10 Reasons to Take a Holiday in Cuba
There are so many reasons to visit Cuba that if you are still pondering whether or not it is a country visit, you need not.
It has something for everyone and the tourism statistics which show huge growth in the last 10 years, look likely to continue their upward trend.
If you have any doubts about what Cuba has to offer tourists to the main island and all its satellite islands, let me give you ten good reasons why you should visit!
1. The Beaches
One of the main reasons for the drastic upturn in tourist visitors in recent years has been the realization by many tourists that you can get a very affordable Caribbean holiday in what is considered a very safe country in relative terms.
2. Safety
As mentioned above briefly, Cuba is statistically the safest country in the Caribbean and much safer than many resorts in the U.S., and Europe.
Cuba is a police state with a lot of controls and informers. As a tourist, this should not affect you except for the fact that it makes it a very safe country to visit.
See our post on safety in Cuba.
3. Swim with Dolphins
Many people have a dream or bucket list which includes one day swimming with dolphins. Cuba is a good place and the perfect setting to tick this off your list with the warm Caribbean waters.
In the resorts of Varadero and Holguin, there are special trips where people go out in a boat and have the sheer joy of swimming with a school of dolphins.
4. Carnivals and Festivals
Festivals and carnivals are a key part of Cuban culture.
Music and dance run through the Cuban veins.
These events are much more than just a street party as there is the most fantastic pulsating music, dancing, costumes, exotic food, and the kind of atmosphere that cannot be imitated anywhere outside of the Caribbean.
Many holidays are planned around Cuba’s carnivals and for obvious reasons.
5. Horse Riding
Horse riding in Cuba is a superb way to enjoy the beautiful scenery and there are custom-made horse riding holidays that take in the magnificent hills and valleys.
For many people, galloping along a beach is one of their dreams, and Varadero beach is so long that there are stretches where horse riding is permitted.
Imagine how it will feel to gallop on the edge of a white sand beach with the pounding hooves splashing in the gently lapping water.
6. Deep-Sea Fishing
Deep-sea fishing towing a line behind a boat is particularly popular off the northwest coast of Cuba in Cayo Guillermo, an area of the sea made famous by the great author and deep-sea fisherman, Ernest Hemmingway who wrote ‘The Old Man and the Sea’.
7. Vinales Valley
The Vinales Valley is a tobacco-growing valley that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The region is a must-visit attraction for every visitor to Cuba and offers visitors scenic views, and impressive hiking and climbing sites.
8. Ciénaga de Zapata National Park
Anglers and birdwatchers will enjoy a trip to this National Park, which is one of the largest swamplands in Cuba.
There are many species of migratory birds that pass through the swamplands, and ample opportunities for fishing here.
Travelers interested in fishing holidays will benefit from a trip to this area.
9. Varadero
Varadero is well known for its long, pristine beaches, and for the Monumento Ernesto Che Guevara which is the final resting place of the revolutionary.
The Varadero region will also allow tourists to enjoy a lavish stay at one of the many luxury resorts in the area.
10. Baracoa
Steeped in history and rich in natural beauty, Baracoa is the region where the first settlement in Cuba occurred.
This city is located on the eastern coast of Cuba and is near a striking oyster-shaped bay.
