Havana Hotels Guide

Cuba, The Caribbean

cuba accommodation guide

Havana is not only the largest city in Cuba, it is also the largest city in the Caribbean.Located just south of the Florida Keys, it is the economic, political, and cultural centre of the country. Relaxed during the day, Havana morphs into an energetic,vibrant party town at night where theinfectious sound of salsa musicechoes throughout the cityfrom the famous Copa, Capri, and Caribe, to name just a few. A city of contradictions, Havana was a favorite of pirates, a Spanish trade port, and is currently a fascinating blend of old and new cultures.

Havana Highlights

Havana Holidays Planner

Walking in Havana makes you smile; everywhere you go people are moving to the music. One of the best places to stroll and people-watch is El Prado, which links the Centre with the seafront promenade where the locals hang out. For a quiet alternative, visit Parque Lenin on the outskirts of town, where you can fish and enjoy a quiet picnic.

Places to Visit

There are threezoneswhere travelers generally stay: Old Havana is the liveliest, Central Havana is a bit quieter(and can be a little seedyhere and there), and Vedado is the quietest, where large hotels and nicer 'casas particulares'can be found. Havana is not the place for the naïve traveler – but if you show common sense and remember they only take their own currency youcan have the time of your life.

Places to Visit Outside Havana

Havana Accommodation Guide

You can visit Las Terrazas, with its numerous and lovely rivers and ponds,andgo kayaking; or Soroa, which boasts a huge, multi-species orchid garden. In Soroa, if you're lucky, you may see the elusive tocororo, the Cuban national bird, from which the Cuban flag takes its colours.Past the Convention Centre is Marina Hemingway. Here you can snorkel, sail, and deep-sea fish, or take a boat tour to the fabulouscoral reef, abundant in colourful coral, plants, and fish. About six km east of the city is the quaint fishing village of Cojímar, where Ernest Hemingway kept his boatand collected material for some of his stories. And no visit to Havana is complete without a stop at one of the many cigar factories, where experts still hand-roll their world-famous cigars.

Havana Holiday Tips
Havana Travel Info
The José Martí International Airport, 25 km southwest of Havana, serves the international and domestic flying needs of the Cuban capital. The international terminal is sleek and ultramodern. Remember to hold on to CUC$25 to pay the departure tax, collected just before you leave. Rental cars are available, but not really necessary unless you plan to drive all around the island country. Taxis are the most convenient mode of transport for visitors; tourists are meant to use only official state taxis, for safety reasons. Co-co taxis and three-wheel motorcycles are a different, fun way of getting around, but not always the best choice if you're with children or older travelers. There are new public buses that run frequently and cost just 1 national peso to anywhere on the route.
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