Hola!!
If you are planning for Cuba, then you are at the right place. Here is your one stop guide for your upcoming Cuba trip.
We are 2 crazy souls, travelled all the way from Toronto to Cuba.
Visa restrictions: If you are holding an Indian passport, with a PR in Canada, then you are good to board the flight (with a beach hat indeed).
Flights from Toronto to Varadero is approximately 3hr 45 min duration costing up to 370$ CAD roundtrip.
Best time to Visit: Between January and April . It gets really hot post April so plan your visit accordingly.
Place to Stay: Varadero offers great options which makes it really hard to pick one. However, we checked into this amazing hotel Melia Varadero for our 3 days stay (All inclusive) which costed up to 950 cAD.
Right from the doorstep, it feels like heaven. Throughout the stay we enjoyed watching beautiful sunsets, having fancy dinners, sipping havana rum cocktails and i can keep on going with the list. The live saxophone on the beach is the cherry on the cake.
Things to do:
Day1: We went on a vintage car ride (all you find is vintage cars though; lol) to varadero downtown. Varadero downtown is small and cute, so it is good to cover by walk after a flight journey. In this world full of automatic and electric cars, enjoy the slow walk with the vintage cars going around you with a hot cup of coffee. Pass by the shops and get amazed with the vintage art and craft. Definitely a good place to shop some souvenirs.
Day2: Hola Havana! We booked a day trip to Havana in hotel which costed us 80 USD /person. The pickup van is at 8am sharp and the first stop is a local rum store. The authentic havana rum cocktails are definitely a good start for the day. Then we headed straight to a famous cigar shop in Havana La Casa del Habano. Good place to learn the history of cuban cigars and also where you can shop without a second thought (don't forget to checkout the fancy cigars used by Fidel Castro). Our next stop was Plaza De La Revolucion; It was just like any other place until you know the deep history. Your guide will surely tell you all the stories related to this place, where hundred of thousands of Cuban acclaimed during hours the endless speeches of their former leader. Otherwise, an interesting monument to see in the center of the place, and the old American cars waiting for the clients.
Time for some cuban food :) (yes the lunch is included in the day trip)
Post lunch we stopped by the old havana streets. Old Havana is a very picturesque city. We loved walking through its streets, it's like stepping back in time. Worth visiting.
Next stop is Plaza de la Catedral. Amazing and this is a must visit church! Once you set foot in this place you travel in time. Checkout the colourful streets of old havana around the cathedral. Post few other site seeing spots it is time to head back to Varadero.
Day 3: Swim with Dolphins. Yes, you heard it right. This was an amazing activity followed by a beautiful Dolphins show. It is as thrilling and exciting as it sounds. Snorkelling is another activity which we booked on the same day in the hotel reception. The underwater fishes you see here is like no other place. Grab your swimwear and relax on the clean varadero beaches. Enjoy the havana club cocktails while dancing with the waves as the sun goes down slowly. Live the life as the cuban's do.
Day 4: Checkout and Flight back to Toronto :)
Pro tip: Carry USD to have a happy vacation. (If you rely on any other currency, you end up paying more)
