Caribbean Cold War Quarantine: No More!

A Travelers Guide to Cuba, a Country Frozen in Time 

Americans have been eagerly waiting to visit Cuba since 1961 but wait no longer! On July 20, 2015, for the first time since the Cold War, Cuba and the United States restored diplomatic relations allowing travelers keen to visit this quarantined Caribbean island the opportunity to embark on a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Gaining Access

Before the doors reopened, the only way for an American to gain access into Cuba was to apply for a travel license through the US Department of the Treasury - a lengthy process. This travel license was intended mainly for researchers and very difficult to acquire but now a tourist visa is offered (Mara Sofferin). So not everyone can go? Well, basically everyone… 

There are 12 broad categories of travel activities that have been approved: 

• Visiting family

• Humanitarian projects 

• Official business of government organizations

• Journalistic activities

• Professional research

• Educational activities 

• People to people travel

• Religious activities

• Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic, or other competitions 

• Authorization to provide travel, carrier, or remittance forwarding services

• Activities of private foundations, research, or educational institutes

• Exportation of certain Internet-based services

If you took the time to read that list, you’d realize some are complete BS. If you can convince a travel agent you have reason to pursue your passion for “Journalistic activities” and are curious what a country looks like after being shut off from the rest of the world for fifty years, this Cuba Travel Guide is for you. 

Open Sesame

Image courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

Cuba is one of the world’s most fascinating destinations in the world. 

Awe-inspiring beaches, dense jungles, a vibrant population that dance throughout the night with the help of an endless supply of Salsa and rum, and a plethora of classic cars zipping down cobble stone streets are only a few of the many charming features of this beautiful island.

For ease of travel, I suggest flying into the nation’s capital, Havana. If you are flying directly from the East Coast, Miami would be your shortest and cheapest flight (around $500-$700). However, I recommend all travelers fly through Cancun to save an extra $200 on the round trip flight. No direct flights from the West Coast are yet available. 

Havana Beaches

Welcome to Cuba! Now that we’ve arrived in Havana, let’s take a look around… 

Image courtesy of havanatourcompany.com

The Caribbean is well known for its white sand beaches. Santa Maria Del Mar is the largest and best known beach in Havana. This 9 km strip of stunning coastline is about 20 minutes from Havana by taxi (Daniel Stretton). Get to the beach early if you want any possibility of finding a patch of sand during the peak months, June through August, although the weather is actually loveliest in May and October. 

Vinales Valley

Not only has the vibrant culture of Cuba been preserved but also its stunning natural landscapes. 

Image Courtesy of telepinar.icrt.cu

Image courtesy of cozumelcigars.com

While in Havana, if you travel 183 km to the West-end of the island, you will stumble across the Vinales Valley. This unique landscape is dotted with mogotes (karst formations) surrounding a lovely valley with rich earth and majestic palm trees. Traditionally, this has been one of Cuba’s most fertile areas and where some of the world’s best tobacco is grown, harvested, and processed (Cuba Travel Network). Be sure to get your hands on a Cohiba cigar, one of Cuba’s most sought after exports during the political standoff. These iconic cigars have long been counterfeited and sold to clueless connoisseurs around the world but the true magic starts here in the Vinales Valley. 

Hershey Railway

Mr. Hershey, the King of Chocolate decided Cuban sugar was the best in the world to produce chocolate with. He built his own Cuban town to produce chocolate in the 1920s.

Image courtesy of seat61.com

The Hershey train is an electric rail-car that departs 3 times a day from the Casablanca station, on the eastern shore of the Havana harbor. The train travels all the way to the city of Matanzas, located about 100 km east of Havana (Best Cuba Guide). During the trip, the train makes dozens of shorts stop allowing you to get off and explore at any time. A round-trip costs $2.80 CUC or $2.80 USD (the Cuban Convertible Peso is pegged to the US Dollar).

The train is a great way to quickly cover ground and see life outside Havana, the most developed city on the island. However, most foreigners simply ride the train for a nostalgic experience and will get off after the first stop, Hershey, to explore. About 1 km north of Hershey there is a large coastal town called Santa Cruz del Norte. Take a quick stroll but be sure not to miss the last train back to Havana! 

Grub 

Cuban food on the island has maintained its traditional look and taste. Meals tend to be rather bland due to the minimal use of spices and a cultural tendency to dislike spicy or hot food altogether. In addition, the trade embargoes have caused fluctuations in food supply leading to ingredient shortage. To compensate for this, portion sizes tend to be massive.

Image courtesy of tasteofcuba.com

i. Cuisine 

Known as comida criolla, Cuba cuisine features roasted or fried pork and chicken along with rice, beans, and viavdas, the Cuban word for root vegetables.  Popular national dishes include: 

·         Ropa vieja, shredded beef served as a stew prepared over a slow heat with green peppers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic 

·         Ajiaco, another stew including meat, corn, and green vegetables

·         Tasajo, a form of fried dried beef. 

·         Lechon, suckling pig marinated in garlic, onions, and herbs. 

Although it has been difficult to find these dishes in past years, as Cuba becomes more open to trade, traditional dishes are making a revival (Rough Guides). 

ii. Restaurants

Image courtesy of tasteofcuba.com

Since the 1990s Cuba has allowed its citizens to earn money through the creation of paladars, or private residences that serve food to visitors. These paladars are run by local Cubans and offer visitors the opportunity to try authentic tastes. If you don’t feel comfortable entering someone’s home for a meal, the alternative would be state restaurants, which are government run and tend to have a more limited menu.  

iii. Drink 

If you like rum, Cuba is the place for you. The national drink can be found everywhere and is the most inexpensive alcoholic beverage – you can buy a bottle of rum for $3 CUC in supermarkets (Rough Guides). I suggest the brands Havana Club and Santiago de Cuba. 

Cerveza, lager-type beer, is also plentiful in Cuba. The two most popular beers are Cristal, a smooth light lager, and Bucanero, a darker more potent brew. Draft beer is uncommon but a bottle will cost roughly $2 CUC. 

Be sure to also try the variety of Cuban lemonade (Cachito), cola (Tropicola), and orange soda (Najita). If you’re craving some refreshing water, stick to bottled water unless you’re feeling extra adventurous.  

Departure

Cuba was placed in a political and cultural cryogenic chamber for the last 55 years. Act quickly if you hope to see this beautiful nation in its truest state. It’s only a matter of time until East Coast spring-breakers get their hands on this gem. 

Works Cited 

"Cuba / Food and Drink." Rough Guides. Web. 2 Feb. 2016.

"Cuba: Salsa, Revolutionary History, And Caribbean Heat." Rough Guides. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.

"How To Take The Electric Hershey Train In Havana Cuba." Best Cuba And Havana Guidebook. Full Compass Guides, 14 Oct. 2014. Web. 2 Feb. 2016.

Sofferin, Mara. "A How-to Guide to Visiting Cuba." CNN. Cable News Network, 18 Dec. 2015. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.

Stretton, Daniel. "Sun And Salsa: The 5 Best Havana Cuba Beaches." Havana Tour Company. 30 July 2015. Web. 2 Feb. 2016.

"Viñales Valley." Havana Excursions. Cuba Travel Network, Web. 2 Feb. 2016.

Yakovlev, Alexander. "Cuba Travel Guide." World Travel Guide. Web. 12 Feb. 2016.