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|  | CUBA COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | "Revolutionary island of rum and cigars"
Cuba is an island that assaults the senses. Surprisingly for one of the last remaining communist countries, the visitor is greeted with strains of exotic rhythms - the salsa or rhumba - emanating from every corner. An aquamarine sea laps the white, palm-fringed beaches of Varadero and offshore Cayos Largo and Coco. Here you can try your hand at blue marlin or barracuda fishing, just as Hemingway depicted in his novel The Old Man and the Sea, or dive to the coral reef and search for shipwrecks. The little-visited Zapata Peninsula or the Bahia de Naranjo Nature Park offer the chance to swim with the dolphins.
Inland, only the roar of 1950s American cars disturbs deserted roads. The tobacco-growing area of Vinales with its intriguing limestone mogotes (outcrops), contrasts dramatically with the rugged tree-covered mountains of the Sierra Maestra. Cuba's rich history as a Spanish colony is evident in the wealth of colonial architecture in major towns such as Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
A tourism revolution is transforming this once isolated country with an ever-increasing range of flights and hotels opening up previously inaccessible corners. Once faded and crumbling houses with ornate wrought iron balconies, and central courtyards are now being lovingly restored, while weathered campesinos sucking on titanic cigars watch contentedly as visitors discover this intoxicating island. The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule was severe and exploitative and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. It was US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the regime together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted 1,498 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in 2004. The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken limited reforms to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. A major feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the depression of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The government in 2004 strengthened its controls over dollars coming into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| | | RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | Cuba has undergone a transformation since it first opened its doors to global tourism after almost three decades of isolation. Most noteworthy has been the rapid growth in private accommodation, the extensive network of casas particulares allowing the independent traveller the opportunity, not only to experience life as it is lived by the average Cubano, but also to explore corners of the country that had previously been inaccessible or off-limits. Good news for the tourist is the growing choice of resorts and the number of new or refurbished hotels that are opening in towns across the country. While eco-tourism is still in its infancy and much of the island's extraordinary natural beauty remains to be discovered, the government is already making strides in the right direction.
Havana
One of the largest and most vibrant cities in the Caribbean (population 2 million), Havana (La Habana) boasts an old town which features on UNESCO's World Heritage list. The surrounding 19th-century district of densely packed, crumbling houses and narrow streets has its own appeal as does the high-rise city centre (Vedado), developed during the 1940s and 1950s when US influence was strongest. The most famous of the hotels here is the Nacional, still patronised by Hollywood film stars. Dating from the same period is Miramar, the leafy, embassy district, reminiscent of Miami. The sea wall, known as the Malecón extends for 5km and is a popular meeting point for locals, especially after dusk. Havana's best beaches, the Playas del Este, are about 20km from the centre.
Havana is closely associated with the US writer, Ernest Hemmingway. One of his favourite haunts was the bar, La Bodeguita Del Medio, only a stone's throw from the city's magnificent 18th-century cathedral. Overlooking the neighbouring Plaza de Armas is the Museo de la Ciudad and the recently opened Palacio del Segundo Cabo, former residence of the Captains General, which boasts wonderful rooftop views. The splendidly refurbished rooms of the Museo de Arte Colonial are also worth checking out. The Castello de la Real Fuerza is the oldest of Havana's three forts. The Capitolio, modelled on the Capitol in Washington DC, was once home to the Cuban government and is sumptuously decorated. The Museo de la Revolución occupies the former presidential palace. Outside under a glass case is the Granma, the yacht which brought Castro and the leading rebels back to Cuba in 1956. Guided tours of the tobacco factory (Fábrica de Tobacos Pártagas) are also available.
Pinar del Río and the west
Pinar del Río is arguably Cuba's most beautiful province. The countryside is amazingly diverse, but the outstanding feature must be the mogotes (oddly rounded limestone mountains, covered in lush vegetation). The caves here, notably the Cueva de las Indio are well worth a visit. The town of Pinar del Río should be explored in its own right, and is home to several cigar factories that are open to the public. The tobacco plantations at Vuelta Abajo, a short distance southwest of Pinar del Río can also be visited during the growing season from December to April. The road from Viñales to the coast makes a scenic drive.
Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth) is the largest of the 350 islands making up the Canarreos archipelago, administered from the capital, Nueva Gerona. Once known as 'Parrot Island', the Isle of Youth was a hideout for pirates including the notorious Englishman, Captain Henry Morgan. It is also supposed to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. In the same archipelago is Cayo Largo, another of Cuba's well-known tourist resorts, considered to have some of the best beaches in the Caribbean.
Varadero, a sheltered peninsula on Cuba's north coast, is the island's best known beach resort. Apart from the 20km (12.5 miles) of fine white sand, there are excellent opportunities for scuba diving. The amenities too are first rate.
Guama in the south of Matanzas Province, is a reconstruction of an Amero-Indian village, a government showpiece built on a series of islands linked by wooden bridges. There are boat trips along the Treasure Lake (Laguna del Tesoro), while most visitors will also enjoy the crocodile nursery. This part of Mantanzas is also famous for bird life and the attractive beaches of Playa Girón and Playa Larga, location for the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
Trinidad and the centre
Cienfuegos is a prosperous modern city built around a fine harbour at the foot of the Escambray Mountains. Its 19th-century core was built with the help of French settlers from Louisiana, which explains why many of the town's finest buildings remind one of New Orleans. The main sights around Parque José Martí include the cathedral and the late-19th-century Teatro Tomás Terry, worth exploring for its florid interior. Closer to the harbour are the castle, Castillo de Jagua and the Palacio de Valle. Built in an appealing mixture of architectural styles with Moorish influences to the fore, it is now a restaurant with a roof-top terrace which affords splendid views of the bay and surrounding countryside.
Trinidad retains the atmosphere of an old colonial town, despite the influx of tourists. Founded in the year 1514, it was one of Cuba's seven original towns, and the presence of many beautiful buildings dating from the 17th-19th centuries accounts for its place on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Apart from the cobbled streets and the houses painted in pastel colours, the main attractions include the elegant Parque Martí and several museums in the colonial mansions, the best of which, the Museo Romántico, has been beautifully refurbished in period style. The Taller Alfarero, a ceramics workshop where traditional techniques are still used, is also worth visiting. Many tourists stay not in Trinidad itself but at the nearby beach resort of Playa Ancón. Mention should also be made of the Torre de Manaca Iznaga (50m/165ft), a lookout tower offering great views of the Valley of the Sugar Mills (Valle de los Ingenios) and the Escambray Mountains.
Santa Clara is a bustling city in the heart of an important agricultural region. Santa Clara is closely associated with the revolutionary hero Ernesto 'Che' Guevara who captured the town for the Cuban revolution days before the resignation of the dictator, General Batista. Understandably, the government promotes this lively town; it is also investing in the area's other potential attractions, which include Remedios and the beaches around Cayo Las Brujas.
Sancti Spíritus has a laid-back feel and a good range of state and private accommodation. The bridge over the Yayabo River is made of stone - the oldest one on the island. Strolling through the sleepy streets while admiring the colonial architecture is the main attraction. The best example of the style is the Colonial Art Museum.
Santiago de Cuba and the east
Camagüey is one of the more heavily promoted towns of the island. Its attractions include a number of churches and museums and a thriving (and very photogenic) peso market. Camagüey lies in the centre of a fertile plain, exploited for sugar. The unspoilt Camagüey archipelago is also known as Jardines del Rey. Within the natural park are some 20km of landscaped white-sand beaches, the best known of which are Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, the latter a favourite haunt of Ernest Hemmingway, who came to fish here.
Bayamo was the birthplace of the 19th-century revolutionary, Manuel de Cépedes, who launched Cuba's struggle for independence here in 1868-9. Modern Bayamo is a delightful little town with one of the few pedestrianised centres on the island. From here it is possible to explore the nature trails of the Parque Nacional del Granma around the fishing hamlet of Cabo Cruz.
Holguín is familiar to most tourists for its airstrip, but the old colonial town is worth a couple of hours at least for its attractive squares and streets. Also falling within the province are the beach resorts of Guarda la Váca and Esmeralda, both of which are well served with amenities.
Santiago de Cuba, 780km (485 miles) from Havana, was the island's first capital. It owed this distinction to a superb deepwater harbour, the majestic Sierra Maestra Mountains forming a dramatic backdrop. Despite losing its primacy early in the day, Santiago was never eclipsed by Havana thanks to the French plantation owners and their slaves who arrived in the 18th century, turning the region over to coffee and sugar production. Santiago consequently acquired a cosmopolitan flavour that accounts for its cultural importance especially in music - the Son originated here. In July the town hosts one of the most spectacular carnivals in the country which has even spawned its own museum. Highlights of Santiago's old quarter (around the square, Parque Céspedes) are the cathedral, the Casa de Diego Velázquez, one of Cuba's oldest colonial mansions, and the Museo Emilio Bacardí, which contains the rum magnate's collection of antiques and fine art. Adjacent to the square is the Casa Granda Hotel, located adjacent to the square in the area, a favourite haunt of the British author Graham Greene.
The Moncada Barracks, where Fidel Castro and his revolutionary insurgents launched an abortive uprising in 1953, is the most visited sight outside the town centre. After soaking up Santiago's heady atmosphere, visitors should venture into the surrounding countryside. Excursions on offer include the Castillo del Morro, once an important fortress and now a museum of piracy with superb vistas of the surrounding countryside. The shrine to the Virgin of Cobre, is housed in a magnificent basilica. This important centre of pilgrimage was the focus of Pope John Paul II's visit to Cuba in 1998.
Baracoa, lies between two bays on Cuba's eastern tip, and is one of the island's most beautiful towns. Tradition has it that Christopher Columbus planted a wooden cross here after coming ashore in 1492. It was later transferred to the church of Our Lady of the Assumption where it is still on view. Until the 1960s, when a road connecting it to the mainland was constructed, Cuba's oldest European settlement was accessible only by boat. The town's role as a former Spanish outpost is evidenced by its three forts, the Fuerta Matachín (now housing the municipal museum), the Castillo de Seboruco (now a hotel), and the Fuerte de la Punta (which now also houses a restaurant). | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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