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Top Things To Do
Bask on the beach
Soak up some glorious sunshine from one of Cuba's beautiful beaches, including Playas del Este near Havana, where the locals play, to exclusive island resorts like Cayo Coco. Varadero is a particularly lively resort that combines beach life with nightlife. Climb Torre de Manaca Iznaga Enjoy outstanding views of the Valley of the Sugar Mills from the Torre de Manaca Iznaga - a former slave watchtower by an old plantation house-turned restaurant. Dive into the deep There are 30 dive sites at Varadero alone. One of the world's biggest coral reefs is offshore at Cayo Coco, and there are more reefs around Isla de la Juventud - Robert Louis Stevenson's inspiration for Treasure Island. Wreck diving is also possible. Explore mountains and caves Pinar del Río is arguably Cuba's most beautiful province, and its most outstanding feature must be the mogotes: oddly rounded limestone mountains, covered in lush vegetation. The caves here are awash with stalactites and stalagmites, and underground rivers. Feel the beat Experience the country's best musicians and dancers hard at work in Santiago de Cuba. Unmissable are Ballet Folklorico Cutumba: their Afro-Cuban performances are simply spectacular (www.cubanfolkloricdance.com/cutumba.php). Horse riding Saddle up and gallop through the scenic sugarcane fields around Trinidad and the Valle de Ingenios, or the hills, tobacco fields and valleys of Pinar del Río. Meander the Malecón Join fishermen, families and couples, and take a stroll along the Malecón, the sea wall that links Old Havana to Vedado. Thisi s advised only when the weather is fair; during a storm, the sea can surge over the wall. Meet the locals Make time for a couple of nights in a casa particular, eat in paladares rather than state-run restaurants, and strike up conversation whenever possible. Cubans are polite, educated, fun, and keen to make contact with people from other countries. Party in Havana Live the high life in Havana's Vedado district. The Hotel Nacional (www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com) has hosted gangsters and film stars and is well-placed for Carnaval processions along the Malecón. Trek tropical paradise Hike the Sierra Maestra in the Oriente, dominated by Cuba's highest mountain Pico Turquino, or trek the marshes and forests of the Zapata Peninsula, teeming with bird, mammal and reptile wildlife. |
