BEFORE YOUR TRIP TO CUBA, READ TED’S TOP HAVANA TRAVEL TIPS

With friendlier relations between Cuba and the United States, is it safe to travel to Cuba and what should I expect?

Background

In early May of 2016, the 700 passenger Carnival Corporation owned Aldona drifted into the port of Havana Cuba. Showered by chants of “Cuba! Cuba! Cuba” from the crowds ashore, these initial passengers were the first, in decades, to travel, on a cruise from the United States to Cuba.

The ship’s arrival marked the first stop on a historic, seven-day voyage that signaled closer ties between the United States and its communist-run neighbor. This event, shrouded in political controversy from day one, opened up a new vista for travel enthusiasts which has resulted in great reviews, however mixed, ensuring a new dawn of travel that will not be quickly forgotten.

As cruise travelers aim for this Caribbean destination, it is hard for us seasoned cruisers to imagine why, a cultural trove such as this, had been left untouched by travelers. This is a country entrenched in beauty with a population bubbling with a yearning to meet others from overseas.

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So Far, Cuba Has Not Been So Travel Friendly

However, any study of its history will dig up such startling events as the Spanish-American War, Castro’s harsh revolution, the “leasing” of the always controversial Guantanamo Bay, now the subject of its own literary tome by Michael J. Strauss, the saga of the Cuban Missile Crisis and of course the too soon to be forgotten,  Bay of Pigs invasion. These are serious estrangements  that have harboured untold mistrust and animosity between the US and Cuba.

US Travel Restrictions To Cuba Lifted!

However, due to recent easing of travel restrictions between the two countries, I now find myself being called upon to offer Cuba destination travel advice in spite of its recently worrisome past.  It’s as if a sudden bridge over the chasm (in this case, a body of water as narrow as 93 miles, the Florida Straits) has been suddenly erected, with gilded baroque arches beckoning cruise travelers with the message: ‘Bienvenido A La Habana!’

I guess there is no turning back now, may I reintroduce you to Havana Cuba, in all its beauty and glory,  the stench of communism still wafting from the rafters ……

Is Travel To Cuba Safe?

Yes travelers, you can now take a cruise to Cuba. But first, the questions: is it safe? Despite recent US Government’s dire travel warnings to the contrary, thousands have successfully cruised there and back and lived to tell it about and more. And most, I would say, do not regret it. These flagrant historical flaws are not the fault of Cubans. And even if not for the dilapidated structures, sprinkled with a population swooning in poverty, the gorgeous architecture and fauna left behind is still there for our admiration. The true spirit of the republic, though sedated, has not waned and there is a lot to see and tell our friends about upon our return.  

But this trip does not come without its stipulations.

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You Can’t Just Step Off  The Ship And Walk Into Cuba

Besides the passport requirement, cruise travelers need to get special insurance and a travel visa to go to Cuba . Guests are responsible for setting up certain cultural exchanges with locals as well as filling out a certification form and submitting it prior to sailing. I suggest leaving the details up to the cruise line. But be aware of the requirements by studying up on the details of cruise travel to Cuba.

Havana Journeys Havana Tour

Now that you are prepped and ready to go we want to tell you about a great opportunity to tour Havana with this Day Tour customized to your preferences. This tour more than fullfills the required “cultural exchange” to fit in with the government’s list of the “12 categories of travel” which are now licensed for Cuban travel.

Let’s break down this wonderful venture through the street of Havana. To best explain this, I’ved asked Ben Waide, a member of my Facebook Group, Friends Who Like Viking Cruises  to give us rundown of his recent adventure.  Ben highly recommends this awesome Old Havana City tour by Havana Journeys a Tour Company in Havana.

“We truly enjoyed our day in Havana last week as one  port on a Royal Caribbean cruise.  As I mentioned, we scheduled a six hour tour with Havana Journeys, a private (non-government) tour group.  There were six of us.

“The highlight of the tour was the husband and wife tour guides, mid-30’s, professionals, spoke perfect english, very proud of the Cuban people, but very open about the issues that the people of Cuba face every day.  They do the tours to augment their $16/month salary with the government (90% of the people who work in Cuba work for the Government) The tour consisted of a three hour stroll through the historical center of Havana, including a stop for coffee and a stop to buy cigars, both at our request.

“We then got into three mid-50 restored cars with the guides for a drive through the rest of the city and outskirts.  Stopped at a private “home” for lunch, serenaded by a small musical group.  (the beginnings of Capitalism)

“The tour was very rewarding in that you really felt like you were engaging in a meaningful “people to people” exchange and that the Cubans involved clearly recognized the benefits of stepping outside the mediocrity of Socialism.

“I hope that you recommend a Cuban visit to your customers.  It is a very interesting look at a country that has been trying to make socialism work for 60 years.  You can judge during the tour how successful they have been.  We never felt concerned for our safety at all.  There are very few police and those we saw were not armed (NO one has a firearm in Cuba except the Army, duh!).  Entering and leaving through Customs was easier than France”

To book this tour go to Havana Journeys and select City Tour Havana.

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WHY A TOUR TO HAVANA?

First why visit Havana? This is, the capital city of Cuba and the leading commercial center of the Cuban Republic. More than 2 million people call this city home and its sheer size of about 281 square miles, making it the third largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean region.

Because of its troubled relations with the United States, and due to past no-fly restrictions, Havana had been one of the least visited cities in the Cuban mainland. Havana, to this day, remains frozen in time: this metropolis, taking on a “Back To The Future” like phenomenon with ‘50’s vehicles haunting the streets. Its old world charm coupled with ornately decorated historical structures, however neglected they are, engulf visitors in an otherworldly aura.

Let’s Get Started On Our Tour Of Havana

Havana, founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century and throughout history, served as a strategic location for Spain’s galleon trade. When in modern-day Havana, you can still see visualize the  of the Spanish’ colonial years. This is especially true in the Old Town Havana, or Havana Vieja.

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Let’s start with one of the most prominent structures in the old town, the Castillo de la Real Fuerza or Castle of the Royal Force.This UNESCO World Heritage Site is on the seaward side of Plaza de Armas, it is one of the oldest existing forts in the Americas, built between 1558 and 1577 on the site of an earlier fort destroyed by French privateers in 1555. Imposing and indomitable, the castle is ringed by an impressive moat and shelters the Museum of Navigation (Maritime Museum), Old Havana  which covers the history of the fort and Old Town, and its connections with the erstwhile Spanish Empire. Look out for the huge scale model of the Santíssima Trinidadgalleon. Gaze at the amazing fortresses built by the sea.

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Plaza de Armas

Next let’s move on to the Plaza de Armas, another throwback to the 16th century. Plaza de Armas has been a city gathering place for more than five centuries. In colonial days, the square was a military parade ground—hence its name, Arms Square—and the center of political power, as the governor’s palace was here. In colonial times, the square was the site of military parades, musical concerts and formal evening promenades, and it maintained its political and administrative role until the mid-20th century. It is surrounded by buildings spanning four centuries.

Stand in the center of the square, by the tree-shaded monument of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Cuban patriot, initiator of the Ten Years War against Spanish colonial rule in 1868 and ‘Father of the Nation’. To your east is El Templete, a 19th-century, Greek-style Neoclassical temple marking the legendary spot where Havana was founded in 1519

Cafés and restaurants beckon from its perimeter, and the shady gardens lure locals and tourists alike, who come here to escape the tropical heat. Presiding over the plaza are a bevy of Baroque beauties, including the magnificent Palacio de los Capitanes, which has hosted more than 60 Spanish generals over the years. Today, it’s home to the Museo de la Ciudad (City Museum), a must-see for history buffs; many musical concerts are staged in its lush courtyard.

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Plaza Vieja

Also of note in Havana is Plaza Vieja, the “Old Square”, though not technically the oldest square, the 16th century open area, which used to be the sight of executions, processions and bullfights among others. Now it is one of the major tourist areas lined with restaurants and pubs.

Originally laid out in the mid 16th century, the square was once used for military exercises and was also a popular marketplace. Sadly, in the 1950s, construction engulfed the plaza and transformed it into an underground car park. Thanks to the citizens of Havana and government support, the Plaza Vieja has been restored and is now one of the most popular squares in Old Havana. An eclectic mix of restored buildings – from Art Nouveau to Cuban Baroque – preside at its edges and a small 18th-century fountain bubbles at its center.

The Parque Central

Next we head to the Parque Central along Paseo del Prado, usually the starting point for any tour of the city. Here you will find locals dancing salsa and playing board games, or just simply hanging out, even at mid-day.

Parque Central is sandwiched by important structures in Havana including the Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso which was built as a tribute to Galicia immigrants to Cuba. It was built around the older Teatro Tacon and was made even more elegant and magnificent by adding stone and marble statues and sculptures by Giuseppi Moretti. The Grand Theatre now serves as the home of the Cuban ballet troupe.

Fusterlandia

A visit to Havana could not be complete with visiting, of all things: Fusterlandia. Welcome to Jaimanitas, a community on the northwestern edge of Havana, Cuba. Today, it’s known as Fusterlandia, and is the home, studio and artistic dream (or wild kingdom) of artist José Rodriguez Fuster, who moved to previously run-down neighborhood more than 30 years ago.

Fuster (as everyone in the neighborhood calls him) had visited Europe and returned to Cuba filled with inspiration from Gaudi in Barcelona and Brancusi in Romania. He set out to change the look of his home and studio, and over the years, his work has changed the look of the entire neighborhood in a dramatic way.

We hope that we have enlightened you more about the visual and cultural treasures awaiting you in Havana Cuba. Remember to keep an open mind and prepare yourself for an enriching and uplifting venture to an area lost in time. Please appreciate what others have found and be sure to share this post  with all your friends and acquaintances.

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