Unless you are living under a rock (in which case how are you reading this right now?) you probably know that in 2016 the U.S government lifted the travel ban for Americans traveling to Cuba. For the first time in decades Americans can hop on a plane or a cruise ship and see this formerly “off limits” locale. But take heart – the influx of tourism has been swift and is quickly changing the fabric of this amazing country. So here are 9 reasons to visit Cuba RIGHT NOW!
- Time Machine Dreams – The U.S. embargo of Cuba made trade tough for the island nation. Because of this they have to make do with what they have – which means LOTS of classic cars that have been repaired over and over again. If you Google “Havana” you will undoubtedly see multiple shots of these cars. To be honest, we figured there would be a few here and there, we were not prepared for literally every other car to be a gorgeous classic car. It was like waking up in the 1950’s! In addition to the classic cars there is also wonderfully crumbling (and in some cases restored) architecture.
Driving through the streets of Old Havana!
2. It’s An Adventure – If you have traveled a lot, or even if you haven’t, Cuba is definitely off the beaten path. Yes it’s famous, yes it congers up a certain era, yes Europeans and Canadians have been able to travel there for decades – but the truth remains – tourism is new and evolving and Cuba is not like Europe or it’s Caribbean neighbors, though it draws influences from both. It’s still more challenging to get to, there are still hiccups when it comes to transportation, communication and money conversion and there is still a big difference between Havana and the rest of the county. If you are looking to explore something that seems familiar yet very different – Cuba is the place for you!
3. Experiencing Authentic Havana Nights– Certainly Havana is the most visited spot (and the capital) in Cuba – and with good reason. This city is steeped in history and intrigue and absolutely worth visiting. Make sure to beat the cruise ship day trippers by staying in the city for a few days. Nights in Havana are exactly what you imagine – steamy, full of music, dancing and the best mojitos we have ever had! Make like the locals and take an evening stroll along the Malecon, you can find street vendors and musicians everywhere along this seaside stretch. It’s the best after party spot in the city!
4. But Cuba Is More Than Just Havana – Havana is a great place to spend a few days but don’t forget to get out of the city! Cuba has something for everyone including Caribbean style beach resorts, other great cities like Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad, Santa Clara and Camaguey and small hill towns full of character like Vinales. It has a multitude of caves to explore, mountains to climb and history to learn!
5. A Chance To See Communism IRL – For anyone who had to sit through American history class you at least know a little about the ills of communism, but how many of us have ever seen it in real life? This may sound like an odd reason to visit a place but travel is all about getting out of your comfort zone and seeing something different right? And Cuba is one of the closest examples of communism and how it is working (or not working) there today.
6. Mojitos – The mint, the sugar, the rum! BLISS! You absolutely cannot go to Cuba and not have a mojito – you just can’t, so don’t even try. They are on every menu in every restaurant and some are better than others. Our favorite was at the bar in the Hotel Nacional. They are all made with delicious Havana Club rum and fresh mint. Also try the bars Hemingway himself made famous – La Bodequita del Medio and La Floridita (although he actually drank daiquiris here! shhhh!).
7. The Ever Changing Tourism Landscape – This one is important on a few levels. It’s no secret that “it” spots become saturated with travelers, and over time this starts to rub off on the destination. Cuba is going to change a lot to meet the demands of this tourism boom, and while that is great in many ways for this poorer country, it’s not without its pitfalls – i.e. becoming a cookie cutter version of a Caribbean island. So get here before it changes too much. Before the mega international hotels line the Malecon and there is very little authenticity left. Also, go before travel restrictions (for American’s) take a drastic turn! President Trump recently rolled back some of the more progressive initiatives towards Cuba but these can take months (or longer) to take effect and they don’t ban Americans from travelling to Cuba completely, though they do change what you are allowed to do. Moral of the story – book your ticket now!
8. Cigars – It would be criminal to talk about Cuba without talking about cigars – they are part of the fabric of the island! Cuban cigars hold a special mystique among aficionados as they are seen as the best in the world and are still pretty hard to get in the States. You can also visit numerous tobacco farms to see the entire seed to cigar process. The chance to have a famous Cohiba in the place they are grown, produced and perfected is a once in life time opportunity.
9. The Cuban People – Full disclosure – we were not sure what the Cuban people would think of us Americans. Would they welcome tourism or look at us with suspicion? Turns out – we were more than pleasantly surprised! From the moment we landed in Havana the people we so welcoming! They were genuinely happy to have us there, excited to share their culture with us and anxious to learn more about ours. While many of the younger people spoke some English it was not a given, so hire a guide, bring a Spanish speaking friend or get yourself a translator app or book!
