by Jose Mauricio Murette


Thinking of holidays to Cuba? Well, out of all the Caribbean Islands, Cuba is definitely one with more to offer than just a beach holiday. The people are bright, self-assertive and handsome. Their cultural heritage is colourful, as are the monuments of their often tumultuous, always fascinating history. A holiday to Cuba is something you should really consider in your agenda.

These are just some of the facts to consider and places and things you should not miss in your holidays to Cuba.

Fishing: The Gulf Stream creates conditions for deep-sea fishing at its best on the northwest coast Havana, Varadero, Cayo Guillermo and Guardalavaca's Bahia de Naranjo for barracuda, sailfish, shark, swordfish, tuna and mackerel. For freshwater lake fishing for bass, perch and trout, try Pinar del Rio's Laguna Grande and Moron's Laguna La Redonda (easy access by causeway from Cayo Coco).

Carnival: The Cuban's taste for festivities, public and private, reaches its climax with the two great carnivals celebrated in Santiago de Cuba, usually the last week in July, and in Havana for three weeks in August. For the capital's procession through the streets of La Habana Vieja, the neighbour- hoods stage comparsa: spectacles of masked and costumed dancers, singers and musicians playing the conga.

La Hahana Vieja (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982), along with fortresses around the harbour. Garish evidence of the US presence in Cuban history is there in the grand old 50s Chevrolets and Cadillacs miraculously still rolling through the streets-and in the Vedado district's hotels that were head quarters for the Mafia's night clubs and casinos.

A bit of History: Christopher Columbus disembarked on October 28, 1492, somewhere between Gibara and Guardalavaca. Following threats of mutiny and an overnight rain- storm, he wrote with undisguised relief in his journal: "Everything I saw was so lovely that my eyes could not weary beholding such beauty".

The list of places to visit and things to do goes on and on. The options are immeasurable for your holidays to Cuba. Stay tune to this article directory as there will be more useful information about Cuba coming soon.




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