Holidays in Cuba will especially appeal to lovers of a calm atmosphere, in contrast to the popular resorts inhabited by Russian tourists. Let's look at the best resorts for a vacation with children, find out prices for tours from all tour operators and select the seasons ideal for swimming, sightseeing.
When choosing a place where it would be most correct to go on vacation, it makes sense to take a closer look at the countries of the Caribbean. But it is not enough just to indicate a certain state, it is also necessary to answer the question of where exactly to go in it, what to look at first of all. This is what we will do now.
Where is the best place to relax in Cuba?
This tropical island is appreciated by travelers not only for its warm climate, sea beaches - there is something to see here, and in different places. It is not for nothing that the flow of tourists going there does not dry out all year round, especially since the infrastructure for living and entertainment deserves the highest rating, given that it was created in a semi-blockade.
If you go beyond the coast and head inland, you can find typical towns and villages that show the local flavor as it is. Given the time, the question of where it is better to rest in Cuba is not even worth it - the country is small, it will be possible to go around it in two weeks or a little more.
Havana
It is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful centers of the Western Hemisphere, which combines different eras: cars that were considered the standard of luxury sixty years ago pass by the buildings of the Spanish domination, and areas of traditional architecture are replaced by ultra-modern skyscrapers. When choosing where to go to Cuba to rest, you should think about the province. Matanzas (west of Havana, but east of Varadero).
Santiago de Cuba
is considered the most important cultural center of the republic, but entertainment here is not for everybody, frankly. IN Pinar del Rio vacationers can enjoy the charming landscapes, cave rivers and architecture of the nineteenth century. If we talk about resorts, then observers and vacationers themselves put in the first place Varadero... Hotels and other infrastructure facilities are perhaps the most luxurious here, however, they almost completely capture the national flavor. This is to some extent paid off by the opportunities for diving and extreme sports, so tours to Cuba from Moscow most often go to this resort.
Holguin
IN Holguin the atmosphere is more elite, there is no such "boil of life", and a rare hotel falls short of five stars. If you are looking for beaches, privacy, swimming and direct contact with nature, you can safely go to any of the islands. True, one cannot count on an abundance of organized entertainment there.
When is the best time to go to Cuba?
The tropical climate is relatively mild here, fortunately, there is an ocean around. It is humid and hot all year round, so acclimatization is still needed. The peak of the beach season on the island is from late October to early May.
The last spring month opens the rainy season (on average 10 days out of every 30), and this situation persists until October. The final fragments of autumn (October and November) are accompanied by an invasion of hurricanes. However, one should not think that unfavorable weather phenomena are extremely bad. For example, windsurfers will only be happy with showers - after all, it is with them that the waves are highest.
The weather in Cuba for months is of course of interest to all vacationers. Despite the fact that it is extremely rare for the air to cool down to 17 degrees or less, the elongated island, characterized by an inhomogeneous relief, simultaneously exposed to the action of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, has a distinct seasonality.
Summer sultry (up to 37 degrees) and stuffy, which pays off only with festivities. Havana September and even October by Russian standards can be considered the height of summer (23 - 30 degrees), however, swimming in the sea is undesirable, since it is dirty during this period, and is worried all the time.
The next four months are good enough in temperature and fairly dry - but beware of cold cyclones that bring gusts of wind and storms, sometimes lasting 72 hours or more. Consider choosing the Caribbean coastline, which is almost unfamiliar to the residents of the Russian Federation, but quite tempting.
- Climatic conditions in the resort of Varadero by months:
Cost of tours to Cuba
Consider the most profitable and attractively priced tours to popular hotels with high ratings, which we have selected based on reviews of tourists and personal experience of visiting.
A trip to Hotel Atlantico is attractive because the hotel is located right on the seafront, on an area glorious for the quality of its sand and waters. In addition to spending time on the beach, the hotel also offers excursions to the old parts of Havana with its colonial heritage. However, prices for a visit start at 100,000 if you take the full package, not just accommodation.
In Varadero, it is worth choosing Club Karey, a week-long tour there costs from 67 thousand rubles, it includes an air ticket, a meeting at the airport, accommodation itself, food and medical insurance. Service classes are different, from "All inclusive" to "just breakfast". Direct access to the beach is available from any room, the infrastructure has also earned the approval of tourists.
A tour to Iberostar Havana (operator TezTour), for 8 days for two, will cost 151 thousand minimum. Moreover, this Havana hotel is equipped with Wi-Fi, and there are charter flights to fly. The class of service "breakfast + dinner" automatically raises the bar to 165,000.
Intourist is ready to send its clients to Meila Marina Varadero. A visit of two people, calculated for eight days without meals, will cost about 135 thousand rubles. The standard category "all inclusive" in the same place is sold for 176 - 189 thousand rubles.
- Search for a ticket yourself:
Entertainment and what to see in Cuba
The question of what to see in Cuba visits every tourist who is going to this country. Among the recommended noteworthy places you should pay attention to Cayo santa maria - True, it is hot there in summer, but the beaches are beautiful, scuba diving is organized, the local staff shows true hospitality.
When deciding where to relax in Cuba, it is advisable to focus primarily on natural objects (landscapes, national parks and underwater landscapes). Inspection of Havana begins mainly with the Cathedral and Capitol (by the way, larger than Washington), then they move to the Armory, Cathedral and Old squares of the city.
Its surroundings are a haven for ecotourism lovers, adventure seekers and those who love romance. The grottoes and sheer cliffs are proof of this. Pinar del Rio cooked for visitors Museum of Natural Sciences, theater, palace. On the island of Juventud (second only to the main one in area) is located reserve, a marine nature park and a transnational diving center.
Holidays in Cuba with children in the province of Matanzas are quite appropriate. You can admire the rock art, and immediately after that look at Freedom Square, to the fortress of San Severino. Zapata Peninsula attracts attention with an Indian village, a crocodile nursery, two reserves. And any region boasts national parks, so there is a must for children to have fun in Cuba.
Nightlife seekers should choose Varadero, with its advanced discos. The exception is the second half of July and the first half of August, when the Havana Carnival and similar celebrations in Santiago de Cuba... Tourists who have booked a ticket for the first decade of December can visit the Latin American New Film Festival.
In terms of excursion prices, many tourists book sightseeing tours with the hotel guide from the operator you flew with, a good choice, but such programs go through shops most of the time and have a tight time frame. We recommend that you take a closer look at the author's programs on Tripster, such tours will be most attractive for travelers who do not like to travel along "hackneyed trails" and want to see much more.
What to try from food?
Prices in Cuba are not the only subtleties travelers have to master. Although in almost all resorts shops are open longer than in cities, they stop working at the earliest hours. It makes no sense to look for shopping centers anywhere other than the capital of the country.
The traditional island cuisine is Creole, centered around pork and chicken cooked very skillfully. Be sure to try ajiaco, lobster with lemon, turtle and crocodile dishes. The food is quite healthy, a rare dish does without fruit accompaniment. If you do not like strong sweet coffee, it is better not to order it. The choice of drinks is huge, so it makes no sense to advise anything about them.
Credit cards can be used in restaurants, but to avoid confusion, it is best to carry convertible pesos with you. In a reputable institution, the bill is 30 or 40 pesos, and in a low-budget one - 10-15. Pizzerias and other fast food points of sale work around the clock, are even more profitable for visitors, but plastic is not accepted at all.
- Fritta, aka Cuban hamburger
- popcorn corn,
- a subspecies of paella and churros (sold on the streets) - this is what the culinary culture of the country cannot be imagined without.
To complement the impression will help:
- plantains,
- ropa vieha,
- Chicharrones,
- tostones,
- dessert flan,
- tamale,
- mediannight,
- pulpet and we will not list everything, we will leave room for a surprise!
The cost of food in a good cafe for one adult is 2-5 dollars for lunch.
Prices for travel to Cuba invariably affect, of course, the issue of purchasing food. Markets allow you to buy tomatoes at $ 0.7, cucumbers, mangoes, bread, pizza and watermelons at $ 0.5.
Grilled fish or meat is taken out of the wallet of those who have flown in 2 - 3 dollars.A double restaurant dinner will cost 20 - 25 dollars, a portion of meat with a side dish 15 ).