Cuba Holidays
Overview
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Cuba holidays offer more than just a quirky sense of the past. Aside from the iconic capital Havana, discover pristine beaches and wild strands of jungle on holidays to Cuba. By day swim in a lake under the waterfalls of Topes de Collantes and then stop off at Cien Fuegos, Trinidad and Santa Clara for a different Cuban experience. At night see an exuberant mixture of professional Cuban dance and folk stories at the world famous Tropicana Night Club, or simply relax poolside with a mojito
Cuba Highlights
Beaches: Bordered by the bright blue seas of the Caribbean and warmed by the tropical climate, the beaches in Cuba are truly a sight to behold. Varadero, located on the north coast of Cuba boasts 23kms of beautiful white sand beach, a popular spot for locals and tourists offering beach life with a distinct Cuban flavour. For something different take a sea safari and go snorkelling off the pristine, white sandy beaches of Guardalavaca, home to stunning coral reefs which keep the water calm most of the time making it perfect for families and gentle swimming. Virtually untouched, the upcoming little island of Cayo Santa Maria In the Jardine Del Rey Archipelago, is a UNESCO's Biosphere Reserve and offers amazing semi-deserted beaches, ideal for those seeking the ultimate romantic hideaway.
History & Culture: If history is what you're looking for a trip to Cuba is not complete without visiting the vibrant city of Havana with its array of 1950's cars, colonial architecture and grand buildings. Other cultural sites of interest include the museum and monument of Plaza de la Revolution in Santa Clara where you can learn more about the legend of ?El Che?, as well as the quaint town of Trinidad which is a museum in itself with cobblestone streets and beautiful palaces and plazas, one of the most interesting sites here has to be the valley of the sugar mills which has been declared a world heritage site.
Havana:Havana is one of the world's most fascinating, vibrant and frayed capital cities, the political and cultural heart of Cuba, is an essential place to visit. Old Havana or Habana Vieja as it is locally known, was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1982, this area has a plethora of architectural, cultural and historical sights. Make sure your visit the Plaza de la Catedral, Havanas a well preserved and authentic square as well as the Catedral de San Cristobal, an impressive 18th century building set to the north side of the square.
Night Life and Salsa: It is by night that the streets of Cuba come alive with the beat of salsa cascading through the streets. Head to the world famous nightclub Tropicana in Havana to see an exuberant mixture of professional dance and folk stories, or during the carnival period, travel to Santiago for colourful street parades, extraordinary costumes and dance to the rhythm of Caribbean drums. The town in Varadero also offers local bars, restaurants and cabaret shows and Guardalavaca has night clubs and outdoor parties held on the beach, ideal for those who don't want to spend all evening in resort.
Sports & Activities: Cuba has a variety of exciting sports and activities. There's amusement parks, watersports, museums, art galleries, nature and eco tours, fishing, excursions to sugar mills, cigar and rum factories and the list goes on? For keen divers and snorkelers the best place to be is Guardalavaca. Just off the shores the coral reef here is a wonder to explore with hidden caves and shipwrecks.
Cuba Factfile
When to go
Temperature Range: 18°C - 32°C
Most popular: Mid December - mid March and Summer school holidays
Best value: June, September and October
Best weather: Mid December - mid March
Travel Information
Direct flights: Virgin Atlantic and Thomson
Indirect flights: KLM, Air France and Iberia
Visa information: Tourist card required
Health information: Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid immunisation and malaria tablets are recommended.
Time Difference: GMT -5 hours
When To Go
Best Value
The cheapest months to go to Cuba tend to be May, June September and October. May and June traditionally are the start of the rainy season and September and October are in the midst of the hurricane season so weather during these times is somewhat less appealing for some, however both flights and hotels offer better rates and it generally still very warm and sunny with intermittent showers.
Best Time to Go
March, April October, and November are generally the best times to visit Cuba, as these months usually experience the nicest weather and least rain. Temperatures during these months will range from 26-30 ºC and there will be little if any humidity.
Most Popular
Cuban families flock to the beaches during their summer breaks of July and August, this is also a peak time for tourists from Europe due to school summer breaks, which can mean the beaches and restaurants are a little more crowded. Traditionally however, the peak tourist season is from mid December to mid March as this is when Cuba benefits from the nicest weather, ideal for tourists who want to escape the harsh winter months back home.
Hottest
The hottest months in Cuba are usually July and August when temperatures can reach mid thirties.
If you are staying along the coast temperatures are slightly cooler due to the sea breeze however in mainland areas and towns you can expect not much breeze at all.
Climate
Cuba's climate is predominantly warm. The island's average temperature is around 26ºC and average
humidity is around 78 per cent. It also sees an average of 330 days of sunshine a year making for a perfect year round destination. Cuba's two clearly defined seasons are the rainy season (May to October) and the dry season (November to April).
Cuba Travel Information
Etiquette and Customs
Although crime is relatively low always be aware of possessions and do not draw attention to yourself with extravagant expensive jewellery.
Avoid littering as it is against the law.
Penalties for possession, acquisition, and trafficking of drugs are severe and include mandatory lengthy imprisonment in local prisons.
Men should avoid wearing shorts unless on the beach, for women fairly modest clothing is a good option when travelling inland, especially if visiting any religious sites.
Learning to say even the simplest phrases such as 'thank you' (gracias), and 'please' (por favor) in Spanish is courteous and locals will appreciate you making an effort.
It is also worth noting that a display of affection between same-sex couples is still not completely tolerated in Cuba.
Tipping
Tipping can be a vital part of Cuban family income due to low average salaries. For restaurants we would usually recommend leaving 10% gratuity depending on service. Tip porters about 1 Peso per check in/out depending on amount of luggage, and also tip hotel maids around the same per night.
Flight information
There are four main carriers offering flights to Cuba from the UK two of which fly direct.
Direct Carriers: Direct carriers from the UK are Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick to Havana and Thomson from Manchester to Varadero, London Gatwick and Manchester to Holguin and seasonally from London Gatwick or Manchester to Santa Clara (Cayo Santa Maria)
Indirect Carriers: KLM and Air France fly to Havana from London Heathrow and Manchester going via Amsterdam and Paris and also Iberia from London Heathrow via Madrid
Visa information
A tourist card is required which must be obtained prior to travel and is valid for stays of up to 30 days. There is a departure tax of 25 Pesos payable locally at the airport.
