Cuba, the Caribbean's largest island at 110,860 km² with 11.2 million inhabitants, has lived under US embargo since 1962: an isolation that paradoxically preserved its heritage. Nine UNESCO sites dot the island, including Old Havana with its 600 colonial monuments, Trinidad frozen in the sugar golden age, and the Viñales Valley, where 70% of the world's tobacco for Habanos cigars is grown. Cuba is also the cradle of rum, salsa, son cubano and Hemingway's beloved daiquiri, while 60,000 1950s American cars still cruise the Malecon. With 5,500 km of coastline, the island lines up Varadero, Cayo Coco and Cayo Largo. An authentic destination 9 h away by direct flight, 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, about €22, valid 30 renewable days, with a passport valid 6 months. No mandatory vaccines; tap water is not drinkable. Foreign bank cards are often refused, even in big hotels: cash rules, so bring euros to exchange for CUP at the official CADECA, and count €80-120 a day. Internet remains very limited, with public ETECSA Wi-Fi at about €1 an hour: prepare to disconnect. Customary tip of 10-15% in restaurants. On departure, 50 cigars maximum with an official invoice for 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).