And I mean, yeah,, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, stunningly diverse in both its geography and lifestyles. On the way, we were treated too the annual trek of the local crabs, who once a year make there way from the swamps to the ocean. Its also where they filmed Fresa y Chocolate. 10 of the best places to visit in Cuba - Lonely Planet You have to, of course, go to La Bodeguita for their famous mojitos and La Floridita for their daiquiris. Yes Havana is worth visiting, especially if you have the time to go to: El Morro Castillo. Its a spacious one-bedroom that emanates a vintage traveler aesthetic. The companionship was outstanding. The bus was A/C, comfortable seats, and in good condition like a greyhound bus. The spots that guarantee live music almost all day are La Bodeguita del Medio, La Floridita, and La Vitrolabut live music can be found everywhere in La Habana Vieja. Did that day trip a few years back and had a real good time! The Western boundary of Old Havana is Paseo del Prado, the main street connecting the Malecon to the Capitol building. This is Safi Leah, a fanatic content writer for Vibes Group UK. One of the best places to go, because of its proximity and beauty, is Viales. Then Planetarium is a must-visit place in Havana for you. The fruitless search for Internet will ruin your trip, so take advantage of the circumstances to disconnect. Live bands are everywhere in La Habana! I . The Museum Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana is an obvious (and well worth it) attraction, with a mix of modern and contemporary art (some political, all impassioned), but dont overlook the lesser known museums and galleries, like the Wifredo Lam Center of Contemporary Art, and the Taller Experimental de Grfica in Old Havana, or the Kcho Estudio in Romerillo. Cabs are available outside, along with pushy people ready to load your luggage for a tip. You could definitely get by on much less, but it depends on what you want out of the experience. The best place to start is Old Havana. In fact it was so bad I won't use them again. You will use your calculator a lot. I have wanted to visit ever since meeting my husband, Bryan in 2015; its where he was born and spent the better part of his childhood. Also, being fluent in Spanish was definitely a bonus. some hotels have excursion booths set up and you will probably find a tour to bay of pigs. 20 things to know before going to Cuba - Lonely Planet Love is the food of life, and travel is the dessert, so make sure you travel till the end of time with people you love and gain some amazing holiday vibes! We shared it with two Italian girls on the way there, and a Norwegian couple on the way back. He was a school teacher before becoming a guide and we found him fantastic. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-70749277', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cuba and if staying in Varadero a day trip like reply #8 mentioned is well worth it. I knew it was popular, but I didnt expect a New Years Eve-level turnout on an average Saturday night. Hi, I think we got there in approximately 5 hours, but we got stuck in traffic jam when leaving Varadero. Great for short distances at a low price. There is so much to see in Havana, and we were only able to cover a portion of that in our 4 day trip. Cuba is also home to some worth-visiting caves. While in Cuba, we stayed at three different Airbnbs. Bonjour, je prvois d'aller la Baie des Cochons depuis Vinales et je me demandais si c'tait facile d'accs, combien de temps il faut sur place pour profiter et faire de la plonge et ensuite si c'est difficile de retourner sur la Havane aprs ? Pro tip:Whenever lost, simply make your way to the Malecon. One must see the Palace of Fine Arts when in Havana. Go through a cultural travel agency like Insight Cuba that promotes people-to-people interactions. You can take a 45-minute virtual trip through space in its interior, passing by more than 2,500 stars and the Solar Systems major planets. I dove headfirst into a full day of sightseeing to enjoy every aspect of the country's beating heart, and was . 3. There is no Uber, but apparently, there is an app that is similar, called La Nave. This review is based upon our booking the trip through virgin holidays our tour operator. 11 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Cuba And in this way, as in several others, Cuba confuses its visitors. It wasn't an easy access, but still good if you are not too clumsy. The music was great, a mix of reggaeton and hip-hop, and the drinks were expensive but cargados. I visited the Big Island solo a couple of years ago (when the volcano was just slightly active). We designated this spot as our coffee shop and came three separate times for americanos and cortados. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Women especially will come to the Bosque and make a small offering ot the river. If you want to hear or dance to authentic Cuban music, this is not the place to go. Are there any day tours available in bay of pigs or local to that area ? . Travelers favorites include #1 El Malecn, #2 Old Havana (Habana Vieja) and more. The further you stay at the end of the peninsula the better the beaches (in my humble opinion). As part of your trip prep, be sure to convert your USD to EUR, GBP, or CAD before leaving. Oops! Once a place of invasion, now a place of incredible beauty. These classics operate as taxi particulars. So, yeahlots of room for budgeting. Re: Visit to Havana.is it worth it? We visited Cuba recently ,,,,, spent 19 days there. A second breakfast favorite was El Dandy, a corner caf in Plaza del Cristo that grants a perfect vantage point of the street activity. While Havana, with its grandiose architecture and vibrant culture, continues to be the number one place to visit for travelers to Cuba, taking a break from the city buzz will recharge your batteries and give you a broader scope of Cuba's authentic experiences. Address: Merced 69 e/ Cuba y San Ignacio, Habana Vieja Contact: +53 7860 1725, +53 53468789, therealjibaro@gmail.com. Additionally, they will take ten minutes to stop at Revolution Square to allow time to get out and walk around and take pictures of the large images of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Varadero. I dove headfirst into a full day of sightseeing to enjoy every aspect of the country's beating heart, and was quick to fall in love with the city and everything it has to offer. Unless youre in a rush and dont want to flag down a taxi particular (or feel like throwing away money), theres no real reason to take a government taxi. Her son Yuriel coordinates all stays from Miami, where he lives and works. When to visit Getting around Map & Neighborhoods Photos Overview Things to do When to visit Getting around Map & Neighborhoods Photos Why Go To Havana, Cuba Cuba is full of life, and Havana. He would wait for you. Do you want to travel through time and space? You will find certain aspect of its system wonderfulits education, cultural institutions, healthcareand others frightful. Experiences, Direct contact Monthly Resort Rates all incl. The third floor opens up into a bustling club filled with people, cigar smoke, and rich Jazz music. Keep in mind that your cell phone will not work in Cuba and WiFi, while available at some hotels and public parks, is not something that you can expect to enjoy. There is some risk your change could be counterfeit. This should last you quite a few days, but you can add more data at the offices for $2 for 2 gigs. we have his number if interested. From here, you can make your way along the Malecon (do so in the early evening for the sunset views). The Caribbean island's largest city is the heart of urban life. Yes it's mainly resorts but still worth it. Pas mal de questions mais si vous avez la moindre infos je suis preneuse merci beaucoup !! It is nestled on top of a hill overlooking the entrance to the eastern part of the bay. During our trip, we not only explored the well maintained historic neighborhoods, but also the run down parts of the city which are more or less in ruins. We finished the day off on the tourist beach at the bay of pigs, clear waters,very shallow and a hint of the past with the odd machine gun post still on view! Cond Nast Traveler does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. And if you get the chance, visit the home studios of local artists like Frank Mujica Chvez. I can confirm that it was in fact a breeze to get through upon arrival (although youll be wishing for a breeze in the very hot staging area and baggage claim). Ive found a glimpse of heaven in every destination I stepped on and found divinity through the people I met there. Your credit and/or debit cards will not work in Cuba. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Havana - UPDATED 2023 - Tripadvisor Go Go Go before it is too late!!!! ATMs are scarce, and you dont want to wait in an hour-long line to finally reach the machine only to realize that it has run out of cash. Everyone will experience Cuba differently. If so, what is the best method..bus tourtaxi on our own..private tour operator? Tour old Havana - the old town, cigars and classic cars. Seeing the actual city is so much different from viewing a map of the streets and trying to figure out the important sights at each Plaza in the Old Town. On a similar note, most travelers recommendavoiding any sandwiches or pizzas and ice cream from street vendors. Equally as important, you will only be able to convert to CUC (the Cuban Convertible Pesos the tourist currency) once youre on the ground in Cuba. You will get sick (speaking from experience). Typically, the most cost-effective way to do this is through your bank by ordering the currency in advance. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. They have great guides and if you are lucky enough to get Valarie you'll get an excellent history lesson too. Navigating is fairly easy despite the lack of any real street signs. There is also a small bar at the entrance where they give you full reign of the rum bottles. This long, skinny peninsula juts out from the northern coast of Cuba, creating a semi-protected extension of nearly 10 miles (18 kilometers) of perfect beaches. Very few people you will encounter in Havana speak English, with the exception of some tour guides, wait staff, and locals telling you about the one day only cigar festival that ends in 30 minutes.