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.

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.

The following are just a few of the places to visit in Cuba.

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales

Head to the Plaza de Armas in Old Havana for a glimpse of colonial majesty at the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former residence of the Spanish Crown’s representatives.

Enjoy wonderful views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, from the rooftop bar of Old Havana’s Museo Nacional de Historia Natural.

Wander around the Castillo de la Real Fuerza. The oldest of Havana’s three forts is still standing because it was to all intents and purposes built in the wrong place.

Take a tour of the Capitolio in Havana’s centre. Built by a dictator to mimic Washington DC’s Capitol, it housed a puppet parliament until the Revolution.

Visit the Museo de la Revolución for a historical context of modern Cuba. Outside is the Granma, a cabin cruiser built for 12 people. In 1956, 80 exiled rebels (Castro and Ché among them) came perilously close to sinking the overcrowded yacht, as they sought to return to Cuba.

mogotes

Take a trip to Pinar del Río, arguably Cuba’s most beautiful province. The outstanding feature must be the mogotes (oddly rounded limestone mountains, covered in lush vegetation). The caves here, notably the Cueva del Indio, are well worth a visit, with stalactites and stalagmites and underground rivers.

Visit revolutionary Santa Clara, and the monument, museum and mausoleum of Ché Guevara. His body was only returned from Bolivia in 1997, 30 years after his capture and execution. In 1959, he and 300 rebels defeated 3,000 of Batista’s troops here, leading to the dictator’s flight just days later.

colonial Trinidad

Visit colonial Trinidad, founded in 1514. Locals ride horses down cobbled streets past houses painted in pastel colours. Elegant mansions are now museums in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Take in the great views of the Valley of the Sugar Mills (Valle de los Ingenios) from the 165ft high Torre de Manaca Iznaga, an old slave watch tower.

See the country’s best musicians and dancers at work in Santiago de Cuba. Visit the Museo Emilio Bacardí, which contains the rum magnate’s collection of antiques and fine art, and the Moncada Barracks, where Castro launched an abortive uprising in 1953. The Castillo del Morro is now a museum of piracy.