*By Charmaine Noronha*
Vibrant streets filled with candy-coloured buildings juxtaposed with grandiose Spanish colonial architecture. The retro classic American cars. The beautiful white sand beaches. Salsa emanating from lively bars. Viva la Cuba!
This island frozen in time has long fascinated me. When I was in my mid-20s, my then partner whisked me away to Havana to celebrate my 25th birthday. It was the best surprise I could have asked for. Not only because he pulled it off so well–I had no clue what was happening until we got to the airport–but also because he knew that I was intrigued by what the country would be like on the ground. We spent 10 unforgettable days in Havana.
I’ve since returned several times and each time, I’m amazed by how little remains unchanged, which is part of its charm. This time around, I hopped aboard Swoop Airlines’ recently launched direct flight to Varadero (which was super cheap, CA$160!) and stayed in Varadero at the beautiful Melia International Hotel, which proved to be a gorgeous resting place in between tours around the island.
Here are a few memorable experiences to be had in Cuba.
My heart is in Havana(-nanana)
After an hour and a half drive from Varadero, we landed in Plaza de San Francisco de Asís (Saint Francis of Assisi Square), a public square in the district of Old Havana. Founded in 1628, the square overlooks the port, which originally welcomed Spanish galleons, and is now a cruise ship terminal, according to our tour guide. Plaza de San Francisco de Asís was named after the baroque style convent housed in the square, Convento de San Francisco de Asís, built in 1591.
Next door to the plaza is the Rum Museum of the Havana Club Foundation, located in an 18th century palace. Be sure to take a guided tour here to learn about how Cuban rum is produced, before sampling some of the international award-winning rum varieties.
From there, we headed to the Old Square, Plaza Vieja, designed in 1559. It’s one of the most striking plazas in Havana with grandiose Cuban baroque buildings coexisting with art nouveau structures inspired by Gaudi. According to our guide, the square was originally known as Plaza Nueva and was used for military exercises, carnivals and as an open-air market known as Reina Cristina. Today, it’s dotted with restaurants, cafes, bars and beer gardens–a great place to stop on your way through Old Havana.
We then strolled over to Plaza de Armas, the oldest square in Old Havana. It became known as Plaza de Armas in the 16th century, when the colonial governor at the time used this location to take over the garrison of a nearby fortress. The current square, like most of the buildings surrounding it, dates from the late 1700s.
We then headed to Plaza de la Catedral, where The Catedral de San Cristobal (Havana Cathedral) dominates the plaza. The construction of this cathedral was completed in 1777. The Catedral de San Cristobal held the remains of Christopher Columbus from 1796 to 1898. This area of Old Havana has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our last stop on our in-depth walking tour is the National Capitol of Cuba, El Capitolio, one of the most emblematic buildings in Havana. The architectural style of this building is similar to that of Washington D.C. It was completed in 1929, and was financially supported by North America.
Formerly, it was used as headquarters of the Cuban Congress, but since 1959, it has hosted the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the Science and Technology National Library.
The Capitol of Cuba was declared a National Monument in November 2010.
We on a boat!
Varadero is a beachfront peninsula adjacent to a marine sanctuary and archipelago with diving and fishing options. But today, we’re boating it up!
Our day’s speed boat adventure is courtesy of Marinas Marlin Varadero, a nautical company that offers water-based sports and activities. After a quick driving lesson, before we knew it, we were cruising the beautiful blue waters in Varadero through mangroves of the south coast of Varadero through the Chapelin Channel and Cardenas Bay.
After a few minutes of our driver taking me around, he motioned for me to drive. My first time driving a speedboat was a combo of adrenaline and a wee bit of fear but by the end, I didn’t want to stop!
It was a great way to start our day before heading for lunch at Casa Perla, a gorgeous new boutique hotel in Varadero. Nestled on a pristine stretch of beach near the heart of downtown Varadero, this adults only boutique hotel combines the classic architecture of 1940s Cuba with stunning, sweeping beach views.
The hotel features 10 spacious luxury rooms housed in one building. The contemporary Cuban decor lends itself to beautifully designed units in a secluded location and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and surrounding gardens. I could have spent all afternoon on their Balinese pool beds!
Our night ends at a lively show at Cabaret Continental. Lights, colours, singing, dancing, salsa and lively energy demonstrating a part of Cuban culture. Viva Cuba!
We in a Jeep!
The last day of our Cuba trip is jam-packed and fun-filled via a jeep safari excursion with EcoTur SA Travel Agency. This tour company promotes ecological and agrotourism throughout Cuba with sustainable nature-based adventures. First stop: La Botica Francesa de Matanzas, which is reported to be one of the first pharmacies in the world. This historic landmark has been frozen in time with historic tools, machines, books and bottles dedicated to dispensing medicinal remedies centuries ago.
We then head to La Dionisa Coffee Plantation, where we were served a delicious traditional Cuban lunch of soup, veggies and pork dishes. With bellies filled to the brim, we departed to the Yumuri Valley Lookout area, which was a former limestone mining region.
My favourite stop and adventure of the whole trip took place at Cueva de Saturno, Cuba’s cenote! Did you know Cuba had cenotes?! About 10 kilometres outside of the city of Matanzas, this secluded cave provided the perfect spot for an afternoon swim in its fresh waters. Try to go early to avoid the crowds to have this special place to yourself.
And our day of exploration doesn’t end here. Our final spot is visiting Laguna del Tesoro at Guama, a lake and resort accessible only by boat. On the far (east) side of the 92-sq-km body of water is a tourist resort built to resemble a Taino village scattered across about a dozen small islands on Cuba’s largest lake, Treasure Lake. This resort was one of the first works appointed by Fidel Castro after Cuba’s revolution, naming it after a Taíno chief who unsuccessfully led a fight against Cuban colonization.
Another memorable trip to a memorable island, forever frozen in time.
Let’s Go!
How to get to Varadero: Many airlines fly direct to Cuba, but I chose Swoop because it launched super cheap ($159) direct flights to Varadero three times a week to enable travellers to stay in boutique hotels, Airbnbs or private homes. Varadero is also convenient because travellers can choose from a variety of all-inclusive resort options, including family-friendly, budget-friendly, luxurious, and adults-only/couples resort options. You can also fly with Swoop to Cuba with a WestJet Vacations Packages from Toronto to Varadero, Cuba.
Where to stay: You’ll want to stay at a beachfront property in Cuba since its beaches are one of its top selling points. Hotel Melia Varadero offers stunning views of its beachfront, as well as easy access to the beach via a lovely boardwalk. There is an adults-only section for a quiet, romantic stay or a family friendly area complete with all-day activities for kids.
A huge thanks to Swoop Airlines for hosting us on this press trip. As always, reviews and opinions are entirely our own.
No Comments