Cuba
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, where crumbling colonial architecture, vintage American automobiles, and a persistent tropical heat combine into a daily life shaped equally by history and improvisation.
Overview
Situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba lies roughly 150 kilometres south of Florida and shares maritime borders with Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas. Havana is the capital. Spanish is the official language, and the Cuban peso (CUP) is the national currency. Cuban culture is a dense layering of Spanish colonial, African, and indigenous Taíno influences, expressed most visibly in music, dance, and a strong tradition of street-level community life.
Visa Requirements
Most foreign nationals require a tourist card (tarjeta del turista) to enter Cuba, typically issued by airlines or Cuban consulates rather than at the border. Citizens of some countries benefit from visa-free or simplified entry arrangements. Travellers should consult Cuba's official consular services well in advance, as requirements and fees vary by nationality and purpose of visit.
Airports in Cuba
12 airportsAirlines based in Cuba
2 airlines
Famous Attractions in Cuba
Havana's Old Town (La Habana Vieja) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its grid of 16th-century plazas and baroque churches largely intact. Trinidad, another UNESCO city in central Cuba, preserves pastel-coloured colonial streets. The Viñales Valley in Pinar del Río province contains dramatic limestone mogotes rising above tobacco fields. The Bay of Pigs on the southern coast carries significant Cold War historical weight. The Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara holds the revolutionary's remains and draws steady international visitors.
Weather & Climate
Cuba has a subtropical climate divided into a dry season (November to April) and a wet season (May to October). Summer temperatures typically range from 26 °C to 33 °C, while winter lows can drop to around 16 °C in the evening, particularly in the east. Hurricane season runs June through November, with peak risk in September and October. The dry winter months are generally considered the most comfortable time to visit. Light, breathable clothing is appropriate year-round, with a layer for air-conditioned spaces.
Interesting Facts About Cuba
- Largest island by area in the Caribbean.
- Havana's Malecón seawall stretches eight kilometres.
- Cuba has one of the world's highest doctor-to-patient ratios.
- Baseball is the country's most popular sport since the 1860s.
- Home to 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Official Resources
- cubatravel.cu — official Cuban tourism portal
- cubagob.cu — Cuban government official information
- met.inf.cu — Instituto de Meteorología, national weather service
- lancuba.cu — Aeropuertos de Cuba, national airport authority