Table Of Content

EYEWITNESS TRAVEL TOP10 CUBA 10 µ DOQD &D 0SLXWDVHQH3RHRDGVOODGHD*FOHFLHORLRQ7/&DHDGDEHUDHWD+HOFRHDGORVREUDOQGDH'(030/$/X$5$X$V0=HV&5$=$HR$HD$6RDVGWOGLHO)OH(RX$OHOVDG7ULHDH]3DP 10 10 10 10 10 10 p 0y YOUR GUIDE TO THE 10 BEST OF EVERYTHING 9 (&$$95(/'2(6/038 '(5(7&263(' 7$&1 6 ( %$5$7,//2 0 ( 5 & 8 % $ $* 8 , $ 5 2 6 21( 6021=68(/585 $ '(/ $ 6 0 , 6 , &8$5 77((/ ( 6 & +$&1 7 ( - $ ' , / / 2 ( 0 3 ( ' 5 $ ' 2 3 5 2 * 5 ( 6 2 5 ( , / / < 2 1 001 2184/1429/6007 2 :K3043NT1-3 00 K000 K202 TOP10 CUBA CHRISTOPHER P BAKER EYEWITNESS TRAVEL 000-001_TT_CUB_Title.indd 1 1 002 1284/41926/007 2 :K3068NT1-3 00 K000 K202 Left The shoreline at GuardalacavaR ight View of Cordillera De Guaniguanioc Contents Cuba’s Top 10 Habana Vieja, Havana 8 Design, Editorial, andP icture Research, by Quadrum Solutions, Krishnamai, 33B, Sir The Modern City, Pochkanwala Road, Worli, Mumbai, India Havana 10 Reproduced by Colourscan, Singapore Printed and bound in China by Leo Paper Products Ltd Cordillera de First American Edition, 2008 Guaniguanico 12 08 09 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Published in the United States by Zapata Peninsula 14 DK Publishing, Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 Trini dad 16 Copyright 2008 © Dorling Kindersley Limited, London Jardines del Re y 18 A Penguin Company Camagüey 20 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No Holguín 22 part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, Santiago de Cuba 24 mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission Baracoa 26 of the co pyright owner. Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. Moments in History 30 A CIP catalogue record is available from the British Library . Revolutionary Sites 32 ISSN 1479-344 X ISBN 978 0 7566 3933 4 Moments in Fidel Within each Top 10 list in this book, no Castro’s Life 34 hierarchy of quality or popularity is implied. Al 10 are, in the editor’s poinion, of roughly Museums 36 equal merit. Floors are referred to throughout in Santería 38 accordance with British usage; ie the “first floor” is the floor aboveg round level. Writers and Artists 40 The information in this DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide is checked regularly. Every effort has been made to ensure that this book is as up-to-date as possible at the time of going to press. Some details, however, such as telephone numbers, opening hours, prices, gallery hanging arrangements and travel information are liable to change. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this book, nor for any material on third party websites, and cannot guarantee that any website address in this book will be a suitable source of travel information. We value the views and su ggestions of our readers very highly. Please write to: Publisher, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, Dorling Kindersley, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL. Cover: Front – Hemispheres Images: Herve Hughes bl; Pictures Colour Library: Clive Sawyer main. Spine – DK Images: Heidi Grassley b. Back – 4Corners Images: Ripani Massimo tr; DK Images: Heidi Grassley tc; Hemispheres Images: Herve Hughes tl. 2 Contents 1 003 2184/1429/6007 2 :K3068NT1-3 00 K000 K202 Left Graffitied wall in Havana Center Turtle Right Musicians in Santiago de Cuba Musical Styles 42 Streetsmart Children’s Attraction s 44 Planning Your Trip 116 Nature Trails 46 Getting to Cuba 117 Beach Resorts 48 Getting Around 118 Animals and Birds 50 Sources of Information 119 Festivals and Holidays 52 Banking and Places to Meet Communications 120 the Locals 54 Security and Healt h 121 Cuban Dishes 56 Practicalities 122 Things to Buy 58 Things to Avoi d 123 American Legacies 60 Budget Tips 124 Around Cuba Eating and Drinking Tips 125 Havana 64 Tours & Special Interests 126 Western Cuba 78 Accommodation Tips 127 Central Cuba West 86 Places to Stay 128 Central Cuba East 96 General Index 134 The Far East 106 Phrase Book 142 Left Salón de los Pasos Perdidos, CapitoRlioght ‘Grancar’ taxi in front of Hotel Nacional Key to abbreviations 3 Adm admission charge Dis. access disabled access Co te ts 145493 2:30 W2k-3 1 004 29/01/08 K28 00 K000 K000 004-005_TT_CUB_Opener.indd 4 1 005 1294/50419/038 2 :K3028W2k-3 00 K000 K000 CUBA’S TOP 10 Cuba’s Highlights 6–7 Habana Vieja, Havana 8–9 The Modern City, Havana 10–11 Cordillera de Guaniguanico 12–13 Zapata Peninsula 14–15 Trinidad 16–17 Jardines del Rey 18–19 Camagüey 20–21 Holguín 22–23 Santiago de Cuba 24–25 Baracoa 26–27 Top Ten of Everything 30–61 004-005_TT_CUB_Opener.indd 5 CUBA’S TOP 10 1 006 1054/50523/058 2 :K3028W2k-3 00 K000 K000 Cuba Highlights Cuba, the Cari bbean’s largest is land, is a land of extraordinary beauty and amazin g contrasts. From white-sand beaches and teal-blue seas to lush valleys and cloud- draped mountains, Cuba is kalei doscopic in its terrains. Steeped in history, this Habana Vieja Havana C i t ti i i ti d ! 7ULQLGDG odern City, Havana " (see pp12 13) . Trinidad Trinidad boasts a% breeze-swept hillside setting. This UNESCO World He ritage Site is Cuba’s most complete colonial city, with great museums and an active santería tradition, plus a superb beach close by (see pp16–17 ). 6 Preceding pages Capitolio, Havana Cuba’s Top 10 1 007 1054/50523/058 2 :K3028W2k-3 00 K000 K000 Jardines del Rey Stretching 275 miles (442 km) along ^ Cuba’s northern coastline, this chain of offshore islands and cays is lined wi th stunning beaches. Three islands offer superb divin g plus exciting watersports and deluxe hotels (see pp18–19). Ca güm ea y & The colonial buildings of the “City of Tinajones” re a "OB.BSJB 0RD to the Revolu tion (see pp24 5) . Baracoa Founded in 1511 as Cuba’s ) first city, Baracoa enjoys a stupendous setting backed by rainforest-clad mountains. A buzzing street life, scenic mountain hikes, and the Castillo de Seboruco, a cas tle-turned- hotel, are this town’s key attractions (see pp26–27). Share your travel recommendations on traveldk.com 7 HPE F$B Cuba’s Top 10 1 008 1054/50523/058 2 :K3016W2k-3 00 K000 K202 Habana Vie ja, Havana With a lmost 1,000 buildings of historic importance, this intimate quarter is perhaps the lar gest and most complete colonial complex in the Americas. Like a peopled “museum” full of animated street life, Old Havana boasts an astonishing wealth of castles, cathedrals, convents, palaces, and other important buildings spanning five centuries. An ongoing restoration program, now in its third decade , has transformed the finest structures into museums , hotels, restaurants, boutiques, and trend y bars. Easily walkable, the co bbled plazas and the narrow, shaded streets of Habana Vieja exude co lonial charm. Top 10 Features 1 Catedral de La Habana 2 Palacio de los Capitanes Generales 3 Plaza de Armas 4 Calle Obispo 5 Iglesia y Convento San Francisco 6 Calle Mercaderes 7 Plaza Vieja 8 Museo de la Revolución 9 Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes 0 Parque Histórico-Militar Morro-Cabaña Catedral de La ! Habana Dominating a cobbled plaza, this cathedral (center) is graced by an exquisite Baroque façade with asymmetrical bell towers. The restore d inte- rior features fine murals. Palacio de los Capitanes