Cuba, the "Pearl of the Antilles,"
is the largest and from the traveler's perspective the least commercialised
Caribbean country. It beckons the jaded traveler with its picturesque
colonial towns, intriguing Afro-Cuban culture, rousing revolutionary monuments,
almost 300 unblemished beaches, enchanting countryside, and potent rum
- even the beer is excellent. Activities such as scuba diving, yachting,
fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching can be easily arranged
through our website. The Cuban people are sincerely friendly and extend
the same warm welcome to all guests from all countries.
For four centuries Cuba was the main gateway to Spain's
vast American empire, and cities such as Havana, Matanzas, Trinidad, Sancti
Spiritus, Camaguey, Bayamo, Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba stand as sentinels
to bygone colonial glory.
Havana, with 2.1 million inhabitants, is the largest city
in the Caribbean. Founded on its present site in 1519, it is one of the
oldest cities in the Americas.
The Spanish built protective fortresses of solid stone
to keep out pirates and their European enemies, and these outposts still
guard picturesque Old Havana, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site,
whose charm is truly captivating. The richness of Cuba's culture is well
reflected in its many museums, several dozen of which are in Havana.
The capital is a world-class artistic center with numerous
galleries, theaters and literary centers gracing the quaint colonial streets
and squares. Cuba truly is a musical watershed where the rumba, mambo,
cha cha cha, son and salsa all originated. Its unspoiled landscape extends
well beyond the magnificent coastal beaches and pristine reefs to verdant
valleys and rugged mountains.
For the individual traveler Cuba is a fascinating smorgasbord
of nonstop discovery and experience. It is a surprisingly easy country
to visit; one can rent a car or board a train or bus and go anywhere.
No special rules or regulations hamper tourists.
This is one of the last truly unspoiled countries in the
world, practically free of the crime and drug trade present at some other
tourist destinations. The hotels are numerous and prices vary from inexpensive
to five-star luxury. Visitors can also stay in private homes. For the
tourist who wants only a week or two in the sun, Cuba provides various
smart resorts, plus glimpses of history in the making. See Beach
Resorts for the enticing details. |