Cuba, Varadero, Memories Jibacoa & Havana

Cuba, Varadero, Memories Jibacoa, Havana - Jan 05 - Jan 13, 2023

We started 2023 with a week of beach vacation in the Caribbean. Cuba holds a special place in our hearts and although we've been here many times, we never have enough of it. We love the local culture, the friendly people and the beaches, some of the best in the world.  

For the first time we picked Varadero area as destination, mainly for it's proximity to the capital city Havana. We always wanted to visit Havana but during our previous Cuban vacations were too far to do it. 

The resort we chose, Memories Jibacoa is located about half way between Varadero and Havana and like all places we've been before, had pluses and minuses but overall it was a great experience, a place where we would gladly return any time.

 

Snorkeling at this resort was very easy, just few meters away from the beach you could see in the shallow water plenty of exotic fish, corals and vegetation. The pictures don't do justice to the actual beautiful underwater sights where you could easily spend hours admiring the variety of ocean life

One highlight of all our Cuban vacations is the entertainment. There are various shows during the day at the pool or reception lobby and every evening with a different theme, at the resort theater, all performed by local artists at a very high quality standard.
 

 

In the past we always had these experiences during our trips to Cuba but this time we were finally able to fulfill one of our wishes, a visit to La Habana, how the locals officially call Havana.

Day trip to Havana

At the resort we booked Havana One Day excursion through a Sunwing representative. The cost was USD 51 per person. Transgaviota bus picked us up in the morning and we stopped on our way to Havana at a place known to serve tasty Pina Coladas in a pineapple. The excursion was a guided tour through Old and Modern Havana combined with exploring the city on our own.

Havana, Cuba’s capital is the largest city in the country and the main port and commercial center. It is a unique city, full of history, with beautiful buildings and winding cobbled streets. One day is not enough to fully take in all that city has to offer but we enjoyed it nevertheless and tried to see as much as possible.

 A stop on our guided tour was at Plaza de la Cathedral, one of the four main squares in Havana. Originally was called The Swamp Square because of the muddy terrain but the current name is Havana Cathedral (Cathedral of San Cristobal). One of the most impressive architectural monuments in Cuba, it is flanked by two unequal towers and was build with a baroque facade and neoclassical interior. 

One of the most iconic building in Havana is National Capitol of Cuba. Prior to the Cuban revolution from 1959, it was the seat of the Cuban Congress. Currently it houses the Cuban Academy of Science and the Science and Technology National Library. The design is similar to the US Capitol building in Washington D.C and very often is compared to it but it is not a replica. Cubans are proud that their Capitol is "a meter higher, a meter wider, and a meter longer" than the one in Washington DC.

 

 

 

 

We also visited Placa de la Revolution or Revolution Square, a large concrete square that includes the Jose Marti Memorial, a national hero of Cuba, and is surrounded by buildings depicting important Cuban figures like Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos.

 

Among the most beautiful buildings in Havana, Basilica Menor of San Francisco de Asis is worth a mention. The Franciscan convent in old Havana is today one of the finest concert halls due to its excellent acoustics and even if it is no longer used by the monks, it is not open to visitors.

Our guided tour included a visit to the City Museum of Havana situated in old Havana. With a baroque architecture and a beautiful central courtyard featuring a statue of Christopher Columbus, the museum exhibits display antique horse carriages, furniture, military uniforms and photography exhibitions showing important events in Havana’s history. An interesting fact is the street in front of the museum, paved with wooden blocks

 

Among the best things to do in Havana is walking the picturesque streets with colourful buildings and wall murals. We walked Calle Obispo one of the popular streets in Old Havana. A narrow and the longest street in Havana, it is bustling with tourists and locals and lined with souvenir shops, bars, restaurants. It is also known for the Hotel Ambos Mundos where Ernest Hemingway had a room.

Everywhere you go in the city you will see the old classic cars which are part of the Cuban culture. It is estimated that approximately 60,000 classic American cars in Cuba, from 1950s, 1940s and even 1930s are still on the roads. The colourful cars have become a national icon and a main attraction while in Cuba, with many tourists willing to pay for a ride with such old car.

 Another beautiful building in Havana is Great Theatre of Havana which serves as the headquarters of Cuba’s National Ballet.

 

 

 

The trip included a lunch at La Divina Pastore restaurant where we enjoyed a tasty Cuban meal and admired the beautiful views of the city’s harbour and of the Castillo del Morro. Also named Castle of the Three Magi of Morro, after the three biblical magi, the castle is a fortress built as the main defense at the entrance to the harbour.

 

 

 

We ended our visit with a walk on El Malecon, a wide 8 km long promenade along the coast in Havana. The Malecon seawall in Havana is used for all kind of activities, walking, watching the fishermen, riding in classic cars, visit El Morro Castle but it is also a social hub, a meeting point for enjoying some downtime.

This was our ninth trip to Cuba and for sure won't be the last.