Cuba is the hottest thing this year. With the new American embassy open as of summer 2015, it’s easier than ever for Americans to legally travel to Cuba, and the percentage of Americans who say they will or want to visit Cuba has risen 4% over the last year. Of course, people have been travelling there illegally, through Canada or Mexico, for a while now, but with the new rules in place, it’s crazy easy to now go as an individual.
Travel to Cuba
That being said, there are some … caveats. Anyone who wants to travel to Cuba still has to have a purpose for going, and that purpose can’t be to spend your week on the beach. Although… a lawyer who specialises in Cuban-American law has said that if you can’t fit yourself into one of the twelve categories, you’re “not trying” very hard. There also aren’t any commercial flights from the states. You can fly commercially through Cancun, Canada or Mexico City, which can be cheaper if you do the research. Or you can fly on one of the many charter flights available each week out of Miami, Los Angeles or New York.
The twelve categories include journalism, religion, education, visiting family, research, participating in athletics or performing in a show, or humanitarian work, among others. In fact, if you’re going there to work (and you will need to be able to prove that your work has either helped the Cuban economy or had an educational component to it,) you are allowed to take your family. For more on restrictions, visit the US embassy page.
One thing I’ve come across in my research is that many of the businesses in Cuba are government run. There’s a huge push toward private businesses, so if you want the best bang for your buck and a better experience, look for paladars (private restaurants) and stay in homestays.
But if you’re not allowed to be a beach bum, what do you do once you’ve jumped through all the hoops to travel to Cuba?
la habana vieja:
The old city of Havana is “both crumbling and soaring,” a step back in time with brightly coloured buildings and old cars. It’s filled with culture and history: 16th century fortresses and hidden courtyards that evoke the charms of the south.
live music and art museums:
{image from Havana Live}
A cultural education if I’ve ever heard of one. Cuban music packs jazz, rumba, mambo and other beats into it’s clubs and plazas. Alyssa, of My Life’s a Movie, also recommends a hot new art gallery/nightclub that everyone “should visit.” (Also, going could qualify you for the exhibition visa, although likely you will need to submit an itinerary.)
go to a baseball game:
{image from LA Times}
Randy Wayne Wright says this is one of the best ways to see the real Cuba, and since he’s been to Cuba 20 something times, I’m inclined to believe that. He writes, “most attract a cadre of fans who bring bongos, guitars, trumpets, and accordions; music that, depending on the score, lends an operatic flair, or a joyful thrumming that, to me, resembles a salsa band mounted on galloping horses.” With stadiums ranging from your average high school dusty diamond to major league facilities, games are entertaining and worth it.
the museo masonico:
{image from Panoramio}
Located in central Havana two miles west of central park, this is a hidden gem. You’ll have to tell the guard you want to visit the museo, and be escorted to the 11th floor for a sign-in and a guide, where Randy recommends asking if you can take photos – the view is incredible. In the museum, statues of our own American presidents sit side by side with heroes of the Cuban revolution.
cojimar:
{image from Fish Monster}
A tiny fishing village twenty minutes by cab from Havana is the setting of Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea. That’s educational. Also, the son and granddaughter of Raúl Corrales, the Cuban photographer who captured Guevara, Castro and Hemingway (among others) on camera, live in Cojimar and have a studio there. By even just talking to them, you’re supporting the arts.
cienfuegos:
{image from Lonely Planet}
Located in central Cuba, on strategic Cienfuegos Bay, this is a town of a little over 100,000 people. It’s one of Cuba’s newest cities, only founded in the mid 1800s. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site, whose unique architecture evokes Paris, France. Away from the glittering urban historic centre, the town quickly degenerates into crumbling cement buildings, but there is still plenty of money filtering through the town thanks to a chemical hub and electric plant, as well as a huge shipyard.
trinidad:
{image from Claire Boobbyer/Lonely Planet}
Nestled between the Escambray Mountains and the coast, Trinidad is a sugar plantation town. Remnants of this profitable enterprise are everywhere, in the Spanish colonial mansions, plazas and churches. Nowadays, the town is another UNESCO World Heritage site and home to an expanding restaurant scene to match its nightlife. Stay in a traditional homestay and explore the many paladares.
viñales:
{image from generacion cubana xc}
An agricultural area in the west of Cuba, near Pinar del Rio, Viñales is a third UNESCO World Heritage site, predominantly because of its traditional farming techniques and vernacular architecture that survives in the multi-cultural region. This is the main tobacco growing region, so it’s worth it to take a tour of some of the cigar plantations and enjoy one yourself. (Note: you are allowed to bring $100 worth of Cuban cigars into the states, LEGALLY. If John Kerry can do it, so can you!)
If you want more information on what to do in Havana, check out Alyssa’s blog post: 25 Awesome Things to do in Havana. and here’s what Randi has to say about Cuba:
“Cuba is by far one of my favorite countries. I went through a course with my graduate school. We flew from Tampa to Havana. I loved Havana – it was lively and upbeat. We stayed at the National Public Health School in Cuba so I had great home cooked food and a driver from campus that would take us around the city. There are a lot of new fancy restaurants that are popping up and many hipsters. It’s actually really funny to see how America has influenced the country – and the gates haven’t even opened.
We went to Veradado for the beach and it was incredible, but really busy!!! There are lots of restaurants and resorts so you can stay out there. Make sure to have drinks at the National Hotel of Cuba. It’s the oldest hotel in Cuba. Don’t stay there as it’s over priced, but has great history and drinks. Good shopping at Almacenes San Jose. Seems mass-produced but you can find a bargain. Airbnb is in Cuba so you can definitely find places to stay.
We also went to Vinales, Cuba. A rural area about 3 hours, I believe, from Havana and the best part of my whole trip! You can stay at guest houses while there. It’s a small town but rich in history, people are incredible, food is exceptional and they have great outdoor activities! In Vinales, stay with Dary Y Tuty guesthouse. It’s a beautiful place. I ate lobster every night. The visa process was super easy, exchanging money is easy, and it’s easy to bring things back to the States. I cant wait to go back. Best trip ever!”
more research:
New York Times
Huff Post: 12 Experiences in Cuba
Randy Wayne Wright on Cuba