Trip Itinerary

¡Vamos a CUBA!

Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean, is an absolute gem for travel. A wealth of colonial architecture, perfect climate, pristine beaches, a dynamic music and arts culture, diverse geography and last, but not least, incredibly warm and welcoming people.

We fly from Miami to Havana, hub of the island nation since the Spanish arrived in 1515. Alive with the sounds of Cuban rhythms, the old city of Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has gone through significant restoration recently to bring it back to its full elegance. ‘Anything is possible in Havana,’ wrote British novelist Graham Greene. This is the city that brought us salsa, daiquiris and the Buena Vista Social Club.

From Havana we visit Las Terrazas in Pinar del Rio, a scenic wonderland and home to artisans and farmers. Depart for Santa Clara and on to Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where trade in sugar brought great riches to the area. When that trade diminished and the slave trade ended in the mid-19th century, Trinidad became a backwater and because little building work was carried until the 1950s many of the historic buildings and streets were preserved. Trinidad now hosts many artists’ studios and some renowned potters. Following two nights in this beautiful beach town we continue east to Camagüey. Famous for its clay water collectors and built as a maze to thwart pirate attacks, Camagüey offers wonderful music venues.

Continue on to Santiago de Cuba on the island’s east end, known as the “heroic city” for its citizens’ contribution to the struggle for independence since Colonial times. From Santiago, Fidel Castro led the revolution against Batista, and we visit San Juan Hill of Teddy Roosevelt fame, where the battle between American and Spanish troops marked the end of Spanish colonialism on the American continent. Again, traditional music thrives in this city and we’ll have opportunities to listen, and dance!

Cuba is among the world’s fastest growing travel destinations. Since the 1959 Revolution, Cuba has been subjected to a trade and economic embargo by the United States. 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.