5 Days in Cuba

Blisterman

Heading to Cuba in Early September as part of a backpacking tour around North America. Have only 5 days there, so will be pretty busy seeing everything, but that's the way I like to travel.

Anyway, definitely want to see Havana Old Town, but other than that, I've no idea what to see. What are the essential can't miss places to see in Cuba?

Also I know I'm going smack bang in the middle of the hurricane season. But that's four months long. What are the actual odds of being caught in a hurricane? And how long do they last?

Fallen Buckshot

hurricanes arent usualy a big threat untill aug-oct and most are over in a day
dunno whats sights to see in Cuba but i would recommend Jamaica for its scenery and greenery

Board-in-work

Hi -

Havana is a great city. Go now before the Americans get there and turn the whole place into a McDonalds sponsered theme park.

In Havana - you have to see revolution square, enjoy the amazing old quarter - with all the old American cars driving around - its cool.

Do a cigar factory tour. Go for a walk around the old quarter and see the old cathedral. The Tropicana nightclub is a bit touristy - but a great spectacle - and they give you a bottle of rum and a cigar as part of the entrance fee. There's a big prom / harbour wall thing in Havana - good for a stroll and to people watch.

Trinidad is also worth a visit (half way down the island - colonial laid back life). Holguin and Santiago de Cuba also good.

It's possible to hitch hike, or get a bus all the way down the island. Hitch hiking is govt. controlled ! Everyone with a car there has to pick up hitch hikers at govt. monitored 'bus stops'. Go Socialism!

Drink lots of rum. (Mojitos baby!). Remember - US Dollars are the way to go here. They have to be brand new. There is 2 types of pesos used there - local pesos and tourist pesos. Double pricing - but a single US dollar bill will get you far. Take lots of singles.

Havana is full of kids playing baseball. Most of them don't have bats or proper balls. They make their own. This is the reason I left Cuba without my skateboard - I gave it to a kid who had made his own. Happy kid - and me with a warm fuzzy feeling (that may have been the rum).

Lastly - the toilets in Cuba. Don't get caught short like me ! - They don't have any bog roll - there's a toilet attendant sitting outside who sells single strips off of a bog roll. Your'e not allowed to flush it either! Always carry a roll !

Wasn't ripped off anywhere - locals are a very happy bunch - considering the amount of govt control.

shanagarry

5 days is very short, it's a big country!

There is plenty to keep you entertained in Havana, loads of exploring to be done, many listed above. To add to the above, don't miss a walk along the Malecon in the evening. Also check out the cold war bunker at the Hotel Nacional.

If you want to get outside Havana, I would suggest Vinales. It's not too far to travel and is a lovely region, and a quaint, but lively, little town.

I have to contradict the above post about taken USD though - the exchange rate is much worse for USD. Take Euro and change it when you get there for mostly tourist pesos. It's difficult enough to spend the local pesos, but you might manage it in small shops etc if you have good spanish. But you feel a bit of rip off merchant doing that as people are so poor.

Blisterman

Thanks for the advice. Sounds great. Will probably spend most our time in Havana. Maybe go on day excursions elsewhere. Does it take long to get across the Island? Can't imagine the roads are great.

If you could recommend one place outside of Havana as essential, what would it be?

Gran Hermano

It's one of the bigger islands in the region, it's bigger than Ireland but narrower and longer so traveling around takes time. My advice would be to
base yourself in Havana vieja and spend a couple of days wandering around
the old city and museums - make sure to visit El Capitolio.

You could avail of a day trip from Havana around some of the provincial towns down to Cienfuegos and Trinidad and possibly Santa Clara (home of the Ché memorial). It'd be a long day trip so make sure it's on a decent coach.

If you fancy a day or two crashing on a beach, the beach at Varadero whilst not the 'real' Cuba compared to the life you'll see in the provincial towns, is
only 150 km from Havana and has a stunning 20 km of white sandy beach.