{"id":30463,"date":"2022-11-01T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=30463"},"modified":"2024-09-18T15:09:30","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T05:09:30","slug":"cuba-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/cuba-travel-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things you’ll only know if you’ve travelled in Cuba"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are some things you’ll only know if you’ve been to a place\u00a0\u2013 reading about it just doesn’t do the trick.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Especially when the country in question is as magnificently unique as Cuba.<\/p>\n

After my Intrepid trip<\/a> <\/strong>there, I’ve concluded that there’s 10 things you can only know from being in Cuba and experiencing its magic for yourself. Here they are:<\/p>\n

10. The joys of switching off from technology<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s hard to explain what a shock to the system it is being sans wifi. In today\u2019s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, there are so few places where we can be truly present. Most places in Cuba fit this bill, though.<\/p>\n

Approach your trip with the right attitude and you\u2019ll be surprised and delighted by how good disconnected travels are for the soul. After the slight withdrawal symptoms settle down, that is.<\/p>\n

9. The atmosphere and architecture of Cuban cities is unparalleled<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Cuba<\/a>

Havana will leave you breathless<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2026Have you seen a Cuban city?! Pictures simply don\u2019t do their beauty justice. Whether you\u2019re an architecture lover or an avid Instagrammer, there\u2019s simply nothing as atmospheric as Havana\u2019s charming streets and Trinidad\u2019s colourful treats.<\/p>\n

Top tip: if you\u2019re in the market for an underrated Cuban gem, head to Cienfuegos. The city ended up being an unexpected highlight of my trip. As well-kept as it is majestic, it\u2019s quite the delight to wander through.<\/p>\n

8. Food variety is something to be treasured<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s fair to say that Cuba isn\u2019t known for its food scene. But you can\u2019t change what the political situation \u2013 and its subsequent importing rules, or lack thereof \u2013 dictate. What you can do, however, is make peace with the fact that quite a lot of your meals will be made up of rice, beans and a protein.<\/p>\n

\"Cuba<\/a>

Fresh fruit in Santa Clara<\/p><\/div>\n

That said, the food in Cuba is incredibly local and fresh. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the majority of meals I had there \u2013 namely the organic farm of Finca Agroecologica El Paraiso\u00a0in Vinales, the seafood pretty much everywhere, and my fave discovery \u2013 fried plantains.<\/p>\n

7. There\u2019s no such thing as too much rum<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t love the food? No problem. If you\u2019ve been to Cuba, you\u2019ll know just how synonymous rum is with daily life. Lap it up, enjoy that it\u2019s freely poured (no stingy shot glasses like in the West!), and feel free to drink it at lunch, as well as dinner.<\/p>\n

After all, isn\u2019t that what vacation are for?<\/p>\n

6. Havana good time is not hard to do<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Cuba<\/a><\/strong>Now this point might \u2013 in part \u2013 be thanks to the above rum-related one. But, really, the energy all over this special island is infectious. Leave any apprehensions and awkwardness at the door and join the party.<\/p>\n

5. If you\u2019re not clubbing in a cave, you\u2019re not doing it right <\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you want to really experience Cuba, let the rum course through your veins and lead you to one of the best parties could hope to encounter: a club in a cave. Yes, that\u2019s right. It\u2019s a can\u2019t-miss in Trinidad, and it makes for a sweaty delight of a night.<\/p>\n

4. You\u2019ll never be as rhythmic (or charming) as a local<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Cuba<\/a>

Musicians in Havana<\/p><\/div>\n

You might need a drink (or three) to get you onto the dance-floor. Cubans sure don\u2019t. And if there\u2019s one thing you\u2019ll find out nearly immediately, it\u2019s that they\u2019re better dancers than you are.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t believe me? Visit aforementioned cave club and see.<\/p>\n

3. Casa Particulares are the most special type of accommodation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Let me tell you that no hotel in Cuba will match the authentic vibes served up by a Casa Particular.<\/p>\n

These locally-run private homestays are one of the easiest, most rewarding ways of interacting with locals in Cuba. And it doesn\u2019t even matter if you don\u2019t speak a lick of Spanish \u2013 the parent-like warmth and ready smiles you\u2019ll be greeted with don\u2019t require a common language.<\/p>\n

\"Cuba<\/a>

Smiles all round for local accommodation<\/p><\/div>\n

2. The ability to go with the flow is a skill and a necessity <\/strong><\/h3>\n

By this point in reading \u2013 and if you\u2019ve travelled to Cuba \u2013 you\u2019ll likely realise that it really is different from any country on Earth. And its charm is in the fact it doesn\u2019t play by the rules. But sometimes this means that things don\u2019t quite go as expected. Whether it\u2019s hot water not working, unexpected museum closures, random roadblocks or more, it’s vital you go with the flow here.<\/p>\n

Cuba teaches you that it\u2019s not just about the destination, it\u2019s about the journey. And what a memorable journey it is.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: WHAT CUBA TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

1. There\u2019s no country more beautiful, nor people more warm<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Cuba<\/a>

Otherworldly views of Vinales<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaking of memorable, it\u2019s likely that the nature here is not something you\u2019ll forget. It might be hard to tear yourself away from the iconic cars and pastel streets, but it\u2019s worth doing. Because from the karst mountains of Vinales to the waterfalls near Trinidad, to say this country is easy on the eye is an understatement.<\/p>\n

But, like with anywhere you go, it\u2019s the people that make the place. And if you\u2019ve travelled to Cuba, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s the Cuban locals’ generosity and resilience that\u2019ll keep you coming back for more.<\/p>\n

Ready to experience a country unlike any other? Check out Intrepid’s amazing range of small group trips in Cuba.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After my Intrepid trip there, I’ve concluded that there’s 10 things you can only know from being in Cuba and experiencing its magic for yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15888,"featured_media":30469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455],"tags":[79,456],"class_list":["post-30463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","tag-cuba","tag-intrepid-trip","ipf_region-cuba"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Cuba Travel Tips To Know Before You Go | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After my Intrepid trip to Cuba, I've concluded that there's 10 things in particular that you can only know from being there and experiencing its magic for yourself. 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