Travelogue from Cuba: A Casa Particulares cultural adventure!

Dream of visiting Cuba? Below, you can read about what Neil experienced on his holiday in Cuba in 2016.

Cuba is simply like no other place in the world. A country with amazing history, memorizing culture and a society in transition (albeit a relatively slow transition!).

My time in Cuba was filled with encounters of friendly locals, atmospheric evenings of Cuban music, amazing architecture and of course, the beautiful beaches this fabulous country has to offer.

Starting out with some time in Havana, it was here that I really got a sense of the history and change in motion of which Havana has found itself. The bustling Havana streets were filled with the melodies of local street musicians and a guided tour was simply the best way to learn about the place, its people and history. I quickly found out that spending time with my guide in Havana was not just about learning about Cuban history, but he was also an amazing source of practical information for my whole tour and many “tips and tricks”. My guide assisted me in finding the cheapest places to buy bottled water for example, pointed out some of the best restaurants, where the local banks were to be found and even some newly placed internet Wi fi spots around!

Casa Particulares accommodation

My stay in Cuba enabled me to experience something which was an absolute highlight of my tour. Staying at a Casa Particulares accommodation and living with family who are under the same roof and always do their very best to make you feel at home during your stay!  Cuban houses are often large and feature numerous rooms that are ideal for renting out. The rooms have their own bathroom and toilet, their own key and – usually – a safe and a refrigerator. The casas offer daily room service, just like at an ordinary hotel. One of the lounges is set up as a ‘restaurant’ where breakfast and dinner are served.

One of the advantages of staying at a casa is that it provides wonderful insight into the Cuban way of life and culture. An amazing experience not to be missed! Casa stay is possible pretty much anywhere throughout Cuba, so my advice is, take advantage of it wherever possible to enjoy a truly authentic Cuban adventure.

Viñales Valley

Viñales was another beautiful location I visited and this was certainly one of the more active parts of my tour. I took advantage of the many excursions available, renting a bike to investigate the cozy town centre and stunning country side, visiting the spectacular stalactite caves, after which I took a guided tour of a local cigar factory!

The memorizing and stuck in time town of Cienfuegos

I had enough time to pay a visit to the memorizing and stuck in time town of Cienfuegos. This location offered something different in the sense that there were certainly less tourists to be found, the architecture along with quaint atmosphere of Marti Park area and City Hall allowed for some reflection on my tour.

Like many other places throughout my tour, Cienfuegos was full of life, small handcraft markets and sublime food choice. Selecting the restaurant to eat at in Cienfuegos for evening, not only provided me with some amazing sunset pictures from across Cienfuegos bay, but also one of the funnier experiences I will remember from my tour. After sitting down to eat in a local “Cuban Steakhouse”, the waitress informed me that she would need to go next door and wake the chef up to make my food. The chef was in fact her father and the whole complex was family owned! Only in Cuba!!!

Trinidad and Varadero

Trinidad and Varadero were next on my agenda and the reputation of their amazing beaches certainly lived up to my expectations. Once again my stay in Trinidad was in Casa Particulares, a fantastic family who really took great care of me. They helped me with renting a bike, finding my way around the area and served me with some of the best food I had tasted from the whole tour!

Trinidad is a place I could return to time and time again. In the evening people tend to congregate on the steps of the famous Casa de la Musica, where you can either observe or take part in the salsa dancing on show or simply sit and enjoy a Mojito in the warmth of the evening. With the fabulous beach area of Playa Ancón just a short taxi ride away, Trinidad really does have something for everyone.

For a real authentic view of Cuba, Casa Particulares is ideal! Cuba is a country in change and place that really does offer a variety of experiences, so don’t wait to book your tour, just do it! J

Neil, Tourcompass