Information about Cuba, the Island, it’s people, history, music and secrets. You can discover all in the next pages.

Cuba, the “Pearl of the Antilles,” is the largest and from the traveler’s perspective the least commercialized Caribbean country. It beckons the jaded traveler with its picturesque colonial towns, intriguing Afro-Cuban culture, rousing revolutionary monuments, almost 300 unblemished beaches, enchanting countryside, and potent rum – even the beer is excellent. Activities such as scuba diving, yachting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching can be easily arranged through our website. The Cuban people are sincerely friendly, and U.S. citizens receive the same warm welcome that Cubans extend to all their guests.

For four centuries Cuba was the main gateway to Spain’s vast American empire, and cities such as Havana, Matanzas, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Camaguey, Bayamo, Baracoa, and Santiago de Cuba stand as sentinels to bygone colonial glory.

Havana, with 2,100,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Caribbean. Founded on its present site in 1519, it is one of the oldest cities in the Americas. The Spanish built a protective chain of solid stone fortresses to keep out pirates and their European enemies, and these outposts still guard picturesque Old Havana, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site whose charm is truly captivating.

The richness of Cuba’s culture is well reflected in its many museums, several dozen of which are in Havana. The capital is a world-class artistic center with numerous galleries, theaters and literary centers gracing the quaint colonial streets and squares. And Cuba truly is a musical watershed where the rumba, mambo, chachacha, son, and salsa all originated. Moreover, its unspoiled landscape extends well beyond the magnificent coastal beaches and pristine reefs to verdant valleys and rugged mountains.

For the individual traveler Cuba is a fascinating smorgasbord of nonstop discovery and experience. It is a surprisingly easy country to visit: one can rent a car or board a train or bus and go anywhere. No special rules or regulations hamper tourists. This is one of the last truly unspoiled countries in the world, free of the surly locals and drug trade present on some other Caribbean islands. The hotels are numerous and prices vary from inexpensive to five-star luxury. Visitors can also stay in private homes. For the tourist who wants only a week or two in the sun, Cuba provides various smart resorts, plus glimpses of history in the making.

The Cuban Environment

The Republic of Cuba, with a population of 11 million, is the largest of the Antilles, separating the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico in the north, from the Caribbean Sea to the south.  It is  1250 km (775 miles)  from east to west and 40 km to 160 km (24 to 96 miles) from north to south.  The country consists of more than 4000 islands and keys, nearly 6000 kilometers (3600 miles) of palm and mangrove-lined coastline, almost 300 natural beaches, three major mountain ranges with numerous connecting ranges, rainforests, and broad, rich and verdant, fertile plains and valleys dotted with tall, stately palms.  The climate is moderately sub-tropical with an average temperature of 24.6 C (76.3 F), in summer 25 C (77 F) and in winter 22 C (71.6 F).

The island is completely surrounded by thousands of kilometers of coral reefs containing the most diverse variety of corals, fish and other marine life to be found anywhere, with steep walls dropping from reefs to the abyss.

More than 150 species of Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean fish abound in Cuban waters, from the majestic marlin, swordfish and sailfish, to bonefish, tarpon, snook and permit on flats and in estuaries, to snapper and grouper on the reefs.  Tuna, cobia, mackerel, seatrout, jack and barracuda also abound.

For the freshwater angler, we offer large-mouth bass fishing “as good as it gets” anywhere in the world, along with other species, at more than a dozen lakes and reservoirs.

More than 20 systems of caves and caverns can be explored throughout the island, some with rivers or underwater caves connecting with the sea, many with ancient indigenous pictographs, and all with their unique living species.

For the hunter, Cuba offers more than a dozen sites for hunting duck, quail, dove, pigeon, pheasant, guinea fowl, wild boar, deer, wild bull and antelope, all according to the season.

One of the world¥s most conservation and ecology-oriented countries, Cuba offers a dozen national parks, on land and sea, covering tens of thousands of hectares, plus numerous biosphere reserves, natural parks and protected natural landscapes.  Cuban flora includes more than 6,300 varieties, 51% of which are endemic, and as for fauna: 54 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 106 reptiles, 42 amphibians, 1,400 mollusks, 15,000 insects and 1,440 arachnids.

In sum, Cuba offers the visitor one of the world¥s most interesting and varied nature preserves in its latitudes, year-round, and with comfortable accommodations to fit every budget. Cuba, by the way, is largely free of illicit drugs, practically crime-free, and the streets and hotels are as safe as you will find anywhere. Visitors find no fear walking the streets at any time of day or night.  And something more:  you will never find a more highly educated, polite, hospitable, and affectionate people, or a more relaxed environment.  We feel certain you will want to come back for more!

Where and What to Do

Cuba is rich with sites and activities for tourists. From sun-drenched beaches, luxurious hotels, and elegant colonial architecture to universities, sports activities and natural beauty, Cuba is full of places to go and sites to see that are unparalleled any other place in the world. Feel free to peruse our site, take a look at the guides we list and come visit the island. CubaLinda.com focuses on all aspects of travel to Cuba with specific emphasis on inter-active experiences including beach resorts, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, fishing, golf, mountain climbing, historical tours, and health resorts and spas. See the Activities section of our site for a comprehensive list that eventually will total some 400 different points of offer all over the island.

Public Transportation

Public transportation in Cuba, especially city buses, can be difficult. However, taxis, inter-city buses, trains, boats and domestic airlines are accessible. CubaLinda.com can make reservations for you through our site or after your arrival.

Health Conditions

Cuba has without argument the best national healthcare system in Latin America, and one of the best in the world. Cubans make no payments for treatment or drugs. X % of the population is in the Family Doctor program wherein they have an easily accessible personal physician in normal conditions. Travel to Cuba requires no particular immunizations, and usually, the worse one can expect is a rare brief diarrhea from the change of environment, food, and water. However, expert care is available for any contingency.

Safety in the Streets

Travel throughout Cuba is devoid of the familiar street dangers encountered in other countries. Travelers and Cubans alike walk through streets day and night without having to pay much concern to delinquency. Purse snatching and mugging are not unknown but are rare in the extreme and no problem for anyone with minimal street smarts. Few travelers to Cuba experience more than the nuisance of an occasional peddler of Cuban artifacts or a young hustler wanting to be your guide.