Cuba Travel Guide
Are you planning a trip to Cuba? Find all my best travel resources for Cuba to help plan your trip!
Getting Under the Skin of Cuba
Prepare your travel to Cuba with my in-depth Cuba travel guides!
Introduction to Cuba
Cuba is located in the Caribbean, just south of the United States and east of Mexico.
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and part of the Greater Antilles archipelago.
Cuba shares maritime borders with countries such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Haiti, and is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Cuba’s capital city, Havana, is located on the island’s northwestern coast, facing the Straits of Florida. Havana is a captivating city to visit, where colorful colonial architecture, vintage American cars, and lively salsa rhythms create a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the world.
For nature lovers, Cuba offers beautiful and diverse landscapes, from the tobacco fields of Viñales Valley and the white-sand beaches of Varadero to the dramatic mountains of Sierra Maestra in the southeast.
Cuba is a fascinating and challenging place to visit! The island is often referred to as being stuck in time because of its political regime and embargo from the U.S., but Cuba is so much more than its political tensions. It is history, music, beaches, and plenty of outdoor adventures!
¡Vamos a Cuba!
Currency in Cuba
The official currency in Cuba is the Cuban peso (CUC).
Culture in Cuba
Cuba has a strong culture around music, salsa dancing, and baseball.
Discover Cuba
Travel to Cuba
Cuba is a unique destination to visit in the Caribbean. Here you can find my best travel resources for planning your travels to Cuba.
Cuba for First-Timers
Visiting Cuba for the first time feels like stepping into a different era. Cuba offers a mix of culture, history, and natural beauty that’s hard to find anywhere else.
But you should also be prepared for things to work a little differently than you might be used to from back home. The internet access can be limited, infrastructure isn’t always perfect, and flexibility is key.
Travel here is about slowing down, embracing spontaneity, and enjoying meaningful interactions with locals.
Havana
Havana is Cuba’s vibrant capital, located on the island’s northwestern coast along the Straits of Florida. Havana is known for its colorful colonial architecture, grand plazas, and oceanfront promenade, the Malecón.
In Havana, you can experience streets filled with classic 1950s cars, the rhythms of salsa and son cubano drifting from open doorways, delicious Cuban cuisine, and the cobblestone streets of Old Havana.
Spanish in Cuba
Spanish is the official language of Cuba and is spoken by nearly the entire population. Cuban Spanish has its own distinct pronunciation and vocabulary, shaped by influences from Spain, West Africa, and the Caribbean.
You’ll notice that Cubans often speak quickly, drop certain consonants (especially the final “s”), and use unique local expressions that may differ from those in other Spanish-speaking countries.
Cuban Music
Cuban music is a blend of Spanish melodies, African rhythms, and Caribbean soul. Traditional styles of Cuban music, like son cubano, form the foundation of much of Cuba’s music.
The Afro-Cuban rhythms, rooted in the island’s African heritage, add powerful drum patterns and call-and-response vocals that make the music impossible to stand still.
My Story with Cuba
I visited Cuba for the first time in 2014, where I stayed for 4 months studying at the University of La Habana.
During my time in Havana, I also visited other parts of Cuba, like Santa Clara and the Viñales Valley.
I went back for the last time in 2016 for a two-week vacation.
Becci Abroad was still not quite formalized as an active travel blog when I visited Cuba for the first time, and I kind of regret it now because I could have created so many interesting guides with all the knowledge I got about Cuba.
A lot has changed in Cuba since I visited the last time, but like many other places, many other things stay the same, so I hope you’ll find inspiration in my Cuba travel guides!
Cuba Travel Resources
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