A Trip to Cuba

Before you go to Cuba, you must realize that it's an island not only frozen in time for over 60 years, but because of the US embargo, there has been a shortage of products and materials in Cuba for decades. There is no FedEx or UPS in Cuba. There are no international shipping ports. There are no large stores or supermarkets. They simply can't get the products that we take for granted. Most cars are from the 50s and 60s with no upgrades and fuel is processed in old refineries. There is a shortage of paint for the outside buildings affected by time and the salty ocean breeze. There is a shortage of steel to renew exterior building metals rusted from the rain and humidity. Most major products have to be imported by individual Cubans. They have to get permission and have the money to fly to friendly countries to buy materials retail - and fly them back in suitecases. But Cubans are an incredibly resilient, educated and ingenuitive 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 nationalized 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. They really care about each other, as well as their guests, in no way I've ever seen. 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 like no other place in the world. 

After landing in Cuba, you will take a taxi to your beautiful boutique 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 on 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. Our team can help you with this, of course.

Next, you can walk to a nearby 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. 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. 

Your first dinner in Cuba should be at an oceanfront restaurant. Again, great food, drinks and cigars can be enjoyed against an ocean breeze, with 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 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 tours and excursions. I suggest a 10am classic car tour of Havana first. 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 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 a morning cigar while I eat. Then your tours begin.

Your second dinner in Cuba should be relaxing after your car tour. I suggest a restaurant in Old Havana. You can get there early, walk around Old Havana to build up an appetite, then have another amazing 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 you plan 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.

*Cigar farm tour (a must for cigar smokers!)

Cigar factory tour

*Cigar lounge tours

*Classic car tour

*Convertible classic car tour

*Guided walking tour of Old Havana

Historic cemetery tour

Afro-Cuban Art tour

Hotel National tour

*Historic Malecon boardwalk tour

Cuban revolution tour

Live Music tour

*E. Hemingway tour

*Buena Vista Social Club (world famous)

Rum tasting tour

Shopping tour for gifts, souvenirs, etc.

Nightlife, drinking and dancing

City hopper tour - outside Havana

Boat or ferry tour

Nature/Mountain tour or camping

*Beach day

Cuban ballet or opera (world class)

Cuban museums and libraries tour

Lady's hairstyle

Lady's hair color

*Men's haircut - a nice touch

Manicure / Pedicure

*Massage by Cuban MT

Facial / Eyebrows

Of course, on your first trip to Cuba, you won't be able to enjoy more than maybe 5 or 6 tours, but trust me, you will want to go back to Cuba over and over again.