| Taking time out from the everyday stresses | | | | local Cuban people. |
| and strains of life to visit an exotic place | | | | |
| is something that everyone looks forward to. | | | | In the north-west of the country youll find |
| Cuba, with its notoriety brought upon by its | | | | the capital city, Havana - the hub of |
| government and the clamp down of the American | | | | everything that is Cuban. When you stroll |
| government on its export and tourism, is a | | | | around the city youll feel the essence of the |
| country known more for its cigar and its | | | | Cuban past - a rich legacy emanating from the |
| leader, rather than as a vacation | | | | Spanish colonial architecture that beholds |
| destination. Despite this, every year more | | | | the city. Parts of the city resemble the set |
| and more tourists from Canada and Europe are | | | | of an old movie, reminiscent of a bygone era, |
| flocking to Cuba, enthralled by its natural | | | | with old American cars bustling by. A lot of |
| beauty and its passionate and welcoming | | | | work has been done in the past decade to |
| people. Tourism in Cuba is currently at an | | | | restore old Havana, a UNESCO world heritage |
| all time high. | | | | site, but much of the city has been left |
| | | | untouched and hundreds of crumbling buildings |
| Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands | | | | collapse each month. |
| and is inhabited by people with a mixed race | | | | |
| of Caribbean Indian, African and Spanish | | | | Havana also has its fair share of museums, |
| heritage. It has a contrasting landscape | | | | including the Museum of the Revolution, the |
| ranging from beautiful and mesmerizing | | | | Havana Club Museum of Rum, the Cigar Museum, |
| beaches to sprawling and craggy mountain | | | | the Ernest Hemingway Museum and the National |
| ranges. Limestone Mountains loom over the | | | | Museum of Fine Arts. |
| fields of tobacco, utilised for their famed | | | | |
| cigars, providing a stunning scenic view. The | | | | Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city |
| natural beauty of Cuba and its history has | | | | in Cuba and is located on the eastern end of |
| shaped the country to what it is today. This | | | | the island. It has a beautiful setting at the |
| is one Caribbean island that has been left | | | | foot of the Sierra Maestra Mountains and |
| unspoiled by technology and modern day | | | | overlooks a magnificent bay. Unlike the other |
| living. | | | | towns and cities in Cuba, Santiago de Cuba |
| | | | has a very Caribbean feel to it. This is as a |
| Like many of the Caribbean islands, Cubas | | | | result of the influence of the Haitian |
| main source of tourism is the beach industry. | | | | planters who settled here in the 19th |
| The country is blessed with hundreds of miles | | | | century. |
| of sprawling sandy beaches, with fine white | | | | |
| sand and clear blue water. Tourists visiting | | | | Trinidad, located in the heart of Cuba is one |
| Cuba have a multitude of choices for the | | | | of the original towns and was founded in |
| location of their beach vacation. The major | | | | 1514. The city is filled with cobbled streets |
| resorts of Varadero and Cayo Largo are the | | | | and old buildings with tiled roofs and has |
| most renowned and here youll find many 5 star | | | | been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. |
| all inclusive resorts. Despite this, there | | | | Its a very pleasant city to spend a day or |
| are also plenty of smaller, quieter beach | | | | two, with many museums, churches and Plazas. |
| resorts where you can truly get away from it | | | | |
| all. | | | | An ideal way to spend your vacation is to |
| | | | take a few days to do some sightseeing in |
| Aside from stunning beaches, Cuba also offers | | | | Havana or one of Cubas other cities and then |
| plenty of rustic towns and cities full of | | | | follow that up with a relaxing weeks stay in |
| rich culture and heritage. A vacation to Cuba | | | | one of the luxurious all inclusive resorts by |
| isnt complete without visiting at least one | | | | the beach. |
| of the Cuban towns or cities and meeting the | | | | |