Cuba

I went to Cuba with modest expectations and left completely won over, largely thanks to time spent in Havana. The city has a pace and character that travel guides undersell. Found a great spot for lechón asado on day two and went back every day after that. Varadero Beach was the big planned experie…

We chose Cuba for our honeymoon and it was perfect for us. The romantic atmosphere in Havana at night, the drama of Varadero Beach, the intimacy of small restaurants serving lechón asado — all of it added up to exactly what we were hoping for. incredible vintage cars became an unexpected gift — som…

I'll be honest — I went to Cuba primarily to see Viñales Valley tobacco farms, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Cienfuegos has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be…

Visited Cuba in shoulder season deliberately and the decision paid off completely. Varadero Beach without peak crowds is a totally different experience. Trinidad felt lived-in rather than touristy. Found a small place doing the best lechón asado I've ever tasted — something that would have been invi…

First time in Cuba and I tried to approach it with open eyes rather than preconceptions. Santiago de Cuba was the base and a good one — central, manageable, and with strong food options including the best mojito I've ever had. Trinidad Cobblestones was the big set piece and fully justified the trip.…

Did Cuba on a shoestring for 16 days and it was absolutely manageable. Based in cheap guesthouses near Santiago de Cuba centre and ate mostly at local spots — ropa vieja from street stalls cost almost nothing and was better than anything in a tourist restaurant. Viñales Valley tobacco farms has an …

Visited Cuba for 11 days. The positives are real: Che Guevara Mausoleum is every bit as impressive as advertised, and the food scene around Trinidad is genuinely excellent — try moros y cristianos if you haven't. warm and resilient people was an unexpected bonus. That said, food quality in state re…

I wanted to love Cuba more than I did. The positives exist: Trinidad Cobblestones is genuinely impressive, Santiago de Cuba has moments of real charm, and moros y cristianos is as good as people say. But limited internet access is frustrating was a persistent problem throughout the trip and dragged…

I came to Cuba specifically for photography and the country delivered material at every turn. Old Havana at dawn was everything I'd hoped. Santiago de Cuba's streets at dusk are an endless source of light and texture. The people, once comfortable with a camera, are extraordinary subjects. utterly u…

Varadero Beach in Cuba is extraordinary — the scale and history hit you immediately. But the experience around it has been thoroughly commercialised. Getting there, navigating the crowds, and dealing with persistent sellers around Trinidad centre made it more stressful than it should be. Away from …