An insider’s guide to Cuba
With a range of sights to see and adventures to explore in Cuba, many travellers only scratch the surface of this sunny paradise. Cuba’s diverse and beautiful countryside is worth getting to know, so we’ve curated a list of excursions perfect for the traveller looking to unearth Cuba’s rich history and natural wonders with unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Write your own history in Havana
Havana, Cuba’s vibrant capital, is bustling with life and music with more than 500 years of history just ready to be explored. The Havana City Tour walks you through both Old and New Havana, and is an ideal way to experience the city in its natural form and learn what makes its heart beat. From the moment you step off the bus and into the past, you’ll explore the cobblestoned streets of the Old City – now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site – and look at colonial architecture and baroque churches. You can then visit the modern elements and attractions of New Havana like the vast Revolution Square with a monument of national hero Jose Marti, a local poet who became widely recognized as a symbol for Cuba’s independence from the Spanish Empire in the late 19th century. Fun fact: his writings inspired Fidel Castro to lead the Cuban Revolution in the late 1950s.
Try your hand at deep sea fishing
If you’re a fan of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, you know that the waters off Cuba are teeming with tropical marine life that you won’t find anywhere else. Deep sea fishing is a sport that presents a challenge for even the most experienced fishermen, and on the Deep Sea Fishing Tour with Sunwing Experiences, you’ll be one and the same out in search of wahoo, kingfish and swordfish. Your guides will take you to the hottest fishing spots in Varadero that are well-known to locals, and provide you with all the necessary equipment and teach you their ways, so you’re armed with everything you’ll need to be Cuba’s next great fishing star. In the event you’re not so lucky with the fish, the open bar will help pass the time while you catch some rays!
Spend the night in Topes de Collantes
Enjoying the day on the beach is always a dream but spending your time exploring inland, meeting new people and overnighting in the rainforest could be exactly what you need. The Topes de Collantes Overnight excursion takes you on a two-day tour of Sancti Spiritus visiting the conserved sugar mills and plantations in Trinidad, the Che Guevera Mausoleum in Santa Clara and walking the ancient streets of Cienfuegos. These historical cities are not as well-known by tourists and paint an authentic picture of Cuban life. After spending the night at Los Helechos hotel in the centre of Topes de Collantes National Park, take a military truck to a nature trail where you’ll see and feel the jungle’s elements, venture through the rainforest and chase waterfalls.
Explore tobacco fields and caves in Vinales
A paradise for nature lovers, Vinales Valley is the marrying of landscapes between the rugged hills of Cuba’s western coast and fertile valleys. On a tour through Vinales, you’ll have the opportunity to walk through the verdant fields and plantations, learning how Cuba’s world-famous tobacco is grown before stopping at a cigar factory where you’ll watch a master craftsman at work. From there you’ll explore more rugged landscapes with a visit to the spectacular caverns of Cueva del Indio where limestone caves feature unique, natural rock formations and bubbling underground rivers offering never-ending sites of exploration. A boat ride through the valley and Cuba’s dense jungle is a great way to cap off your unforgettable day.
Spot a cultural icon in La Mensura National Park
If you love to be immersed in nature and get an adrenaline rush while doing so, the Mountain Adventure and History experience is right up your alley. The historic La Mensura National Park on Cuba’s southeast coast is the perfect playground to cruise on a Jeep, journeying to the Gran Salto del Guayabo, Cuba’s largest waterfall, uncovering hidden gems as you go. Take the time to get to know the local flora and fauna, much of which is endemic to Cuba, and look up to see more than 140 varieties of birds fly above you. If you’re lucky, you might even spot Cuba’s national bird, the Tocororo, aptly named for its song and once used as a symbol of the Cuban Revolution. Before packing it up for the day, history buffs will enjoy a visit to the birthplace of Fidel Castro.
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