Cuba

Located in the Caribbean and known for its vintage cars and its cigars, I had the chance to visit Cuba back in 2017, when I was living in Washington DC.

Although I only got to spend a few days there with friends, this trip was certainly a challenge (from getting our travel visas, to seeing propaganda in every corner) but I can’t wait to go back and explore more of this tropical island.

Have you been already? What did you think? Please share your comments below.

WELCOME TO Cuba!

Basic facts

Population: 11 million
Currency: Cuban peso (CUP). Check the current exchange rate here.
Language: the official language is Spanish
Territories: there are 15 provinces (‘provincias‘) in Cuba.
Main cities: La Habana (capita), Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, Holguín, Santa Clara.
Fun fact: playing domino is a national Cuban past-time.

Things to do

Visit the colonial heritage in Havana, although many houses are in ruins

Tour a tobacco plantation in Viñales and smoke a cigar

Enjoy the tropical life at the beach

SOME TIPS

Cuba is a communist regime. Propaganda is widespread across the country, as you will notice from the posters featuring Fidel Castro or Che Guevara. Keep a low-profile as dissidence and political opposition are prohibited and repressed.
If you’re traveling from the USA as a tourist, you might have a hard time getting your travel visa. You can check the latest requirements here.
In Cuba, booking a hotel online is still unusual. The most common option though is staying at a ‘casa particular‘ (private house). When we arrived to Havana, we just walked and asked around until we found one. Negotiate the price and that’s it. This kind of accommodation tends to be humble but it’s a great way to interact with locals and understand how their lives look like.