Posts Tagged ‘cuba’
The Marine Biodiversity Of Cuba
January 6, 2010
Cuban and Spanish Scientists from the Cuban Oceanology Institute and the Spanish University of Oviedo respectively will broaden their research on the Cuban seabed. One of the areas with the largest bio-diversity in Cuba – Peninsula of Guanahacabibes – has been selected to start the project which will then extend to other areas such as Cienaga de Zapata and Jardines de La Reina also rich in marine species.
Jesus Ortega a Spanish Biologist and Professor of the University of Oviedo in an interview conducted by Prensa Latina affirmed that they will keep researching on the west of Cuba where around 700 species are still pending for classification. So far in the area 50 specimens have been acknowledged as new species.
One of the most significant discoveries in the region is the striking Emiliotia Inmaculatus (tiny mollusck with semi-transparent shell) and the Cubalaskeya Machoi both found at Cueva Pedro( undersea cavern almost 33 meters under sea level).
Similar marine life can be found in the Bahamas and the south coast of Florida with extreme bio-diversity such as the one found in Guanahacabibes.
Peninsula de Guanahacabibes has so far been responsible for the findings of 50 percent of all mollusk varieties found in Cuba. This zone was declared a protected area of the Biosphere in the late 1980 and the least spoilt part of Cuba in terms of Tourism.
This is a zone of surprising marvelous richness, with an enormous variety still to discern alleged Cuban ecologist Jose Espinosa, and continued – Cuba might be a centre for plankton larvae that could favour the most needed healing the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea.
Maria La Gorda is the only tourist resort that can be found in the vicinity of peninsula de Guanahacabibes and it is very popular amongst snorkellers, divers, oceanologists and holiday makers in general.
Want to find out more about Cuba, then visit Perucho Ochoa’s site on how to choose the best Cuba Holidays for your needs.
The Silent Sea Paradise of Cuba
December 31, 2009
Cuban Beaches with white, grey, black and golden sand contrast with blue or aqua-green seas; the calm water near a mountain peak hides the inner beauty of its seabed. Some of its coasts are on the Caribbean; others, on the Atlantic. In both cases, its shores tempt you to give yourself over to the sensual, magical movement of the waves.
The insular shelf is bounded by an extensive coral reef where a great variety of colorful fish bewitch scuba-diving buffs, both beginners and experts. In addition, there are underwater caves to explore. Casting loose your mooring lines in Cuban waters means setting sail into a spectacular sea adventure.
The cays which form the outermost fringe of the archipelago are particularly enticing. They have been left in nearly their natural state, with their original flora and fauna, so they still look much as they did when Christopher Columbus discovered these lands over five centuries ago.
It has over 3560 miles (5746 kilometers) of irregular coastline, including more than 200 bays and over 300 beaches whose sand is of different colors and textures. It is common knowledge that the Cuban sea is of excellent quality.
There are places-anonymous as yet or little known-virgin beaches which are not the exception but rather the rule. Large or small, they are waiting to be discovered on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, a preserve of the biosphere; the coasts in the center and eastern parts of the country; and in tranquil Baracoa, at the eastern extreme of the island. You can enjoy them to the full in complete safety. There’s nothing quite like walking along a beach for hours with nothing to disturb you.
In 1985, the French oceanologist Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s crew was very impressed by Cuba’s seabed-most of all, by their exploration of the Cristobal Colon, a Spanish ship which was sunk during the naval battle that was fought just off Santiago de Cuba in i8g8. According to the divers, who have worked all over the world, few other places are as well preserved or have such a wealth of marine life. His colleagues waxed so enthusiastic that Cousteau, then 75, decided to put on an aqualung and see for himself. He wasn’t disappointed.
Scientific studies estimate that there are over 500 species of fish; 200 different kinds of sponges (cup, tube and branch); around 60 kinds of coral; and a large sample of mollusks, crustaceans, gorgonians, algae and Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) in Cuban waters.
Cuba undoubtedly is one of the most stunning tourist destinations in the World. Add the irrefutable fact of a super rich culture and you have the ideal recipe for a memorable holiday.
Jose Maurette is the Director of Quest World Travel Ltd and a specialist in organizing holidays to Cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk for further information on the best Havana hotels.
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Cuba a la carte
December 26, 2009
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. It is a captivating blend of cultural heritage, music, astonishing architecture, mountains, forest, rivers and of courses its magnificent white sand beaches. Travellers to Cuba will be charmed by this fascinating island. Cuba Holidays offers can be found everywhere on the net.
If you are a water sports lover Cuba is the perfect destination, with astonishing white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, coral reefs and limestone formations just few meters away from the shores.
For SCUBA diving packages or sailing holidays to Cuba the best is to speak to a specialist. Only few tour operators deal with this kind of package holidays. They are more tailor made and it requires more knowledge and research from the agent.
For history buffs, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Trinidad on the south coast, and the old town of Havana are must see places. At Guama there is an Amerindian village, which has been carefully reconstructed, with wooden bridges linking several islets. Visitors eating outside their hotels should be aware that outside Havana, restaurant menus may be more limited than on many other Caribbean islands, and will be dominated by locally available produce. In contrast, you’ll find no shortage of exotic rum cocktails.
If you are looking for shopping holidays then Cuba is perhaps not the best destination although there will be a number of hand craft markets available on each an every location in Cuba. Tobacco, rum and coffee are the most popular souvenirs tourists buy in Cuba. Black coral jewellery is also very demanded.
You could have a tailor made programme designed just for you. Ask a specialist to put something together for you. Let him know what are your preferences and he/she will get back to you with some good options. Don’t expect it to be necessarily expensive. In some cases tailor made packages are cheaper than the average beach package holiday.
If you are unable to find the holiday in Cuba that you are looking for, or would like more information about staying in Cuba, or flying to Cuba, please call to speak to our dedicated travel team, who are on hand seven days a week to help you find your perfect stay in Cuba.
Jose Garces is the Director of Quest World Travel Ltd and a specialist in organizing holidays to Cuba. If you require further info about Cuba you can visit: Info on Cuba
Pinar del Ro: The Most Western Province Of Cuba.
December 21, 2009
Few scenes in Cuba exhibit as much natural beauty as Pinar del Rio. Blessed by the nature, this province stores two of the six World Reservations of the Biosphere in the Island.
The fascination of its flora and fauna represents the primary beauty of the county, and no doubt about it is the territory of the finest tobacco in the world. For those who want to be in direct contact with nature, Pinar del Rio is a must see place. Very close to the city and on route to the Viales Valley, the Aguas Claras Villa stands out for is its characteristic features and it is built in the lands previously occupied by a stunning property in the tropical landscape.
Also situated in the Viales Valley, surrounded by its astonishing mountains, is the Camping site Dos Hermanas (Two Sisters) that easy the enjoyment of the landscape. The options for visitors are countless; you can do mountain climbing, trekking, horse back riding or visit the largest cave formations in Cuba.
This land is an important artists’ cradle. Illustrious son of this county was Cirilo Villaverde, author of the most important Cuban novel in the XIX century, “Cecilia Valdes”, considered one of the great Cuban writers of all times. The music and the plastic arts, on the other hand, have big exponents like the composer Pedro Rush; author of the well-known piece “Nosotros” and the contemporary painter Pedro Pablo Oliva.
The most frequent party in the area is the guateque, rural celebration that is always carried out around a typical Cuban meal: pig roasted in spike, congr, plantain tostones, yucca with dressing and other vegetables and also with drinks as the Guayabita del Pinar, a typical delicious rum produced in the area.
If you want to visit Pinar del Rio in your holidays in Cuba, you can fly to Havana and then take a transfer to this area. It is located at about 160 kms far from Havana and it takes about 2 hours by road. There are no international or domestic airports in this province so flying directly is not an option. There is although the chance to arrive by boat to the Marinas located in Cayo Levisa and Maria La Gorda.
To know the land of the valleys and mogotes there is anything better than the trips and visits to its more famous scenery: the Valley of Viales declared Cultural Landscape of the Humanity (UNESCO); the tourist complex The Terraces, example of tourist community of sustainable development; Soroa, with its orquideario and its beautiful waterfall; and the ruins of French coffee plantations of the XIX century, among others.
I will always recommend a visit to Pinar del Rio province, especially if you are the kind of tourist that likes to get to know the real country. I would say that including in your holidays to Cuba a stay in this territory will definitely be the high light of your holiday experience in Cuba.
Jose Mauricio is a travel Consultant specialist in organizing Cuba holidays. He is natural from Havana City and has a wealth of knowledge that will share with you. He can help you organize your tailor made holidays to Cuba and make it unique.
Twin Centre Holidays To Cuba.
December 21, 2009
If you are reading this article then you are probably looking at options for your holidays. If you have picked Cuba among the huge number of options available in terms of tourist attractions then you are already half way through getting a once in a lifetime unique experience.
You probably know this already but it is never less important to highlight that Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands and have a wealth of options in terms of places that you can enjoy while visiting Cuba. There are places to please almost every demand in terms of tourist attractions.
If you are looking to mainly relax after a hard long period of work and at the same time let your self been invaded by the Cuban culture then I would suggest you do a twin centre holiday. There are many options and I will mention in this article which in my opinion are the most interesting ones.
Havana and Varadero: Ideal formula for people who are not willing to travel long ours along the road. Both cities are only few miles away from each other and they can be connected in less than 2 hours by taxi. Havana is recommended for at least 2 or 3 nights so that you can get to see and enjoy what this amazing city has to offer. Varadero is considered by many one of the best beach destinations in the world. It certainly is the most famous in Cuba and it offers a wealth of activities such as swimming with dolphins, rides in a submarine, horse back riding and all sorts of water sports.
Havana and Cayo Largo: This one in my opinion is a very attractive combination. You will be arriving to Havana’s airport and after staying few nights in Havana you will be transferred to the airport very early in the morning to fly to Cayo Largo. Why bother taking a domestic flight? Well let me tell you that Cayo Largo has in my opinion the best and most virgin beaches out of all the beach destinations in Cuba. You can also find a wealth of wild life cohabiting with the few hotels that exists in this small island.
Havana and Jibacoa: This twin centre holiday is ideal for those who like to relax far from that comes with some huge beach resorts. It is very close to Havana. So if you feel you did not have enough of the Capital and its night life or its restaurants you can very easily take a taxi from Breezes Jibacoa Hotel and you will be in Havana in less than 1 hour. Not very expensive a taxi will cost about 30 Cuban convertible pesos (15 Sterling pounds).
These are just some of the combinations you can do but the fact is that you can do dozens of them. Or you can put together as many locations as you want. We will obviously help you out deciding what is best for you and what is feasible taking into account the duration of your holidays. If you need to know more please do not hesitate to contact us.
Jose Mauricio Garces is a reservation consultant specialist in organizing Cuba Holidays and tailor made holidays to Cuba. He has been involved in travel and tourism in Cuba for the last 15 years.
Havana Hotels.
December 12, 2009
If you are looking around to make up your mind about which Havana hotels to go for your upcoming Cuba Holidays then you are reading the right article. I will let you know which are the best hotels in Havana categorized by star rating and the average price per person.
Havana City is divided into 14 municipalities. The old town known as Habana Vieja is probably your best bet when it comes to choose the best location to stay in Havana. There are other 2 interesting places to stay such as Vedado and Miramar but they will be the subject of a future article,
If money is not an issue with you then go for either of Parque Central Hotel, Saratoga Hotel or Santa Isabel Hotel. The last one is one of the most luxurious palaces built in the 18th century to house the Governor of Cuba. This hotel only have 35 rooms and the views are just fantastic.
Other hotels worth staying are the boutique 4 star hotels in the Old Town. All managed by the leading Havana hotelier Habaguanex. The most relevant fact about these hotels is the fact that they were all built in the 18th Century and they all have a great deal of character.
Among these 4 star hotels worth mentioning are Florida Hotel and Conde de Villanueva Hotel. The first one featuring 37 rooms is one of the most beautiful palaces in the heart of the Old Town.
On the 3 star category then you can check Hostal Valencia, Comendador, Meson de la Flota and Beltran de Santa Cruz hotels. The only problem with this hotels is that you are not going to find availabilities if you don’t book well in advance as they are highly demanded for their price and comfort.
The very cheapest hotels you can find in the Old Town are Caribbean Hotel and Lido Hotel. The room prices of these hotels are around 15 CUC per person per night. These hotels are suitable for tourists on a very tight budget.
In general Hotels in Old Havana are the best ones in terms of location and quality of the service. If you want to stay in a 5 star hotel you will be looking at around 85.00 CUC per person per night. A more economic yet very decent accommodation would be the 4 star hotel option with prices around 60.00 CUC per person per night.
Please visit Cuba holiday packages web site by J. M. Maurette for further information on Havana Hotels
Havana’s Most Charming Square.
December 8, 2009
You might wander around as much as you want in Havana looking for a best place to hang out and you will never find a place as beautiful and attractive as The Cathedral Square. This spot is the subject of admiration of each and every person tourist or local that has ever visited it.
In earlier times it was named Plaza de la Cinaga (Swamp Square), and later on “Plaza de la Catedral”, it is a place that has much to do with the beginning of Havana, founded on the 16th Century in the proximities of Havana’s harbour.
Late in the 18th century and after many refurbishment to a religious building which eventually became The Cathedral of Havana Cathedral the Square was to be known as The Cathedral Square. The Cathedral it self is just amazing. On its facades the best baroque architecture of Havana can be appreciated which contrast with its complete Neoclassic style in the interior. Beautiful buildings surround the this church harmonizing with the splendour of the square.
Several significant events and festivities find home in this amazing little landmark of Havana. Festival, music concerts and gala dinners organized by the government for important groups have found the perfect venue in Cathedral Square. An excellent weather all year around is always the perfect allied and escorted by a superb and colourful architecture you will be able to soak up the atmosphere to the beat of salsa band.
As a special feature, one of the nearby alleys is the seat of the most famous Cuban restaurant: La Bodeguita del Medio which reaffirms its quality after serving for more than 60 years since its foundation.It is an emblematic restaurant for the Cuban tourism, with the walls full of around two million autographs of all clients from different time periods, and photographs left by outstanding figures such as Ernest Hemingway, Mario Benedetti, Pablo Neruda or Errol Fryn.
The list of celebrities is very long and it has been like that for decades now. Today holiday makers can enjoy one of the best restaurants not only in terms of the food but also in terms of character. Its bar is very intimate, small and cosy and like in many other bars in Havana music is always played by a small traditional Cuban band.
Many people spend time chatting in this site which is always amusing due to the presence of guitarists and singers, as it has happened for more than six decades, when its founder Angel Martinez (deceased), used to personally inquire about the likes of his guests.
The best hotels in Havana are just few minutes walk from this square. To avoid taxis and unnecessary hassle just book your self in one of the boutique hotels in The Old Town and you will be able to just walk outside and enjoy a caf in any of these captivating squares. If you need any assistance or advice you can always contact us as we will be very happy to share our expertise with you.
If you need to know more about how to make the most out of your cuba holiday packages please contact us at www.quest2cuba.co.uk
Cuba – More Than Beautiful Beaches
December 6, 2009
Cuba tours are exciting and interesting alternatives to more mundane destinations. If you have a sense of adventure, if you like romantic destinations more than glitzy high-rises, you will simply love a visit to Cuba.
During the miserable winters of the Northern hemisphere, Cuba is the ideal place to break away for a couple of weeks of sunshine. What you will find in Cuba is not only warm weather but warm and friendly people with a passion for music and culture.
Most tours start in the crumbling, atmospheric old capital of Havana. With it’s many old cars dating back to the l950′s and’60′s and its gently decaying colonial buildings Havana has been the backdrop of many romantic movies.
If you want to get away from the never ending bustle of the city, take a taxi to the malecon (sea-wall) and join the locals in appreciating the gentle, salty breezes. And when the sun sets head for one of the numerous live music venues where you can easily dance until the sun rises again… Or you drop dead from fatigue.
Cuba has much more to offer than Havana though. In the far south of the country there is a city called Baracoa – located in such a beautiful spot between sea and mountain, surrounded by lush vegetation, that it prompted Christopher Columbus to say that no human eye could ever view any more beautiful place.
Cuba’s second largest city is Santiago de Cuba. It is a city of all-night music venues, stunning colonial churches and lots of interesting museums. And yes, there is still the faint smell of revolution hanging over everything – this is after all the city where the revolution is supposed to have been born.
The third largest city in Cuba is Camaguey. If you find this a confusing city to navigate, nobody will blame you. It was specifically planned to be confusing when it was founded in the 17th century – to keep away pirates, robbers and other attackers. There are many parks, the market garden is a beehive of activity and there are also many art galleries.
No visit to Cuba will be complete without a visit to Trinidad – in many respects the most beautiful colonial city in Cuba. With numerous beautiful white beaches nearby and a pulsating night life, this is certainly one of the most enchanting cities in all of Cuba.
Many tour operators nowadays offer specialized Cuba tours. Some tours concentrate on visiting historical areas, others more on showcasing the culture of the country and still others on exploring the natural beauty of this magnificent land.
Jose Mauricio Maurette Garces is a reservation consultant and co owner of Quest World travel Ltd . He has a great deal of experience organizing holidays to Cuba . If you need to arrange a tailor made Cuban Holiday please follow the links above.
Cuba: The Largest Island In The Caribbean
November 30, 2009
Considering holidays in Cuba? Here is one Caribbean island where you would not want to spend all your time on the beach. The people are bright, self-assertive and handsome. The heritage of Cuba is so rich as are the monuments and palaces throughout the country. A Cuban Holiday is without a doubt one to consider.
These are just some of the facts to consider and places and things you should not miss in your holidays to Cuba.
The country has evolved with a strong personality from its experience from Spanish colonization, slavery, civil war, invasion, revolution and relentless economic embargo. Havana the islands proud capital is energetically restoring the buildings of its elegant historic quarters and the grand old cities of Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad still recall their 16th century beginnings.
Today, Canadian and European tourists come to Cuba’s 35 most popular playground for its super water sports facilities by day and the countless discotecas and the hotels’ lavish cabaret floorshows by night.
Cuba’s offshore isles, islets, cayos (keys), and rocky sandbars with a tree or two, number in all 4,195, grouped in five archipelagos around the main island. The biggest, Isla de la Juventud, has been inhabited since prehistoric times, the others worth a visit have been partly transformed into modern beach resorts-Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Largo, Cayo Romano and Cayo Coco-each with superb white sands and good facilities for swimming, sailing and deep-sea fishing.
The Flora numbers no less than 8.1(00 varieties, Dense sub-tropical forest cover the humid lower mountain slopes, providing valuable timber products. Woods on the higher, drier slopes are principally pine and eucalyptus. The island boasts an astonishing assortment of palm trees, the best known being the royal palm, indigenous to Cuba.
The list of places to visit and things to do goes on and on. There are hundreds of beaches, interesting cities and amazing landscapes. Keep reading as much as you can about Cuba so that you can get the most out of your Cuba holidays.
Jose Maurette is the Director of Quest World Travel Ltd and a specialist in organizing holidays to Cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk for further information on the best Havana Holidays.
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