Havana – 10 Must Do’s

Cuba is the largest island in the Carribean with it’s interior is dotted with mountains, tobacco fields and the coasts are sugary white. There’s a lot do, see and experience for the lover of nature and anyone looking to experience a culture like no other place on the planet. But, the most color you will find is in the capitol city of Havana. It’s here that I spent 5 days and 4 nights. I explored the music-loving, classic car filled city and even made it to a nearby beach. Below is my list of the Top 10 Must Do’s. This is not all that Havana has to offer but are the experiences I found most interesting, photogenic and fun!

Close your eyes and try to picture Havana without classic cars. You can’t! The city is known for it’its wondrous collection of still driveable American cars from the 1950’s – pre-revolution and the ousting of Miami gangsters! Due to embargos placed on the nation by the U.S., Cuba’s inability to buy affordable cars from other parts of the world created the necessity for these American Classics to stay in good working order.

The cars are everywhere you look! So, this Top To Do is easy to take off the bucket list! There are two ways of hiring a car, you can flag one down or book a tour in a classic convertible for the duration of your choice. I chose a two-hour tour and paid 70 CUC (tourist currency and equal to approximately 75 USD) for two people and 35 CUC for one hour for me and my inflatable unicorn without any commentary. Both were delightful and made for great pictures but after the tour concluded I had to do reading on my own to understand all that my guide said in Spanish.

Upsides:

It’s a fun, novel way of seeing the city and getting some sun while you explore Havana or it’s nearby towns. Great for photos and the guides will take you wherever you want to go. I recommend taking a ride your first day in Havana with a map in hand to get an understanding of the lay of the land.

Downsides:

The cars are old so the seats are covered in hot plastic which causes sweating. Another thing, the exhaust is horrible and you are definitely not going to smell lily fresh once you wave your driver “adios”! Even though Cubans have been working with English-speaking tourist (mainly Canadians for years) the majority are not fluent in English and their tour will not be as heavy on facts as you may have received in other countries.

Rum is the drink of choice in Cuba… practically the only choice! This sugar-based alcohol has been produced in Cuba for over four centuries and they’ve become experts at making some of the world’s finest. While in sugar-land I chose to indulge in the history and taste of this syrupy sipper at Bocoy Rum Museum.

When I arrived, the town experienced a black-out so my tour was shortened to a tasting of the flavored rums made by Bocoy. I was amazed by the flavors: Plantain, Mint, Cocoa, Cafe! All delicious but closer to an aperitif than a full drink!

When I return to Cuba, I will tour the Havana Club Museum – this is the most popular rum of the country – and visit the facade of the former headquarters of Bacardi (now made and legally operated in Puerto Rico).

Equally famous to the classic cars are the Cuban cigars! Known for their high quality and high price tag – even in Cuba! To truly understand their price tag you must get up close and personal to the artists themselves. In Havana, there are five factories you can visit. I chose to tour Partagas which manufactures over 25,000 cigars per day for their brand and the famous Cohiba – Castro’s favorite when he was a smoker.

Upon arrival, I was asked for my ticket. Oops! I didn’t buy one from a hotel and assumed I could just buy one on sight. Wrong! However, Tamara, the woman who would be my guide, had one of the taxi drivers waiting outside drive to a nearby hotel and purchase one for me. He charged 5 CUC for the service and I was able to join the tour.

I arrived late in the day and made it onto the last tour with Tamara, we started on the base floor looking at images of the plants in fields and being told which brands are manufactured within the factory. Next, we climbed a steep set of stairs to the rolling area. On the top floor the workers, mainly young men, were divided into work zones based on their skill level. The trainees are together for 9 months before they are moved across the walkway to the professional area. The professional area had at least 100 people working side by side. Perfectly rolling the three leaves from different parts of the plant into a perfect cylinder. Next, the cylinders are inspected and once approved taken across the hall to the women who are pros. These pros add the outside leaf that you see when holding the cigar. They carefully use a paste of flour and water to adhere the leaf to the tobacco log. Lastly, the cigars are taken one floor lower to be labeled and packaged by 25 women who are considered masters. Each woman is required to label an average of 2,300 cigars each day.

The average employee makes 10 CUC per month, is given several 15-minute breaks during their workday, is entertained with literature or a speaker for one hour each day and are granted free cigars. These are typically the cigars that you’ll have sold to you on the streets. They are the cigars that aren’t perfectly shaped but still smoke very nicely.

The buildings in Havana may be empty but the streets and parks are filled with action! From Son musicians to taxi drivers, men promoting restaurants and tourists capturing images at every corner, Havana has it all! Art galleries, musicians, rooftop restaurants, cafes operated out of private homes, and gorgeous Spanish-colonial buildings with chipping paint, Havana is a photographer’s dream!

I recommend walking along the coastal drive, Malecon, to see lovers in an embrace around sunset and venture into the Capitol Region via El Prado. Havana Viejo is best explored during the day do you don’t miss any detail.

Safety: Havana has extremely low crime rates and as a solo female traveler I never felt endangered even whilst walking through the back streets after  1  am.

Many Cubans will come up to you as you stroll about. They will ask:  “Do you speak Spanish?” and “Where you are from?”.  If you choose to answer them be prepared for them to later try to get you to eat at a particular restaurant, see a show or give them money for information. Some people were genuinely interested in my story but 90% of the time they were looking to guide me towards a purchase somewhere. If you don’t like this type of attention, simply respond in a polite way that you are not interested in talking or don’t need any assistance.

There are a plethora of rooftops to sip a drink, listen to a band, enjoy a meal or take a dip! I averaged one rooftop a day while in Havana but the two below were my favorites! You don’t have to be a guest at the hotels to enjoy the rooftop pools and views of the expansive city of Havana! So, hit the “P” (piscina or pool) button and go on up!

One of the best things about Cuba is the food. It’s a blend of African, Spanish and Taino cooking methods, spices from all over the world and is heavy on meat and starch! The rumors are true, Cubans eat a lot of beans and rice but they are DELICIOUS!  I typically eat a paleo-friendly diet but all bets were off when I visited Cuba. I wanted to taste it all! When it comes to food, there is no argument against the old phrase “it’s a matter of taste”. But these four treats were delectable and should not be missed when you visit Cuba!

So, when it comes to food, there is no argument against the old phrase “it’s a matter of taste” but these four treats were delectable and should not be missed when you visit Cuba! Enjoy the classics and some of the fancy, fare being created at top restaurants!

Prior to visiting Cuba I had sipped a few Cuba Libres (known in Ohio as “Rum & Coke”), enjoyed the refreshing coolness of a daiquiri and slung back Mojitos on a warm summer’s day.  In all that drinking time, I failed to be told or learn that it was one man, Mr. Hernest Hemingway, who popularized a few of these drinks while calling Cuba home! When I started planning my visit, drinking these favorite beverages of the famed author flew to the top of my  To Do’s.

The nearest beach to Havana is approximately 30 km away and called Santa Maria! It’s gorgeous, with soft sand white sand (just a few chicken bones mixed with shells), dotted with restaurants and accessible via taxi or public bus.

A hired taxi costs between 15-20 CUC one way from Havana central! Your driver may suggest he wait for you to finish at the beach and drive you back but this is not necessary. Simply walk to the roadside and wait for a car to come past. Or, you can pay 5 CUC for a round-trip ride on the public bus. You may only purchase the ticket in Havana at Parque Central and can’t buy one from the driver for just a return trip to the city.

Once you arrive,  set up your towel wherever you’d like or rent a chair for 5 CUC. There are restaurants dotted along the beach serving up Cuban fare and drinks. I ordered a lobster lunch with rice, plantain chips, fruit & salad with a mojito for 17 CUC.

Just like the cars and buildings, Havana’s handicrafts and souvenirs are vibrant, playful and easily found! My favorite trinkets came from strolling around the city and wandering into random shops. Some were even purchased at the airport as last minute ways to spend my pesos.

If your time is limited go directly to Palacio de la Artesania for a one-stop shop for inexpensive leather bags, maracas, cigars, artwork, drums, and more!  For the book lover, meander into Plaza De Armas Secondhand Bookstore for literary gems!

Old Havana is filled with unique shops of local artistic expression and many times you’ll be buying directly from the artist.

I lusted over the thrill it would be to ride in a CoCo taxi for the first two days in Havana. With little persuasion needed, I convinced my travel partner to hop in one of these auto-rickshaws for a buzz about the city! It was a thrill to ride around in the little coconut and cheaper than a regular taxi! The nut on wheels is noisy and tiny but has three seats for passengers. The easiest place to hail one is at Floridita and El Prado!

Tip: They are on a meter so no negotiations needed.