HAVANA, March 26th Dos Cubanos were arrested this Saturday at the International Airport of Cayo Bone (southern Florida), Read more
HAVANA, March 25th Pinar del Río—Cuba’s main tobacco growing region—is on track for its smallest crop in history. Read more
HAVANA, March 25th In the last few years, Cuba has faced an exodus of people, the plague of a pandemic, food shortages, fires from oil tank explosions, floods from hurricanes, severe inflation…STOP! Read more
HAVANA, March 25th Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel arrived Friday in Santo Domingo to attend the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit in the Dominican capital. Read more
HAVANA, March 24th Seven years have passed since March 25, 2016, the Sports City vibrated with the magic of one of the myths of international music. The Rolling Stones was in Cuba, even if it seemed like a dream. Read more
HAVANA, March 24th The Government of Cuba affirmed this Thursday that the US never had the intention of removing the island from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism because “it is convenient.” Read more
HAVANA, March 24th A council has requested help from the Cuban government to fill healthcare roles at a hospital in County Fermanagh.
The Cuban embassy in London responded positively to the request from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
Emergency general surgery was temporarily suspended at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen last November due to staffing numbers.
The Western Trust is responsible for recruitment at the hospital.
Cuba has long been renowned for its medical diplomacy, sending thousands of its staff on healthcare missions around the world.
The country’s medical staff is known for delivering medical assistance following natural disasters.
A letter sent from the council in January asked “if the Henry Reeve Brigade” – a body of medical professionals set up by the Cuban government to provide international aid – “could provide assistance to the hospital so that it can meet its required staffing standards”.
As first reported by the Fermanagh Herald, a representative of the Cuban embassy responded stating that the request for medical assistance has been conveyed to Cuba’s ministry of health.
The letter went on to request details on how many medical personnel were needed and in which specialties.
The representative also suggested holding a video call with the council to discuss the issue further.
On 15 March, the council’s policy and resources committee agreed to the call and to extend an invitation to the Western Trust.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust said the suspension was necessary to protect the public’s safety after staff recruitment issues.
Eamon Keenan, the independent councilor who initially proposed requesting assistance from Cuba, welcomed the embassy’s response.
“Cuba, a country living under heavy US economic sanctions, is able and willing to send medical support to us, the poor people of Fermanagh,” Mr Keenan told the committee.
However, Cuba’s medical diplomacy has come under scrutiny, with reports that staff is forced to live in dangerous conditions.
Reports include staff being controlled by minders, being subjected to curfews, and having a large portion of their wage taken by the Cuban state.
The Cuban embassy and the Western Trust have been contacted for comment.
HAVANA, March 22 (Reuters) Cubans will go to the polls on Sunday to vote for 470 deputies who will represent them for the next five years in the National Assembly. Read more
HAVANA, Mar 20 The 24th Cuba International Agroindustrial Food Fair (Fiagrop 2023) will open its doors to national and foreign companies interested in exploring Read more
HAVANA, March 19 The first business projects with 5 new foreign firms in the wholesale and retail trade will begin operations between April and May, according to several Cuban media reports this Saturday. Read more
HAVANA, March 19th According to the president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, the players will collect the corresponding prize thanks to an agreement reached between that institution Read more
HAVANA, March 18th U.S. company Western Union reestablished the sending of remittances to Cuba from all over the United States this March 3. Read more
HAVANA, March 17 The state-owned Integral Telecommunications Solutions Company Solintel S.A. plans to start installing Wi-Fi networks in Read more
HAVANA, March 16th Thousands of Cubans across the country have started to use Chinese electric cars and scooters amid fuel shortages and tightened U.S. Read more
HAVANA, March 16th Cuba earned a 7,500-mile flight to Miami for a trip to the World Baseball Classic semifinals for the first time since 2006. Read more
HAVANA, March 13 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is urging the Pentagon to ban all weapon-wounding tests on dogs, cats, marine animals, ferrets, Read more
HAVANA, March 14th The Italian company Italsav announced the upcoming opening of a mixed-management shopping center in Havana, according to the ANSA news agency. Read more
HAVANA, March 14th Banks in Cuba have begun accepting the Mir payment system, the Russian alternative to Visa and Mastercard. Read more
HAVANA, March 13 (Reuters) -A blacklisted supertanker on Monday was loading crude and fuel for Cuba from Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA PDVSA.UL, Read more
HAVANA, March 13th Looking for a reliable way to ship home appliances to Cuba? DimeCuba has everything you need to make your shipment fast, easy and secure. Read more
HAVANA, March 12th This Thursday, a group of United States legislators presented a bill to prohibit courts from validating any claim of rights of a business or assets nationalized by the Cuban government. Read more
HAVANA, March 11th Just a year or so ago, the appearance of SMEs was greeted with joy and hope by a great deal of the Cuban population, and also by the government apparatus. Read more
HAVANA, March 11th 19 must places to visit in Cuba in 2023, the largest of the Caribbean Islands, Cuba will charm you with its charismatic vibe influenced by four centuries of African, Caribbean, and Spanish cultures.
15. Biodiverse Isla De La Juventud
sea-turtels
Isla de la Juventud, or the Isle of Youth, is the second largest island in the Cuban archipelago (there are around 4000), situated in the Caribbean Sea south of western Cuba. It is one of the destinations in Cuba that are the trickiest to visit.
The capital city is Nueva Gerona, which is more like a village with a few casa particulares, bars and restaurants, and some museums. There is only one hotel on the island,
Particularly famous for exceptional scuba diving sites, it is also close to the southern coral reef outside Cuba, the Jardines de la Reina. Make the journey from the main island port of Batabanó in about three hours, and you can experience amazing scuba diving off the southwestern tip of Punta Francés.
Isla de la Juventud is also a paradise of biodiversity protecting endangered species such as crocodiles, parrots, sharks, and turtles. One spectacular sight on Isla de la Juventud is the Presidio Modelo, the iconic prison-turned-museum where Fidel Castro was imprisoned after the failed attack in Santiago de Cuba in 1953, an eerie-looking place today.
Isla de la Juventud is not for city lovers, this is a destination for travelers who enjoy venturing off the beaten tracks, find weird stuff fascinating, and love to explore nature reserves and wildlife.
16. Vast Mountain Range Sierra Nevada
sierra maestra
The Sierra Nevada is a vast mountain range east of Santiago de Cuba, starting by the sea and stretching inland. The area has several national parks like Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra and Parque Nacional Pico Turquino and is the main region of Cuba’s coffee plantations
coffee harvest
Pico Turquino is also the highest point of the Sierra Maestra and the highest point in the whole of Cuba with its 1974 meters above sea level. A great destination in Cuba for avid hikers, and nature lovers who will be rewarded with amazing views of the mountains and the sea after a trek up here.
Visitors can also explore its many trails, breathtaking waterfalls, and panoramic mountain views. Sierra Maestra is home to a variety of unique wildlife, and more than 80 bird species, so make sure to keep an eye out for native birds and other animals! The Sierra Maestra is also famous for being Fidel Castro’s secret guerilla hideout in the 1950s.
17. Fidel Castro’s Secret Headquarters Comandancia De La Plata
Comandancia de la Plata possibly is the most intriguing of all destinations in Cuba you can visit. This was Fidel Castro’s hidden jungle headquarters in Sierra Maestra in the 1950s, and it still looks the same today.
Here Fidel Castro and his comrades ran their resistance campaign and guerilla warfare against Batista in the last years of the 1950s, before the Cuban revolution. Here he hid for long periods, made plans, and prepared for attacks.
Today there is a small museum here telling some of the stories of people and incidents that happened during the 50s. You will also be able to see the secret house of Fidel Castro, where he ate and slept – and even his outside toilet.
A fascinating destination you can reach on a day trip from Santiago de Cuba, a few hour’s drive and a short but hot and steep hike from where the road ends in the mountains.
18. The Secluded First City Baracoa
City Baracoa
Situated on the eastern tip of Cuba, Baracoa is where the first Spanish colony was founded in Cuba and is known as the “Ciudad Primada”, or “First City”, the first place in Cuba to be visited by Christopher Columbus. The town lies along the Bay of Honey, and has a lush tropical rainforest climate, while surrounded by a mountain range shielding it from inland Cuba.
Before the Cuban Revolution, you could only travel to Baracoa by boat, but in the 1960s a 120-kilometer-long road known as La Farola was built to connect Baracoa with the interior of Cuba.
Having been protected from crowds of tourists by the remote location, Baracoa has a tranquil vibe untainted by over-tourism. Unique things to do in Baracoa today are the hike to the El Yunque mountain, and visit the city cathedral and the Parque Independencia.
Also check out the Cueva del Paraiso which is an archeological museum with artifacts from the indigenous Taino culture, Casa de la Trova (house of troubadours), or rent a bike to explore on your own.
You can take the four-hour-long bus ride here from Santiago de Cuba to reach this historically important destination in Cuba with amazing nature experiences as well.
19. Cayo Largo Del Sur
Cayo Largo
Cayo Largo del Sur is a relatively unknown travel destination that is often overshadowed by more popular tourist spots like Havana and Varadero. However, Cayo Largo del Sur is a hidden gem that offers a unique and unforgettable travel experience.
The beaches here are incredible. There are more than 20 kilometers of white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters that are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. The beaches are relatively uncrowded, so you can enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the island without feeling overwhelmed by large crowds.
Cayo Largo del Sur also has a fascinating history that is worth exploring. The island was once a haven for pirates and smugglers, and it played a significant role in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Today, visitors can learn about the island’s history by visiting museums and historic sites, such as the El Torreon lighthouse and the Mural de la Prehistoria.
Overall, Cayo Largo del Sur is a unique and unspoiled place to visit in Cuba that offers a mix of natural beauty, history, and culture.
Wrap-Up 19 Amazing Destinations In Cuba
With a little luck, you now feel super motivated to go visit Cuba, and hopefully, your only problem at the moment is choosing places in Cuba to visit, and what to do!
I feel you, after being based in Havana for over two years there are still things I have not been able to explore yet. But discovery is the first step on the way, a step you have just taken. Enjoy your Cuba travel planning, and the answer to any of your Cuba questions is only an email away.
HAVANA, March 11th Marta Perdomo agonizes day and night for her two sons Jorge and Nadir, jailed in Cuba for taking part nearly two years ago in the largest anti-government protests since the 1959 revolution. Read more
HAVANA, March 10 Without counting the main avenues of Havana, those through which the country’s highest authorities pass and probably for this reason they remain semi-immaculate, Read more
HAVANA, March 9th The Consulate of Spain in Havana has warned all persons who are not authorized and make a Schengen visa appointment aimed at official people and organizations that they will be “blocked”. Read more
HAVANA, March 8th Half a million tourists visited Cuba this year reported Cubadebate. The recovery of Canadian tourism, Cuba’s major tourist-sending market, Read more
HAVANA, March 8th A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill Monday that would remove key parts of the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which has been in place for over six decades. Read more
