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.

If you are looking for a quiet romantic beach holiday then Jibacoa is just the place for you. Located just 38 miles from Havana, Jibacoa offers beautiful secluded Caribbean beaches which are perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Popular with couples looking for a relaxed holiday in Cuba, the resort is set on a stunning bay and offers accommodation to suit all budgets.

Jibacoa Beach itself is a secluded sheltered beach with low cliffs and beautiful green surrounding hills. Other beaches in the area include Puerto Escondido, El Abra and Boca de Jaruco. The beautiful clear blue warm seas and coastal breezes make perfect conditions for water sports at the beaches. These include diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and catamaran cruises. There are lots of dive sites, offshore reefs, shipwrecks and deep caves for scuba-divers to explore. Non-divers can enjoy snorkelling along the coastline which is teeming with colourful exotic sea life. For a great day out on your bargain holidays take a deep-sea fishing excursion or a relaxing boat trip.

Jibacoa has some beautiful countryside to explore, from green valleys and citrus plantations to tobacco fields and from tropical wildlife areas to areas offering stunning views. Visitors can explore the surrounding area by car, bicycle, horse-back or walking. Explore Cuba’s historical capital city Havana and the charming town of Santa Cruz and even take a romantic catamaran cruise to Cayo Blanco. For more great days out take a tour of a cigar factory, taste samples in a rum museum and enjoy a journey back in time on the Hershey Electric Railway.

Hershey Electric Railway

During the day hotels offer Spanish lessons, dance lessons and games. Most of the hotels in Jibacoa offer live shows, discos, themed evenings and other evening entertainment along with excursions to the famous Tropicana Nightclub in Havana.

Jibacoa enjoys very little change in the temperature throughout the year. Winter temperatures average around 28C with summers seeing average temperatures of 30C. With long sunny days and warm waters, Jibacoa is perfect for beach holidays at any time of the year. Trade wind sea breezes help to keep the humidity down, especially during the winter months. Winter and spring are probably the best times to visit as humidity is lower than in the summer, rainfall is also lower and temperatures still hover around in the late 20′s. Christmas, New Year and Easter are also excellent times to visit Jibacoa.

Due to the fantastic tropical climate that Jibacoa enjoys, there are always plenty of great last minute holidays available to the resort all year round.

The upmarket beach resort of Playa Pesquero is located on the eastern side of Cuba on the Costa Verde coast, 12 miles from Guardalavaca and 25 miles from Holguin. Surrounded by mangrove forests, sugarcane fields and lush green farmland, and with an idyllic beach, the resort is popular with visitors looking for a quiet, relaxing holiday. There are only a few restaurants and bars here, Guardalavaca which is a short distance away has much more and is more lively.

Playa Pesquero

Pesquero beach is a beautiful quiet stretch of white powdery sand with shallow azure waters. There are lots of water activities on offer here, including scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, pedalos, deep sea fishing, sailing, speed boats and catamaran cruises.

There are plenty of excursions on offer, including trips to Taino (an Indian village), Bahia de Naranjo Nature Park (with a sea aquarium and dolphinarium), Bariay National Park, Cayo Saetia Island (deserted beaches which are perfect for snorkelling), Havana, Santiago de Cuba, cultural trips to Holguin, Gibara and Banes, jeep safaris and hikes to explore the wonderful countryside.

Taino

Playa Pesquero has a subtropical climate with high temperatures all year round. The best time to visit is between December and April when temperatures average 29C, with more than 6 hours of sunshine a day and very little rainfall. October and November see the heaviest rainfall, although temperatures still average between 27C and 29C, with 6 hours of sunshine a day.

To enjoy great temperatures and sunshine at any time of the year there are lots of direct holidays on offer to Cuba throughout the internet.

One of the last minute holiday deals for a relaxing holiday to this beautiful country is an opportunity not to be missed.