Travel Guide

The Republic of Cuba lies in the Caribbean islands and has a tropical climate. This is nicely mediated by the ocean breezes which tend to sweep across the island.

As a holiday destination, Cuba is vibrant, fun and has a smorgasbord of things to do. The capital Havana has a great party district in Vedado, and sometimes plays host to celebrities wanting to relax in their time off. Hit the streets here and you will be able to watch the processions of the carnival in a true Caribbean style, along the Malecon. Go to the Tropicana bar in the capital to see the place where Carmen Miranda once performed, and enjoy a tipple in the open-air bar whilst watching some cabaret. Make sure you immerse yourself fully in the Cuban lifestyle whilst you are here and also learn about the country’s past. The Museo de la Revolución tells all about the revolution that took place, so you can make sure you appreciate just what you are seeing today. Finish a day in the capital with a look around the Plaza Vieja, which has many boutiques and museums, which are a far cry from the days that bull fighting was the town’s main entertainment there. If you are staying in Havana, make sure that you escape for a day to the closest fabulous beaches at Playa del Este, which has six kilometres of the legendary Caribbean sands and sparkling waters, complete with palm trees.

To really embrace the Cuban lifestyle though, you need to make sure you soak up the culture and take advantage of the music and life that is all through the island. Santiago de Cuba is the opposite end of the island to Havana, yet is the second largest city and a real place to see. The best musicians and dancers are in this area, and put on great Afro-Cuban performances all over the city every night. In the day you can look at some UNESCO World Heritage sites around the area, such as the citadel of San Pedro de la Roca and the Baconao Park.

To see some good views you should be prepared to travel a little. Try climbing Torre de Manaca Iznaga which is a watchtower with a lovely restaurant by it- this will give you views of the Valley of the Sugar Mills, where there used to be over 50 sugar mills, a real heritage of Cuba. The Sierra Maestra which is in the Oriente, or the Zapata Peninsula should definitely be hiked too in order to see great views and lots of local wildlife such as tropical birds and reptiles.

All about enjoying life, you should enjoy the variety of Cuba and make the most of the climate. Try the Varadero resort if you want beaches and lots of partying into the night, but make sure you take excursions to take advantage of things such as the local reef diving from Cayo Coco, which is one of the world’s largest reefs and a breathtaking site.

Happy Holidays!

The Hemingway Marina is located at 23° 5.35′ N and 82° 30.5′ W, to the west of Havana City in the neighbourhood of Jaimanitas. This marina is ideal for ships of medium size; and it can harbour up to 400 ships of 70 meters in maximum length, with a maximum depth of 4.30 meters. The Hemingway Marina uses the radio frequencies 72 and 16 in VHF.

Operated by the group Cubanacán S.A., this center has the conditions to assimilate in its four channels up to 400 vessels and even facilitate up to 200 of those ships the ultimate conditions for the onboard modality, providing the basic services, such as drinking water, electricity, gas, communications, cable TV and a nautical workshop able to take on all types of vessel repairs.

Among the novelties of the Marina, there is the stay of the so-called mega yachts, vessels of a greater size than the common ships and of a luxury oriented to the maximum comfort of its occupants; such stay being considered by many people as a sign of the acceptance of this facility in the world.

Hemingway Marina is the flagship in the field of the nautical activities and is also the organizer of very important international events, among which appear regattas and fishing tournaments. Among the latter the most well known is the Hemingway Tournament, dedicated to the catching of marlins; an event that increases in foreign participation each year. Another two interesting contests on the agenda are the Blue Marlin- due in September- and the Wahoo in November. This center has also been included as a base for technical scales in the voyages of some international regattas.

The Hemingway Marina complex has shopping malls, a Cohiba (Cigar) House, medical services, naval hardware shops, Cybercafés, drugstores and transportation around the facilities. For those who decide to stay, there are hotels, such as the Aquarius Hotel and the Hemingway Marina Hotel, offering single and double rooms, houses and bungalows.

The complex also has a network of restaurants with cuisine ranging from Cuban and international food in Palmares Restaurant to Spanish flavours in Fiesta Bar, to Italian (Pizza Nova) to the Papa’s, specialized in seafood. It is a quiet place, very safe and with lots of privacy; ideal for sea lovers that desire to travel to Havana City.