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Destination: Cuba - R. Agrotis Travel LTD
Perhaps the Caribbean’s most fascinating country, Cuba has idyllic beach resorts, great nightlife, classical Spanish colonial cities, a plethora of old but impeccably maintained fifties American cars and a lot more all wrapped up in the familiar friendly Latin-Caribbean flair. It might not be the most expertly operated tourist destination but a large part of its charm lies exactly in its rustic and slightly dilapidated first appearances. The economic embargo imposed by the USA to Cuba since 1960 along with the US travel ban means that while this Caribbean paradise a mere 140km from the USA could have grown to be one of the most popular Latin-American destination for North Americans has been somewhat stuck in the 1950’s, stifled by the trade and tourism sanctions. Cuba is like a prince in a poor man’s coat; behind the sometimes shabby facades, gold dust lingers. It’s these rich dichotomies that make travel here the exciting, exhilarating roller-coaster ride it is. Trapped in a time warp and reeling from an economic embargo that has grated for more than half a century, this is a country where you can wave goodbye to Western certainties and expect the unexpected. If Cuba were a book, it would be James Joyce’s Ulysses; layered, hard to grasp, serially misunderstood, but – above all – a classic. – Lonely Planet All this though is about to change, the recent announcements by their respective governments ushering a new age in US-Cuba relations mean that inevitably a lot of development backed by North American money will pour into the country and a massive of tourists will follow it. The time to visit Cuba is now. Before the huge resort chains start building up, before the people and local business get spoiled by the lure of easy money. Before the unmistakeable character of Cuba diminishes! You often see mentioned that Cuba has flair, that it has just a little something that separates it from other Latin-American destinations. Well, it’s not just one thing, it’s a mixture. Of the music pouring in the streets from the many live bands, of the beautiful Spanish architecture, of dance, of drink, of life! There are several UNESCO listed cities, Havana needs no description, but Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Camagüey are all locations where grandiose squares and cobbled streets tell erstwhile tales of wealth and intrigue and are worth exploring. Varadero is the country’s vanguard in the tourism industry, the largest tourism resort in the Caribbean it is still an idyllic place to visit because of its 20km long stretch of blond sand, one of the Caribbean’s finest or for something a bit closer to nature consider visiting the Península de Zapata with the island’s best wildlife spotting opportunities and some of the Caribbean’s best diving and snorkelling! The area is mostly a nature preserve but there are a few towns with resort (or otherwise!) accommodation available. Travel from Europe is a relatively easy procedure with direct flights to Havana from certain major hubs on the continent, the availability of hotels is also quite abundant and there is sure to be something to take your fancy whether you prefer to lounge in luxury or for something a little more personal and cost-effective. It’s perfect for all types of tourists, either for a longhoneymoon or for an even longer soul-searching trip on the cheap! We can tailor made a package to your exact measures! Our advise? Don’t stay too long in one place, Cuba is very diverse and has much to offer. Whether you’re a fan of history, culture, partying or nature. We would be happy to prepare any itinerary you would wish as well as advise and prepare flights, accommodation, local excursions and anything else you might need. Just remember, travel soon because Cuba will not stay the same for long! Contact us for more information or quotations for your dream honeymoon or trip to Cuba! Photos: Balint Földesi, Didier Baertschiger, halbag, Daniele Febei, Tom Jensen, darkroomillusions, momo