Go crazy in Cuba

Flying into Havana from Europe, visitors are usually treated to a superb view of Cuba's northern coast. The waters of the Atlantic – all shades from turquoise to a rich, deep blue – come as no surprise, but the marvellous tapestry of greens that forms the countryside is a far cry from the "desert island paradise" one might imagine.

White sandy beaches, rolling hills and lush vegetation, swamplands where crocodiles and rare birds are still found, old towns with glorious colonial buildings and fields of sugar cane, tobacco and coffee characterise this wonderful country. Cuba is many lands, each one a fascinating place that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

The essentials

If you only have a short time to visit Cuba and are looking to sample the very best the country has to offer, here are the essentials:

• Visit a Casa de la Trova. Every town and sizeable village has such a house. Here local bands play traditional songs and they’re ideal for a quick slice of Cuban culture.
• Visit a revolutionary site. Visitors arriving at Havana's José Martí Airport are greeted by the slogan 'Creemos en la Revolución' – 'We Believe in the Revolution'. To understand Cuba the visitor must understand the revolution.
• Buy a T-shirt. Cuban T-shirts, especially those decorated with revolutionary slogans or pictures of Che Guevara, are among the planet’s most popular tourist merchandise.
• Visit a site on the Hemingway Trail. Most of the finest works by one of the century's most influential writers were written in Cuba. His house is the target for true pilgrims, but even casual readers can pay homage at La Bodeguita del Medio or La Floridita.
• Visit a cigar factory. Cuban cigars are still the world standard. Even non-smokers will find a visit fascinating.
• Go for a swim. You haven't experienced Cuba until you have submerged yourself in the warm, turquoise waters of the Atlantic or Caribbean.
• Sample a Cuban ice cream. Food is rationed in Cuba and as a result often disappointing, but the island still has wonderful ice cream. Try the coconut (the best) or mango.
• Take a stroll through Old Havana. No trip would be complete without a visit to this magical quarter.
• Visit a cabaret. Savor the louché carry-over from the 1950s. Havana's Tropicana revue is Cuba's sexiest cabaret.

Havana ball

Most visitors to Cuba will arrive in Havana, the country's vibrant capital. This sprawling metropolis shakes and sizzles with excitement. Although both Vedado, in the west, and Centro have their share of modern high-rise buildings, it's La Habana Vieja – Old Havana, in the east – which is the heart of the city and the most important Spanish colonial hub in the whole of Latin America.

Huge, camel-shaped buses carrying as many as 300 passengers vie for space on the pot-holed streets with 50-year-old American jalopies. There's music in the air, and an astonishing range of architectural styles - from colonial Spanish to early 20th-century American - to delight the eye. To the north, the waves of the Straits of Florida lap against the sea walls. National monuments can be found everywhere, as well as some excellent museums.

Don't miss

• The Malecón – Havana Bay's seven-kilometre sea wall
• Museo de la Revolución – Museum of the Revolution
• La Habana Vieja – Havana old town
• El Morro and La Cabaña – a castle-like military complex

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* Travel Insurance prices are correct at time of publication (October 2011)