When people think of Cuba, they usually think of beautiful sandy beaches, culture and history. However there is so much more to this amazing Caribbean paradise than you can imagine and so much to do on your holiday packages to Cuba.

Varadero Diving

Diving
The warm waters of the Caribbean have a yearly average temperature of 24C which is ideal for divers of all abilities from beginners to the more experienced. Crystal clear waters offer superb visibility of the marine life and corals in the underwater haven. Divers can expect to see dozens of species of fish, moray eels, squid, octopus, barracuda, rays and even sharks. Shipwrecks, caves and night dives offer a varied programme to your exciting Cuban diving experience.
The following are the most popular Cuban dive sites:
Cayo Largo in the south of the island has tranquil unspoilt beaches and beautiful coral reefs.
Cayo Levisa in the north west which has 17th and 18th century shipwrecks, tropical fish, black coral and beautiful sponges.
The world biosphere reserve of Maria la Gorda in the west which has two dive zones. For more experienced divers the reserve offers 18th century shipwrecks, black coral walls, caves and caverns.
With some of the cleanest waters in Cuba, Faro Luna has 28 dive sites and offers excellent photographic opportunities among its shipwrecks and amazing coral reefs.
Playa Giron is located near the Bay of Pigs and is well known for its shelf diving. In 1994 a new ship was deliberately sunk for the enjoyment of visiting scuba divers.

Fishing and Deep Sea Fishing
Fishing is very popular in Sol Cayo Guillermo on Cuba’s north west coast and is where Ernest Hemingway loved to fish. For those who prefer fresh

Deep Sea Fishing Cuba

water fishing there are plenty of lakes in Cayo Coco. When reef fishing you may catch snapper and barracuda grouper, offshore you may catch wahoo, dolphin tuna and sailfish, whilst bay fishing will give you the opportunity to catch yellow jack and tarpoon.

Swimming with Dolphins
Most people marvel at the dolphins in the fantastic shows around the island but for those who want to actually swim with these amazing creatures there are plenty of organised excursions out to sea. Get up close and swim with these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat for an experience that will stay with you forever. Holguin and Varadero are the best resorts to visit on your cheap holidays to Cuba for this once in a lifetime experience.

Bird Watching
With some of the most unusual birds in the Caribbean, Cuba is a great choice for bird watching enthusiasts. Twitchers will marvel at the Cuban Green Woodpecker and the tiny Cuban Bee Hummingbird which is the smallest bird in the world. The UNESCO biosphere reserve in Pinar Del Rio in the Sierra del Rosario area offers the opportunity to see many bird species including a variety of endemic Cuban birds such as the Cuban Trogon, Cuban Tody and Cuban Blackbird.

Horse Riding
Horse riding in Cuba gives you the opportunity to see what the island has to offer apart from the beaches and the towns. The Vinales Valley and Trinidad offer scenic rides in beautiful surroundings. Ride through the Valle de los Ingenious where you will see the ruins of the old sugar mills dotted around the beautiful countryside. And of course a ride along the magnificent beach in Varadero is a must.

Walking, Hiking and Trekking
Walking holidays in Cuba are growing more and more popular. Pinar Del Rio is a popular choice for hiking with lots of interesting locations to visit. One such place is the Soroa Botanical Garden which is home to over 700 species of orchid and another is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vinales Valley. Cuba has so many places to visit whilst trekking across the island, including the Sierra Maestra Mountains in the Pico Turquino National Park and Topes de Collantes where you can visit the Caburni Falls and the Batata Thermal Cave.

Cycling
With a flat terrain and year-round climate, Cuba is a great place to explore by bicycle. Although there are no official cycle routes in Cuba there are some to suit all different abilities including Trinidad to Playa Ancon, Guardalavaca to Banes and Remedios to Cayo Santa Maria.

Golf
There are two golf courses on the island, the 18-hole Varadero Golf Club and the 9-hole Havana Golf Club. A round of golf in the beautiful Caribbean sunshine is perfect for visiting golf enthusiasts.

Vinales Valley

Painting
With colourful towns and lush green countryside, Cuban is an excellent choice for artists of all levels. Relax and paint in San Francisco and Cathedral Square in Havana with its amazing old colonial buildings or visit the Vinales Valley which has an amazing backdrop for painting holidays in Cuba. The best Cuban art can be seen at Havana’s Museum of Fine Art which displays original Cuban paintings from colonial to contemporary.

The heart of Cuba beats in its capital Havana where beautifully restored classic 1950′s American cars glide slowly past shabby colonial buildings. Apart from its iconic capital Cuba has so much to offer, from magnificent sandy beaches to wild jungle and cities brimming with history and

Havana

culture. Every Cuban city from Havana, Trinidad and Santa Clara to Cien Fuegos offers a different experience on your bargain holidays to this amazing country.

History and Culture

Havana, the cultural heart of Cuba, is a fascinating capital city. Habana Vieja (Old Havana) is awash with historical, cultural and architectural sights including the 18th century Cathedral de San Cristobel, the Plaza de la Cathedral and the amazing well preserved and authentic town square. Havana became a well deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. Other sites worth visiting are the museum and monument of Plaza de la Revolution in Santa Clara. Many people regard the town of Trinidad as a museum in

Plaza de la Cathedral

itself with quaint cobbled streets, amazing palaces and plazas and the World Heritage site of the Valley of the Sugar Mills. Embark on classic Cuban experiences by following in Hemingway’s footsteps, tour a cigar factory, sample some local rum and relax over a Cuban coffee in a shady plaza.

Beaches

Blessed with a warm tropical climate and lapped by the crystal clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, Cuba’s beaches are some of the best in the world. Varadero in the north of Cuba has over 14 miles of beautiful white sandy beaches which have a distinct Cuban flavour. The white sandy beaches of Guardalavaca are ideal for families as the stunning coral reefs keep the sea calm making it perfect for the whole family to enjoy swimming and snorkelling. The unspoilt small island of Cayo Santa Maria in the Jardine Del Rey Archipelago is perfect if you are looking for a quiet romantic retreat. The semi-deserted beaches of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve are a perfect choice for those private moments on a secluded beach.

Activities

Cuba has a vast array of activities and sports on offer. The list is endless with nature and eco-tours, excursions to sugar mills, cigar and rum

Cayo Santa Maria Cuba

factories, museums, art galleries, water sports, fishing, boat trips and amusement parks, there is something for everyone on their holiday packages to Cuba. Divers and snorkellers will be in their element in Guardalavaca where they will find coral reefs with caves and shipwrecks just waiting to be explored. Resorts such as Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Largo, Holguin and Santa Lucia attract avid divers for their warm waters and excellent visibility. With year-round water temperatures of around 24C and good coastal breezes, water sports fans can enjoy windsurfing, kite-surfing, parasailing, jet-skiing, aqua-biking, kayaking, canoeing and the family favourite pedalos. A popular activity in the beach resorts is swimming with the dolphins which enable you to get up close to these delightful creatures. Fishing boats can be chartered for deep sea fishing expeditions or you can just sit back and relax on a catamaran cruise along the coastline, stopping off for a picnic and dip in the sea at one of the deserted beaches along the way. Explore the island by bicycle, horseback, horse and carriage, motorbike or scooter.

Nightlife

The streets of Cuba spring into life at night with the sound of salsa echoing through the streets. Havana is the home of the world famous Tropicana nightclub where you can dance the night away or you can take in the amazing street parades and dance to the rhythmic beat of the Caribbean drums in Santiago. Guardalavaca offers nightclubs and beach parties or you can enjoy the more laid-back atmosphere of the restaurants, bars and shows in Varadero.

Covering nearly 80 square miles, Topes de Collantes (Collantes Highs) is a nature reserve park in the Escambray Mountain range in Cuba, 3 miles above the city of Trinidad. At nearly 2,600ft above sea level it is the third highest peak in the range with San Juan peak at 3,740ft and Potrerillo

Topes de Collantes

peak at 3,054ft higher. The Escambray Mountain range spreads across three provinces; Villa Clara to the north, Cienfuegos to the east and Sancti Spiritus to the west. The north face of the mountains are home to a variety of plants and animals while the much drier south face is home to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Trinidad City and Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills).

In 1954 the Cuban president built a massive sanatorium for tuberculosis patients in the area inhabited by coffee growers. It is believed that the president’s wife Martha became a victim of the disease and whilst at the sanatorium fell in love with the place, persuading her husband to build her a house in the area. After the revolution the hospital was used as a school and then in the 70′s it was converted into the Kurhotel specializing in rehabilitation and special therapies. Scattered throughout the seven storey high hotel you will find a huge collection of original Cuban art with than 750 pieces from Cuba’s most famous painters. In the 1980′s the Mountain Campus of Las Villas University was built here.

Tocororo bird

Many species of animals are found in the reserve including Cuba’s national bird the Tocororo, the Cuban Ivory-billed Woodpecker, the Cartacuba and some beautiful unique hummingbirds. When exploring this amazing reserve you will come across rivers, natural pools of crystal clear water, waterfalls, caves and if you are lucky enough to take your cheap holidays between June and September you will see hillsides covered in Cuba’s national flower the Mariposa (Butterfly Lily). This tropical rainforest boasts more than 40 indigenous species of orchid, 100 species of ferns with some more than 20ft tall, more than 40 species of coffee which grow in the shade of 130ft tall pines, West Indian mahogany, eucalyptus, banana trees, wild plantain, species of ginger, magnolias, jasmine and begonias.

There are lots of trips to be taken in the reserve including;

Paseo Ecologico – an ecology walk of just over half a mile which takes a path connecting the Kurhotel with the hotel ‘Los Helechos’. Along the walk you will see mariposa flowers and ferns under a canopy of pines and eucalyptus.

Parque La Represa – built around ‘Martha’s House’ on the banks of the River Vega Grande, the park is home to many exotic species and the tallest, oldest mahogany tree in Cuba.

Hacienda Codina – the estate has many species of orchids, medicinal mud baths, medicinal and ornamental gardens and Altar’s Cave which has a secret passage which ends with amazing views of Trinidad and Ancon.

Topes de Collantes waterfall

Parque Codina – ideal for camping and birdwatching with many hiking trails to caves and waterfalls with numerous viewpoints along the way.

Parque Guanayara – this park is home to the Cascada El Rocio waterfall, canyoning cascades, camping, hiking trails and swimming opportunities.

Caburni Falls – a 2 mile hike, through coffee plantations where you will see traditional farmer’s houses, to the Caburni River which falls over a 203ft rock wall into a series of pools.

La Batata – a scenic walk which ends in an underground river-cave system with natural ponds.

This is just about as close to nature as you can get so don’t miss a visit to this amazing nature reserve park when on your last minute holiday deals to Cuba, wonderful memories of Topes de Collantes Cuba will live with you for ever.

Cuban history plays a major part in the festivals here. Cuba doesn’t have many national holidays however the country does hold some great carnivals.

If you are interested in the history of Cuba there are several Cuban holidays that will be of interest to you including a celebration of birth of Jose Marti

Havana

 on 28th January, the Day of the Workers (Dia de los Trabajadores) on 1st May, the Day of the Rebellion (for those interested in communism in Cuba) on 26th July, a day to remember the death of Che Guevara on 8th October and not forgetting the anniversary of the Victory at the Bay of Pigs on 19th April.

Havana is the place to be for amazing carnivals full of flare and tradition. During August there are no end of Carnivals along the famous Malecon waterfront promenade. These Carnivals include lots of singing and dancing, brightly coloured floats and fireworks. Cuba has rich Afro-Cuban traditions and this can be seen as revellers dance the conga, an absolutely amazing sight to see. One of the days of the Carnival is dedicated to the children of Havana featuring floats, sweets for the kids and clowns and magicians performing. Music lovers should visit during February when the Havana Jazz Festival takes place. If you are into Cuban music you will be spoilt for choice by the nightly live music performed at the city’s clubs and music venues.

International Hemmingway Fishing Tournament

Started way back in 1950 by Ernest Hemmingway and taking place every year from late May into early June is the International Hemmingway Fishing Tournament at Havanas Marina Hemmingway. If you are a sport fishing enthusiast head along to the marina where you can take a fishing trip to catch wahoo, marlin, swordfish and tuna.

In Santiago de Cuba there is the Fiesta del Fuego (Festival del Caribe) which lasts for a whole week in July and is similar to Carnival in Havana. Lasting all day and well into the night the festivities main attractions are the singing and dancing. Processions of brightly decorated vehicles and stalls selling all types of food, particularly pork, are an amazing sight to see.

Every Good Friday Trinidad celebrates the Trinidad Way of the Cross Procession which is a procession by Catholics to honour the walk made by Christ to his crucifixion.

Take advantage of some of these amazing carnivals whilst on your bargain holidays to Cuba and don’t forget to sample the Cuban beer and rum that flows at these events.

With no end of late deals available to this amazing country which is steeped in history and culture, the whole family can enjoy a holiday that they will never forget.

The Bellamar Cave system (Cuevas de Bellamar), located just 3 miles from Matanzas, 25 miles from Varadero and 60 miles from Havana, has been one of Cuba’s top tourist attractions for many years.

Bellamar Caves entrance

The caves were formed 300,000 years ago are made up of three caverns (Bellamar, El Jarrito and Soto Jibaro) which were originally one cave. Discovered in the late 1800′s, the caves which are the deepest in Cuba extend for some 2 miles underground. In the caves, reached by 159 steps from the surface, you will discover mind blowing stalagtites and stalagmites, pictographs from indigenous people, fountains, rivers and streams.

On entering the caves visitors are treated to amazing rock formations in the Gothic chamber which measures 262ft by 82ft. These rock formations include the famous Columbus’ Cloak, The Chapel of the Twelve Apostles, The Carrot Garden and Mrs Mamerta. More caverns are found outside the Gothic Room, including The Gallery of the Megalocnus, The Gallery of the Dwarfs,

Bellamar Caves

 The Gallery of the Two Lakes and The Sponge Room. Other attractions include the popular Bathroom of the American Woman, The Fountain of Love (La Fuente del Amor), The Grated Coconut Gallery (La Galeria Coco Rallado), The Room of the Ladies, The Lake of the Dhalias and The Hatuey Alley. 

Mantanza itself is known as the city of bridges as it has 17 bridges which span 3 rivers. Hence the city is often referred to as the ‘Venice of Cuba’ and also as the ‘Athens of Cuba’ as many famous Cuban poets were born here. Here in the city you will find main squares, quaint streets, a food market and museums, including the fascinating pharmaceutical museum.

Mantanza Bridge

Mantanza is also home to The Saturno Cave and The Catalina Cave. The Saturno Cave is a flooded cavern with stalagtites and stalagmites and lies 65ft below ground. The Catalina Cave is about 6 miles long and is located close to The Bellamar Cave.

When on your cheap package holidays to Cuba a great day trip out to The Bellamar Caves is an opportunity not to be missed.

For a holiday you will never forget there are lots of fantastic holiday deals to Cuba on offer throughout the internet just waiting to be snapped-up.

Cuba offers some great diving locations which attract an abundance of divers who are wooed by its warm, calm sea and its amazing coral reefs and marine life.
The water temperature varies between 22C (December) to 29C (July) with an average visibility of between 20 and 40 metres.
It is possible to dive here at any time of the year but there is a risk of hurricanes around October time and the rainy season from June to October can spoil diving plans!

Maria la Gorda (Fat Mary)

Maria la Gorda beach is located on the Peninsula de Guanacahabibes and is named after a beautiful Venezuelan lady who was abandoned here by pirates. It is said that the area was once beseiged by pirates, hence, along with coral reefs and marine life, the fascinating clear seabed has many old treasures, cannons and anchors.
The most popular diving sites here are Gorgonian Garden, Yemaya, Marias Lounge, Pirates Anchor, Enchant, Aquarium and Lost Paradise.

Cayo Levisa

Cayo Levisa is a coral island, covered in mangroves, about 2kms off the coast of Cuba in the Pinar del Rio province. This uninhabited island has a beautiful beach and an abundance of marine life in its waters. The island is an excellent place for both scuba diving and snorkelling.

Cayo Largo del Sur

Cayo Largo del Sur has more than 27kms of fine, white coral sandy beaches and warm clear waters. Here you will find more than 30 dive sites and a coral reef that stretches for 22 miles.

Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth)

Dive boats leave from the marina here and take you out to the dive where there is a magnificent reef, a couple of wrecks and an abundance of marine life.

Playa Giron

Playa Giron is located east of the Bay of Pigs and is popular for shelf diving and cave diving. In the mid 90′s a ship was deliberately sunk just off the coast so that it could be used by the visiting divers.

Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos has more than 28 dive sites, with crystal clear waters and is regarded as having some of the best coral formations in Cuba. Faro Luna is found in a quiet little cove about 20kms from Cienfuegos and is an excellent site for scuba diving.

There are lots of last minute holidays to cuba available throughout the internet.

If you fancy a spot of diving in this beautiful appealing country then why not snap up one of the bargain late deals that are on offer.

The following are just a few of the many things to do in Cuba.

Castillo de Farnes

Have a beer at Castillo de Farnes, where Ché Guevara and Castro toasted the success of the Revolution, and raise a glass to Hemingway at his old haunt La Bodeguita del Medio.

Try rolling cigars at one of Cuba’s tobacco factories such as the Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás in Havana, or others in Pinar del Río and Trinidad.

Stroll along the Malecón, the sea wall that links Old Havana to Vedado, and is popular with fisherman, families and couples.

Hotel Nacional

Live the high life in Havana’s Vedado district. The Hotel Nacional has hosted gangsters and film stars and is well-placed for Carnaval processions along the Malecón.

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 where the only Cubans around are waiters and chambermaids. Varadero is a lively resort that combines beach life with nightlife, for locals and tourists.

Go diving. 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, Stevenson’s inspiration for Treasure Island.

Pico Turquino

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.

Visit the museum at Playa Girón, scene of the US-backed ‘Bay of Pigs’ invasion in 1961. Touching personal effects of those killed, a harrowing film from the time, and CIA battle plans captured when it all went wrong tell a sad story. 

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