped fitness centre, sauna and steam room, several whirlpools, night club, as well as European Spa and beauty salon. Nestled on one of Cuba's finest stretches of sand, Sandals Royal Hicacos Resort & Spa offers on and underwater fun and land adventures, including scuba diving (first dive of the day is free for PADI or resort qualified guests), tennis, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boats and sailing.
Located in the eastern coast of Cuba on the Playa Esmeralda Beach, at Holguin and surrounded by beautiful gardens with exotic greenery, the splendid Sol Rio de Luna y Mares Resort is a holiday complex popular with singles, couples and families, featuring 464 exquisitely decorated rooms with balcony or terrace and excellent views of the ocean or of the lush garden, and modern room amenities. The hotel offers seven restaurants serving Mediterranean, Italian, French and international cuisine, two lobby bars, two swimming pools with sun terraces, sun beds and towels, beach bar, pool bar and 4 snack bars of which one is open 24-hours. Recreation facilities include whirlpools, sauna, Turkish bath, relaxation area, gym and aerobic room. Activities you can indulge in offer unique opportunities for rifle shooting, scuba diving, water polo, sailing, catamaran, kayaks and snorkeling. Stay in this stunning paradise and enjoy your trip to the fullest!
With all that Cuba has to offer your vacations will convert into unimaginative dreams and everlasting memories. Known as the 'Pearl of the Antilles' the most diverse and most stunning island of Cuba welcomes all those in search of a true Caribbean experience!