A Trip to Cuba

Before you go to Cuba, you must realize that it's an island not only frozen in time for over 65 years, but because of the crippling US embargo, there has been a severe shortage of products and materials in Cuba for decades. But Cubans are an incredibly resilient, educated and resourceful people. Cubans have made due with what they have and what little they can get. Under these difficult conditions, they have one of the top (free) education systems in the world - all the way up to graduate school. You won't believe how educated, artistic, and open minded Cubans are. Cuba also has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Every Cuban is also guaranteed a home they own. Every Cuban gets a food card they use to buy food and supplies at small neighborhood markets. This forced resilience has forged Cubans into some of the best people I've ever met in my life. Furthermore, there has not been business type "competition" in Cuba since the revolution. I think this has allowed Cubans to maintain a level of kindness and comradery unseen anywhere in the world. Cubans really care about each other, as well as their guests, in no way I've ever seen anywhere else in the world. All this has also made Cuba an extremely safe island. It takes this understanding to have the right first impression of Cuba when you arrive. But in less than a day, you will fall in love with Cuba and its people. Cuba really is like no other place in the world. 

After landing in Cuba, you will take a taxi to your beautiful hotel. Hotels in Cuba have all the accommodations you're used to in any top tier hotel around the world. But soon, you will notice a level of friendliness and hospitality that is leaps and bounds better than in any other country. The level of Cuban hospitality is almost surreal and hard to believe. After you check-in and get settled, you can relax at your hotel patio for a fresh fruit drink or cocktail. Cuban drinks are delicious. I always start with a Pena, a refreshing fresh pineapple drink. I personally don't drink much alcohol, but if you do, I suggest some Cuban rum (the best in the world) or a mixed rum cocktail. Interestingly, in Cuba, they call rum, "ron" - pronounced rrown. If you like cigars, this is a great time to light up your first Cuban cigar and wind down from your flight. Most hotels, bars and restaurants offer top Cuban cigars for incredible prices. You can usually also buy extra cigars to enjoy during your trip. We have an incredible team of 7 experts in Cuba that will also help you during your entire stay.

After you've relaxed at your hotel, you can walk or taxi to a nearby private restaurant for lunch. This first meal is one of my favorite experiences in Cuba. Local restaurants are beautiful, and the food in Cuba is amazing, especially the seafood. You sit down, relax, order coffee or drinks, food, and maybe light another Cuban cigar. In Cuba, cigars are called puros or tabaco. As a cigar smoker, one of my favorite things is how most restaurants bring a cigar humidor to your table as soon as you sit down. You open the humidor and find it filled with a variety of the best cigars in the world - again, at amazing prices. To smoke a Cuban cigar in the homeland, the Mecca, of cigars is an experience of a lifetime. If you are bothered by cigar smoke, however, there are still a lot of amazing non-smoking options available in Cuba.

Your first dinner in Cuba should be at an oceanfront restaurant. Great food, drinks and cigars can be enjoyed at sunset, against an ocean breeze and the sound of waves, at a most scenic restaurant. After dinner, you can relax back at your air conditioned hotel room, or like me, enjoy more cigars on the front porch or rooftop patio of your hotel. I love my evening cigars at the hotel front porch because the staff usually come and sit with you for great conversations and eventual friendships. What is absolutely fascinating about Cuba is that you can quickly become close friends with half your hotel staff, and maybe even your taxi driver. Cuban hotels have 24 hour security and food/drink service, so I sometimes enjoy my front porch times till 2am. 

Your first full day in Cuba starts your private tours and excursions. These are not only great fun, but quite educational too. Your first morning, you can have a nice breakfast on your hotel patio with an amazing cafe con leche, Cuban cappuccino or espresso. Cuban coffee is world renowned and if you like cream in your coffee like me, you will not believe how delicious their natural creamer is. I usually have breakfast on the hotel patio so I can enjoy an early morning cigar while I eat. Then your amazing tours begin.

Your second dinner in Cuba should be relaxing after your fun filled day. I suggest a restaurant in Old Havana. You can get there early, walk around Old Havana to build up an appetite, then have another superb meal (and cigars). Old Havana was built by the Spanish conquistadors, so it has a great Euro-Cuban feel to it. The restaurants are top notch with sublime food. Many restaurants also have live Cuban music.

For the remainder of your trip, your Piña Tours itinerary will make your trip the best you've ever had. The tours and excursions we plan with you will take you to amazing places in Cuba. I've listed some of these tours below so you can get a feel for what you can expect.

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