Cuba

Cuba exudes atmosphere with its sun-bleached white beaches, impressive colonial architecture and infectious Latin rhythms. The giant of the Caribbean, it is almost the same size as England. Once colonised by the Spanish, Cuba now is an intriguing mix of cultures including African and South American.
ENTERTAINMENT
In most cases, much of the focus for evening entertainment will be around the larger hotels, all of which will have bars. Many offer entertainment in the form of cabarets and discos. In Havana there are plenty of atmospheric bars in the centre of the city and in the nearby suburb of Marianao, where world-class musicians and dancers perform for tips. The most important date in the Cuban revolutionary calendar is 26 July. It is a good time to be in Cuba because it coincides with a number of local carnivals.
PLACES TO VISIT
The country's rich cultural past is not found in gloomy museums or on dusty archeological sites but in its central squares that buzz with activity, in its lived-in buildings and giant 1950s American cars, and out in the lush countryside. Many of the crumbling buildings in Old Havana are architectural gems and there are several charming colonial towns, of which Trinidad is perhaps the best example. Nearby, the sugar and coffee plantations in the Valle de los Ingenios are important both historically and economically, and offer scenic delights. All three of these locations have attained UNESCO world recognition and are popular excursions. Although the revolution took place nearly 50 years ago, it is still very much in the hearts and minds of the people and it is easy to take a tour through 'Revolutionary Cuba'. Most of the big resorts offer organised excursions to key sites in the historic struggle.
FOOD & DRINK
Cuban food is a mix of Spanish and Afro-Caribbean cuisine and is rarely spicy. Pork and chicken are the most commonly found meats, along with beef to a lesser extent. Rice, beans, plantains (a kind of savoury banana) and yucca (a fibrous root vegetable) are staples that accompany most meals. Fresh vegetables are hard to find, even at upmarket hotels. Fish and lobster are a large export industry and can be found on the menus of many restaurants.
WALKS & SCENERY
There are miles of open road and lovely countryside on offer in Cuba for keen walkers. The most challenging is a three-day hike over the Sierra Maestra mountain range. This and many of the other longer treks require a guide. Check with a travel agency to see what is available in your area. There are some pretty walks around Trinidad, Vinales and Santiago, which are shorter and do not require a guide.
HISTORY & CULTURE
The Cubans have great respect for their history and are passionate about their culture. It's discovery came in 1492 by Christopher Columbus, while the charismatic, Fidel Castro has been in power since the Revolution in 1959 and is the world's longest serving head of state. Today, Cuba's cultural scene is well-known for it's dance, music, theatre and other fine arts, with events like the International Ballet Festival and the International Jazz Festival taking place each year.