GEOGRAPHY

The Republic of Cuba is an archipelago of the northern Caribbean, located between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. To the north are the United States and the Bahamas, west of Mexico, south of the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, and south-east Haiti.
Havana, the capital of Cuba, is located to the north of the country.

CLIMATE

The island's climate is typical Caribbean, and always warm temperatures throughout the year but especially in the months of July, August and September. Just in the hot season which lasts until October the climate is more humid and the island carries the risk of hurricanes, which often tend to hit the Cuban coast in the late summer and early autumn months.
The best time to visit Cuba coincides with the dry season, from late November to mid-April. The sea water temperature, are between 26 ° C in winter and 28-30 ° C during the summer.

WHAT NOT TO MISS IN CUBA

To discover the most authentic side of Cuba, a visit to Havana is a must. The capital is the largest city in Cuba and one of the most important destinations in the country. Here, time seems to stand still, a city suspended between the past and the future, whose architecture, and cars seem to be captives of a distant era.

Do not miss a visit to Habana Vieja (Old Havana), the capital's historic center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the numerous attractions in Old Havana are: the Cathedral Square, the main square of historic and artistic importance for Cuba, Plaza de Armas, the oldest square in Habana Vieja, and Plaza de San Francisco dating back to 1628, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi.

Other attractions in Havana are: El Morro, a fortified castle with walls towering over the rocky coasts and the Fortaleza de la Cabana, even more powerful and full of charm. The two fortifications, today, are among the most popular tourist attractions of the city.

Among the most important islands of Cuba remember Cayo Santa Maria and Cayo Largo, where you can relax on the beautiful white sandy beaches of Playa Sirena or Playa Paradiso. Another famous beach is Playa Tortuga, where turtle reproduction takes place.

Other popular destinations in Cuba are the beach resort of Varadero, renowned for its longer than 20km beach, and the city of Matanzas considered to be the Athens of Cuba.
Moving to the south you can not miss a visit to the historic center of Cienfuegos where you can see neoclassical architecture, art deco and art nouveau buildings.

Another city not to be missed is Trinidad , an UNESCO world heritage site since 1988 for its center which safeguards the largest architectural heritage of colonial Latin America. Suspended between the mountains and the Caribbean coast, this Cuban museum city offers a postcard scenery, an abundance of natural attractions that will leave you breathless.

Among the many natural beauties of Cuba we should mention the area within the province of Pinar del Rio, where the Viñales Valley, a World Heritage Site, the two biosphere reserves in the Sierra del Rosario, and the Guanahacabibes Peninsula are located. The coral reef can be seen in the Los Jardines del Rey, with the famous Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.

CUBAN CUISINE

The Cuban cuisine is a mix of Spanish, Caribbean and African cuisine and uses very simple ingredients made from local products such as black beans, rice, chicken, pork, fish, and cassava. The variety of fruits (mango, papaya, avocado, lime, banana, pineapple and coconut), are very tasty and are often used in desserts and smoothies. One of the most typical dishes of Cuba is the ajiaco, a soup made with potatoes, corn, meat, and onion.

Appreciated throughout the world, the Cuban rum is the national drink. In addition to drinking it straight, rum (ron) is used in numerous cocktails such as Cuba Libre, Daiquiri or Mojito. La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita are two famous premises located in La Habana Vieja; they are famous for being one of the favorite places of Hemingway. One of his famous phrases is: "My mojito in La Bodeguita, My daiquiri in El Floridita". Even today these places are frequented by foreign tourists.

Cuba is also famous for its coffee production, a very dark and aromatic blend.

LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN CUBA

Spanish is the official language of Cuba.

CURRENCY IN USE

Two currencies circulate in Cuba: the Cuban peso (CUP) also known as La Moneda Nacionale and the convertible peso (CUC).
The convertible peso is the currency that is used by tourists to pay for museums, cigars, rum, etc. The exchange can be made in the currency exchange offices (Cadeca) that are found in many city centers and major hotels. Exchange rates vary from agency to agency.
American dollars can be changed but a10% tax must be paid. Transactions in euros, Canadian dollars, Swiss francs and British pounds are not taxed when exchanging with convertible pesos.
As for debit cards (ATM), most of them are not usable while Mastercard and Visa can be used also to withdraw cash.