Cuba holidays

Things to do

• Discover the city of Havana, where monuments of the revolution stand side by side in the bustling old town. Explore the cities of Holguin and Trinidad, known for their Spanish history and colonial architecture. Cruise Caribbean waters by catamaran or James Bond-style speedboat. Climb aboard the Sugar Express, a 1920s steam train, and take in the sights and scents of cigars, rum and sugar being made. Feel the soft brush of a dolphin’s nose against your cheek and marvel at their graceful movements as you swim with them.
  
  Excursions:
  From Varadero:
• Havana overnight - Approx. £85
• Trinidad - Approx. £100
  From Guardalavaca:
• Swim with dolphins - Approx. £40
• Havana overnight - Approx. £110
  
  From Cayo Coco/Guillermo:
• Havana overnight - Approx. £110
• Catamaran - Approx. £40
  
  Please note: if you leave the Cayos to visit the mainland, you will always be required to show your passport.

Explore your destination

Havana Overnight
Cuba’s capital is bursting at the seams with culture and rhythm. Discover Havana’s old city with its beautiful colonial buildings and cobbled streets, be inspired in Revolution Square and see Hemingway’s hangouts, vintage cars and the world-famous cabaret at Tropicana.

Available from Varadero and Guardalavaca. Prices from approx. £94pp (adult); £51pp (child)

Dolphin Swim
Get up close and personal with these incredible creatures. In a beautiful lagoon, you’ll be introduced with a kiss before holding onto their fins and being pulled through the water. In totally natural surroundings, this is one swim you’ll never forget.

Available from Varadero and Guardalavaca. Prices from approx. £47pp (adult); £47pp (child)

Rambo Tour
You’ll discover the best of Trinidad’s stunning scenery on this two-day tour. After a day’s sightseeing, you’ll stay the night in a rainforest hotel and wake up for a day of adventure, trekking through fascinating landscapes to reach dramatic waterfalls in real Rambo style.

Available from Varadero. Prices from approx. £71pp (adult); £53pp (child)

Fantastica
An experience of a lifetime, you’ll spend the day seeing a traditional side of Cuba as well as swimming with dolphins. You’ll drive by a traditional farmer’s house, see a replica Indian village and visit a local school before jumping in and meeting the world’s friendliest mammals.

Available from Guardalavaca. Prices (based on staying in Guardalavaca) from approx. £74pp (adult); £51pp (child)


Please note: for further details, please speak to your Representative in resort. This is an example guide only and excursions and prices will be subject to change according to season, availability and demand.

Highlights

• Exploring Havana is a must on your Cuba holiday, taking in this capital city’s famous domed Capitol, historic fortresses, seafront promenade and colourful culture
• Lazing on the dazzling white sand of your Cuba beach resorts, whether you’re on holiday in Varadero, Guardalavaca or the Cayos
• Seeing the real Cuba in Guardalavaca, an unspoilt resort which has retained its village feel, with a sprinkling of bars and restaurants and a little craft market
• Strolling around the capital’s Old Havana quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with 1950s American classic cars cruising past beautiful Baroque buildings
• Diving in Cayo Coco is a fabulous alternative to Cuba’s Caribbean dive sites, with exciting dives in the Atlantic Ocean, spotting corals, snappers and stingrays
• Experiencing the colourful nights of Tropicana, the famous open-air cabaret venue, where shows are filled with fantastic costumes, Cuban music and lively dancing
• Reliving history in Havana’s Revolution Square, with its iron mural of Cuba’s iconic hero, Che Guevara
• Cruising on a catamaran from Varadero and the Cayos, you’ll enjoy drinks on board and lunch included, with swimming and snorkelling at coral reefs
• Swimming with dolphins from Varadero or the Cayos is unforgettable in Cuba, hugging and playing with these incredible creatures in specially designed habitats
• Sipping a mojito cocktail in Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bar, the Floridita in Havana
• Snorkelling and diving in Varadero’s clear Caribbean water, especially in Cayo Piedra Underwater Park where wreck divers can explore sunken yachts and planes

Food and drink

Mixing Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisine, Cuba is a fantastic spot for food lovers, with seafood the country’s speciality and many dishes adding a Creole flavour.

For a real taste of Cuba on holiday, search out one of Havana’s Paladares, small restaurants run out of Cubans' homes, where you can try favourites like the Arroz con pollo chicken dish and plates of Picadillo minced beef, both served up with rice.

When you’ve got a thirst on, try rum-fused cocktails like Havana’s famous Daiquiri or a minty Mojito, Cuba’s national drink; if you prefer coffee to cocktails, try café con leche, a blend of fresh coffee and frothy hot milk.

Evening Flavour

By night, Havana comes alive with salsa and Afro-Cuban bars, bursting at their seams with rhythm and people, and clubs like the world-famous Club Tropicana, with its spectacular cabaret shows.

Cuba’s beach resorts, like the Cayos and Guardalavaca tend to host most entertainment in the hotels, but in Varadero you’ll also find a good selection of bars, discos and cabaret shows, perfect for tapping your toes to.

Shopping

Most holidaymakers can’t leave Cuba without some world-renowned Havana cigars; fresh Cuban coffee, like Cubiata; legendary Havana Club rum; and something decorated with an image of Cuba’s icon, Che Guevara, making for a great quirky souvenir.

Havana’s flea market is a memorable place to go on your Cuba holiday, bartering with locals for handcrafted mementos and beautiful paintings. Make sure you get necessary export licences for artwork.

The beach resorts also have their fair share of gift shops, with cigars and rum filling the shelves and, in Varadero, there are many little artisans’ stalls.

Dates for the Diary

Every July, the island bursts into the three day Days of Rebelliousness festival, celebrating the start of Castro’s revolution, the 1953 attack on Santiago de Cuba’s Moncada Garrison.

For the Family

• Learning the incredible story of Che Guevera, an Argentine doctor who fought to help the poor by leading Cuba in a socialist revolution at Havana’s Revolution Museum
• Seeing the shiny American vintage cars, like Chevys, Cadillacs and Chryslers, which make Cuba the king of cool
• Playing in the ultimate sandpit in the Cayos, with secluded beaches for sandcastle building and shallow waters perfect for paddling

Local weather

Information

Language: Spanish.
Currency: Convertible Peso (CUC). As you cannot obtain or exchange CUCs outside Cuba, it is recommended you take GB£s in cash or travellers cheques and exchange them for CUCs on arrival. This can be done at all hotels, banks and international airports. Exchange any unused CUCs back into GB£s before leaving Cuba. Please note: the US$ is no longer accepted in Cuba to purchase goods or services. Credit cards continue to be accepted as payment in major establishments and also for cash advances at banks, hotels and exchange houses, provided an American bank does not issue them. For example, American Express cards and travellers cheques are not acceptable, regardless of country of issue. Before travelling, please check with your bank for the most up to date currency information. Standard GMT: - 5 hrs.
Cuba Tourist Board: 1st Floor, 154 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JT. Tel: 0207 240 6655. www.cubatravel.cu

Travel money

Convertible Cuban Peso

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.