Adventure World

Cuba

Cuba, the largest of the Caribbean islands and is a diverse mixture of sounds, rhythms, colours and dances, where African beats merge with Spanish rhythms.

With year round temperatures of 25°C, beautiful beaches, colonial architecture, warm friendly people and a good range of hotels and tourist facilities, Cuba is an exciting new destination to discover.

Havana embodies all that is Cuban. In Havana, history, rhythm, melody and splendour all combine into a city that is truly unique. Enjoy Ernest Hemingway’s favourite hangout, Havana has a vibrant nightlife, with a variety of nightclubs, cabarets and historic theatres.

Cuba's larger towns are pretty relaxed. The most frenetic it gets is in the middle of an enthusiastic chachachá and the loudest it gets is behind one of the huge finned American cars chugging the streets. If you want it even quieter, Cuba's back country and beaches are perfect chill-out destinations for hikers, swimmers or those who just want to smoke a fine cigar under a palm tree.

Top Highlights

Havana: Havana is a city trapped in a time warp - to visit is to be transported back to the 60s. 1950s Chevvies cruise past the faded Spanish architecture and rumba music blares out from the leafy squares as local Habaneros sit in the sun enjoying a strong Cuban coffee or a rum cocktail.

Ernest Hemingway spent more than 20 years in Cuba and on his departure donated his estate (Finca la Vigia) to the local people. This now houses the Museo Hemingway - 15 kms southeast of central Havana in San Francisco de Paula.

Places to visit: Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Museum of the Revolution, Che Guevara Mural, and Jose Marti’s memorial in Revolution Square.

A walking tour of Old Havana, the city’s historic centre is definitely recommended.

Cigar Tours - Cuban cigars are renowned worldwide and there are several factories where tours are permitted in Old Havana and also in Pinar del Rio, Trinidad and Santiago de Cuba. The best Cuban cigars are completely hand-rolled and packed in sealed, stamped cedar boxes. There are over 40 different types and sizes of Havana cigars, classified as fine, medium or thick. Travellers can export up to 23 Cuban cigars - subject to change.

Pinar del Rio Province: Pinar del Rio is a beautiful setting with many rivers and natural springs and offers a distinctively different experience from that found at the beach resorts. Due to the rich and fertile soil, this is where many of Cuba’s tobacco and coffee plantations are clustered.

The towns and villages along the coast retain a bygone charm, with the horse and cart traffic and thatched roof barns dotting the landscape. This is the place to visit a cigar factory!

Cienfuegos: Located on the Caribbean Sea 250km from Havana, Cienfuegos is one of Cuba’s most beautiful cities. The well-preserved historical centre is distinguished by the majesty of its buildings and is surrounded by one of the most picturesque and fertile regions in Cuba. The province is thick with sugarcane and coffee plantations.

Known as the ‘Pearl of the South’, Cienfuegos is a harbour city with a distinct French neoclassical influence in its shaded squares and tree-lined boulevards and characterised by colonial palaces and mansions.

Trinidad de Cuba: The historical city of Trinidad is one of the best preserved cities in the world, with its cobblestone streets, restored homes, churches and colonial atmosphere - now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Santa Clara: Best known as the place where the dictator Batista surrendered to Che Guevara in 1958. Visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum, where the bodies of Che and his troops, who died in battle in Bolivia, are buried. It is a vast square guarded by a bronze statue of ‘El Che’, erected in 1987 to mark the 20th anniversary of Guevara’s murder in Bolivia.

Santiago de Cuba: The second largest city in Cuba, it is regarded as the 'Cradle of the Revolution'. Unlike other Cuban cities, this one has a noticeable Caribbean flavour due to the influence of the French planters and Haitians who settled there in the last century.

Beaches in Cuba: Varadeo Beach is less than two hours from Havana and stretches some 20kms along a narrow peninsula on the north coast of the island, offering white sandy beaches backed by palms and lapped by clear waters. Varadero offers a wide range of resort hotels and facilities; and nightclubs.

Fact Sheet

• Country Dialling Code: + 53
• When to Go: Cuba has a sub-tropical climate so any time of the year is warm. Between December and March days are pleasantly warm and dry, with an average temp of 25°C. Between May and October temperatures rise to above 30ºC with high humidity and some short-lived showers, usually in the afternoon or evening.
• Capital: Havana
• Official Language: Spanish
• Religion: Catholic and Afro-Cuban
• Population: 11.2 million people
• Cuban Tourist Card is available through Adventure World when booking Cuba land arrangements with us and this service is provided on certain conditions. Adventure World is in no way acting as an Embassy, Consulate or Customs agent. The Tourist Cards issued do not imply Adventure World have pre-arranged entry into Cuba. Cost available on request. NB: Most travellers to Cuba only require a Tourist Card, not a visa. It is highly recommend that you obtain your tourist card prior to arrival in Cuba. Trying to obtain on arrival can cause significant delay and may not be possible at the airport terminal you arrive into. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond intended stay.
• Currency: Cuban Peso (CUC). As at Nov 08, 2004, the Cuban Government announced that the US Dollar will no longer be accepted in Cuba for the payment of goods and services. Instead, tourists will use the convertible Peso that holds the same value as the US Dollar and this currency can be obtained only after clients arrive into Cuba. It is not possible for tourists to obtain the convertible Peso from an exchange bureau before arrival. Please note that tourists exchanging US Dollars for convertible Peso in Cuba will be charged a 10% commission. It is possible to exchange other currencies such as British Pounds or Euros for convertible Pesos and these currencies will NOT be charged at 10 % commission.
• Electricity: Varies 110V or 220V. 60Hz. American, two pin, flat type, but some may be round pin variety.
• Tipping: Carry small notes and coins for tipping purposes of porters at hotels/airports, guides, drivers, and ladies at bathroom entrances. This is a much appreciated source of income.
• ATMs: Very few machines and not reliable.
• Internet: Internet cafes can be found in most towns and the free web-based email accounts like Hotmail, Yahoo are best.
• Gateway Airport: Havana (HAV)