Where is the best in Cuba. Where to rest in Cuba. Paradise with beach resorts

Solitude from the hustle and bustle of the city is undoubtedly possible, for this you need to go to one of the island resorts:

• Cayo Guillermo Island is a national reserve that offers European service in several hotels.
• Lagoons with the purest crystal waters, pink flamingos, full-service hotels - all this on the island of Cayo Coco.
• You can get to the island of Cayo Largo by plane, because. built here international Airport. The unusualness and beauty characteristic of the underwater world of this island attracts many diving enthusiasts.

In the life of every tourist there comes a moment when countries located two or three hours away by air cease to excite the imagination. I would like to leave them for later, "to retire", and break out of the continent, on the other side of the globe - in general, to make a grand journey, and not just a trip. And when in the end everything depends on the price of the issue, in most cases preference is given to Cuba.

First, Cuba is the most accessible country in the Western Hemisphere. Tour operators have established a strong and reliable tourist connection with this island state, since our compatriots do not need any visa to visit Cuba. Secondly, the Cuban climate provides tourists complete freedom from the seasonal framework when planning a vacation: even in January, the air here is on average warmed up to 22 degrees. Thirdly, Cuba is undoubtedly a gastronomic and natural exotic, which guarantees vivid impressions and a long memory. Well, how not to mention rum and cigars, the country of origin for which is a quality mark? Finally, a pleasant surprise for inexperienced travelers who are poorly versed in foreign languages, will be pretty a large number of local residents speaking Russian: many citizens of this socialist republic once studied in the USSR.

So, we decided to fly to Cuba! It remains only to choose a specific resort. And this turns out to be challenging task, because the territory of the Cuban Republic is not limited to the island of the same name, but includes more than one and a half thousand small islands and coral reefs, which means that the choice will be extensive and complex. Let's figure out together how rich and how the resorts of Cuba differ from each other.

We recommend booking chip flights to Cuba on sitesAviasales skyscanner

Varadero is one of largest resorts not only Cuba, but the entire Caribbean. It is located a couple of hours east of Havana and is located on the narrow Hicacos Peninsula. In general, Varadero is the face of Cuban tourism: photographs of this particular paradise place are most often decorated with specialized booklets and brochures. It's hard to resist the image white sand, peaceful turquoise surface and bowing palm trees, right? And this is not a picture corrected by a professional designer at all, it is this beauty that meets all travelers who have chosen Varadero as their vacation spot.

By the way, according to UNESCO, Varadero beach is one of the cleanest in the world, and coral reef reliably protects it from ocean waves. Summer reigns here all year round - the January minimum almost never goes beyond 25 degrees, and August-September are characterized by the highest water and air temperatures. Another remarkable climatic feature of the peninsula is the abundance sunny days: thunderclouds do not linger over Varadero for a long time even in the rainy season. Already for this, the resort is adored by tourists, who are enough here at any time of the year - numerous coastal hotels never suffer from a lack of guests.

Noisy and crowded Varadero is also a party center tourist Cuba- with the onset of darkness, vacationers smoothly move to restaurants and discos, of which there are plenty and variety. For example, you can visit the Al Capone House restaurant, located in a building that actually served as the home of the famous mafioso at the beginning of the last century. A variety of Varadero cabarets are also very popular with tourists. So, in the cabaret "Pirate Cave" (La Cueva del Pirata) is always full of people: the institution is located in a real cave, which once sheltered real pirates caribbean. Those who prefer peaceful unity with nature to a night of revelry can also strongly recommend a trip to Varadero: diving, fishing, playing golf are great relaxing, and you can also rent a motorcycle or scooter and go explore the surrounding grottoes, caves and dense forests.

If you look around Havana in an instant - a paradise-country, a country that is necessary! Vladimir Mayakovsky admired the capital of Cuba back in the mid-1920s, and after almost a hundred years it continues to delight everyone who comes here on vacation. As the largest city in Caribbean Islands, Havana is ready to offer a 100% complete and rich vacation to every tourist.

Firstly, Havana owns almost fifty kilometers coastline, half of which are beautiful beaches. sunbathing, swimming, water sports sports, diving - all this is guaranteed to you. Speaking of diving: 12 kilometers from the capital there is Bakuranao Beach, widely known among snorkellers for the fact that at the bottom of the sea, in the middle of coral thickets, lies a sunken ship.

Secondly, there are so many sights and museums in the five-hundred-year-old Havana that you will have to try hard to get around them all during your vacation. old center The city itself is one continuous attraction and is protected by UNESCO as part of the world heritage: according to experts, only in Old Havana about 900 buildings and structures are of historical and cultural value. It is worth visiting the Havana Capitol - outwardly it is not much different from Washington. The most popular and lively street of the city is the Malecon embankment: young people hang out here, fishermen are on duty over their fishing rods, and all carnival processions take place. In the evening, tourists flock to the Malecon to watch the sunset. The city's fortifications (the fortresses of San Carlos de la Cabaña and Castillo El Morro), which once held back pirate raids, are also of great interest, as they are among the largest in Latin America. The Hemingway House Museum, the Roma Museum, the Museum of the Fight against Illiteracy - inquisitive guests of Havana will have something to spend their time on. In the suburbs of the resort there is a large botanical garden with a Japanese corner inside, there are also many karst caves so nature lovers won't be bored either.

We recommend booking excursions in Cuba on the website , and rent a car on the sites Avis Hertz rentalcars

And thirdly - for lovers of noisy nightlife: Havana, as it should be the largest city in the country, offers a huge selection of restaurants, bars, clubs and cabarets.

This is the second after Varadero Cuban resort both in size and importance. But we must immediately indicate that Holguin is considered a status resort: there are no hotels with a star rating below the "four" and vouchers in them cannot be called budget. Due to this, there are not a dime a dozen tourists here and the audience is also appropriate. In other words, Holguin guarantees you a leisurely, measured and rich vacation.

The resort's beaches stretch along the northeast coast of the Atlantic Ocean for 40 kilometers. High-quality service and developed infrastructure await tourists at each of the four dozen beaches. The most popular are Playa Esmeralda ("Emerald Beach"), Guardalavaca and Playa Pesquero.

Not far from Playa Esmeralda, the ship of Christopher Columbus moored more than five centuries ago, and I must say, great navigator he did not fail with the parking place: nature here still breaks the breath with its beauty. A powerful line of spreading palm trees comes very close to the emerald water, casting a thick shadow on the snow-white fine sand - you should visit such a beach at least once in your life. In general, nature has done its best here - caves and rivers, mountains and waterfalls, mud springs and a whole coral reef nearby!

Another gem in Holguin's diadem is Guardalavaca Beach. The translation of its name into Russian is not very poetic - "looking after the cows", but do not rush to frown in disgust, there are no cows here. So the Cubans call the Egyptian heron that nests in these places. In addition to the heavenly terrestrial beauties, Guardalavaca is also famous for its underwater ones: the nearby coral reef descends to the bottom in terraces, on which both flora and fauna are represented in all their diversity, so diving here is excellent.

Playa Pesquero is the youngest of Holguín's beaches. There are few hotels here, so mostly families come to rest in this quiet corner.

If we talk about off-the-beach entertainment, then in the vicinity of the resort there is the largest waterfall on the island - Guayabo. Lovers of history and archeology will remember an excursion to Banes and its museum with a rich exposition of various household items of the Indians of the Caribbean, children will happily spend the day in the dolphinarium, and adults will take part in a jeep safari.

We recommend comparing prices for hotels in Havana, Varadero and other places in Cuba on websites Booking.com Hotels Expedia Ostrovok

Cayo Coco

30 kilometers from the northern coast of the Cuban province of Ciego de Avila stretches a chain of Jardines del Rey islands, the most famous and largest of which, perhaps, is Cayo Coco. In the late 1980s, the construction of an artificial road was completed, which connected Cuba with Cayo Coco, so now you can get to this island by land.

True, the construction of the dam was accompanied by violent protests and fears of environmentalists: Cayo Coco, together with the little Cayo Guillermo, with which they are connected in a natural way, are a unique ecosystem and are protected by the state as a natural reserve. Here is a paradise not only for people, but also, for example, for birds - more than two hundred species of birds nest on this island. One of them - the white ibis, which is called here the bird of coconuts (Coco) - gave the name to the island. And pink flamingos live here! The neighborhood is so unique fauna and a highly developed civilization is impossible, therefore there are no restaurants, noisy nightclubs, large shops on Cayo Coco - only a few self-sufficient hotel complexes that are in great tourist demand.

Total length beach line islands - 26 kilometers. The nearby coral reefs reliably protect the coast from strong waves, and also create excellent conditions for diving.

Cayo Santa Maria

Very close to Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo is another tasty piece of the group for tourists. Royal Islands(Jardines del Rey) - Cayo Santa Maria. It is quite small: 13 kilometers long and 2 wide. You can get to it along the same man-made route from the island of Cuba, and from other islands you can sail on a yacht or catamaran. From eleven kilometers sandy shores Half of Cayo Santa Maria is occupied by hotels and their infrastructure, the rest of the coastal space is wild beaches, where there are few tourists. You can get to them on a rental scooter or bike, but be careful: the roads on the island are ordinary sandy paths.

Local beaches are characterized by a gentle entry into the water, which, however, ends quickly, so parents should not leave their children to frolic in the water unattended. Unlike neighboring island resorts, Cayo Santa Maria is not protected from the winds of the Atlantic, so the excitement of the sea here, to the delight of surfers, is stable and often strong.

Despite the fact that Cayo Santa Maria is still a young resort compared to its neighbors and, moreover, very modest in size, there is where to have fun. The island has a tourist village called Pueblo la Estrella, which concentrates everything that can interest visitors: shops and restaurants, bars and clubs, souvenir shops and spas. Special minibuses constantly run between hotels and the village for the maximum convenience of tourists. Among the other attractions available to holidaymakers on Cayo Santa Maria, it is worth recommending a visit fishing village Caibarién, where you can treat yourself to a fresh catch, get acquainted with the life of a fisherman and even ask for sea fishing with the locals, and the town of Remedios with excellent colonial architecture.

Cayo Largo

This resort island, once a pirate haven, is located on the other side of Cuba - off its southwestern shores. Also, having a rather modest size, Cayo Largo, at the same time, has its own airport and an excellent road connecting all local hotels. Which, by the way, are many. This is a purely tourist island, there is no local population here - only a small area for hotel workers.

The resort's most popular beach is the five-kilometer-long Playa Lindamar, and the most secluded is Punta Mal Tiempo, where there is not the slightest trace of civilization. On western beaches islands (Playa Tortuga, Playa los Cocos) you can periodically observe pelicans, large turtles and iguanas, but in general you can take advantage of the excursion offer and go to the island of Cayo Iguana, where exotic lizards are found in in large numbers. Also on Cayo Largo you will be offered to do various types of activities. water sports, diving, snorkeling, fishing and other joys of island tourism.

Active tourists who cannot stand long lying on the beach should go to Matanzas - administrative center province of the same name, which includes Varadero. Matanzas is a major cultural center of Cuba and offers its guests a lot of new interesting knowledge and impressions about a still unfamiliar country.

In the city itself, you will find many museums and architectural sights, among which bridges are worth mentioning in the first place. Matanzas is often compared to Venice: the San Juan and Yumuri rivers flowing through the city are framed by almost two dozen original bridges. The most interesting tourist sites here are the castles of Castillo del Morillo and San Severino, historical, theater and pharmaceutical museums and a fresco of Che Guevara made of stone.

Belyamar is located five kilometers from the city - unique cave, accidentally found by shepherds only a century and a half ago. Bizarre stalactites, iridescent crystals resembling stars, seemed too beautiful to superstitious natives to be created without devilish participation, and therefore they forgot about Bellamar for another hundred years, and only in the middle of the 20th century researchers became interested in it, and subsequently elevated it to the status of a landmark. In these parts, it is necessary to visit another incredible cave - Saturno. Visitors are allowed to snorkel in a cool underground freshwater lake that is home to shrimp and blind fish. Experienced scuba divers will appreciate the Fish Cave located in the Bay of Pigs. Because the underground lake it is very deep here, it is better for novice divers not to take risks and admire the natural wealth from the shore.

On the territory of the province of Matanzas there are several most curious natural reserves - Laguna de Maya with a swamp ecosystem, Leon with an endemic melocactus, and the Great National Park of Montemar. Having reached the Zapata Peninsula, it is worth visiting the village of Aldea Taina, which is a reconstruction of Indian life, and a huge crocodile farm.

Santiago de Cuba

This second most important city of Cuba is located in the very south of the island, in the bay of the same name, and is primarily known throughout the world for the annual carnival, which takes place here in July since the 17th century. But this does not mean that in the remaining months there is nothing to see here and the hotels are empty: in Santiago de Cuba and its environs there are many historical, cultural and natural attractions.

The best beach of the bay is Playa Siboney - a very picturesque place where not only tourists, but also indigenous people like to relax. The coral reef close to the shore and the local diving center guarantee tourists an exciting and educational leisure.

Nature did not deprive Santiago de Cuba of its gifts. Not far from the city is national park Baconao, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Children will especially remember visiting the park: there is a Prehistoric Valley with sculptures of more than two hundred extinct animals from the Paleolithic era, and an aquarium with a glass underwater tunnel from which you can observe the life of the Caribbean Sea. Another national park - Pico Turquino - is waiting for those who like to climb higher: on its territory there is highest point Republic - Mount Turkino, 1972 meters high. At its top was the headquarters of Fidel Castro, and now - a museum. Another reserve, Gran Piedro Park, is marked in the Guinness Book of Records thanks to a huge monolithic rock - the third largest in the world.

The miracle of fortification - the fortress of San Pedro de la Roca, which with honor coped with repeated pirate raids - is the pride of the city and a curious object for study. Representing Spanish colonial architecture, it is protected by UNESCO. Inside the fortress is a museum of piracy. Among other man-made attractions, tourists highlight the Padre Pico staircase street, the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, Revolution Square, Fidel Castro's house and the Carnival Museum.

On the southwestern coast of Cuba, in the depths beautiful bay Jagua is the city of Cienfuegos, which is often referred to as southern pearl countries. This resort is very attractive not only for its geographical location, but also for its very comfortable climatic conditions for recreation. The first and best thing to do here is to go diving. A number of modern dive centers, dozens of diving points in impressive water areas - all this is at the disposal of tourists. A coral reef stretches along the entire coast, "responsible" for the diversity of underwater flora and fauna, there are also shell-covered wrecks of sunken ships, as well as your own ... Notre Dame! Yes, you heard right: nature - a builder no worse than man - created its own coral masterpiece in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, very similar to the cathedral sung by Victor Hugo.

Underwater charms of natural creations in this region are not exhausted. In the vicinity of the resort, in the Escambray mountain range, there are healing thermal springs Ciego Montero and El Nicho Falls, and even further, towards Trinidad, is one of the most famous caves Cuba - Martin Infierno. Here you will see one of the largest stalagmites in the world (its height is more than 62 meters), as well as a colony of the smallest bats on this planet, which are called "butterflies".

If you are determined to relax passively, then go to Rancho Luna - the most beautiful and clean beach resort, washed by calm waves, or Guahimico - the most picturesque beach, located near the confluence of the La Jutia River into the Caribbean Sea and surrounded by mountains. To all of the above, it remains to add the fact that Cienfuegos is recognized by UNESCO as an outstanding example of Latin American urban planning and therefore taken under the protection of this UN agency. And this means that in the city itself there are a lot of unique and interesting places- Central Square, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Thomas Terry Theatre, José Marti Park, Paseo del Prado, Valle Palace, Punta Gorda and Castillo de Jagua.

Trinidad is called a museum under open sky, is considered the most beautiful city in Cuba and compared with a time machine: there is no other place in the Americas that has so well preserved its colonial appearance. Trinidad spent a whole century of its history in isolation from the rest of the island, which helped to preserve the cobbled streets and houses built in the late 17th century in their original form! Of course, it was not without the auspices of UNESCO here, and the preservation historical appearance cities have been written into local legislation for more than half a century. Squares, palaces, churches, bell towers, towers, museums - does it make sense to list in detail the sights of Trinidad, if even a welcome sign at the entrance to the city belongs to them?

Being at the same time a resort, Trinidad is rightfully proud of its beaches. 12 kilometers south of the city begins the six-kilometer spit of Ancon, on which are located Playa Ancon and Playa Maria Aguilar, reputed to be the best in everything south coast Cuba. There are also two luxurious diving sites - Casilda Bay and the islet of Cayo Blanco. Underwater landscapes here are extremely picturesque: grottoes, tunnels and caves, species diversity of corals, an abundance of fish.

Twelve kilometers north of Trinidad, in the Escambray mountain range, the Topes de Collantes National Park begins, replete with mountain streams and waterfalls, canyons and grottoes, hills and caves, orchids and ferns. There are also coffee plantations, through which one of the most popular hiking trails, leading to the 62-meter Kaburoi waterfall.

Another natural Park, El Cubano, is located very close to the city, just five kilometers from the center. There is also a river and a waterfall, many rare plant species. In El Cubano, you can ride horses, take a walk with an eco-tour, and even stay with a tent at a campsite.

Malpa Travel - directory of all global travel booking services

If you are wondering where to relax on, then you will probably be interested to know that tours to the island of freedom are sold to only one beach resort - Varadero.

And indeed, as for a beach holiday, without everything else, it will fit better than anything, and there you can feel like in. Varadero will appeal to fans of All Inclusive holidays, but lovers of nightlife will not like the disadvantages of this resort.

Varadero beach

The city of Varadero itself is a tourist reservation and a few years ago the ordinary local population was not allowed to go there. The beaches of Varadero are clean, as is the sea, which has a turquoise hue. Most vacationers here are Canadians, as this is the closest tropical resort to them. There are also enough Russian tourists during the peak season.

Havana

The main tour operators also sell trips to Varadero combined with a visit to Havana, i.е. first you can live 3 days in the capital, and then go by bus to Varadero. This program, of course, will be more interesting, since during the day you can see the sights of Havana, and at night you can dance reggaeton in nightclubs.

The best nightclub in Havana "Casa de la Musica"

In fact, if you do not like to be bored, then the best option will spend the entire vacation in Havana and only periodically leave it on excursions. The rest of the cities in Cuba cannot offer entertainment for 2 weeks, as they are small and the number of entertainment facilities there is limited or non-existent.

Santa Maria del Mar beach near Havana

Havana is good because here you can also enjoy the day beach holiday. The best beach is located 20 km from the center of Havana and is called Playa Santa Maria del Mar. It can be reached at tourist bus from central park José Marty. The cost of a round-trip ticket is 5 cookies. This beach is mostly visited by Italians. You can settle both in Havana itself and in those located right next to the beach.

There are a lot of nightclubs in Havana and every night you can visit a new one. Entrance is paid everywhere and its cost for tourists can reach up to 15 cookies.

Beach in Holguin

Holguin will also be a good resort where you can relax in Cuba. There are luxury hotels and beautiful beaches. If you want to take a break from the Russians, then you should pay attention to Holguin, as the main guests in local hotels are Italians and Canadians.

Islands of Cuba

If you are wondering where in Cuba it is better to relax on the islands, then you should consider Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo. The largest among them is Cayo Largo, and it is most convenient to get to it, since the island has an international airport. There are not as many hotels on the island as in Varadero or Havana, but in addition to sunbathing, diving will be possible here.

Cayo Largo island

Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are very small islands that are designed to take a break from the hustle and bustle of this world.

Liberty Island Cuba is loved by tourists for its luxurious nature, excellent beaches and a lot of colonial and revolutionary attractions. The white stone beauty of Havana, the resorts of Varadero and Holguin, rum, cigars and Fidel - all about Cuba: tours, holidays, prices and maps.

• Hot tours to Cuba
• Tours for May Worldwide

Perhaps some still remember how they deciphered the name of this country 15 years ago: "Communism off the coast of America." Joking aside, Cuba really remains one of the few strongholds of a bright socialist ideology with such familiar attributes: the legendary Comandante Che and his lively-ever-living follower, an external ideological enemy in the face of the States and the unprecedented patriotism of local residents. There are, however, radical differences from the USSR - a steady influx of tourists all year round, hotels with a high level of service and rich entertainment opportunities: diving, snorkeling, yachting and the list goes on. Plus, of course, let's not forget about the famous rum and cigars. The latter, by the way, secretly smoked (and smokes) the same ideologically hostile leadership, despite the embargo of the Island of Freedom.

Time difference with Moscow

− 8 hours summer −7 hours

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• with Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

Visa and customs

For a tourist trip for up to 30 days, citizens of Russia and Belarus do not need a visa to Cuba. For your own peace of mind, you should take out travel medical insurance for the entire duration of the trip in advance.

To enter Cuba at the border, you need to fill out a migration card (two copies - the second one is presented upon departure), return ticket and proof of financial solvency at the rate of USD 50 per day per person (a simple credit card statement will do). Hotel reservations are not required, but be prepared to answer the question of where you plan to stay.

Duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco is allowed; 3 bottles of alcoholic drinks; perfumes, medicines and household items - within the limits of personal needs. Also, one photo and video camera is imported duty-free (plus 5 cassettes for each). It is forbidden to import drugs, pornography and firearms (with the exception of sport hunting guns belonging to tourists who come to the country for this purpose and have the appropriate permit issued in Cuba upon arrival).

Fans of Cuban cigars should not forget the following point: although they can be taken out of the island as many as they like with a receipt, in Russia, according to our customs rules, you can import no more than 50 pieces.

You can export up to 1000 CUP and up to 5000 USD without a declaration, no more than 23 cigars per person (if the cigars are sealed in a package with a hologram, bought in a special store that issues receipts and an export permit, you can export as much as you like), goods in the amount of not more than 1000 CUP (jewelry is exported only if there is a license issued by the store).

Systems tax free on socialist Cuba No.

The export of animals is prohibited, cultural property, sea shells, antiques, precious metals. When buying jewelry or goods from crocodile skin it is necessary to demand an export license from the seller, otherwise the goods will be confiscated during the passage customs control. These licenses are issued, as a rule, only in stores. In markets where crocodile skin products cost 3-5 times less, but export licenses are not given, such goods should not be purchased.

How to get to Cuba

The easiest and fastest way to get to Cuba - direct direct regular flights Aeroflot Moscow - Havana (about 12 hours of flight, departure from Sheremetyevo). Other options: transit through Paris with Air France to Havana, via Amsterdam with KLM, via Madrid with Iberia, via Frankfurt with Condor to Havana and Varadero and more European carriers. The journey will take from 16 to 20 hours.

The flight from the CIS countries is carried out either through Moscow, or with a connection in European cities.

If tourists fly with KLM, due to inconvenient flight connections, they will have to spend the night in Amsterdam. To do this, you need to apply for a transit visa, as well as book a hotel in advance. It is more convenient to stay in the center of Amsterdam: the time of the railway crossing from the airport to the station in the city center is only 20 minutes.

Find flights to Cuba

Transport

Public transport in the country is underdeveloped, the most convenient way is to rent a car. Cubans themselves often use hitchhiking to move around cities or around the country.

Public transport

Buses are considered the main city transport, but they can only be recommended to extreme sportsmen: the stops are not marked in any way, it is almost impossible to find them, the buses are crowded, and they do not have a clear schedule and routes. Buses - in Havana they are called camallos (due to their resemblance to camels) - stop every 4 blocks. The fare costs 3-5 CUC, it is not recommended to check with the driver - he will suspect you are a tourist and take much more. Prices on the page are for September 2018.

For tourists there are special "tourist" taxis - these are always modern and serviceable cars. They can be ordered from any hotel or simply by phone; fare is paid only in dollars. The cost of the trip is from 0.5 to 1 USD for each km of the journey. Regular taxis that accept pesos are quite old cars, and there are not many of them. Finally, there are private "bombs" in Cuba. Their prices are somewhat lower than those of state taxi drivers, but there are no guarantees of quality either.

Intercity communication

Locals often hitchhike around the country. Cuba even has a law that government vehicles are required to take hitchhikers on board if there are empty seats in the car. The implementation of this rule is closely monitored by special people, like our traffic cops.

In all major cities Cuba has bus stations from where intercity buses. Unlike urban transport, they run more or less on schedule. The most budget option is Astro Bus. The bus fleet leaves much to be desired, but a trip from Havana to Varadero will cost only 8-10 CUC. Viazul Bus - more modern park and the buses even have air conditioning. Fares are higher: from Havana to Varadero, a ticket will cost 8-15 USD. The company has its own website (translated into English) where you can buy tickets online. In other cases, travel cards are purchased at the box office at the station, and this must be done in advance.

Rent a Car

Cuba Hotels

Consulate General in Havana: 5-a Avenida esq. a 66, no. 318, Miramar, La Habana,; tel.: 204-10-74, 204-10-85.

Police: 116 and 820-116, Ambulance: 242-811, Fire Brigade: 811-115, airport information desk: 45-31-33.

• Is Cuba suitable for a girl for an individual trip
• How to call in Havana from a Russian number to a local landline

Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo

Cuban beaches

The beaches in Cuba are some of the best on the planet: sandy, with a convenient entrance to the sea, many are marked with the Blue Flag, in addition, they are all municipal and free.

Most of the hotels on the coast are assigned separate protected areas of the beach, where you can hardly meet the local population. Sunbeds and umbrellas - free of charge.

You can safely go to any resort and be satisfied. But if you choose the ideal of the best, then you should pay attention to the following beaches:

The longest beach in Cuba is Varadero: almost 22 km white sand with sunbeds, umbrellas, beach cafes and more tourism infrastructure. Almost all the beaches here are attached to hotels, so it is always clean there and there are no suspicious strangers. Varadero is perhaps the most fun and noisy resort in Cuba, there are many discos here, so young and not very party-goers should go here. Varadero is also suitable for tourists who prefer an all-inclusive holiday - most of these hotels are concentrated here.

For family vacation with children, the Santa Lucia beach is suitable (about 110 km northeast of the city of Camaguey). There is a comfortable gently sloping sandy bottom, there are no waves, and since scheduled buses you can’t get to this beach, there are not many people even in the high season. These are very calm and beautiful places, but for fans of extreme sports there is also entertainment: diving with sharks.

Cuisine and restaurants of Cuba

Creole cuisine is widespread on the island, the main ingredients of which are pork and chicken cooked in various ways. One of the most popular national dishes is "Creole ajiaco" - pork with vegetables and lots of spices. It is also worth trying lobsters with lemon, dishes from crocodile or turtle meat, turtle eggs. In Cuba, they cook a lot from fruits and serve them with almost every dish. The coffee here is very strong and sweet.

National drinks are Cuban rum and numerous cocktails based on it: mojito, cuba libre, daiquiri and many others.

There are few restaurants in the classical sense of the word in Cuba, and they are all located in tourist areas and in resorts. They usually take credit cards, but crashes are not uncommon, so it's best to go with cash (convertible pesos). Average score in good restaurant- approximately 30-40 CUP per person without drinks, in a more budgetary one you can meet 10-15 CUP. There are also many pizzerias and eateries with hamburgers in Cuba. You can eat there cheaply (2-5 CUP) and often around the clock, but only for cash. A separate story - Cuban bars. Most of them are very colorful and with a history, they don’t serve food there (maximum nuts and chips), but you should definitely try all the daiquiris.

Guides in Cuba

Entertainment and attractions

There are not as many cultural attractions in Cuba as in other countries, much was destroyed by the Spanish colonizers back in the 16th century. The main wealth of the island is natural beauty. Scenic landscapes, national parks and amazing undersea world- this is what attracts thousands of tourists to Cuba every year.

Historical sights are concentrated in cities, most of all, of course, in the capital - Havana. The most interesting area in terms of tourism is Old Havana, listed by UNESCO on the World Heritage List of Humanity. You should definitely see the Cathedral of St. Christopher, the Havana Capitol - larger than Washington. Also of interest are the squares of the city: the Armory (Plaza de Armas), the Cathedral (Plaza de la Catedral) and the Old (Plaza Vieja), around which are located ancient buildings and buildings, as well as the Plaza of the Revolution of José Martí with a memorial and an obelisk. At the top of the latter is the highest Observation deck in the city.

The province of Havana will be of particular interest to fans of ecological and adventure tourism, as there are many quiet secluded beaches. The Escaleras de Jaruco area has many caves and sheer cliffs: it is good for speleologists. In San Antonio de los Baños, you can visit the Museum of Humor, and coastal village Santa Cruz del Norte is famous for producing the famous Havana Club rum.

In the city of Santa Clara (province of Villa Clara) there is a Memorial to them. Che Guevara and his remains are kept. IN small town Remedios worth seeing is the city's Carnival Museum, the Alejandro García Caturla Music Museum and the main parish church of St. John the Baptist, which is considered one of the most curious in Cuba.

The city of Pinar del Rio in the province of the same name is interesting for its Museum of Natural Sciences, the Gouache Palace, the Milanes Theater and the Francisco Donatien Cigar Factory.

Juventud Island is the second largest in the Cuban archipelago. Here is the famous Los Indios San Felipe nature reserve with unique flora and fauna, the Presidio Modelo prison, a copy of the American Joliet prison in Illinois (where Fidel Castro served his prison sentence), the national marine park"Punta Frances" and the international dive center "El Coloni".

In the province of Matanzas, in addition to caves with rock paintings, it is worth visiting the provincial capital of the same name. Mandatory to visit: Vigia Square (foundation of the city), Liberty Square, Montserrat Chapel (built in the image of a temple in Catalonia), San Severino Castle (due to its size it is considered one of the main Spanish fortresses in America) and the ruins of "Triumvirato" - there in the 19th century there was the largest uprising of African slaves in the history of Cuba. The main attractions of the Zapata Peninsula: the village of the Taino Indians in Guama, the crocodile nursery in La Boca, the Santo Tomas and La Salina fauna reserves, as well as the Historical Museum on Playa Giron.

You should definitely make a trip to the amazingly beautiful national parks of Cuba.

New Year (January 1), on the contrary, is celebrated noisily and cheerfully. On this night, beach discos are open, concerts and parties are held, with a special scope for business in big cities.

January 2 is the most important day in the country - the Day of Liberation and the Victory of the Cuban Revolution. This is an official holiday throughout the country, solemn processions are held in the cities, the president makes a pathos speech, Cubans congratulate everyone on the street, and everything ends with festivities until dawn.

The country is very fond of holidays, inherited from the communist era. Here, May Day is still celebrated in the way it was customary in the Soviet Union - with demonstrations, flowers, peppy patriotic songs and festivities around the city. On July 26 they celebrate the Day of the National Uprising, also with parades and demonstrations, and on October 10 - Independence Day: the main venue is the monument to Carlos Manuel Cespedes ("father of the Motherland", one of the leaders of Cuba's Ten Years' War against the Spanish colonialists) on the square in Havana, to to whom flowers are laid. On this day, no one works either.

In July and August in Cuba, you can visit two carnivals at once - in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

On weekends from July 15 to August 15, Cuba hosts perhaps the most colorful and fun event of the year: the Havana Carnival. These days, freaks from all over the country gather in the capital, dress up in costumes, dance, drink daiquiris and have fun literally around the clock. Many perform in teams and prepare for the carnival in advance in order to surely outshine all the other participants in the dance. Another carnival takes place at the end of July in the city of Santiago de Cuba. The scenario is the same: dress up, drink and dance. It is very convenient that both holidays fall at about the same time: you can visit both carnivals on one trip.

In the first week of December, Cuba hosts one of the most important cultural events for the entire Hispanic population of the planet - the New Latin American Film Festival. In terms of prestige, this film award is equal to the "Oscar" - for directors, actors and other cinematographers - it is a great honor to be awarded this award.

And at the end of February, smokers from all over the world come to Havana, as the International Cuban Cigar Festival takes place here. It lasts 5 days, at which time there are excursions to factories and tobacco plantations, auctions and competitions, as well as concerts, presentations and festive receptions, where you can try a variety of cigars with a glass of wine or rum.