Cuba esencial: De La Habana a Cayó Coco

About the destination: Viñales is a small town and municipality in the north-central Pinar del Río Province of Cuba. The municipality is dominated by low mountain ranges of the Cordillera de Guaniguanico such as Sierra de los Órganos. Tourism centered on the Viñales Valley is the area being protected by constitution and declared a national monument. The Viñales Valley has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since November 1999, for the outstanding karst landscape and traditional agriculture as well as vernacular architecture, crafts and music. The attractions in Viñales include the Viñales Municipal Museum, Casa de Caridad Botanical Gardens, Museo Paleontológico, Palenque and the nearby caves in Valle de Viñales National Park.

About the destination: The Zapata Swamp is located on the Zapata Peninsula in the southern Matanzas Province of Cuba, in the municipality of Ciénaga de Zapata. It is located less than 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of Havana. Within the Zapata Swamp are numerous areas designated for environmental preservation, such as Zapata Swamp Natural Reserve and Las Salinas wildlife sanctuary, which is part of the larger Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve (IUCN category VI) which in total is over 6,000 km² and the largest protected area, not only in Cuba, but also the Caribbean.

About the destination: Cienfuegos, capital of Cienfuegos Province, is a city on the southern coast of Cuba. It is located about 250 km (160 mi) from Havana and has a population of 150,000. The city is dubbed La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South). Cienfuegos literally translates to "one hundred fires"—cien meaning "one hundred", fuegos meaning "fires".

About the destination: "Trinidad is a town in the province of Sancti Spíritus, central Cuba. Together with the nearby Valle de los Ingenios, it has been one of UNESCOs World Heritage sites since 1988. The waterfalls just outside of the town in Topes de Collantes are beautiful. These are accessible either by car or by taking one of the day tours offered by Cubatur. There is also salsa dancing in the square at night. Check out the colonial homes. The houses are open and some of the antiquities are visible from the streets. Check out Casa de la Música: It is an open air location where there is a small platform from which groups perform at night. Usually, there is salsa musica and great salsa dancers there enjoy the music and dance."

About the destination: It is the capital of the Province of Camagüey. It was founded in 1514 as a village, called Santa María del Puerto Principe, the third Cuba. The historic center of Camagüey was designed Human Heritage by the UNESCO. The visitants will be charmed with sumptuous churches, and the labyrinth of tortuous streets, designed in another time to confuse the pirates. The city of Camagüey is the cradle of the National Poet of Cuba, Nicolás Guillén, and seat of the famous Ballet de Camagüey. The colorful cobbles squares, historic statues and intriguing museums are easy to find. Many jars can be observed in the streets. The people of Camagüey produced these jars to recollect the water of the rainfall during a drought. Nowadays, the jars are one of the decorative symbols of the city. The main places to visit in Camagüey are the historic center, that is biggest one in Cuba; the Ignacio Agramonte Provincial Museum; the church of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad; Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Merced; it is also possible to go up the tower of the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria close to the San Juan de Dios Square; the Casino Campestre park above the river, is the biggest urban park in Cuba and has many shade; and the local market is in the shore of the Hatibonico river, in the south of the historic center.

About the destination: It is the main city of the province with the same name. It is one of the seven villages founded by Diego Velázquez in the first moments of the conquest and Spanish colonization of the island of Cuba. From 1515 is the capital to the middle of the 16th century. The historic urban center was declared National Monument on 10 October 1978. It is said that is “the most Caribbean city of Cuba”. The main places to see in Santiago de Cuba are: -Castle of San Pedro de la Roca: declared Human Heritage by the UNESCO in 1997, which is the most complete and best preserved example of the Hispanic American military arquitecture, basically based in Italian and renacentist design. -Sanctuary of la Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre: it was declared Patrona de Cuba in 1916 and crowned by the Pope John Paul II during his visit to Cuba in 1998. The appearance of the Virgin de la Caridad is one of the legends of this city. The current sanctuary where there is a mass every morning is from 1927 and has a plate altar and other ornamental objects of big value. Below the cabin of the Virgin is situated the Miracle’s Chapel, a little enclosure where the believers deposit different compliment, with different values. -The Big Stone: treasure of the east Cuba. It is a big stone situated almost 1000 meters above sea level, witness of the volcanism of Paleógeno.

About the destination: Guardalavaca is a town in the Holguín Province of Cuba. It is a tourist location due to its white sandy beaches and warm waters. Guardalavaca beach is protected by a large coral reef and is visited by both local Cubans and tourists. Most Cuban workers in the all-inclusive hotels are transported daily in buses from neighbouring cities like Holguin, Banes, and Rafael Freyre, as only a few Cubans live in Guardalavaca due to the small size of the resort. Between Guardalavaca and Playa Esmeralda are dry tropical forest where endemic Cuban birdlife like hummingbirds Cuban emerald can be seen. Endemic Cuban Anole knight anole lizards are numerous in these forest. A daily flea market is popular for handmade Cuban souvenirs and tourists from beaches further away from Guardalavaca centre like Playa Esmeralda and Playa Pesquero come here on excursion. A main tourist attraction is the Taino museum and museum village between Guardalavaca and Banes, and the wildlife trail at Bahia de Naranjo. Bahia de Naranjo also offers swimming with dolphins and a small zoo. Frank Pais Airport is situated approximately 1 hour drive south of the resort and is a reason this area was developed for beach-tourism. Ecotourism and Wildlife tourism trips to Baracoa Tropical Rainforest use the large mass-tourism all-inclusive resorts of the Guardalavaca area due to their convenient location near Frank Pais Airport.

About the destination: "Cayo Coco is an island in central Cuba, known for its all inclusive resorts. It lies within the Ciego de Ávila Province and is part of a chain of islands called ""the King's Gardens"". The cay is administered by the Morón municipality. The island is known for its long beaches and many resort hotels. You can visit Playa Pilar that is one of the most beautiful beaches of the world, it is possible to take the local bus. It is also possible to reach the beach by cathamaran but it depends it itinerary. It is also possible to visit the nearest town Moron. We can also visit the capital city Ciego de Avila and a crocodile farm. Theres some tours organise from most of the resorts."

About the destination: Havana is the capital city of Cuba and the focal point of Cuban culture, rich in visual artists, musicians, poets, dancers, actors and writers and it is the base of the world famous Ballet Nacional. Havana is the kind of city where history oozes from every street and building and from every church and plaza. Vintage cars, baroque style buildings, grand mansions and palaces and beautiful courtyards adorn its streets. Walk along the famous Malecon for stunning views of the Bay and the Morro Fortress, which lies behind historical colonial style architecture. Old Havana, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982, is the oldest part of Havana city and it is a mixture of narrow cobblestone streets, elegant beautifully restored buildings and ancient crumbling ruins. This part is merged with the most modern and eclectic buildings which give a touch of dynamic cosmopolitism. The dome of the National Capitol Building dominates the Havana skyline. Inside there is a statue of La Republica, the biggest indoor bronze effigy in the world. There is also an enormous and historic gallery, a 25-carat diamond that marks the exact centre of the city and the headquarters of the Cuban Natural History housing the country's largest natural history collection. There are two major cigar factories in Havana, the Partagas being the oldest. This working cigar factory is another “don’t miss” Havana experience. Havana is a unique and seductive city that hums with street life, joy and charm.