Cuba, the Caribbean's largest island (110,860 km², 11.2 million inhabitants), a socialist republic since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, has lived under US embargo since 1962 — an isolation that paradoxically preserved its heritage. The country counts nine UNESCO sites, including Old Havana (1982, 600 Spanish colonial monuments across 4 km² around four iconic squares), Trinidad (1988, museum-city frozen in the 18th c. sugar golden age), the Viñales Valley (2000, world-unique karst mogotes where 70% of the world's tobacco for Habanos cigars is grown) and Cienfuegos (2005, French colonial city founded by Bordeaux settlers in 1819). It is also the cradle of rum (Havana Club since 1878, Bacardi since 1862), of salsa, of son cubano popularized by the Buena Vista Social Club, of cigars (Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta) and of the daiquiri invented by Hemingway at El Floridita in 1921. The 1950s American cars — 60,000 Buicks, Cadillacs and Chevrolets preserved by the absence of spare parts — are the iconic « almendrones » on the Malecon. With 5,500 km of coast, Cuba also lines up Varadero (20 km of white sand), Cayo Coco and Cayo Largo. An authentic destination reachable in 9 h direct, ideally combined with Mexico's Yucatán.
Duration : 10 days
Route : Paris-Havana flight (10 h) → Havana (3 nights, casa Old Havana UNESCO + Buick convertible + Bodeguita mojito) → Viñales (2 nights, casa veguero + Cohiba cigars) → Cienfuegos (1 night) → Trinidad (3 nights, colonial casa + Casa de la Música salsa) → return flight
Duration : 14 days
Route : Paris-Havana flight → Havana (3 nights) → Viñales (2 nights) → Cienfuegos (1 night) → Trinidad (3 nights) → UNESCO Camagüey (1 night) → Santiago de Cuba (2 nights, revolution birthplace) → Cayo Coco / Cayo Largo (3 nights all-inclusive beach) → Havana return flight
Duration : 14 days
Route : Paris-Havana flight → Havana (3 nights) → Trinidad (3 nights) → Havana-Cancún Mexico flight (1 h) → Tulum (3 nights, beach + Maya city) → UNESCO Chichen Itza (1 night) → Mérida colonial (1 night) → Cancún (2 nights all-inclusive) → return flight
Cuba is ideally visited from November to April (dry season, 22-28 °C, few rains). December-February: tourist peak (3-6 month advance booking casas particulares), highest prices. March-April: best compromise (perfect climate + moderate crowd + July Santiago carnival). AVOID JUNE-OCTOBER Caribbean hurricane season (60% probability June-October, peak August-October, Cuba is on the Atlantic hurricane trajectory). Festivals: Santiago Carnival (July, Cuba's largest, 4 days, Afro-Cuban heritage), Havana Latin American New Cinema Festival (December), Havana Jazz Plaza (January), Santiago Trova Festival (March-April, traditional music).
Cuba is one of the Caribbean's safest countries. The « tourist card » is mandatory (€22 at Air France boarding or via an agency, 30-day valid renewable, no e-visa), with a biometric passport valid 6 months. No mandatory vaccines (up-to-date DTP recommended, mosquito repellents useful for dengue and zika, rare but possible). Tap water is not drinkable — bottled water mandatory. Credit cards are very limited: European or Asian Visa-Mastercard are often refused even in big hotels, and US cards are totally banned by the embargo. Cash dominates — bring euros (preferable to USD), exchanged for CUP at the official CADECA. Count €80-120/day. Internet remains very limited: ETECSA public Wi-Fi in hotels and central parks (€1/h with a card), and only 5% of casas particulares have it. Prepare for disconnection. Customary tip: 10-15% in restaurants, €5-10 for the driver. On exit, max 50 cigars with official invoice for French customs.
November-April (dry season, 22-28 °C, few rains). December-February: tourist peak, highest prices. March-April: best compromise. Avoid June-October hurricane season (60% probability, peak August-October).
Essential Cuba (Havana + Trinidad + Viñales): 10 nights. With Cienfuegos + Santiago de Cuba: 14 nights. With Varadero or Cayos beach: +4 nights. Mexico Yucatán combo: 14 nights.
Recommended casas particulares (95% of tourists choose them) — 1997-regulated Cuban private economy, authentic family immersion, €25-50/night with breakfast, French-English-speaking tourism-trained owners. State hotels (Iberostar, Meliá, Kempinski): 5★ comfort for transit but less authentic Cuban experience.
Comfort (casas + paladares + private driver): €2,590-3,200/person. Premium (Iberostar Parque Central + casas + private 5-day 1950s American car): €3,800-4,800. Excellence (Kempinski Manzana + exclusive casas + Cohiba VIP driver): €5,800+.
Official Havana boutiques (Casa del Habano on Calle Obispo, Conde de Villanueva): Cohiba Behike €25-100/authentic cigar with guarantee + customs invoice (max 50 cigars export). Family vegueros Viñales: €5-10/cigar (comparable quality, but without origin guarantee).
Mandatory « Tourist card » (€22 at Air France boarding or prior agency purchase, 30-day valid renewable +30). No e-visa. 6-month valid biometric passport.
VERY LIMITED — European/Asian-issued Visa-Mastercard generally refused even big hotels. USA cards TOTALLY REFUSED embargo. CASH DOMINANT — bring euros (preferable to USD), change to CUP moneda nacional at CADECA. Count €80-120/day cash.
Very limited — ETECSA public Wi-Fi in hotels + central parks only (€1/h ETECSA card). 4G mobile since 2018 but slow + expensive for foreigners. Casas particulares rarely have Wi-Fi (5%). Prepare for total disconnect.
Very safe (one of Caribbean's safest countries). Rare Old Havana tourist pickpockets. No areas to avoid for tourists.
Yes, classic: Cuba + Mexico Yucatán (Havana-Cancún flight 1 h, Tulum + UNESCO Chichen Itza), + Jamaica (Havana-Kingston flight 1 h, Bob Marley + Negril), + Bahamas (1 h Nassau flight), + Dominican Republic (1 h 30 flight).