Despite increasing hardships for locals, the Caribbean's most impressive island offers one of the world's great travel experiences, from its music and culture to Havana and its other cities, as well as beaches and nature.

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Las Terrazas, a Woodsy Cuban Eco-Treasure

The main reasons millions come to Cuba each year are (primarily) beaches and (secondarily) culture. But the lag in the country’s development since 1959 has been a boon for ecotourism, leaving the island with quite a few natural treasures for visitors to discover, from hidden waterfalls to castaway beaches, national parks, and conversatories. I recently discovered one such gem in the Sierra del Rosario mountains just over an hour’s drive west of capital Havana.   Allow me to introduce you to Las…

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Started by Iberia Airlines
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Havana´s gracious Vedado district

 Ivan2010 Though mostly shabby and decrepit except for its UNESCO World Heritage colonial core, Habana Vieja, being restored for the tourism trade with the help of the Spanish government, the European Union, and other international donors, the capital of Cuba is truly one of the more remarkable cities in all the world, as millions of new visitors have been discovering each year since the régime started increasingly opening up the island to visitors in the years following the 1991 collapse of…

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Started by Iberia Airlines
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In Cuba, Go West, to Pinar del Río & Viñales

  marcin jucha For visitors to Havana, one of the most popular day and overnights trips besides colonial wonder Trinidad is a visit to the far west of Cuba, the mostly rural province of Pinar del Río (whose locals, by the way, have over the years endured much teasing by other Cubans as guajiros – "country-bumpkin" peasants – though at least these days inaccurately, as far as I’ve been able to tell).  It’s home to not only the eponymous city – which makes for a charming visit in its own…

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Started by José Balido
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  • Anil March 23, 2015 at 8:59pm

    Ed, 

    Good article. Everything I wanted to know was there.

    Thanks

  • Ed Wetschler March 23, 2015 at 2:59pm

    Anil, there's been a lot of confusion, of course. Here's what my friend Gay, one of the authoritative reporters in the whole Caribbean travel biz, says: 

    http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/Operators-ans...

  • Anil March 23, 2015 at 6:50am

    Ed, No, not non-stop, just get there with minimal fuss. 

  • Ed Wetschler March 22, 2015 at 3:26pm

    Anil, do you mean the wisdom of flying nonstop? 

  • Anil March 22, 2015 at 5:09am


    Delete Comment

    What is the wisdom on traveling to Cuba from here (NYC) to there ? In terms of logistics of travel regulations, and general stay ? I really want to do this before the coming hurricane season. 

    There is great opportunity here to write a how-to-manual rather than a tour brochure for US Passport holders who want to get their feet wet in the cuban waters, and quench their thirst with a real mojito or two :)

  • Ed Wetschler December 19, 2014 at 4:29pm

    You know, Anil, the Caribbean islands really pushed for this because they have good relations with Cuba. Your comments are absolutely right; leaders of those other islands will wake up one morning and say,

    What were we thinking? Cuba is taking our business. 

  • Anil December 19, 2014 at 8:01am

    Ed: To answer your question, I am not a travel expert; but I do know data. And I do understand psychology. If history of travel is any indication; the caribbean islands will begin to see a drop in american tourists. Cuba will see inflationary push to basic commodities. If a far off place like Vietnam (JFK-NRT-SIN-HAN 24 hours of flight time) saw a measurable uptick in american visitors after normalization and now, USD has become an alternate currency,  then Cuba is a small island which will get the good and the bad of the mass american tourism. 

    The question is, who will get landing rights, and from where ? 

    my two cents. :)

  • Ed Wetschler December 19, 2014 at 4:35am

    And thank you, Anil, for making me smile. Oh yes, and welcome home!

  • Anil December 19, 2014 at 3:28am

    Hello everybody ! I am back ! 

    Just returned from 'Nam the other forbidden country from the '80s :)  I am willing to carry your camera gear ! Just to go to Cuba ! 

    Travel Channel is running a repeat of Anthony  Bourdain on Cuba right now (828PM Thursday EST) 

    Thank You Obama !!

  • Donna Esposito December 18, 2014 at 7:37pm

    That is good to hear. I am the only one of my friends who has NOT been to Cuba! They have seen the sights but they spend most of their time at beach resorts. 

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