I am going to CUBA! Can someone please give me some ideas on what I can get up to? I would be greatful?

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the dude

Smoke cigars all day long!

J B

Try rolling cigars at one of Cuba's tobacco factories such as the Real FÃ¡brica de Tabacos PartagÃ¡s in Havana

Take a stroll along the MalecÃ³n, the sea wall that links Old Havana to Vedado

Soak up some sun on Cuba's beaches: from Playas del Este near Havana, where the locals play, to exclusive island resorts like Cayo Coco

Explore 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,

Hike the Sierra Maestra, 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.

Take an emotional journey to the museum at Playa GirÃ³n, scene of the US-backed â€˜Bay of Pigs' invasion in 1961.

Saddle up and go for a gallop through the scenic sugarcane fields around Trinidad, or the hills and valleys of Pinar del RÃo.

Mel

I spent just over two weeks traveling around Cuba this past February, and here's what we did:

- Four days in Havana
- Three days in ViÃ±ales (in Pinar del Rio province) (if you're not into hiking and outdoors-y activities, you could spend less time here, but it's beautiful!)
- One day in Cienfuegos (you could skip this...it wasn't that exciting)
- Three days in Trinidad (be sure to hike to the waterfall in Topes de Collantes park...well worth it!)
- One day in Santa Clara
- Two days in Varadero on the beach, before heading back to Havana for our flight

We took the Viazul bus system for most of our travels and had no complaints. Occasionally we would arrive at the bus terminal to find someone willing to drive us to our destination for cheaper than the bus. Cuba is EXTREMELY safe (safer than any other latin american country) so unless you really get a bad feeling off of someone, you can usually safely take these people up on their offers.

Of course I'm sure you're aware that when traveling in Cuba you should stay in Casa Particulares, not hotels.

Feel free to message me for more info and advice!

travellerlcy

If your not staying in Havana then I would suggest that you take a day trip at least there.. I spent a week in Varadero and I took a day trip to Havana and that was not long enough. I would have liked to have stayed there a few more days.

Varadero is okay to visit, we walked into town from our resort and also took a tour. Not that exciting, but it was something to do..

Cuba has some nice beaches and if you are at a good resort there should be something for you to do.

Timmy!

It depends on how much travelling you're willing to do once you get there. Public transport in Cuba is very limited, and the your best way of getting around the country will be either by taxi or bus. If you're doing what most tourists do (flying to Havana then heading up to Varadero), stay a day or two in Havana. It's a great city, very beautiful and good for walking. The old town (Habana Vieja) is slowly being restored, and whilst you will be incessantly plagued by touts and hustlers, it's a great place to walk around. If you move on away from the old town, the touts disappear, and you'll be left with the real" Cubans, who will be genuinely pleased and surprised to see a western tourist walking around a non-touristy area without the safety of a guide or "jinetero" (hooker/gigolo). The area of Miramar is just amazing,about 15 minutes walk from the Capitolio building. There are lots of beautifully preserved art deco buildings, and to walk around there with the 40's and 50's American cars cruising up and down is just like time travel. Vedado is also pretty cool, with the awesome Hotel Nacional overlooking the Malecon. Don't be afraid to walk around Havana, it's a very safe place.
Head west of Havana to Vinales (about 2 hours in a taxi, cost around 15 convertible pesos if you share with other people). This is a huge valley with amazing rock towers called Mogotes, and is completely unique. Like much of Cuba, there are not many tourists there, so the sheer untouched beauty of it all is the best part.
South of Havana, on the south coast, is the Bay of Pigs (Playa Giron), where the infamous Bay of Pigs landing took place in 1963. There are is a cool museum there with lots of pro Castro exhibits, but it's a real eye opener nontheless.
About 3-4 hours east of Havana by bus is the town of Trinidad, which is so achingly Cuban it almsot seems like a parody; which it surely will become once Castro dies and the USA moves in and craps the place up. Get in and see it now whilst it has the magic of a lost place in time.
In Cuba, everything is owned by the Castro government, including all the hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops etc. One way to really meet the Cuban people is to eat in a Cuban person's home ( a private restaurant called a Paladar), or stay in a Cuban home (called a Casa Particular). The food in a paladar is almost always fantastic, and very cheap. You can get a huge meal of fresh fish,potatoes, rice & beans, salad, and beer for around 10 convertible pesos (10 US dollars). It's the same with staying a casa particular; the rooms are almost always clean and well looked after, and the Cuban person you are staying with will know all the best places to go in that area. Most Cubans don't speak English, so it will help if you can speak some Spanish.
If you like scuba diving, then Maria la Gorda on the south western tip of Cuba is one of the world's top dive sites. I was there in 2004 and there was one dipshit little dive outfit, with an old boat and old equipment, and all the reefs were totally unspoilt. Again, once Castro keels over no doubt that will change.

Have a good trip!

pipe

Try Flexy Fly and Drive. it is a program that will give you vouchers that are for a night and breakfast each, a car, and a list of hotels all over the country where you can sleep with those vouchers. so yo can be one or two nights in Havana, then varadero, then Trinidad and so.
there are also good packages through "Sol y Son" agency.

Cool Person

lol i wouldnt want to make it so obvious that you are a tourist..do you even speak spanish...?my family is from cienfuegos and palmira...cienfuegos is considered "the pearl of the south" and if you like the beach scene its the place to visit...

Cockneyrebel

Just back from Guardalavaca, a total 'veg out' by the pool was in order for me. There are many trips and sights to see. Swimming with the dolphins, catamaran trips, city visits, the people are brilliant. Please remember to take some 'goodies' with you (crayons toothpaste, notepads, soap, razors etc, they appreciate all items. Cuba is a great safe country and you should have no problems doing your own thing safely. Snorkelling is brilliant as there are many fish to see (take bread & bananas).
If you check out the 'tripadvisor' website there are plenty of ideas, views on hotels etc.
Have fun

Ps make sure you have plenty mozzy spray with you as they are rife at the moment due to quite a lot of rain. Also a brolly would be an idea as when it rains...it rains!

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