In recent years, Cuba has become a very popular destination! But Cuba is not only paradise beaches, it is also a lot of culture and history. Here is a stay combining two leading Cuban cities with a particularly rich heritage... Heading for Havana and Santiago de Cuba!
Havana: an exceptional heritage
Despite its policy of openness, Cuba still remains turned towards its past, whose legacy is omnipresent in the Cuban streets. Two moments of history are constantly intertwined: on the one hand, the colonial era of the Spanish conquistadors, and on the other hand, the 1950s just before the 1959 Revolution, initiated by Fidel Castro and his troops, turned it into the communist country it had become. While the thousands of American cars on the island dazzle all travellers with their bright colours and rarity, colonial cities have an even more impressive architectural richness, with picturesque cobbled streets and preserved monuments. This majestic past unfolds perfectly in the Cuban capital, which is a superb summary of its heritage.
Havana, founded in 1519, has a historic district classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Habana Vieja. It has been continuously restored for about thirty years and the result is remarkable. Plazas of great charm, from Plaza de la Catedral to Plaza Vieja and Plaza San Francisco de Asis, it is a permanent wonder between restored 16th or 17th century buildings and 18th century Baroque palaces. Havana's imposing neoclassical cathedral or the Castillo San Salvador de la Punta, built in the 16th century, perfectly illustrate the architectural style of this district in the form of a temporal mosaic.
The casas particulares, a typical type of accommodation
For anyone seeking to live in total immersion in Cuban culture in Cuba, nothing beats a stay with a local resident in one of the many special casas. You then have your room, a private bathroom but also a home catering service with delicious dishes prepared by the hostess, all for a modest fee.
If some houses are modest, others are truly splendid... Many of them are in the Cuban capital and you will be spoilt for choice for an average of €30 per double room.
A fast-growing gastronomy
The wonder continues on the plate in Cuba where, contrary to popular belief, people do not only eat rice and black beans...
Since Raul Castro's 2011 reforms to develop the private sector, private restaurants have flourished in Cuba, especially in Havana. In these establishments called "paladares", Chefs are more willing to give free rein to their creativity than in state restaurants.
In the Centro Habana district, one of the most popular in the capital, there is an address to discover: San Cristobal. Mariela Castro, the Cuban President's daughter, has her habits there, and President Barack Obama came to dinner during his historic official visit to Cuba in 2016. It is a large and magnificent colonial house that has been transformed into a restaurant and where the cuisine restores the nobility of Cuban gastronomy.
Santiago de Cuba: a nicely restored colonial city
Only an hour's flight from Havana, Santiago de Cuba is the country's second largest city. With nearly 450,000 inhabitants, Santiago de Cuba is a superb colonial city whose most beautiful buildings are concentrated in its historic centre, which is built around the Céspedes Park. It also includes the old French quarter of Tivolí, built by Haitian settlers at the end of the 18th century, whose charming alleys and peaceful houses with red roofs you will appreciate.
In the 1990s, the city embarked on a successful rehabilitation process. This is how the modern railway station to the northwest of the city, the Antonio Maceo airport terminal and the hall of the Teatro José María Heredia came into being. This renovation process accelerated with the celebration of the city's 500th anniversary on 25 July 2015, when many buildings in the centre were rejuvenated. More recently, the malecón has been completely rebuilt and transformed into a beautiful pedestrian-only promenade by the sea.
Finally, if you go to Santiago in summer, don't miss its famous carnival! It is the most famous in Cuba and, perhaps, in the Caribbean. The festivities take place during the last week of July, from 21 to 28, and more particularly between 24 and 26 July. In Santiago, as in Rio, different schools prepare, months in advance, costumes and masks that are just as sublime and colourful as each other.
How to get to Havana and/or Santiago de Cuba?
Up to 4 return flights per week with Air Caraïbes from Paris Orly
- 2 return flights to Havana (1 additional flight from 18/12/17).
- Up to 2 flights via Santiago de Cuba and to Havana.
Good smart plan: To celebrate its first year of long-haul flights between Paris/Santiago de Cuba and Paris/Havana, Air Caraïbes is offering you exceptional anniversary promotions! More information here
