Havana

Tailor Made Holidays in Cuba

The island of Cuba lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; the main island is 1,200km long with an irregular coastline that offers hundreds of bays and beaches. The largest of all Caribbean Islands is an addictive mixture of lavish Spanish colonial architecture, imposing communist statues and plazas, sublime powder white beaches, teeming coral reefs, densely forested mountains and verdant tropical plantations.

Travelling in Cuba is without doubt an incredible cultural experience and it should be treated as such. Cuba is definitely not a country that should be visited if you are looking for luxury or a trip where everything runs like clockwork. The appeal of Cuba is that it has remained free of western influence and commercialisation. There are no advertising hoardings or fast food restaurants. The countryside is beautiful, the beaches are stunning (although many are dominated by large all inclusive resorts) and most of all the people are wonderful. The colonial architecture, history and music all add further to its appeal culminating in a unique holiday which you will never forget. Anyone visiting with an open mind, a sense of humour and an adventurous spirit will be more than rewarded by what they find.

Cuba's unique and turbulent history weaves a fascinating tale from Spanish colonial rule and the slave trade to Batista's dictatorship and Castro's revolution. This is reflected in its vibrant culture, thriving arts scene and flamboyant music. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba's economy has struggled and this combined with the US embargo are still very much in evidence. Although Cuba's focus is now on tourism to ensure its future prosperity, the country is a law unto itself when it comes to quality of hotels, food, service and transportation. It may be a Caribbean island with the climate, scenery and wonderful beaches to match but the fact remains it is a communist country struggling not only with a crumbling infrastructure and the governmental control over its people and businesses but also the continuing US embargo.

Without doubt all of this adds to the charm of this unique country but it also means that Cuba's ability to maintain service levels and standards is far less reliable than that of other developing countries in the world. Capital investment is restricted and requires approval by the government. The Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods. Even simple items that we take for granted, such as bread, can be hard to come by. The government's control over everything prevents private enterprise and with a strictly enforced regulated wage system gives many of the local people little incentive to be doing a good job. With Raul Castro now in control, change is occurring but progress is slow.

At ICAN Holidays we pride ourselves in the fact that we offer clients what they want - our holidays are all tailor made. Only you know what your ideal holiday should include. Whether you want to concentrate on culture or spend time wildlife watching, sample a city’s hustle and bustle or relax in a secluded beauty spot, ICAN Holidays will assist you discover the joy of designing a unique holiday just for you.

Throughout this website we have provided suggested itineraries for all the regions we visit, and you may wish to base your travels on these. After an initial consultation, one of our Specialists will create a unique itinerary for your holiday, complete with background information, historical notes, colour pictures, etc. We will not begin to book your holiday until you are completely satisfied with it.

Because our Specialists regularly travel to the regions you will be visiting, they can offer invaluable advice and suggestions for things to see and do while you are there and you can be confident that your unique itinerary has been created by someone who has extensive first-hand knowledge of the places and accommodation it contains.

Cuba has a warm and tropical climate with two distinct seasons.

The best time to visit is from December to May when you will have dry sunny days. From June to November Cuba can be hot, humid and wet. During the winter months of December and January daytime temperatures can drop below 20 degrees centigrade whilst in the summer months of July and August temperatures soar, especially in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

The hurricane season begins in June and in some years can continue through to November.

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All our holidays are unique travel experiences, and therefore tailor-made to suit individual requirements. We do not publish prices on our website as they can vary enormously for tailor-made travel. In some instances we do promote holidays that are part of our "Classic" series and these will include approximate pricing.

Prices are generally for private arrangements and are per person using economy class flights based on two people travelling together and sharing a room.

There are a number of factors which will influence the price of your travel arrangements, these include the standard of hotel (we offer a variety of standards from ‘three star’ to the super-luxurious), the season, the duration of your trip, the class of flights and the airline used, the level of private guiding and the complexity of the itinerary. Our specialists will be delighted to discuss the various options in more detail with you.

ICAN Guides Cuba

ICAN Itineraries Cuba

Classic Cuba ~ 8 Days / 7 Nights

Havana

Written by Travel Correspondent

Wednesday, 17 December 2008 06:00

Havana

havana-05 Havana, officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city is one of the 14 Cuban provinces. The city/province has 2.1 million inhabitants, and the urban area over 3.5 million, making Havana the largest city in both Cuba and the Caribbean region.

Havana’s streets are filled with countless vintage cars and there are no advertisements, apart from political exhortations giving Cuba’s capital a wonderful air of nostalgia. Wars and revolution have done little to damage its heritage making it one of the finest examples of a Spanish colonial city anywhere in the Americas. Many of the city’s lavish palaces have been converted into museums, such as the Museo de la Revolución, housed in the former Presidential Palace. Combine all this with the vibrant music, the arts scene and the resourceful, outgoing and enigmatic habaneros and it is easy to see why people return time and again to this intensely romantic, beautiful and intoxicating city.

Havana was originally founded in 1519 and prospered from the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Peru, as an important stopping off point for looted treasures bound for Spain. It quickly became the most important port in the region and its wealth built from trade in sugar, rum, tobacco and coffee is beautifully reflected in its magnificent architecture, plazas and monuments. It’s a fabulous place to wander through the streets, sitting in restaurants and outdoor cafes soaking up the atmosphere. The museums are excellent but it is well worth while making time to visit a few of Hemingway’s old haunts, a cigar factory and the craft markets.

Last Updated on Saturday, 12 September 2009 17:34

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