Timeworn, but magnificent. Dilapidated, but dignified. Fun, yet maddeningly frustrating. Cuba is a country of indefinable magic.
Writer Brendan Sainsbury’s says, “Cuba is like a prince in a poor man’s coat: behind the sometimes shabby facades, gold dust lingers.” Existing through en economic embargo that has lasted more than half a century, Cuba’s colonial cities haven’t changed much since pirates roamed the Caribbean. The atmosphere and architecture is particularly stirring in places like Havana, Cienfuegos and Trinidad where grandiose squares and cobbled streets tell of opulence and intrigue.
Join Explore Amazing Places and cruise the ocean front Malecon of Havana in a 57 Chevy. Experience history as we stay in the the Hotel Nacional, where ousted president Gerardo Machado took refuge during the Sergeants’ Revolt of 1933. Be welcomed into gorgeous Casa Privadas, “Private Homes” of Cuban artists in the colonial city of Trinidad. You’ll tour Tobacco farms in the beautiful Vinales Valley and enjoy the warm white sands of Playa Ancon. Your Explore Amazing Places experience of Cuba will be second to none.
But Can Americans Travel to Cuba?
The simple answer…yes. There has been a lot of talk recently regarding changing policies regarding travel to Cuba from the United States. Although some restrictions have been put into place in previously approved categories of travel by the Office of Foreign Asset Control, (OFAC), travel by Americans to Cuba is still legal.
For over 5 decades, it has been nearly impossible for Americans to visit Cuba. When the US issued 12 approved categories of travel, the flood gates opened and tourists poured into places like Havana and Santiago de Cuba overnight. Cruise ships began arriving in Cienfuegos and the Port of Havana. Everyone came to see the sights and sounds of a place once closed off to so many.
But it seemed as though the opportunity to enjoy Cuba vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. Or so it seemed…
Navigating the nuances of travel to Cuba can seem daunting. Every day, news articles claim the doors are closed or that policies have changed. Some approved aspects of travel have become more challenging, but the door is far from closed.
And there’s never been a better time to visit this magical island nation than right now!
Confusing travel requirements have prevented many people from taking the plunge. There are fewer and fewer American tourists enjoying places like Trinidad and Viñales. But those travelers losses are your opportunity to explore the REAL Cuba. And under OFAC’s approved travel category of “Support for the Cuban people”, you can enjoy a salsa lesson on a rooftop in Havana. You can learn the time tested art of rolling a cigar from guajiros, (farmers) on small fincas, (farms) in the Viñales Valley. You can enjoy beautiful, authentic culture as you stay at private residences in Trinidad and savor exquisite meals prepared at independent restaurants.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to visit the real Cuba. The time is now! Join Explore Amazing Places and discover the indefinable magic of Cuba.
For more information regarding travel to Cuba, see these articles:
CAN AMERICANS STILL TRAVEL TO CUBA? HERE IS HOW TO TRAVEL TO CUBA IN 2019
Havana
One of the greatest achievements of the last 50 years is the piecing back together of Habana Vieja. This detailed, meticulous, lovingly curated restoration process has created one of the historical wonders of the Americas, a kind of Latin American ‘Rome’ where the past can be peeled off in layers. Armed with a sharp eye and a lucid imagination, you can walk through Havana’s covered streets and evoke the ghosts of rich sugar barons and sea fairing buccaneers.
During your time in Havana, you’ll stay at the beautiful, Hotel Nacional, considered a symbol of history, culture and Cuban identity. The guns that made up the old Santa Clara Battery are on exhibition at the garden, they were declared part of the World Heritage Site. The Hotel Nacional de Cuba was declared a National Monument and it was inscribed in the World Memory Register. With its privileged location in the middle of Vedado, the center of Havana, it stands on a hill just a few meters from the sea, and offers a great view of the Havana Harbor; the seawall and the city.
Trinidad
Trinidad is one of a kind, a perfectly preserved Spanish colonial settlement, frozen in time. Declared a World heritage Site by Unesco in 1988, Cuba’s oldest and most enchanting outdoor museum attracts many visitors each year. Yet the cobblestone streets, replete with leather-faced guajiros, snorting donkeys and melodic troubadours, retain a quiet air.
You will experience this beautiful town as you stay at unique and luxurious Casa Privadas, operated by local artists and musicians. You’ll be treated to private concerts and enjoy the personal relationships you forge with those who call this sleepy town home as you explore the cobblestone streets, taste the local cuisine and learn about the rich history of the surrounding cane farms.
Playa Ancon
Located just 12km to the south of Trinidad on Sancti Spiritus’ iridescent Caribbean shoreline lies the a beautiful ribbon of white sand beach called Playa Ancon. Often considered as the finest beach on Cuba’s south coast, Ancon is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the slower pace of Cuban life. You’ll avoid the crowds that you might experience at some of the countries northern beaches and find an untouched, quiet getaway that will allow you to unplug and get back in touch with the beauty that surrounds you.
Vinales Valley
Embellished by soaring pine trees and protruding limestone cliffs that stand as overseers above placid tobacco plantations, Parque National Vinales is one of Cuba’s most magnificent natural settings. Wedged spectacularly into the Sierra de los Organos mountain range, this valley was recognized as a national monument in 1979, with Unesco World Heritage status following in 1999 for its dramatic steep-sided limestone outcrops, coupled with the vernacular architecture of its traditional farms and villages.