March 27, 2023
Cuba is an island country located between the Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It is said to have been discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, after which it became a Spanish colony. Spanish rule was, however, overthrown in 1898 by the US during the Spanish-American war. Cuba is the largest Caribbean island which shares borders with Haiti, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, Honduras, and the United States. Cuba is the 17th largest island in the world and has grown to be a great tourist attraction site. The capital of Cuba is Havana, a city noted for its rich history, culture, architecture and monuments that receives at least a million tourists annually. Americans are forbidden to enter Cuba as tourists at this time but my trips follow all the guidelines under a secondary category which allows us to enter legally.
Cuba is a dream destination you should have at the top of your list of places to visit. So, I’ve compiled a few reasons why you should visit Cuba while you can.
1. Culture
Cuba seems to have been untouched by the woes of modernization. With cobblestone streets, vintage cars plying the roads, friendly conversations between neighbors, the air filled with music from a random person strumming away on their guitar, singing in Spanish. It is like a scene out of a romantic native American movie where you have friendly locals, food carts on the streets, family-owned businesses and beautiful scenery. Fidel Castro placed an embargo on US imports in 1960 that limited access to newer car models and technology. As a result, Cubans learnt to maintain their cars. Now owning these vintage cars has become a thing of pride.
Music and dance are an integral part of the Cuban culture where evening street parties featuring exhilarating rumba music, Cuban salsa dance and colorful lights are popular. Cubans are friendly people who go out of their way to make you feel welcome. They’ll invite you home for dinner, offer to cook for you, and are always ready to answer your questions and give directions.
2. Casas Particulares
Casas particulares which means ‘private home’ allows local families to open their homes to host foreign visitors. The tourists pay for a bedroom in their homes and experience the daily activities of Cuban families. It saves costs and promises a rich Cuban experience. The locals can make money through this and enjoy exposure to diverse foreigners and their cultures.
3. Beautiful Scenery
Cuba has endless adventure possibilities where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery and serenity of nature. There are opportunities for diving, caving, hiking, and touring beautiful cities, or if you’d rather sit and enjoy the breeze and smell of the ocean on the beach, Cuba’s got you.
Cuba also boasts of colorful buildings with architectural designs that have you bringing out your camera on every street.
4. Cigars and Rum
Cuban cigars are widely known to be the best in the world because of their quality and meticulous production process. You don’t want to visit Cuba without bringing back the famous Cuban cigar.
You also want to visit Cuba for its Rum as it is home to the classic cocktail – Mojito and Daiquiri.
5. Food
Cuban cuisine is highly influenced by Spanish, African and other indigenous cultures. It promises a blended taste of spice and flavor. There’s the good old Cuban sandwich and ropa vieja, one of the most popular Cuban cuisine. So, you want to take the locals up on their invitations to eat a proper home-cooked Cuban meal when they offer. You’ll be glad you did.
Cuba is where you’re sure to experience the beauty of love, family, and nature. So, I recommend you start packing your bags and preparing for a Cuban experience like no other.
Sign up for my group trip to Cuba here!
