Cuba is a beautiful and diverse country with a proud cultural heritage; it lies 145km (90 miles) south of Florida and is made up of one large island and over 1,500 smaller ones.
Latin America meets the Caribbean – Cuba mixes idyllic beaches, tropical weather, historical sites (including the vintage cars), rum cocktails, fat cigars and a little bit of salsa, all adding up to make the perfect holiday destination.
Whether staying for a few nights or a few hours, a visit to Cuba is not complete without seeing its capital, Havana. During the day enjoy one of the many historical sites throughout the city, while after dark Havana offers a vast choice of evening entertainment with a range of restaurants, nightclubs, salsa bars and cabaret shows.
Two hours drive from Havana, Varadero is the largest beach resort in Cuba and with fine white sands stretching for some 20km it’s not hard to see why. With over 30 dive sites, a choice of water and land sporting activities including a golf course, not to mention the numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs there’s plenty to keep you busy if required.
Situated at the eastern end of Cuba, about 35minutes from Holguin, Guardalavaca is well suited to those looking for a tranquil resort with access to fabulous beaches, lush tropical vegetation and countryside.
An island in the middle of the north coast of Cuba, holidays in Cayo Coco are ideal for sun worshippers, scuba divers, bird watchers and nature lovers. This paradise island offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy some 10km of fantastic beaches as well as the world’s second largest coral reef and the El Bago Nature Park with its amazing variety of tropical plants and 150 species of birds which includes 30,000 pink flamingos.
The second largest city in Cuba, Santiago de Cuba is located on the South West coast of Cuba. Rich in history and the natural surroundings make this an ideal choice for those wanting more than just a beach holiday.
Cuba is the only Caribbean country with a public railway system; its rail network runs the length of the island, linking the main cities and towns offering a much more reliable and hassle-free way of getting around Cuba than the buses.
For local transportation it’s easy to get a taxi, horse drawn buggy or a Coco-taxi (a bright yellow motorised tricycle). Taxis can be flagged down in the street or found outside main hotels.
Anybody who owns a car in Cuba is willing to act as a taxi, but these are unofficial and often end up costing more than a tourist taxi.
The annual average temperature is 25ºC, with summer heat peaking around 30 degrees, and daytime temperatures in winter (Dec, Jan) rarely dropping below 18 degrees.
Dry season – November to April
Rainy season – May to October
Hurricane season – August to October
The official language is Spanish
All British nationals require a visa to enter Cuba and your passport must be valid for six months after your departure from Cuba
The tourist currency is the convertible pesos (CUC) and is only available in Cuba
US dollars as well as credit cards and travellers cheques associated with the US are not accepted in Cuba
Departure tax of 25 Convertible Pesos (CUCs) per person is payable locally
Posted : Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 09:21