Learning about history and culture may considered as one of the most interesting experiences when visiting Cuba because it hot box of indigenous people, Africa, Europe, and Caribbean. Cuba boasts of the old colonial buildings and world heritage site attractions, the distinct Afro-Cuban drums and dance and many other things that tourists can indulge in.
Colonial Architecture:
Havana, which is the capital city of Cuba, is famous for what may be described as the most beautiful architecture mainly the colonial style buildings, painted bright colors with rich doors, windows and impressive plazas. A walk around the historical part of Havana – the Old Town, which is on the list of UNESCO, opens the view to the number of impressive buildings, among which it is possible to name the Plaza de la Catedral, the facing building – the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, the Castillo del Morro and the Castillo de la Real Fuerza fortresses. Guests can also take a tour of the beautiful historic city of Trinidad which like Cienfuegos is also on the UNESCO list for its beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Apart from Old Havana and Trinidad, there are other WOW sites in Cuba that displays the country’s cultural and historical aspects. These include The Old Town of Cienfuegos characterized by French colonial architecture and the beautiful Cienfuegos bay, and The Vinales Valley home to the captivating Mogotes rolling hills of limestone, magnificent tobacco farms and traditional Guajiros’ villages. Visiting such places is fascinating because it gives one a real feel of Cuba’s diverse and vibrant culture as well as natural endowments after their listing by UNESCO.
Tourists can also explore the live music culture by watching performances in various pubs, restaurants, and at open-air events, as well as practicing dance in amplifies along the coast, from professionals. Other events to look forward to are the Havana Jazz Festival held annually, as well as the Santiago de Cuba’ s carnival festival.
Literary and Artistic Heritage:
Literature and art have been actively developed in Cuba for many years, the country has many famous writers, poets, artists. Moreover, the active present-day art found in the galleries and cultural institutions across Cuba gives an idea of the young and modern talented artists of that country.
There is a good selection of possibilities for outdoor activities and nature sightseeing in this country.
In addition to cultural sites, natural scenery and activities, that can be enjoyed there are many more sites that showcase the natural beauty of Cuba that has not yet been fully tapped. Including water activities on the sandy coastlines and in the crystal clear waters of the sea, forest and mountain hikes, bird watching, diving and plenty more.
Beach Destinations
Cuba is arguably the Caribbean’s most beautiful with beautiful beaches that have clear blue water and white sand. Varadero is one of the most famous beach resorts that are situated on the Hicacos Peninsula, which is famous for it lengthy sandy beach coast, star-ranked hotels and a great night life. Other attractive Cuban beaches include Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo and Playa Ancón near Trinidad beloved destinations for swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling:
The Caribbean island of Cuba and its marine life and excellent coral gardens makes it one of the best places for scuba diving holiday makers. Jardines del Rey is a chain of islands situated along the northern coast of Cuba and is famous for Scuba diving attractions such as underwater caves of Blue hole and Coral beach; the colourful coral trenches of Coral beach. Other best places for diving in Cuba are Maria la Gorda in the western and Isla de la Juventud in the southern part of Cuba where scar divisions are ship wrecks, underwater caves and coral gardens full of aquatic life.
Ecotourism and Nature Reserves:
A brief discussion of CUBA natural wonders, and Ecotourism and Wildlife Viewing highlight of CUBA. The Zapata Peninsula on the south of Cuba includes the Zapata Swamp, the greatest wetland area in the Caribbean and a Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO. Tours here encompass wildlife, including the Zapata nature trail, which is home to mangrove, shallow freshwater lakes, avian marshland, Cuban crocodile and Zapata wren. The nature reserves of Cuba may include the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve, a land of tropical, fresh-water, and endemic bird; the Sierra Maestra, with its trails of alluvial mountains, falls, moist valleys, and villages.
Hiking and Adventure Travel:
If the travelers and nature lovers are interested in having some thrilling tours and exercise, Cuba presents the tracks for hiking, mountain and national parks. Sierra del Escambray located close to Trinidad came to fame as a hiking trail which offers the views of unique scenic points, the entrance to the caves and enjoying the splendid waterfalls. Trekking is possible in one of the most beautiful national parks for the Cuban island with stunning views of the mountains and the powerful countenance of the lush forest called Pico Turquino National Park. Whether you are trekking through some set of waterfalls, horseback riding through tobacco fields, cycling through colorful fields or the picturesque coast drive, the physical beauty of Cuba is magnificent with many opportunities for everyone interested in physical adventures.
The target audience will enjoy Culinary Experiences and Gastronomic Delights that welcome the viewer to a world of forgotten recipes and hidden tastes.
Cuban cuisine is recognized throughout the world; hence, anyone who plans to visit Cuba should not miss the opportunity to taste delicious Cuban food with the peculiarities of cooking, which has developed in this country for several centuries. From comforting soups and rich grain dishes to exotic fruits and sweets made from sugar cane, Cuban cuisine is a bright mixture of Spanish and African with the tones of Caribbean that tells a success story of the Cuban people.
Traditional Cuban Dishes:
Cuban food is relatively similar to that of the rest of the Hispanic world, but it is simple, fresh and the base of the cooking is local and organic. A few of the famous Cuban recipes that cannot be missed out are ropa vieja, a beef stew that is made out of shreds of beef, tomatoes and peppers; moros y cristianos as it is the black beans that are cooked side by side with rice, spices and other seasonings and lechón asado which is the roasted pork that is marinated with citrus and garlic. Other Cuban dishes are tostones, which is a plantain that has been fried and yuca con mojo which is cassava with garlic sauce and congri which is black beans and rice intermingled.
Street Food and Snacks:
Here is one of the Cuban meals you need to try; Cuban street food and snacks are delicious foods that are sold in the markets, food stalls, and roadside restaurants. Fried pastries or empanadas, cheese stuffed croquettes and even churros, cold coconut water- one can say Cuba features a rich list of street meals. Some of the common street foods that any Cuban food lover should not accommodate itself to missing includes pastelitos (meat or cheese stuffed pastries), frituras de malanga (fried malanga root vegetable), and pan con bistec (steak sandwiches on Cuban bread).
Seafood Delicacies:
Cuba has rich choice of seafood as the country is surrounded by sea and has long coast line with various delicious seafood recipes. Regarding Cuban seafood, there is a wide variety of mouth-watering dishes which include lobster tails, grilled fish, shrimp ceviche, seafood paella among others cooked accompanying seasonal products of Cuban territory and using its own techniques of preparation. Tourists may order seafood dishes in sea side restaurants, paladares, which are Cuban families’ welcoming home-style restaurants or fisherman’s villages where fisherman sell freshly caught seafood to the Cuban citizens and visitors.
Cuban Cocktails and Rum:
Some of the most famous Cuban and rum based drinks must enjoyed while in Cuba; these are part of the Cuban etiquette as far as drinking is concerned. From the simple but tremendously effective mojito and daiquiri to such legendary beverages as Cuba Libre and piña colada, Cuban cocktails rightfully can be termed legendary. Such bitters can be tasted at the bars, lounges and rooftop terraces all over Cuba where mixologists prepare traditional cocktails using the high- quality Cuban rum and locally grown fruits and herbs. For Cuban drinking, sociability the visitor should not miss out on the aging places, La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita located in Havana.
Farm-to-Table Dining:
Recent efforts of a more localized food preparation and sourcing method in Cuba has breathed new life into its gastronomy by revisiting the traditional ways of cooking and focusing more on homegrown produce. It focuses on the recent growing trend of restaurants and paladares across Cuba to incorporate locally-each, organic and sustainable food offerings to highlight the variety of Cuban produce and ways of cooking. Holidaymakers can savor farm-to-table menu prepared in the country’s organic farms, eco-lodges, and even at rural homes because many of the food served there are bought directly from local farmers.
Cooking Classes and Food Tours:
Education-focused travels such as cooking classes and food tours keep tourists engaged and informed of the history of Cuban culinary culture. A large portion of restaurants or eateries, some cookery schools and other cultural institutions in Cuba do provide an opportunity to conduct practical classes for the preparation of Cuban cuisine at the hands of professional chefs or instructors. Guided culinary excursions introduce visitors to the local markets, street vendors, and other places previously unknown to them but offer the residents’ favorite dishes, as well as explain the culture of gast Illustrated Cuban cuisine.
The following are the guidelines of having a solo trip to Cuba:
The freedoms you encounter when traveling independently are quite liberating – there’s much to do and see in the island of Cuba: the architecture, the culture, the music and the history – you will have the freedom to experience it all at your leisure.
Book Accommodation in Advance:
Cuba has many accommodation services which range from hotels, guesthouses, and casas particulares which are just homes that have been turned into hotels, it is however recommendable to make bookings in advance especially during the high season. So the sites like Air BnB, Booking. ; com, and Cuba Casa Directory with comprehensive lists of places to stay all over the island so that you can choose where you would like to stay and reserve a place when you get there.
Bring Sufficient Cash:
Currently, Cuba has the two legal tenders – the Cuban Convertible Peso and the Cuban Peso though most dealings involving the tourist are carried out at the CUC. You should always make sure you have cash with you for your individual expenditures as credit and debit cards from the U. S. associated companies are still restricted in the country because of the existing embargo. For your foreign currency exchange, it is recommended to do it either at the Aiport or at the CADECA offices spread all over the country.
Learn Some Basic Spanish:
although many people understand and even speak a certain amount of English albeit restricted mainly in the tourist areas and hotels, the official language of the Cuban Republic of Cuba is Spanish. It will be beneficial and useful to use certain specific phrases and expressions in everyday communication and interactions with the local people. Suggest taking a small Spanish dictionary or getting an application for Android or iPhone to communicate with lonely people during a travel.
Stay Flexible and Open-Minded:
It can already be a fun and exciting trip to go to Cuba or at least is going to be, given the fact that it is not like going to any other country. Take the surprise and be ready with the unpredictable situations since in Cuba they may disrupt the working schedule. So, be flexible and ready to accept the fact that this island is not a stereotypical tourist destination, be ready to mix with the locals and ready to discover the places in Cuba that are not so popular among the tourists.
Conclusion
Going independently to Cuba is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beautiful nature and interesting culture and history of this country being a tourist alone. If you want to walk down the cobblestone streets of Old Havana or relax on the soft sand of Varadero beach, or even go trekking on the tapes of Viñales, Cuba has everything for you. With these tips and suggestions it is possible to organize an exciting trip to Cuba that will allow to enjoy the contemplation of the island’s exotic appeal and uniqueness and get a lot of pleasant impressions to carry on in the future. Therefore, you should grab your passports, ensure English and Spanish preferences, and prepare to set off on the most fantastic journey in the mysterious island country of Cuba.