After having an amazing time in Panama City (read part one of the Panama trip) I felt like our trip was starting off on the right foot. We had booked a 8 day tour in Cuba. I didn’t know what to expect from Cuba At arrival we were a bit fearful, since the recent laws stricken Cuba visits. But it appeared to only be media hype and not an actual threat.
The only thing I knew of Cuba was the images of vintage cars and bit of the communist history, so I was excited to see what the real Cuba was like. The tour took us to 3 main cities in Cuba, Havana, Trinidad, and Viñales.
Havana
Havana is exactly what you imagine it to be. There are so many beautiful old buildings and vintage cars that transport you back in time. You can feel the vibrancy of the city as you walk through old Havana. The tour started and ended in Havana, but I wished we had booked a few more extra days here. As soon as we dropped off our bags we hit the streets to explore. I was in awe of how colorful the streets were. At night we met our tour group at a rooftop bar. For those who are visiting, it is best to research or ask where to eat. Many of the great bars and restaurants are located on rooftops, not seen from street level.
The last night in Havana we got to see a performance at the Gran Teatro de La Habana. The building itself was striking and very well preserved. Also if you are planing on late night partying, Old Havana bars close early, so you need to make the trek to New Havana. There are also hotels, like Saratoga Havana, with amazing views to get a few drinks and enjoy a lunch. Just FYI there are government owned hotels, therefore banned by the US government to visit, but again it is cash only.
Cienfuegos Via Bay of Pigs
For the first official day, we headed south to Cienfegos. We stopped for lunch at Bay of the Pigs for snorkeling and lunch. This is a perfect place to swim and see the ocean wildlife. We only had a chance to enjoy the city of Cienfegos for the afternoon. The city was built by French colonist, which is represented in the architecture. The best place to grab drinks is Palacio de Valle, an Arabic inspired palace.
Trinidad
We spent the next 2.5 days in Trinidad, Cuba, known for its colonial old town with cobblestone streets. The number one thing to do here is strolling through the Plaza Mayor and explore the colorful streets. Trinidad has lots to offer from nature to nightlife. For a quick guide:
Nightlife – there are tons of bars, but there are 2 most popular places to go. First, Isco Ayala, a club in a real cave! It opens around 10 pm and can get pretty crowded. For salsa dancing head to Casa De Musica, located in the main square. This is where the young and old go for some drinks and dancing. Or if you are not a great salsa dancer you can just sit and watch on the steps.
Nature – Book a hike to the nearby waterfalls. Because the vegetation isn’t so abundant, compared to Panama, I wasn’t expecting a big waterfall. Boy was I wrong! The waterfall was amazing and even had caves you can swim in. There is also a beach near the town, Playa Ancon. They have lounge chairs that are first come. My friends and I laid under the trees and enjoyed the ocean view.
Viñales
Viñales is where the tobacco farms are located. The city is very small, but here you can feel how time stopped in Cuba. You can still see so many horse-drawn carriages. This place feels like the wineries of California. Since the town is small I wouldn’t recommend staying here more than 2 days. For things to do there are many outdoor activities. You can rent bikes or horseback riding through the Viñales Valley. There is also the Indian Cave. This cave seems unreal like a Disneyland ride. It even had boats to explore the cave. My other recommendation here is to have lunch at an organic farm. The food was amazing and the view even better.
Cuba Tips:
Flights + Visa
We booked our flights and tour before the Cuban regulations had passed, but from what I can tell US and Cuba aren’t that strict about it. The news blows it up more than it really is. To be safe just book your flights through another country, like Panama. You can get a visa ahead of time or for more money just buy it at the Cuban airport.
Stay
For the entire trip, we stayed in Casa Particulars, which are kind of like Bed and Breakfast’s, people who open up their personal homes for visitors. The host does a great job of welcoming you into their home and typically provide breakfast for guest. Many of them have incredible rooftop bars and delicious restaurants (to be honest better than most restaurants). There is also options for hostels and very few hotels.
Currency
Regulations do prevent Cuba to accept American credit cards and debit cards, so you have to bring the money you plan to spend with you in cash. Also converting US currency can be expensive or nearly impossible. I’m not sure what is the most efficient way to convert cash, but we converted our cash to Canadian and then to Cuban pesos.
Wifi
If you are hoping to post on Instagram while in Cuba then think again. You can get Wifi cards and use it only in designated public areas or few hotels. This is even the case for locals. Most companies charge an arm and a leg and may not be worth it.