Havana
Havana is one of the
7 Wonder Cities of the World. Arriving by sea to the magnificent Port of Havana is a once in a lifetime experience as you pass the iconic lighthouse and Spanish fortress that has guarded the greatest port in the Caribbean for five hundred years. Marina Hemingway, in the western part of the city is also an option for entry and home to the Hemingway International Billfish Tournament. Havana is steeped in history and culture; has a booming nightlife and surprising culinary movement and is also a mecca for sport fisherman, scuba divers, sailors and adventurous travelers from all over the world. Visit Ernest Hemingway’s favorite haunts; contemporary artist studios; explore five centuries of architecture and history; sip mojitos while rocking to the rhythm that emanates from the very soul of the city. Havana is as unforgettable as her people with beauty and excitement beyond the imagination.
Varadero
The province of Matanzas is home to Varadero, Cuba’s most famous beach resort destination. Varadero sits at the end of the long Hicacos Peninsula where at its very tip is the newest and most impressive state of the art marina in the country, Marina Gaviota Varadero, with access to hundreds of great dive spots; fishing; exploring the near islands of Jardines del Rey archipelago or relaxing on endless miles of white sand beach. Day trips from the marina can include a day on anchor at Cayo Blanco, with all the toys the boat offers and tendering to shore; or a drive to the nearby freshwater caves and a visit to the city of Matanzas, known as the Venice of Cuba for the 17 bridges that cross the three rivers traversing the city. The Hicacos Peninsula that extends between the city of Matanzas and Varadero is also home to stalagmite and stalactite caves with vestiges of prehistoric man.
Maria La Gorda International Dive Center
At the furthest end of Cuba’s westernmost province, Pinar del Rio, you’ll find Maria La Gorda International Dive Center named for an indigenous Venezuelan woman who was abducted by pirates and left on Cuban soil. Since Jacques Couteau first brought international attention to the pristine, spectacular reefs, the area has offered some of the best scuba diving adventures in the Caribbean. Maria La Gorda sits at the far end of the protected Guanahacabibes Peninsula that begins just west of the area where Cuba’s richest and most valuable natural resource grows – tobacco. The Viñales Valley where the “mogotes” or limestone mounds date back to the Jurassic era and are complete with navigable underwater rivers is an UNESCO World Nature Site dating back to the Jurassic era.
Canarreos Archipelago
The first and largest island in the Canarreos Archipelago, Isla de La Juventud, offers some of the best scuba diving in the Americas. It is home Punta Frances National Park that covers nearly half the island and ends in white sand beaches, protected nature, pristine bottoms and over 250 ancient drawings made by the native population prior to the discovery of the island by Europeans in the 15th century. This was a favorite pirate haunt and was ruled by renegades, buccaneers and adventurers. The archipelago extends eastward and contains over 300 emerald islets that are uninhabited, teaming with life and waiting for your expedition to launch the tender and toys to their shores. Finally, Cayo Largo del Sur will welcome you to its lovely marina and dive center and one of the most important Sea Turtle reproduction centers and sanctuaries in the world. Cayo Largo del Sur is home to Playa Paraiso, consistently named among the top three beaches in the world by travel experts.
Cienfuegos
The city named for its province, Cienfuegos, is a living museum of French Neoclassical architecture. It’s majestic bay with the Escambray mountains in the backdrop offer one of the mot beautiful and dramatic settings to be on anchor. You can tender to the marina or out of the bay and around to the Faro Luna Dive Center where a diving expedition can turn into a swim with dolphins adventure in their natural habitat. Founded by the Spaniards, but soon taken over by the French, Cienfuegos has a rich and fascinating history and is known for the high level of hygiene and cleanliness that was introduced centuries ago by its founders. Not far away is the Cienega de Zapata, a rich and vibrant wetland where bird watching, fly fishing, exploring are just some of the adventures that await.
Trinidad
The town of Trinidad is the heart of the beautiful province of Sancti Spiritu in the center of the island. Sancti Spiritu is home to more UNESCO World Heritage sites than most countries. The entire historic city of Trinidad is one of them and is frozen in time between the 16th and 18th centuries. Situated on the south coast of Cuba, Trinidad is a bit over 30 nautical miles from Cienfuegos and the yacht will sit on anchor off the Ancon Peninsula, home to one of the country’s most beautiful mainland beaches, Playa Ancon. The sugar industry made this the wealthiest city in Cuba during the raw and exciting era of land barons, pirates and buccaneers. The palazzos of the sugar barons still stand and are either maintained or restored to their original form. Just a short drive away are two other UNESCO sites, The Valley of the Sugarmills and Topes de Collantes National Park. Waterfalls, rivers, lush tropical flora are the backdrop for horseback riding, swimming, hiking, picnics and more.
Jardines de La Reina - Gardens of the Queen
The small province of Ciego de Avila that extends from the north coast to the south is home to two of the most spectacular destinations that Cuba has to offer, The Gardens of the Queen and Gardens of the King Archipelagos just off the south and north coast respectively. Gardens of the Queen or Jardines de La Reina, on the south, is Cuba’s underwater national park and is considered among the greatest diving and marine adventure destinations on earth. On the north, the Gardens of the Queen or Jardines del Rey offer a very different experience with shallower waters, extensive all-inclusive resorts and endless beaches. Snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and beach lounging are the favorite activities on these islets. Gardens of the Queen is an example of Cuba’s unprecedented efforts for sustainable marine tourism and conservation of the still pristine bottoms of Cuban waters.
Santiago de Cuba
Home to Cuba’s second largest city after Havana, also named Santiago, this is a province and a city of enormous historical significance in Cuba. It is also home to a large and impressive bay and port, with a populated island smack in the middle of the bay. Near Santiago in the Granma Province, is the largest mountain range in the Caribbean, the Sierra Maestra, home of the Cuban Revolution. Santiago de Cuba houses a plethora of nature, history and culture and an excellent entry point to Cuba from the East. Nearby visit El Cobre, the shrine to Cuba’s patron saint, The Virgin of Charity, or drive to Baracoa, Cuba’s oldest town on the easternmost tip.