Country’s magic lies in its cities, culture, people
Airbnb and restaurants serving local, homemade food provide authentic experiences
Cuba has more than 200 kilometres of natural beaches, 330 days of sunshine a year and one of the best preserved coral reefs in the world. But its culture is what keeps Canadians coming back year after year.
And more Canadians are stepping off the resorts — and out of Havana — to explore Cuba’s other colonial treasures.
“I am convinced that the best part of Cuba is in its culture, its people and its cities,” said Eloy Govea, director of tourism for the Cuba Tourist Board in Canada. “And Cuba lends itself to that because we are so safe — no gangs, no drugs — so for those more adventurous types of travellers, it’s an ideal place to go.”
And it’s even easier to explore Cuba’s colonial cities, villages and countryside, thanks to new accommodation and dining options.
“There is now an explosion in new tourism-related private businesses that are carrying the best of our Cuban food — there are 4,000 privately owned restaurants, called paladares . . . that’s a scene that is certainly changing.” Paladares are family-run restaurants for travellers looking to taste homemade Cuban food and have authentic interactions with locals.
Airbnb is emerging as a major player in Cuba, with 22,000 homes listed across the country, many of which are inexpensive options for travellers — and there are many more for rent that aren’t listed online, Govea said.
More Canadians are looking for tailor-made, flexible travel experiences, he said, and Cuba is now better equipped for that type of traveller.
Havana, of course, is still a major highlight. “Havana is a magic city — you can stay a whole week without getting bored because of all the angles you can explore,” Govea said. “Aside from art, music and salsa, you can explore the myth behind (novelist Ernest) Hemingway or the history of the mob in the ’40s and ’50s.”
Yet Havana is just one of Cuba’s colourful, historic cities. Trinidad, for example, has some of the best preserved colonial architecture on this hemisphere, while the fortified city of Camaguey has a city centre larger than Havana. Cienfuegos is called the “Pearl of the South” with its large central plaza and colonial architecture.
Further east you’ll find Santiago de Cuba — which remained unbowed by the winds of Hurricane Irma — considered the most “Caribbean” of Cuban cities, with strong Afro-Cuban influences. It’s also the heart of Cuba’s traditional music and rum culture.
“If you’re an intellectually curious type of traveller, if you want to explore deeper in the roots of Cuban culture, this is the place to go,” Govea said.
Cuba has sand, cigars and salsa. Yet, “the most important attraction is our people,” Govea said. “Our people are well educated, friendly, welcoming — they always have big smiles.”