Why Travel to Cuba – 11 of Our Favorite Reasons

Cuba is one of my favorite destinations ever. Here are my reasons why you must explore Cuba. Have you ever been somewhere, and for some reason, you don’t understand why, but it just feels right? That place for me was Havana, Cuba. 

Havana has an indescribable magic

I’ve been a tad obsessed with Havana since I watched Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights about 15 years ago. And since then, I promised myself I’d celebrate a milestone event in Havana. So, in February, I visited Havana for the first time to celebrate my 30th birthday. I struggled to get time off work. I was working in a hotel in Whistler, and February was smack-bang in the middle of their busy season.

But I was beyond determined. Before I knew it, Paul and I were jetting off for two weeks to explore Cuba – my dream destination!

Why I love Havana

Anyway, back to Havana’s magic. Havana’s not perfect; in fact, it’s kind of dirty and gritty. The buildings are grand but crumbling, and the light here is epic it’s honestly like walking through a very pretty Instagram feed. The Cubans leave their doors wide open. They sit on their front step, chatting with their neighbors. Their kids run barefoot on the street.

The Malecon at dusk is the best place in the world. There’s a passion, a resilience about the city, kind of like an eff you to the non-believers. Yes, our buildings are crumbling, our streets are dusty, but we’re here, and we’re dancing in the streets. I’ve thought about Havana every day since I returned. I guess you’re beginning to understand better why you must explore Cuba. Especially before it changes forever!

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Cuba is a difficult country to travel around

In Cuba, nothing is easy. We were silly and landed at Varadero airport at 5 am in the morning with no accommodation booked. We thought there would be touts selling Havana hotels or a public bus waiting to take us to the city. Or at least a taxi rank. There was none of that, so we stood there like silly fools until we found a taxi in the car park with a sleeping driver and convinced him to take us to an all-inclusive resort, which I had thankfully screen-shotted a photo of on my phone.

We arrived at the resort, and the receptionist looked at us like we had two heads when we told her we didn’t have a reservation. But thankfully, they had one room left! We paid in cash, and I honestly don’t think anyone other than her and the night porter knew we were staying there. See, nothing is easy here, but it works.

Public transport in Cuba – what to expect

We had a horrible bus experience from Vinales to Trinidad, which took 2 hours longer than we were told. It was basically an old prison truck with plastic deck chairs as seats. There were lots of older couples on the journey who clearly paid a lot more than we did. In these situations (like many others) during our time in Cuba, you have to just laugh and get through it.

You will never fully understand Cuba

I think that as a tourist, it’s easy to ignore the struggles of being a Cuban, especially if you stay at an all-inclusive resort. On our last day of vacation, we spoke at length with a Cuban girl at a street stall in Varadero. She told us she couldn’t leave Cuba. Well, not easily, anyway. She has family in Miami, and in order for her to visit them, she has to apply for permission from the Cuban government.

Her family then must support her application – through sending a letter to the government saying they will host her and ensure she returns to Cuba. She told us that Cubans are the most educated in the Caribbean and she is fluent in 7 languages. She is also studying for a Masters in Marine Biology.

She told us that she works at the stall solely to send money home to her parents in rural Cuba, who are looking after her children for her. She visits them once every 3 months because she works 7 days a week. She told us that she’s met an older Canadian man while working at the stall and is tempted to marry him as a way out.

In her hand was an old iPhone, and when she saw me looking, she told us her family in Miami gifted it to her, and it is the most important thing she owns. She told us in every election as long as she’s been alive, there’s just been one candidate – Fidel Castro or more recently, his brother Raul. 

There’s limited or no internet in Cuba

Cuba is probably one of the last remaining destinations you can truly ‘switch off’. To access the internet, you queue at an Etecsa store (each town has at least one store). Show them your passport, pay the fee, and they will issue you with an internet card. These cards can last from 30 minutes up to a few hours. 

FYI, some large hotels sell these cards at reception.

Next, the fun begins, because you must find a WiFi spot. Which are nearly always NOT outside the Etecsa store in which you just bought the internet card. See, I told you nothing is easy in Cuba. I think we used the internet for a whole two hours on our two-week vacation, which was honestly so refreshing.

Okay, okay, enough about my deep love for Cuba and moving on to the cool things you can do here. Havana has, in my opinion, the best nightclub in the world, and the beaches in Cuba are honestly like something from a fancy travel brochure.

Things to Know Before Visiting Cuba

Below are my favorite activities to do in Cuba. You can PIN the below image for later if you don’t have time to read it now.

1. Visit Fabrica de Arte – the best night-club in the world

It’s called Fabrica de Arte Cubano, and it’s so much more than a nightclub. To me, it’s one of the best things to do in Havana. Contained within an old cooking oil factory. ‘Fabrica’, as it’s known to locals, is an art gallery, a live music venue, a restaurant, and a street food stall. It has a variety of music rooms playing different genres.

The best thing is that you get a stamp card upon entry, and when you buy a drink or even food, your server simply stamps the card, and you pay for what you consumed when you exit. Brilliant. No unnecessary queues at the bar.

When we visited the Havana Orchestra played and I cried; it was magic. I can’t describe how amazing this place is. It is definitely my top recommendation for Havana. And another huge reason why you must explore Cuba!

2. Spend time on the beaches in Varadero – the prettiest I’ve ever seen

Just a photo here is enough explanation, I think. The whitest sand, the bluest water, and the beach in the town of Varadero itself is never busy. This is because most tourists tend to use the beaches at their all-inclusive resorts.

3. Sip Mojitos and smoke Cuban cigars

If, on your vacation, you have time to visit a tobacco farm plantation in the town of Vinales, then I highly recommend you do so. We did a guided horse-backing tour to the plantations, organized by our Casa Particular.

4. Don’t make your mind up on first impressions

I know a lot of the things I’ve written here may turn some people off. Yes, it’s a complicated country with a sad past that has obviously greatly affected the Cuban people. Sure, it’s a difficult country to get around with public transport options not being very reliable. Everything about Cuba is not easy. But that’s what makes it so fascinating!

5. There is nowhere in the world like Cuba

But there’s no place in the world like it; it’s like stepping back in time. There are no McDonald’s or Starbucks. Damn, you’d be hard-pressed to find a grocery store in the capital Havana. As I mentioned, there’s either no or very slow internet. The transport system sucks. It’s a country of vast contrasts, from the white sand and palm trees of Varadero to the steamy, dusty, colorful streets of Havana. Music is very important here; people dance in the streets in broad daylight. 

Here are 10 more persuasive reasons why you need to visit Cuba pronto!

The bars in Havana are not really bars at all. It’s like sitting in someone’s living room. Cuba is a confusing jigsaw puzzle, but somehow, all the pieces fit together perfectly. That’s why, for me, Cuba is the most fascinating and memorable destination I’ve visited yet. And all the above reasons and more are why you need to explore Cuba!

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*Tell Me? Have I convinced you to explore Cuba? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Last Updated on August 2, 2024 by snaphappytravel