Stay Curious: Experience Cuba From Your Living Room

Explore Cuba and its culture from your home
Explore Cuba and its culture from your home | © Sean Pavone / Alamy Stock Photo
Madison Salters

As staying in becomes the new normal, Culture Trip invites you to indulge in a spot of cloud tourism. Experience the sights and sounds of a place – without even leaving your home. Next up on our virtual tour is Cuba.

Right now, it can feel like the closest thing to a Cuban vacation is blasting ‘Havana’ and pretending a pretzel stick is a contraband cigar. While there’s a charm to that, the marvelous thing about today’s global community is the ability to build bridges and explore cultural resources from our homes.

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Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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If you’re bored of the same WFH view, whisk yourself away on a Cuban staycation. Cuba is a dynamo country, from Havana’s bustling shopping street of Calle Obispo to the beaches kissed warm by Caribbean waters. Steep yourself in the diversity of Cuba – without worrying if you’re a safe distance apart from other revelers.

Gossip over a café cubano

The café cubano (called a cafecito in Cuba) is served at takeout and grocery windows around the country. A lynchpin of hospitality, you cannot visit a Cuban home without being offered a congenial cup. Thanks to the country’s history of grocery rationing, divvying up grounds has always gone hand in hand with creating community.

The cafecito is a shot of espresso with sugar

For your at-home café cubano experience, brew a shot of espresso with a heaping teaspoon of sugar blended in. If you’re feeling fancy, grind beans yourself for that peak corner-shop aroma – just make sure to do it extra-fine. Dark roast holds up better; the bitter notes sing against the sugar. Whisk it to create a perfect foamy spumita on top. For a crash course, check out how these Cuban-American experts do it.

A single to-go cup is called a colada, which is meant to be shared and portioned out into several smaller, individual cups. Essential additions to any Cuban coffee are visita and chisme: checking in on neighbors and venting, laughing, lamenting and smiling. Pop on to a video call, teach a friend to make a cafecito and exercise your vocal cords.

Read a book that’s a real Cuban feast

Step aside, Hemingway. The real moveable feast is in José Lezama Lima’s concerto of a novel, Paradiso (1966), which pulls you to the head of the table at a Cuban feast.

It took 20 years for Lima to write his love song to Cuban Baroque literature. Still assigned in schools to this day for its literary merit, it’s not all prosaic; Paradiso is famed for its rather salacious passages and sensual descriptions of a gourmand world.

‘Paradiso’ was first published in 1966

Chapter seven is especially delicious, with euphoric descriptions of a dinner party menu that includes Cuban staples like steamed langoustine and plantain soup, and frozen custard topped with fresh coconut and pineapple. Lima presents readers with a celebration of food and life.

Watch a film that gets hyperlocal

Fernando Pérez unapologetically put Cuban daily life on center stage with his 2003 masterpiece Suite Habana.

The film has a résumé that would impress even the pickiest mother-in-law. It won first prize at the Havana Film Festival and the SIGNIS Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and is celebrated worldwide for showcasing a side of Cuba that tourists never see.

‘Suite Habana’ has won numerous awards

Poignant and intense, Suite Habana has almost no dialogue. You, as the viewer, get to peek into an intimate series of snippets from 10 daily lives. Suite Habana shows you the real Cuba, as up close as you could ever go – even if you were there yourself.

Check it out for free in this archive.

Kick back to some son cubano music

Son cubano, a genre of Afro-Cuban music that is at the root of most salsa tunes today, can trace its origins to the highlands of Cuba in the late 19th century. Since that time, the style has inspired other genres, from hip-hop vibes to pop beats and sounds from local street musicians.

Notable for its unique vocal style, reliance on Spanish guitar and lyrical meter, you can catch a more modernized version here, with the famed Buena Vista Social Club. Their song ‘Chan Chan’ is a celebratory foot-tapper about love, and how we travel for it.

The Buena Vista Social Club is known for their pre-revolutionary Cuban music

The Buena Vista Social Club is a popular group of notable musicians from the island, established in 1996 to help revive the heritage of pre-revolutionary Cuban music.

Salud! Nurse an ice-cold Cuba libre

No drink welcomes the evening quite like a Cuba libre.

It’s as ironic as it is delicious. Originally made with American Coca-Cola and Cuban rum, when a trade embargo began between the two countries in 1962, Americans couldn’t get authentic Cuban rum, and Cubans were without Coca-Cola.

Classic Cuba libre cocktails feature American Coca-Cola and Cuban rum

To make it, grab some ice, cola, rum and a lime. Combine two parts cola and one part rum. Juice half a lime over ice in a highball glass, and then pour the cola-rum mixture over it. Stir it up, and you’re done. Garnish with lime on the rim. (To enjoy it virgin, add a little more lime and some coconut syrup in lieu of rum.)

Before saying cheers, some Cubans pour out a few drops to keep bad luck away – do it over your sink if you have carpeting.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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