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Why You Should Discover Cuba
The time to visit Cuba is now! President Barack Obama’s announcement in 2014 that he was reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba was exhilarating. For the first time in decades every U.S. citizen can now travel to this Caribbean island of eccentricity and enigma.
With all the media attention
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Plan a Trip to Cuba with this Two-Week Itinerary
Cuba is a large island, and exploring the isle fully would take at least a month, but the following fast-paced itinerary combines a sampling of the top scenery, beaches, and cities for those intent on seeing the best of the island. Rent a car and plan to spend at least three days sampling Havana b
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Trip Planning: Where to Go in Cuba
Cuba travel maps by region.
Cuba is a diverse country with a lot to offer travelers. Kick-start your trip planning with this helpful overview of travel-worthy sights and destinations.
Havana
Habana Vieja (Old Havana) is the colonial core, full of plazas, cathedrals, museums, and bars. Parque His
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One Indulgent Week in Cuba
Cuba is a mother lode for anyone who loves classic American autos, fine cigars, quality rums, and Las Vegas-style cabaret revues. Before 1959, Havana was the hottest spot in the Caribbean, notorious for its glittering cabarets, smooth rum, and chrome-laden Cadillacs. The good news is that the tail
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Find the Best Dive Sites in Cuba
Diving with whale sharks. Photo © Krzsztof Odziomek/123rf.
Cuba has some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular diving, much of it almost entirely virgin. The coral formations rival those of anywhere else in the region, and the wreck diving is varied and fascinating: take your pick from Spanish
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Cuba in 13 Days: ¡Viva la Revolución!
Many a traveler departs Cuba wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the world-renowned image of Che Guevara. That doesn’t necessarily indicate a fondness for Communism, or even Che. Still, thousands of visitors do arrive every year to pay homage to, or at least learn about, the revolución. Whatever you
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Why You Should Travel to Havana, Cuba
Havana (pop. 2.2 million), political, cultural, and industrial heart of the nation, lies 150 kilometers (93 miles) due south of Florida on Cuba’s northwest coast. It is built on the west side of a sweeping bay—Bahía de la Habana—and extends west 12 kilometers to the Río Jaimanitas and south for an
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Planning Your Time When Vacationing in Havana
A taxi on the malécon. Photo © Christopher P. Baker.
Havana is so large and the sights to be seen so many, that one week is the bare minimum needed. Metropolitan Havana sprawls over 740 square kilometers (286 square miles) and incorporates 15 municipios (municipalities). Havana is a collection of
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Organized Travel to Cuba from the United States
Joining an organized tour offers certain advantages over traveling independently. On most you’ll be almost entirely divorced from the local culture as you are hauled between official tourist sites by guides, many giving you the “rah-rah-rah” revolutionary spiel. People-to-people (P2P) educational
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U.S. Law and Travel to Cuba in 2015
Photo © Greg Blomberg/123rf.
Cuba has no restrictions on international travel. However, the U.S. government does. Most yanquis harbor the false impression that it’s illegal for U.S. citizens to visit Cuba; it’s not. The Supreme Court determined in the 1950s that U.S. citizens have a right to
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Get to Know the History of Havana's Architecture
Havana was founded in July 1515 as San Cristóbal de la Habana, and was located on the south coast, where Batabanó stands today. The site was a disaster. On November 25, 1519, the settlers moved to the shore of the flask-shaped Bahía de la Habana. Its location was so advantageous that in July 1553
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Qualified Travel Service Providers to Cuba vs Illegal Travel
Photo © Greg Blomberg/123rf.
U.S. law states, “U.S. travel service providers, such as travel agents and tour operators, who handle travel arrangements to, from, or within Cuba must hold special authorizations from the U.S. Treasury Department to engage in such activities.” President Obama’s D
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Cuba for the Bird(er)s
With more than 350 bird species, Cuba is an ornithologist’s paradise. Birders flock to spy the isle’s 21 endemic species found nowhere else, among them the world’s smallest bird—the thimble-sized zunzuncito hummingbird. The following venues cover sufficiently diverse terrain to check off a vast li
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Ecotourism in Eastern Cuba
Eastern Cuba receives relatively few visitors despite boasting many of Cuba’s preeminent national parks and historic sites. For an eco-adventure, exploring the Sierra Maestra and adjacent mountains can’t be beaten.
Rio Miel bridge, part of Alejandro de Humboldt National Park. Photo © tupungato/123
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How Cuban Cigars Are Made
The tobacco leaves, which arrive from the fields in dry sheets, are first moistened and stripped, then graded by color and strength (each type of cigar has a recipe). A blender mixes the recipes and the leaves then go to the production room, where each torcedor (roller) receives enough to roll app
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Cuban Tourist Visas
Photo © Greg Blomberg/123rf.
A passport valid for six months from date of entry is required. Every visitor needs a Cuban visa or tourist card (tarjeta de turista) valid for a single trip of 30 days (90 days for Canadians); for most visitors, including U.S. citizens, a tourist card will suffic
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Getting Around Cuba by Air, Bus, and Rail
Getting around Cuba can be a challenge, so be prepared. Expect to book well in advance and plan for inconveniences such as schedules changes, nonrefundable tickets, baggage fees, delays, and cancellations.
Traveling Cuba by Plane
Most major Cuban cities have an airport. Cuba’s state-owned airline
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About Cuba's Isla de la Juventud
Isla de la JuventudSlung below the underbelly of Artemisa Province in the shallow Golfo de Batabanó is Isla de la Juventud, the largest of Cuba’s offshore islands and one with an intriguing history. Scattered across the ocean to the east are 350 or so isles and cays that make up the Archipiélago d
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Planning Your Time in Isla de la Juventud
Isla de la JuventudUnless you’re keen on bird-watching or diving, or are an aficionado of revolutionary history, you can safely skip Isla de la Juventud. Two days is sufficient, although scuba divers will want to pack in a few more days for exploring the waters off Punta Francés, where the diving
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Best Music Venues in Havana
Music and dance are the pulsing undercurrent of Cuban life. Spanning the spectrum from traditional son to high culture, here are key venues and experiences not to miss in Havana.
Jazz player at Restaurant Tocororó in Miramar, Havana’s upscale residential district. Photo © Christopher P. Baker
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