Varadero – You will find hotels, restaurants and nightclubs in Varadero, along with its main attraction, 20 km of exquisite beach that seems to go on forever. Visitors can sample Cuban food and cocktails, learn to dance Cuban-style, delight in the music and shop for souvenirs and arts and crafts in open-air markets or the growing number of shops. Watersports are available for almost every taste.

Santiago de Cuba – A city rich in culture and modern history, it is a beautiful city surrounded by the Sierra Maestra Mountains.

Guardalavaca, Playa Esmeralda & Playa Pesquero (Holguin) – This prime beach area is becoming more and more popular each year.

Cayo Coco/Cayo Guillermo/Cayo Santa Maria (Ciego de Avila) – Here you will find unique landscape and true virgin nature. The charm of this magnificent area absorbs you until you begin to feel you are the first person to set foot here.

Santa Lucia (Camaguey)
is home to a magnificent flamingo sanctuary, and Cao Sabinal – one of the most breathtaking tropical islands to be experienced.

Manzanillo on the southeast coast of Cuba. The Sierra Maestra Mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop and a white sand beach stretches for 2 km.

from John of Canada
Some interesting places to visit

CROCODILE FARM
Boca (between Australia Centrale and Playa Larga at Bay of Pigs)
There are two crocodile farms at Boca, across the street from each other. We went to the more expensive, less touristy one on the west side of the road. This is a biological research centre and breeding facility. The crocodiles were in cement and chicken wire cages with ponds in the middle of them. Some cages also had grass growing in them. The biologist explained stuff to us and Pam interpreted for me since she knows all about reptiles, and the guide did not speak English. We have pictures of Pam holding a one year old and with the crocodile on her head. The farm has a breeding program there and they are released at six years old. (About $7 each for a tour with a biologist)
We then walked to the restaurant across the road and ate crocodile. It tastes like chicken but has the texture of pork: we both liked it. (About $6 per plate) 02/2002

SLAVE PLANTATION
off the Autopista towards Artemisa, west of Havana. This is not on the tourist maps, and is one of the great archeological sites in Cuba. This place was a sugar and coffee plantation. You can still see where the fence stood around the slave compound, as much of the stone wall and guard tower is still in place. No one works or lives there, but if a tourist shows up, a Cuban will show up to guide them around and make a tip. At the plantation a guide showed up on a bicycle. We couldn't understand him at all so we had him write down stuff. Sometimes it is easier to understand the words when you can see them written down. He told us that the plantation had belonged to Cornelio Sauchay. At one time there were 450 slaves on the plantation and 43 horsemen to grow the coffee and sugar. In a water storage area, we saw two large bats flying around. The land around the plantation is still very fertile and people were working the cane.
(Free! plus tip to anyone who shows up to guide you)

CUBAN MILITARY MUSEUMS

BAY OF PIGS MUSEUM, Playa Giron.
The only site in Playa Giron, aside from the strange protected beach, is the Bay of Pigs Museum. The museum is a very accurate portrayal of the CIA mercenary invasion of Cuba in 1960. There are maps and photos and displays inside, as well as an aircraft and two tanks outside. Plenty of free parking. Lunch or dinner can be had at the hotel on the beach 200 m away from the museum. ($2) 02/2002

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS MUSEUM, Castillo San Carlos de la Cabana, Havana.
At the fortress is a collection of missiles from the Cuban Missile Crisis period. There are two different cruise missiles; a FROG rocket, and a Soviet ballistic missile of the type which triggered the crisis in 1962. There is also an SA-2 air defence missile on a launcher. The entire display sits in the grass behind the fortress, and lacks signage. All of the displays are real, except the FROG: it was built using photographs from 1962 by the Cuban artillery forces just for the museum collection. (Free) 02/2002

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS MUSEUM, Nacional Hotel de Cuba, Havana.
Under the lawn behind the flagship hotel, facing the waterfront, are a series of concrete tunnels which originally housed the air defence unit stationed at the Nacional Hotel during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is now a museum with a small artifact section, several photographs, and a view out over the sea towards Miami. The guide, a veteran, will take you through the tunnels. ($2) 02/2002

CUBAN AIR FORCE MUSEUM, Havana.
Airplane buffs will want to visit the unique "Museo del Aire" (Cuban FAR Air Force Museum) in Havana. This used to be a closed museum, but years ago was opened to the public. The Cubans noted the tourist value of aircraft, and on this visit, I noticed that a children's play area had been added. Ave. 212, e/ 29 y 31, La Coronela, La Lisa, Habana. Tel. 21 7753. This is not too far from the Convention Centre on Calle 212.

Official Cuba Site (Spanish)

When travelling outside of your home country you should always have a valid passport.

Language: Spanish
Population: 11,141,997
Capital: Havana
Electricity: 110/60 - some hotels are 220v - Please check with hotel or tour company

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Currency: Cuban Peso and Cuban Convertible Peso
Departure Tax: $25 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos)

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Average summer temperature: 81
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Average water temperature: 77 - 80

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Although the main arteries of Havana are generally well maintained, secondary streets often are not. Many roads and city streets are unlit, making night driving dangerous, especially as some cars and most bicycles lack running lights or reflectors. Street signage tends to be insufficient and confusing.

The principal Cuban east-west highways are in good condition but lack lights. Night driving should be strictly avoided outside urban areas. Secondary rural roads are narrow, and some are in such bad condition as to be impassable by cars. Due to the rarity of cars on rural roads, pedestrians, bicycles, and farm equipment operators wander onto the roads without any regard to possible automobile traffic. Unfenced livestock constitute another serious road hazard.