CUBA 2017

• • Take a convertible car tour: This is a no brainer but I highly recommend if there’s one thing you do in Cuba, it’s to ride in their colorful, vintage cars. You will definitely feel like a superstar because I know I did! I booked this in advance because I wanted to have a receipt to support my people to people visa. However it is actually cheaper if you approach someone in Cuba who has a convertible car. Most of the time they work for a company or own their own company and it is much easier to bargain in person. You also will get to choose which car you want to take so it’s a better photo opportunity. I was actually able to experience two convertible tours since I fell in love with this pink one and approached the owner and I booked the other red one through a tour company in advanced.
    
  • Walk along the Malecon: The Malecon is a strip near the water and it’s a gorgeous sight to walk during the day or night. You probably will also pass this during your convertible car ride but this is a great way to see the city and be part of it. My Airbnb was very close to the Malecon so I found myself there quite a few times throughout my stay.

• • Visit Old Town: Old town or Old Havana is where all the action takes place and it’s pretty difficult to miss if you are visiting Cuba. I suggest spending a whole day there as there is so much to do. A lot of good restaurants are situated in this part of Cuba and it’s a great way to be where the tourists are as well as interact with the locals. This is also a great place to buy your souvenirs since it was hard for me to find souvenir shops and gift stores where I lived.

• • Take a day trip to Vinales: Vinales is known for its cigars and I highly recommend taking a day trip there! I always like to explore outside cities than the main one because I love seeing different sides to a country. Be prepared as it will be a long day because my trip was 12 hours. Vinales is about 2.5 hours away and my tour consisted of visiting the cigar farm, taking a boat ride in a cave and touring the liquor factory. If you want to buy cigars, this is also the best place to do so.
  • Playa de Santa Maria: I heard there are beautiful beaches in Cuba so I made it a priority to visit one. My friend told me to go to Santa Maria and it was only 25 minutes away from where I lived. The beach was absolutely gorgeous and the water was blue. I went on my first full day in Cuba and got burnt! However my sunburn has now turned into a lovely tan so I cannot complain. Just remember to put on sunscreen but reapply frequently because the Cuban sun is strong!
  • Verdado: When I was at the beach, I met two Americans named Austin and Mason and they were the two best friends any tourist can meet while traveling. They lived in Verdado so we explored that area since it was on my list. It is more residential but still a great place to explore shops and restaurants. It was also a great way to compare and experience different neighborhoods. 

• El Morro: El Morro is a fortress castle that makes for great photo opportunities. I didn’t go inside only because this was a stop within one of my convertible tours but I would recommend visiting if you have time. The castle overlooks the water so the sight is absolutely worth visiting. 

Must eat places:

• • La Hotel Nacional: I am not putting this on my list because the food is amazing because quite frankly it’s average. However, the scenery is gorgeous since there’s a garden area that overlooks the water. This is also where you can buy wifi for $7 CUC/ hour.
  • El Biky: Our Airbnb host recommended this place and it was definitely one of the highlight places I’ve eaten during my trip. I split the fish and beef with my friends and it was absolutely delicious. I also ate at the balcony so it was nice to get that fancy setting. Personally I like to eat out at one nice restaurant while I’m traveling since I’m on vacation. Biky is more expensive than the other local restaurants but I will say the quality meets the price tag.
  • Dulcinea: If you love sweets, pastries or coffee, then definitely come visit this cafe! They serve the best coffee and the pastries are delicious. You also wouldn’t believe the price because most of the items are less than $1 CUC. I went twice because I kept craving their food for breakfast and afternoon pick me up treat.

• • La Floridita: Anybody who has visited Cuba will tell you to come here since this is where Hemingway drank his daiquiri.  Im not a huge fan of alcohol but I actually enjoyed this drink. The bar is a decent size and there’s a live band, so I would recommend visiting while you’re in Old Havana. I went during the day but I also heard it’s fun at night.
    

• La Bodeguita Del Medio: This is where the mojito was invented so as a tourist, you simply can’t visit Cuba and not come here. I personally don’t love mojitos, so I didn’t think it was anything extraordinary but I knew I wanted to try it just to say I did. The bar is small, but there’s also a restaurant. I didn’t eat here but I would try it since it’s right behind the bar.
• La Copella ice cream: This ice cream parlor was recommended in The Lonely Planet and located at Verdado. One scoop only costs $.40 CUC so it is very inexpensive. I tried the caramel and orange pineapple which were both very good. I can’t pretend I haven’t tried better ice cream but for what it costs and hot it was, I was happily satisfied.
• La Guarida: I ate here for my last dinner in Cuba and it was absolutely the best meal I had! I actually came here two nights before but it was all booked out so make a reservation beforehand if you want to dine here. The scenery was amazing as it overlooked the city and the tables are all on the rooftop. The restaurant is also hidden since it’s located above several flights of stairs on what seems to be an abandoned building. We had oxtail, suckling pig (very delicious), white fish, fried sweet potatoes, tuna tacos and tons of drinks! This was the perfect place and way to end my trip and I would suggest adding this to your list if you visit!

I wanted to give you a few background on Cuba because I think a lot of people are unaware of how undeveloped the country is. On average, a local makes $25 CUC, which is equivalent to $25 USD a month. My cab ride to the Airbnb was $25 so that one ride is a month’s worth of salary, which is insane!  They also have scarce amount of eggs and each person is only allowed around 20 eggs per month. They basically live off bread and it costs less than a dollar for one. So when I ate a meal for $5 CUC, although that was inexpensive to me, it is still a lot to the locals. It’s just shocking when you put things into perspective and compare what you have to other people in the world. I also ended up giving away some of my clothing so if you are visiting Cuba and have spare things to donate, please do. You’ll make a huge difference in somebody’s life and won’t even know it. If you have any questions or plan on visiting Cuba let me know! I am also already on the hunt for my next vacation so leave me some suggestions below!