Cuba

In January 2023, I decided to take a fairly spur of the moment trip to Cuba with my friends. I’ve never taken a trip in the middle of winter (not sure why). It was my second time outside of the country, the first being my Pacific Northwest trip in Canada.

I’m going to summarize the trip into sections based on what we did and what I observed. Before we get into Havana and Cienfuegos specifically, here’s some general notes:

Climate

The weather was perfect in January. I don’t recall the exact temperatures but it was very comfortable. It never rained, nor was it ever too hot. Think summer but without the insufferable heat.

People

The people were very polite and hospitable. Our Airbnb hosts would cook us breakfast every morning and provide great recommendations during our stay. The majority of folks we interacted with spoke English to varying degrees. For those who didn’t, we’d rely on Kristen who knew the most Spanish or Google Translate. Between the two, we were never in a pinch.

There were a couple of minor instances where we had someone hassle us to buy something. They’d walk up to us randomly and try to keep a conversation going while following you down the street (very persistent). It can get a bit awkward and uncomfortable. We were advised to be very pointed in our disinterest so they’d leave us alone which ended up being sound advice. Overall, not a huge deal but something to be mindful of, especially in Havana.

Architecture

Cuba’s economic struggles are well documented. Most of the buildings and streets are in rough shape, especially in Havana. Everything just appears to be in a stage of degradation. Exposed ceilings, crumbling walls, etc. With that said, it also provides part of the country’s charm. For instance, we found a really neat bar that looked rough on the outside but had the coziest interior for a night out on the town. It featured live music and an exposed ceiling where you could view the night sky while sipping on your cocktail.

Cost

The US dollar goes very far in Cuba. We took around $500 for a week and still had money left over. One random thing to keep in mind, you’ll need to tip when using the bathroom in most places. Speaking of tipping, we were fairly confused throughout most of our trip on what a proper tip should be. I don’t think we ever truly figured it out so we likely over tipped but that’s better than the alternative.

Havana

We started off our trip in Havana, the largest city in Cuba. Packed full of people, culture, nightlife, and miscellaneous things to do. We stayed in two different Airbnbs during our visit. The first one was right on the Gulf of Mexico, near a quaint little coffee shop. We kept referring to it as “The Shoe” because there’s a large sculpture of a high heel right out front. You can sit on the balcony and sip your latte with a great view of the water. The second one was a high rise located more in the central part of the city.

Exploring

We spent most of our time simply exploring. Roaming the streets and looking at all of the architecture, cars, people, shops, etc. Which happens to be one of my favorite activities while on vacation. Popping in and out of random restaurants for an ice cold beverage along the way.

Classic Cars

You’ll find an abundance of classic cars on the streets. At one point Cuba imported thousands of these automobiles and through time they’ve managed to keep them operational. Many of the taxis in Havana were classic cars. If you end up visiting Plaza de la Revolución, you’ll likely see many of these cars in the parking lot.

Nightlife

One night we hit up a jazz club called “La Zorra y el Cuervo”, which ended up being one of the main highlights from the trip. The music was exceptional and the vibe was perfect. We frequented several bars as well, each one having a unique and relaxing atmosphere. Overall, I’d say the nightlife is one of the best activities to do while in Havana.

Buena Vista Social Night

We also bought tickets to the Buena Vista Social Night. It was some sort of celebration of 1950s Cuban music. You’ll get assigned to a table where they’ll serve you food and drinks during the show. You might even be dragged on stage to dance or handed a random shaker to participate in the event. The crowd definitely skewed a little older, so if you’re a bit younger it might not be for you.

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Cienfuegos

In between our stays in Havana we visited the smaller countryside city of Cienfuegos. Way less crowded than Havana, it offered a glimpse into the quieter life of Cubans. It’s worth pointing out, on our way there we stopped to check out a neat little swimming hole called “Cueva de los Peces” and the Bay of Pigs. Met some fun locals who never hesitated to top off our rum too.

Airbnb

Our host in Cienfuegos was so accommodating. She looked over our luggage (until the room was ready), made us breakfast in the morning, and provided us with access to WiFi. Which interesting enough, happened to be one of our only opportunities to use WiFi during the entire trip. With that said, we did have a rooster on a nearby property wake us up early the next morning. Additionally, we booked this specific Airbnb for the swimming pool and hot tub which were both out of commission. Would’ve been nice to know that ahead of booking but oh well.

Antique Shop

While exploring the city we found a little book/antique shop called “La Fernandina” with so many fascinating vintage items. We spent a lot of time there looking at random books, toys, old cameras, posters, etc. It’s definitely worth checking out, especially for some memorabilia to take back home.

City Square & Museum

The buildings located in the city square of Cienfuegos were so unique. Lots of domes with red roofs and large open porches. The museum was full of rich artifacts from Cuba’s past and happened to have a really nice roof top lounge. We ordered some beers and enjoyed the cool breeze along with a spectacular view.