The Paradisus Rio de Oro is and elegant 5-star hotel and resort situated next to the Playa Esmeralda beach, part of the Bahia Naranjo Natural Park. The hotel is in the province of Holguin and is only an hours drive from the international airport. With the beautiful water near to the hotel it makes it the perfect place to try diving and snorkelling, with the hotel offering all the equipment to hire and a diving school to learn if needed.

The hotel is all inclusive and has a huge number of cuisines to choose from during your stay. There is the main restaurant, with its show cooking open throughout the day and has themed nights throughout the week. There is also a beach barbeque restaurant, serving lunches and a bar and snack area around the pool. If you are looking for something more formal then there is a range of al a carte restaurants serving various specialties, from local Cuban cuisine to Japanese, Mediterranean and gourmet international food.

Hotel in Havana

Hotel Iberostar Varadero

This 5-star hotel is located right on the stunning Varadero Beach and boasting a huge range of the highest quality services. There is an exceptional wellness spa offering beauty treatments and massages, as well as a gorgeous swimming pools and gardens to ensure that a holiday here is as relaxing as possible. There is also exceptional cuisine served in the various restaurants, from traditional Cuban specialties to international cuisine.

There is also a chance to explore and experience the culture of Cuba and visit the nearby city of Varadero, with its colonial and revolutionary history, it highlights the magic of Cuba and is a must for any person who stays here. More on the Hotel Iberostar Varadero.

Paradisus Varadero Resort & Spa

Another 5-star resort situated alongside one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Varadero Beach. There a wide range of services and attractions in the hotels complex, including a massive 2,000 metre square swimming pool with a children’s area, and another pool for sports and games. There is also a fully furnished gym and spa offering massages and mud therapy.

There is huge choice of activities to choose from during the day including archery, aerobics, dance classes and beach volley courts, plus a lot more. There are also a number of various water sports activities too, from sailing and windsurfing to snorkelling and water polo. There is also a diving school  to learn how to scuba dive and explore the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Little Havana

filtered out of the area in recent decades there is still a strong Cuban feel which will appeal to lovers of the Cuban culture. 

Walking through Little Cuba, watching men playing dominos on tables outside cafes and people rolling cigars in shops and on stands, you could be forgiven for thinking that you had actually taken the wrong flight and ended up in Cuba itself. The wonder of the area is that, whilst there is a strong Cuban culture, the residents are still appreciative of the fact that they reside in a foreign country and, as such, are welcoming and open to visitors speaking to them in English whilst they enjoy the cultural delights of the area.

Some of the best features of Little Havana which you should take in are the authentic restaurants, the small but high quality art galleries and the traditional street music which provides a theme track to the day-to-day lives of those who live in the area.

Cigar – The cigar is the item most synonymous with Cuba. It is the country’s most popular and successful of all Cuban exports with millions sold around the world each year. There are various Cuban cigars and each brand offers a variety of types of cigars. Family

Cuban Rum

and friends who smoke often love receiving a true Cuban cigar direct from Havana.

Cuban lager – Lager is good quality in Cuba and is designed largely to be enjoyed in the sun. Although you can buy various brands of Cuban Lager in the UK, there is nothing quite like the authentic and original taste. Be careful not to exceed or infringe upon import laws.

Cuban Flag – What better way to remember your trip to Cuba than to buy a national flag. The Cubans are a patriotic people and you should be able to find a flag if you look hard enough. Actually, as far as national flags go, the Cuban flag is one of the most fashionable.

Rum – Aside from cigars, rum is one of the most popular exports due its high quality. The cost of rum in Cuba, as with most things, is reasonably low, making this a good gift for dad. If you have never tasted Cuban rum, you should if you get the chance. The flavours of the Caribbean come out in what is arguably one of the worlds finest rums.

Handmade dishes – The markets which are common all over Cuba are a great place to pick up some authentic Cuban souvenirs. One such item you could enjoy is a handmade dish. These are good quality and low in price.

Cuban Beef Hash – This classical meal is one of the dishes most traditionally associated with Cuba. It is similar to Bolognese in

Cuban food

both appearance and ingredients, but is generally eaten with rice as opposed to pasta. It can also be enjoyed as a filling for pies.

Cuban Sandwhich – There are many different variations of the Cuban sandwich, but one thing that most have in common is that meat is a key ingredient. More often than not pork will be the key ingredient.

Moros Y Christianos – This recipe sees the combination of Cuban black beans and rice complimented by delightful spices and ingredients to give a truly authentic experience. The name of the dish originates from the darkness of the beans against the white rice. The combination of beans and rice is typical of Cuban cuisine and this is one of the best ways to enjoy it.

Arroz Con Pollo – One way to describe this dish is as the Mexican equivalent of the curry. The dish is created by combining chicken with onions, garlic and tomatoes and is generally served with rice.

Ropa Vieja – This is a traditional Cuban stew which is generally served with rice, although it can often be found accompanied by tortillas. Many different meats are used but generally braised beef is the central ingredient.

Find more Cuban foods online.

Old Havana – Originally built in the sixteenth century, this area of Havana is rich in history and culture. Many of the original buildings can still be seen, and there is an ongoing project to redevelop other buildings. One of the most intriguing aspects of visiting

Cuban Cigars

this area is the fact that the history is directly contrasted by the modern lifestyle which is conducted in the area.

Museo de la Revolucion – Located in the Old Havana section of Havana, it is not only what is held in the museum which makes this a must-visit site, the historical building itself is a marvellous piece of architecture. The museum itself contains exhibits from various sections of Cuba’s history meaning that you will gain a more rounded appreciation of the Cuban culture. The main focus of the exhibitions is the revolutionary war of the 1950s.

Partagas Cigar Factory – With Cigars being such a large part of Cuban Culture, and indeed the item which is most associated with the country, it would be a shame not to experience the creation of this famous export. Again, the building itself provides part of the charm as it is a colonial build. Whilst at the museum you can experience the cigars being made as well as having the opportunity to purchase some souvenirs of your trip. Learn more about Cuban cigars and culture.

• To get married in Cuba.
• For Cuba diving holidays.
• To experience the culture.
• To visit family
• For the food and music.

I think in fact that Cuba is many things to many people and if you want culture then make sure to visit the main island as well as the all-inclusive resorts on the islands. You will leave thinking that Cuba is all about luxury and beautiful beaches if you only visit the resorts. The resorts are fantastic though and if you are visiting solely for the beaches and sun then  i a great place to be.

Havana is the best option if you want to experience some real Cuban culture. Take the local Havana transportation and you will get also to meet the locals and get a real feel for the country.

Cuba trade

1. Oil and Gas investments

Cuba has lucrative oil and gas reserves in offshore reserves and has negotiated deals with international companies in Spain, India, Malaysia and Norway to extract them. The oil and gas sector is a very strong investment opportunity as it is a key priority for Cuba in order to have energy exports to sell.

2. Tourism investments

Tourism is one of Cuba’s biggest markets and it is no surprise to learn that almost of half of the country’s hotels and resorts are foreign-owned. Airlines, travel agents and resorts all have investments in Cuba, but individuals can do so too by buying property such as apartments and houses to rent to tourists. It is a growth sector and with rumours that the US travel ban could be eased in the near future, it is one that could soon see an influx of new tourists.

3. Agricultural investments

While crops such as maize and potatoes are important to Cuba’s economy, there is one product that has become increasingly lucrative – ethanol plants. As more countries look to diversify their energy supplies, Cuba has been developed its biofuel production to satisfy the energy needs of its own businesses as well as foreign ones. Sugar and citrus fruit production is also extremely important, and Cuba has negotiated many deals with Brazilian and Israeli firms for investment.

You can learn more about Cuba Trade exhibitions online and

One of my favourite places to dive in is Maria la Gorda, which is one of the most scenic spots on the island. It is located near the Pinar del Rio and is full of marine life since it is closely located to a world biosphere reserve. This dive spot has two dive zones and

Cuban Scuba Diving

offers beautiful underwater sights of caves, black coral, colourful tropical fish and shipwrecks. This dive zone is a great place to explore and is one of the best places to start your scuba diving experiences in Cuba.

I have also found that one’s diving experience also varies depending in the time that you visit the region. Faro Luna is a hotspot for divers in Cuba and I have visited this region a total of four times. Faro Luna has more than 20 dive zones and is one of the best places in Cuba to see coral reefs. During summer, there is an abundance of tropical fish in the water and the corals appear to be exceptionally brighter. Each dive zone has something to offer, and you can decide on whether you want to see a shipwreck on one day and tall coral reefs the next. It is also a great place to take underwater photographs.

If you are looking to view different species of wildlife, I would suggest the Guajimico region, which has plenty of diving centres. Divers will see all sorts of fish species from barracudas, manta rays, sponges and other varieties of local tropical fish.

A quick shameless plug for our friends who we met in Havana who have set up Holiday-Velvet a Rome apartments company.

• Havana International Book Fair - in a country where literature is an all important way of expressing life in Cuba.
• Havana Jazz Festival – The fusion of jazz and a Cuba and Carribbean twist make this event a jazz fans dream.
• Cuba International Tourism Fair – A wonderful insight into Cuban life and culture.

A quick note: I was in Miami last week and tried the vacation rentals company Holiday-velvet.com and have to mention them as had a great experience. First time I have tried a holiday apartment rather than a hotel and it worked out very good cost per day and excellent to have self catering options. Unfortunately at the moment they do not yet offer rentals in Cuba but watch this space.

Cuban music really has its own style and tempo and this is reflected in Cuban jazz, with a definite unique style of its own. At the event itself last year apart from the music, the local foods and foremost, the local people, made it really quite a trip and one which I hope to do again soon.

Havana Jazz Festival

16th to 19th December 2010 are the dates for this years Havana Jazz festival. I hope to see you down there!