Introducing Cuba
Defying all logic, the world’s 105th-largest country is also one of its most instantly recognizable. Think psychedelic Che Guevara murals and antediluvian American Buicks, dudes with bongos and old men slapping down dominoes, queues outside ration shops and communist cadres smoking chunky Montecristos. Cuba has a way of going against the grain. It’s all part of its historical make-up, part of its dynamism, part of its intrinsic beauty.
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Travel here not only requires a passport, money and a good sturdy rucksack; it also requires flexibility, creativity, good humor, patience and a healthy sense of adventure. Speaking Spanish, though not a prerequisite, is undoubtedly a huge advantage, and will allow you to travel further and dig deeper than the average tourist.
Linguistic dexterity aside, Cuba remains an easy country to travel in and there are few barriers stopping you from wandering around pretty much how and as you choose. A slight loosening of the screws since Raúl Castro took office in February 2008 has allowed Cubans access to cell phones and entry into tourist hotels, meaning interaction with the locals is now simpler and often surprisingly candid.
Last updated: Jul 1, 2009
Tips & articles
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Cuban literature
22 June 2010
Reading the local literature before you go is a good way to get a greater understanding of a destination....
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Travel literature review: Lunatic Express
22 June 2010
The Lunatic Express by Carl Hoffman Rating: 3 out of 5 Reviewed by Lucy Birchley Lucy is a Communications...
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Top 10 hedonistic city breaks
25 May 2010
Whether you want beach parties, packed-out clubs or sexy tango schools, surrender to the seduction of...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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a small weather queston
by un_australian 0 replies, last post 01 August 2010
Does anyone think it's going to be cold enough in Cuba in August, given that I will probably cycle (and camp) up in the mountains, to…
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!A la Batalla!
by wowcuba 8 replies, last post 31 July 2010
Are we "off to battle" again on this, or will we now instead take a more pacifist tactic and continue to share language/cultural/linguistic…
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How little posters
by cubalibre002 89 replies, last post 29 July 2010
I always wonder how little Germans are posting. There are Daniel1971 and me. Out of 82.000.000 people. For years it was only me. And…
Hotels & Hostels in Cuba
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Hostal Maritza y Guillen
Havana
Book now
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Gertrudis
Havana
Book now
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Gina y Yanin
Havana
Book now
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Cuba
Our Top Picks For Cuba
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1 Las Terrazas
Model village and eco-lodge nestled in reforested UNESCO biosphere
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2 Viñales
Spectacular limestone cliffs, lush green tobacco fields, and an expansive network of caves
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3 Punta Francés
Wrecks, drop-offs, caves and coral reefs, make this one of the Caribbean’s best diving spots
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4 Havana
Old forts, fascinating museums and a kicking Caribbean nightlife
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5 Varadero
Gorgeous beaches, swanky resorts and first-class tourist facilities
Fast Facts about Cuba
- Visa
All visitors require a tourist card (CUC$15), which is usually issued with your plane ticket or can be bought at airports.
- Money
Cuban convertible peso (CUC$) and Cuban peso (CUP; also known as moneda nacional, MN); CUC$1 = US$1.08 = €0.82 = UK £0.76
- Official name
Republic of Cuba
- Departure tax
CUC$25 (cash only)
- Area
110, 860 sq km
- Population
11.3 million
- Famous for
Cigars, rum, Fidel Castro, salsa, classic cars
- Country code
53
- Language
Spanish
- Capital
- Phrase
Qué bolá asere? (What’s up, brother?); chao/chaocito (goodbye/bye)
- Number of cell phones
198,000
Related Groups
Our favourite Cuba Blogs (beta)
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Pic of the Week: Take a trip to Havana
Blog: Solo Traveler - 15 July 2010
This week's pic offers a classic view of Havana with a classic car and a link to a post on Crashing a Salsa Club solo.
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A Little Reflection…Travel Memories: Cuban Men Chatting Through Windows
Blog: A Little Adrift - A RTW Travelogue - 5 July 2010
Travel Memories: Cuban Men Chatting Through Windows I haven’t talked much about traveling through Cuba but this image is pretty iconicly Cuba in my memories – the cities are filled with crumbling houses once painted with an array of blues, yellows and oranges but the wealth that built most of Cuba decades ago has simply faded over the years – zero maintenance and little money an equalizer in the city. Every single house has these huge floor length windows looking onto the streets and it’s completely common to glimpse grandmothers perched ...
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Featured image 6 – Cuban curves
Blog: photito's blog - 2 July 2010
There are lots of colorful Cuba moments. The cars, the houses, the people. The cars are a fascinating feature, perhaps the single most recognizable item associated with Cuba. The cars and Fidel Castro’s signature uniform… I am normally not a car enthusiast. I don’t know my Honda from a Ford. To me cars are color [...]
