Weather

Cuba's climate is one of the reasons why it's so popular with vacation goers. Cuba's climate is mild, subtropical. Because it's so close to the Tropic of Cancer, Cuba enjoys refreshing trade winds and marine breezes that are sure to delight any vacationer.

Cuba's average temperature fluctuates throughout the year, but it's generally in the twenty to thirty five Celsius ranges, which is perfect if you want to enjoy the beaches. If you're a water lover, you'll be very happy to know that Cuba's average water temperature is twenty five degrees Celsius.

However, travellers should beware when visiting Cuba between June and the end of November because of the hurricane season. Cuba doesn't have hurricanes every year, but the chance does exist if you're visiting during the hurricane season, that you'll have to endure some severe weather.

Visa, Immigration, Customs

Entering Cuba isn't very difficult. You will need a valid passport and a tourist card or Visa, which is issued on a separate piece of paper. Your tourist card will allow you to stay a maximum of thirty days, at which time you would have to apply for another Visa if you wanted to stay.

The tourist card or Visa is only valid for recreational and leisure purposes, and nothing else. If you're travelling from the United States, you should know that Cuban immigration officers do not stamp your passport.

Festivals

Cuba is a mix of Caribbean and Spanish culture, which makes for some unique festival opportunities. In fact, it can be said that Cubans know how to throw one heck of a party!

There are a number of festivals that take place in Cuba throughout the year, but some of them are definitely worth having a closer look at. More than one vacationer plans their holidays around one of the festivals mentioned below.

International Jazz Festival: Cuba's International Jazz Festival takes place every February in Havana. If you enjoy Jazz music, this festival is the one for you. You can visit any number of nightclubs and theatres in Havana and enjoy some of the best Jazz musicians on the planet.

Cuban Carnivals: There are two carnivals that take place in Cuba in July. There is one in Havana and one in Santiago de Cuba. Both are huge events, with street dancing, games, Congo lines, music and traditional Cuban food.

Las Parrandas de Remedios: For nearly 200 years, Cubans have celebrated Las Parrandas de Remedios on December 24th of each year. The local legend goes that a priest in the 19th century told his parishioners to go out into the streets and make as much noise as possible in order to drive people to the church. The parishioners supposedly took this as a cue to party.

Every year since, the local neighbourhoods go head to head in a float making competition. Once the floats are completed, the locals parade them down the street and shoot off fireworks.

Transportation

Cuba has a very good transportation system that is comprised of roads, both paved and unpaved, as well as railways, buses, airports, ports and harbours. If you plan on visiting Cuba, you will definitely not have a problem getting around.

Cuba has two main bus lines that offer both long distance travel and short intercity travel. You can rent a car once you're in Cuba for a reasonable rate, or take a cross-Cuba railcar ride. If you'd like to visit one of Cuba's neighbouring islands, you can visit one of Cuba's seven ports and take a boat.

Health and Medical

According to the World Health Organization, there is one doctor for every 170 Cuban residents. This is the second highest patient to doctor ratio in the world.

On top of this, Cuba operates a number of hospitals that cater to international visitors. In fact, many Americans, Canadians, Latin Americans and Europeans have gone to Cuba just to have medical care.

Compared to other countries, the doctors of Cuba get paid very little. This has lead to Cuban doctors leaving the country to practice medicine. There is adequate health care in Cuba for foreign visitors and vacationers, but the public hospitals that cater to the native Cubans are often underfunded and inadequately supplied.

What to wear in Cuba

It's best to dress light in Cuba, since the weather is subtropical for the majority of the year. Clothing made out of cotton is ideal because it allows your skin to breathe, but there is certainly nothing wrong with jeans and a t-shirt either, unless you're planning on visiting during the month of August, which is usually much more hot and humid than other months.

You should strongly consider leaving your expensive jewellery at home. Also, many of the paths are uneven in and around Cuba, and high heeled shoes will make it harder to get around.

It's a good idea to bring some casual wear and sandals to the resorts in Cuba. A lot of people enjoy dressing up while visiting one of the many restaurants found in and around the resorts.

Money Conversion

Cuba has two currencies; The Cuban Convertible Peso is used by tourists and the Cuban peso is used by the Cuban natives. When exchanging currency, it is easier for tourists to convert their dollar into the Cuban Convertible Peso or CUC for short.

The CUC exchange rate is on par with the American dollar. However, you will be charged an 11% fee for conversion; 8% by the government and 3% by the banks.

Attractions

Whether you enjoy architecture, parks, beaches or historic museums, Cuba has a lot to offer the average traveller. Below you'll find a brief description of some of the main attractions that can be found in Cuba.

Playas Del Este: Twenty five minutes away from Havana you'll find six miles of beaches. There are a few tourist hotels lining the beach, but during the weekends, many of the locals enjoy this local hotspot.

Museum of the City:The former presidential palace was built in 1791, but now houses many of the islands museum collections. There are a myriad of exhibits within the Museum of the City, including art collections, weapon collections, various flags, archaeology and folklore. You can also learn about the history of Havana by having a look at the exhibits that deal with this topic.

Montemar Natural Park:The Montemar National park is located about seventy five miles from Havana. It is one of the largest marshes in the Caribbean and is home to one hundred and sixty types of bird and over nine hundred different types of plants. You can also find crocodiles there and a small reservoir that holds golden trout. You can also go scuba diving there, walk one of the nature trails or visit one of the restaurants found within this premier park. If you enjoy the outdoors, this is definitely the attraction you want to see the most.

Morro Castle: Morro Castle was built in 1640, but was rebuilt in 1664, after a pirate attack reduced it to rubble. Inside you can find a museum that is dedicated to piracy. The castle is enormous, full of dark, twisting stairways and dank dungeons. It's an interesting place to spend an afternoon.

Habana Vieja: Twenty five minutes away from Havana you'll find six miles of beaches. There are a few tourist hotels lining the beach, but during the weekends, many of the locals enjoy this local hotspot.

Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás: Enjoy a ninety minute guided tour through Cuba's largest cave system, which spans more than twenty nine miles. Inside you will find underground lakes, stalagmites and caverns.