There are few places on earth as magical as Cuba and it would be a struggle to find a more perfect holiday destination. Many who have visited this Caribbean jewel have been so moved by their experiences that, again and again, they’ve been compelled to return. The good news is that package holidays make it easy to visit (and fall in love with) this wonderful country.
Cuba is one of the best fishing destinations in the world, whether you prefer to fish inland or from a boat. Atlantic tarpon can be caught in the rivers, estuaries and marshes, as well as off the coast, making it a popular fish for both freshwater and saltwater anglers. Common snook, living in estuarial waters, are another fish sought after by inland anglers, whilst chartering a boat and fishing the open sea for barracuda is a dream for many marine anglers.
Revolutionary leaders Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara, and writer Ernest Hemingway, were keen sea anglers. On one occasion, they shared a boat and participated in a fishing competition. The former two are national heroes in Cuba and “Che,” whose mausoleum resides in Santa Clara, became an international icon of rebellion. The American Hemingway visited Cuba many times in his life, staying for periods on the island and fishing in the waters around it.
Cuba’s soil and climate is well-suited to the production of sugar cane, as well as tobacco, plants from which Cuba’s most famous products are derived. Different kinds of sugar, from muscovado to castor, are refined from the sugar cane, whilst rum is distilled from a fermented dilution of molasses, a product of sugar refinement. Dark rum is aged in barrels and white rum is a rawer spirit. Cuba’s luxury cigars are made from prime tobacco grown on Cuban plantations.
A number of music and dance styles were developed in Cuba and became famous worldwide, including the Bolero, Cha-cha-cha, Danzón, Mambo and Rumba. The Cuban musical tradition is strongly influenced by African, Spanish, North and South American music and often accompanies dance. Cuba has also embraced ballet, being home to the Ballet Nacional de Cuba which often performs at the magnificent Gran Teatro de La Habana in the nation’s capital.
Carnival, a time for music, energetic dancing, drinking, eating and merriment is an integral part of Cuban culture. The Santiago de Cuba carnival, an annual event which should not be missed if you happen to be in Cuba and staying nearby at the time on a package holiday, is an excellent opportunity to mingle with the locals, sample the national cuisine and dance the night away to infectious rhythms with a glass of rum in your hand.
You’ll have a whale of a time in Cuba. Make the journey and discover something new.
Images by Red Carlisle and Luis.Cuba, used under Creative Commons license
