Things to do in Cuba
Cuba is one of the very last places on earth that I was desperate to go with immediate effect! With Fidel Castro dying last year, his brother standing down from power next year, it was important to me to experience Cuba before the end of that era. There are many things to do Cuba that make the long flight worthwhile! Here is my must do list for things to do in Cuba if you are lucky enough to visit soon:
Visit Old Havana
The tourist resorts in Cuba do not give you a feel for real Cuba, to get this you must experience the older part of Havana. The architecture, winding streets, hustle and bustle and cute pieces of history such as hotel which Hemmingway stayed in on and off for months make this a must. If you just want to go to Cuba for the all inclusive experience – you could go somewhere closer and cheaper. Havana really should be on your visit list.
Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana
Watch a Buena Vista Social Club gig
Buena Vista Social Club are the most popular cuban export ever and it is easy to understand why. The music is awesome. Beautiful classical guitar and latin rhythms, although the original band are cracking on, new members have been recruited to carry on the legacy and they are well worth seeing. We organised this through our hotel rep, we paid for a vip package with a meal at a mansion, classic car and a meet and greet with the band (we weren’t aware of the meet and greet and it was a bit ridiculous as the man above with Mark was an absolute diva) but the meal in the mansion made it worth the extra money! The band perform wherever possible – sometimes in conference centres, so don’t be expecting a nightclub where you can dance, but it is still a good experience!
Varadero Beach
This beach is simply stunning and the aesthetic changes drastically based on the weather. Looks out to Florida, which is about 90 miles away. This beach is absolutely beautiful. If you stay in Varadero, you may be fortunate enough, like we were when staying in the Iberostar Tainos, that this is the beach your hotel backs on to. It will always have a special place in my heart as this is where Mark proposed!
Ride in a classic car
Drive a speedboat
There are many organised trips you can do and one to look out for is the one which allows you to drive a speedboat around a large stretch of river just outside Matanzas. Gives you an awesome feeling of being feel in nature! There is a bridge above, which you may also get the opportunity to stop on the side of and it is crazy to be above circling vultures as it is so high!
Devon Mama
It looks so lovely! It’s somewhere I’d like to visit but at the same time, I’m not sure how much I’d love it once there! I need to get the exploring bug back!