Five Things to See In Cuba

by edstorm

Discover five of Cuba’s most interesting cultural and scenic destinations.

The Caribbean island of Cuba is an increasingly popular tourist destination. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the country has relaxed control over its borders and visitors are becoming acquainted with the country’s vibrant Latin culture and natural beauty.

Here are five sights not to miss on a tour of Cuba:

1. La Bodeguita del Medio

La Bodeguita del Medio
La Bodeguita del Medio

This famous restaurant and bar was a favourite haunt of Ernest Hemingway, and was frequented by some of Latin America’s most famous personalities, including Chilean president Salvador Allende and the poet Pablo Neruda. The bar has a quirky interior, including a wall covered by hundreds of thousands of signatures left by bar patrons over the decades. Try a genuine Cuban mojito while you’re there – the bar claims to have invented the drink.

2. Plaza de la Revolución

Plaza de la Revolución
Plaza de la Revolución

Havana’s Revolution Square is famous as Cuba’s political hotspot. This square is where the Cuban Communist Party holds rallies and where the Party leadership addresses the Cuban population. Several monuments are dotted around this sprawling plaza, including a memorial to state hero Jose Marti that features a 109-meter tower. On the far side of the square is an iconic mural of Che Guevara.

3. Trinidad Old Town

Trinidad Old Town
Trinidad Old Town

The town of Trinidad is home to some of Cuba’s best-preserved colonial architecture. The town is regarded by many as a living museum with its cobblestone streets and ornate buildings and plazas. This is also the perfect destination for some cigar shopping – the town is the center of the tobacco processing industry in Cuba.

4. Viñales Valley

Viñales Valley
Viñales Valley

The lush Viñales Valley is one of Cuba’s most scenic destinations. The natural beauty of the area make it popular with tourists and hikers, and the valley supports a range of plants and animals that occur nowhere else. It should be included in all Cuba tours, if only for its most striking feature, the large ”mogotes” – steep cliffs that rise from the floor of the valley. The area is also well known for its quaint rural architecture and hospitality.

5. San Pedro de la Roca Castle

San Pedro de la Roca Castle
San Pedro de la Roca Castle

The castle at San Pedro de la Roca is a remarkably well-preserved castle located on the coastline of the city of Santiago de Cuba. The castle was constructed in 1637 as a defence against pirate attacks. It was subsequently used to fend off attacks from French and American fleets, and later turned into an internment facility for political prisoners. The site is now a popular tourist attraction and offers superb views over Santiago de Cuba’s picturesque bay, out to the Caribbean Sea.

Experience Cuba for yourself by a booking a fully escorted tour with one of the world’s oldest and most trusted tour operators.

Updated: 12/13/2012, edstorm
 
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Mira on 04/23/2014

I read this again :). My question remains ;-)

Mira on 12/13/2012

Interesting. I enjoyed your article. Any books you recommend on traveling through Cuba?

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