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Cuba may just be the most exciting travel destination that’s a quick flight away from the United States. But trust me, it requires a lot more advanced planning than its Caribbean neighbors.
The largest island in the Caribbean has lived through a complicated estrangement from its nearest neighbor since 1961. What Americans call “the embargo,” and what Cubans call “the blockade,” has arguably done more (or at least as much) to shape Cuba’s present as its 1959 revolution. And that is why it was exciting to finally make a trip down, with my girlfriends in June 2019.
Cuba Trip Day 1: We arrive at the José Martí International Airport, formerly known as Rancho-Boyeros Airport, the international airport that operates in the capital city of Cuba, Havana.
Day 2: After sleeping in late due to travel fatigue, we did an amazing experience that included touring Havana in a classic car and stopping at 4 different rooftop bars to have a drink and take in the sites!
La Guarida is one of Havana’s most iconic and trendy restaurants. This elegant paladar (Cuban restaurant) offers fantastic cuisine that can be enjoyed on a lovely terrace. But for the very best views, and a more chill-out vibe, head up to the top floor rooftop bar.
We also have the Ambos Mundos Rooftop Bar, perched on top of a beautiful building from the 1920s, right in the heart of Old Havana, this roof garden is both green and classic, and comes with great views over the old city and the historic harbor. From the bar you can enjoy great and refreshing Mojitos or Piña Coladas, while the reastaurant serves a nice range of dishes with a local feel. Such a fantastic day/night
Day 3: We started off checking out our local eatery called El Gusto which means “ the taste” and had this delicious cuban meal for under $5 a person including the best fresh mango juice ever!
Change is rippling through Cuba’s dining scene. The island’s cuisine has long suffered a dismal reputation, which is unsurprising after the food-rationing days of the Special Period. But thanks to a recent reversal of the laws prohibiting private businesses, there’s been an explosion of paladares (home-run restaurants) building up a buzz around “Nouveau Cuban” cuisine. Havana leads the charge, offering everything from fine dining in palatial old apartments to hipster tapas bars. Navigating the food and drink scene is one of the best things to do in Cuba.
La Guarida, Spanish for “the hideout” is aptly named as it is one the most celebrated and glamorously clandestine restaurants in Havana.
Steeped in historical significance, the majestic building was originally built in 1913 and known as La Mansión Camagüey. Hundreds of illegal restaurants were opened in a desperate bid to survive during Cuba’s Special Period, as it is euphemistically referred to, when the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in economic devastation and near famine.
La Guarida gained notoriety after being the set of the Oscar-nominated Cuban film, Fresa y Chocolate, gained international success.
If you’re a Rihanna fan, you might recognize the iconic steps at La Guarida from a gorgeous photoshoot she did in Cuba for Vanity Fair.
If you want to get really colonial as you tour the Havana’s old quarter, you can hire a horse-drawn carriage. The original form of transportation in Old Havana, they are more compatible with its narrow streets and cobblestones.
Rides go from 1 hour to 4 hours, with carriages departing from different points. For an extra CUC$10, you can choose to be picked up at your own place. The tours cover Old Havana, Central Havana, some relatively newer parts of the city, and combinations of these three areas.
Day 4: On this day we left early in the morning to drive 2 hrs to Viñales, a town in western Cuba. Its main street is lined with colorful colonial-era wooden houses, including the Municipal Museum, which explores the region’s history. Orchids and palms fill the sprawling Casa de Caridad Botanical Gardens. Viñales serves as a gateway to the Sierra de los Organos mountains and the Viñales Valley. The valley’s tall, steep-sided limestone hills, known as mogotes, draw rock climbers.
We were excited to do horseback riding through the farm, enjoyed some coconut rum, drank Cuban coffee, watched a skillful farmer make Cuban cigars and even had the pleasure to sampled some.
Day 6: We saved the best for last; went to Santa Maria Beach – located east of Havana, one of the most popular beaches among the inhabitants of the Cuban capital – and it was beautiful! The water was warm and blue. It was the perfect way to end the trip.. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey.. till next trip.
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