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Classic cars, salsa music, revolutionary history, and a country frozen in time — unlike anywhere else on earth.
Cuba is genuinely unlike anywhere else — frozen in the 1950s in the best and worst ways, with extraordinary music, crumbling colonial architecture, empty beaches, and a warmth that makes the infrastructure frustrations completely worthwhile.
Each region has a completely different character. Here is what to expect.
The most atmospheric capital in the Caribbean — 1950s American cars, crumbling colonial grandeur, live salsa from every doorway. La Habana Vieja (Old Havana) is UNESCO-listed. The Malecon at sunset is one of the great social gathering spaces in the world.
Tobacco country — dramatic limestone mogote hills rising from red farmland. Cuba's best tobacco (and cigars) grown in small family fields. Horseback riding through the valley, cigar factory visits, and the most relaxed pace in Cuba.
The best-preserved colonial city in the Caribbean — cobblestone streets, pastel Spanish mansions, a salsa scene that runs every night. The beach at Playa Ancon is 12km away. The steam train excursion into the Valley of the Sugar Mills is a genuine piece of Cuban history.
Cuba's finest diving — coral reefs among the healthiest in the Caribbean, partly because limited tourism has reduced ecosystem pressure. All-inclusive resorts dominate but dive-only trips from the mainland are available.
Cuba requires cash — US dollars not accepted since 2021.
Bring euros, pounds or Canadian dollars and exchange on arrival.
Casa particular (private homestay) accommodation £25-45 per night including breakfast and dinner — far better than hotels.
Local peso restaurants £1-3 for a meal.
Check the currency situation before travel as it changes frequently..
Cuba's economic model has inadvertently created one of the Caribbean's most sustainable agricultural systems — the US embargo forced organic farming in the 1990s. Stay in casas particulares to put money directly into Cuban families. Hire local guides rather than booking through state agencies.
Tell us where you want to go and your budget — we'll build a personalised quote with routes, hostels, and transport sorted.
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