Travel to Cuba With On The Go Tours
The island nation of Cuba has remained something of a mystery thanks largely to its political isolation in recent years. That's slowly but surely changing and more travellers are heading to Cuba to discover a colourful history, revolutionary character and charismatic cities. Discover Cuba on one of our adventure-style tours staying in casa particulares with local host families for a real insight into this eclectic country and its people visiting all the must-see destinations.
Read MoreThink Cuba and you'll likely imagine the enchanting capital of Havana, seemingly stuck in a time warp as hefty American classic cars from the 1950s cruise the streets where once-grand buildings slowly crumble. Women hit the shops in their hair curlers and old men gather outside cafes to play a friendly game of dominoes. Head further into the island and you'll discover large plantations specialising in the country's famous exports - coffee and cigars - as well as a number of attractive colonial cities where marauding pirates once visited.
Recommended places to visit in Cuba
Cuba is fast growing in popularity as a travel destination with charming colonial cities, gorgeous Caribbean beaches, picturesque valleys of plantations and a sensual culture to boot. Here's some of our top spots in Cuba.
Havana
With 1950s American vintage cars ambling along streets lined with crumbling colonial buildings painted in bubblegum shades, it's easy to fall in love with Cuba's seductive capital. From swashbuckling pirates to audacious revolutionaries, Havana's history can be felt at every turn with a kaleidoscope of people and indefinable spirit that can amaze and confound in equal measure.
Valle de Vinales
Situated within the Sierra de los Organos mountain range and characterised by unusual limestone hillocks that rise above the region's famed tobacco plantations, the Valle de Vinales is Cuba's premier natural attraction. Vast caverns form an underground network of stalagmites, stalactites and subterranean pools while above ground visitors will find excellent hiking, biking and horse-riding opportunities.
Trinidad
One of Cuba's most enchanting destinations, the UNESCO-listed town of Trinidad is a perfectly preserved example of a Spanish colonial town with cobbled streets, grand pastel-coloured mansions and houses with red-tiled roofs. Weathered town folk amble along the streets in horse-drawn carts and a short distance from town you'll find pristine beaches to the south and the lush Sierra del Escambray to the north.
Camaguey
Often referred to as Cuba's 'city of churches', Camaguey displays an impressive collection of churches dating back as early as the 16th century with an equally splendid selection of fine colonial houses and plazas. Designed to confuse marauding pirates, the layout of the city is a labyrinthine web of streets and narrow alleys, the perfect place to literally lose yourself for a day or two.
Cienfuegos
As the only city in Cuba to have been founded by the French, Cienfuegos has a unique charm that blends European elegance with a flourish of Caribbean spirit. Enjoying an attractive waterside setting on a natural bay, the city has its fair share of architectural delights with fine palaces, candy-coloured houses and an imposing fortress, a fact that earned Cienfuegos UNESCO status in 2005.