Cuba

Cuba is unlike any other place on earth. Situated between Jamaica and the Bahamas, Cuba has a delightful tropical climate with year round sunshine. Cuba offers not only some of the world's finest beaches but also a rich cultural heritage and vibrant, passionate approach to life that has been enticing visitors throughout the ages. Unfortunately, many people are only drawn to this fascinating Caribbean island for its beaches, sun, and cheap drinks, since there are plenty of all three for those who want them, but Cuba has much more to offer. Cuba’s rich culture, unique political history, and continued economic hardship make it one of the most eye-opening countries that experienced travelers can still discover. Seeing the best of Cuba means grooving to its intoxicating music, marvelling at how Cubans improvise on a daily basis to make ends meet, and visiting a land in which the past 50 years seem to have crept by.

Top 10 reasons why you should take a holiday in Cuba:

1. Cuba is not like the other Caribbean islands: The intermingling of European and African peoples and cultures has made Cuba innovative, be it in music, art, politics, or religion. The attributes of traditional West African deities have been superimposed on Catholic saints to create a new religion, santería or Cuban voodoo. Cuba is a world of its own.

2. You can escape the 21st Century in Cuba: In Cuba you have the unique chance to revisit the 20th century history. Walk along any Cuban street and you'll feel you're back in the 1950s as long-tailed Chevys, Skodas and Buicks glide past. Glance at the billboards extolling the revolution or note the many busy schools and clinics and you'll see socialism in action. Cuba is the last true Communist country outside of Asia.

3. Havana: Havana is the largest and most remarkable city in the Caribbean. The Plaza de la Catedral dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, while the Paseo del Prado is a classical 19th century Spanish promenade. In the hotel district of Vedado, it's the 1950s all over again. Plaza de la Revolución is the heart of Fidel Castro's Cuba. The ambience of Cuba's second city, Santiago, is comparable.

4. Colonial Towns: Aside from Havana, the Spanish left a string of charming colonial towns along the length of the island. Of these the unquestioned jewel is Trinidad, unchanged in over a century. Many of Trinidad's stately colonial mansions have been converted into guesthouses or museums, and the music in the town's nightspots will move your feet.

5. Adventure: For active vacationers, the sports of choice are snorkelling, hiking and scuba diving, be it a dive on a black coral wall at Maria la Gorda or a hike across the Sierra Maestra via Cuba's highest peak.  

6. Beaches: Cuba’s coastline is approximately 8,000 kilometres long and it offers more than 300 beaches with all kinds of sand. Waters in Cuba are warm and transparent, and they ensure fantastic snorkelling and diving experiences.  

7. It hasn't been affected by America: There are still no Americans - The United States has said the embargo on travel to Cuba won't change, meaning there won't be a rush of tourists or Americanized products headed to the island anytime soon. This makes finding affordable vacation packages easy for the more than 600,000 Canadians who visit the island annually.

8. Casas Particulares:  "Private House" in Spanish, it's phrase meaning private accommodation or private home stays in Cuba. These are very inexpensive rooms rented by local Cubans in their homes and are a pleasure to stay in as you get to interact with a local Cuban family.

9. Weather: This is one thing that won't change, no matter who is in charge. The island has a warm, tropical climate with 330 sunny days a year. The temperature drops to 24 degrees from January through April.

10. Safety & costs: Cuba is one of the safest places in the world to visit and inexpensive for the Caribbean (though rather expensive for Latin America). Tourism is Cuba's largest source of income and foreign visitors are carefully sheltered from all evil, perhaps sheltered too much. The experienced traveler will find it easy to escape the resorts, and the Cuban people are sincerely friendly. It only takes one visit to realize that.

Suggested Travel Resources: Lonely Planet Country Guide