A Suitcase Full of Memories from My Trip to Cuba

Havana, na na na, half of my heart is in Havana, na na na…you know how the song goes right?! I simply love it, not only because it is catchy, but also because it reminds me so much of my trip to Cuba. My husband and I live in Melbourne, and it has been a long psotponed dream to visit Cuba, especially the oh so famous Havana. Two months ago we decided that now’s the perfect time to visit it and escape from the cooler Melbourne weather.

Since I was so into this trip (long before our decision to go there), I had already found the agency that offered the best vacation packages to Cuba, and the only thing I was waiting for was a green light (a “yes, we can go” coming from my husband’s mouth) (chuckles). We chose a tour that gave us the opportunity to experience the very best form the Cuban culture, history, sites, and landscapes. If you have the opportunity, you must see it, especially the following most beautiful Cuban spots.

Havana

Without any doubt, Havana is a magical place that can offer you so many things, from music and dance to street art and breathtaking history. The air of Havana is filled with music, and foot-tapping and drum-beating are types of performances you can see on Havana’s streets on a daily basis. You should also visit old Havana, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site because it is a home to some of the best-preserved historical monuments in Cuba. When wandering through the streets, you can find some excellent examples of baroque and neoclassical architecture like the Catedral de San Cristobal as well as historic sites like all the bars in Havana Ernest Hemingway used to visit such as Floridita and Bodeguita del Medio.

Baracoa

Maybe not that famous, but Baracoa is a real piece of heaven in Cuba founded in 1511, which makes it the oldest city in the country. What renders Baracoa unique is its black-sand beach, the peaceful streams, amazing waterfalls , and spectacular forests. If you are into hiking, I suggest not to miss Yunque as it is one of the most famous mountains in Baracoa, known for its flat top (589 meters high). It offers incredible views of the sea worth the sweat and when back in town, you can taste some of the most delicious papayas and mangoes.

Playa Paraíso

When it comes to the beaches, you really shouldn’t miss the chance to visit Playa Paraíso. This paradise beach, located on the island Cayo Largo del Sur, is an idyllic Cuban beach that looks just like the ones we see in magazines. It has the softest white sand, incredibly blue water, sunny and dry climate that is perfect for beach lounging.

These are just some of the many places you need to visit when in Cuba. Of course, there are a lot more, we just didn’t have the time to visit all of them as we were there only for 9 days. We are already making plans to go back and this time we will pick the longest tour from the many vacation packages to Cuba offered by travel agencies.