Cuba Beyond The Beaches: 5 Things To Do And See

Top 5 Unusual Experiences to Enjoy During Your Vacation to Cuba

There can be so much more than beaches and mojitos to your Cuba vacation. The island might not be packed with clubs, galleries, and various cool types of modern entertainment. However, Cuba offers plenty of fascinating and unusual experiences that can make your vacation an unforgettable experience.

Be sure to try them all in order to discover a different side to the island, overlooked by many tourists.

1. Marvel at Fusterlandia

Visiting Fusterlandia should be the first thing you do in Havana because it will allow you to get a better understanding of the Cuban people. Despite all the challenges and hardships they face, they remain friendly, positive, and festive. Fusterlandia, formerly an impoverished neighborhood on the outskirts of Havana, is a visual representation of this spirit.

The entire neighborhood is covered in mosaics, which turn near-hovels of the past into a magical wonderland. The place was created by Jose Fuster, a famous Cuban artist. Gaudi and Picasso inspired him and you can definitely see this in his work, which has forever transformed one of the most desolate parts of Havana.

2. Ride in a classic car

The Cubans are people who do not break in the face of a challenge. Instead, they find ways to make something good even from an unfavorable situation. One such thing is what allows you to enjoy taking a classic car tour in Havana. Classic cars are one of the symbols of Cuba and they definitely add the charm to the old city. However, the origin of their presence in Havana is not very positive. In fact, getting a modern vehicle onto the island is not easy.

Issues with trade were what prompted the Cubans to treat their 50’s vehicles with the utmost care. Today you can benefit from this by taking a fantastic retro car for a ride in a Caribbean paradise.

3. Dance in a cave

Disco Ayala is the place every seeker of the best nightlife entertainment needs to visit. Located in a cave in Trinidad, Cuba, this disco is sure to take a special place in your memory. Not only will you dance about 100 feet underground. You will also be visiting the supposed hideout of an infamous serial killer from the 1800’s.

Bear in mind that the disco is very popular, especially on weekends. It offers a fantastic light show, but being a cave, the ventilation there isn’t the best. Therefore, prepare to get hot in every sense of the word.

4. Be at least a bit terrified of Presidio Modelo

Presidio Modelo is a defunct prison located in Nueva Gerona, Cuba. Visiting this place will be a stark reminder of the violent Cuban Revolution and other military conflicts that tore through this beautiful island.

The prison is a rather interesting architectural design comprised of five blocks. The buildings are circular with an observation post in the center of each. Quite a few prominent Cuban citizens spent some time imprisoned within these walls. Today, a part of the complex houses a school and a research center, thus showcasing the great change the country has undergone.

5. Admire steam engines

It’s not only old cars that the Cubans have respect and fondness of. They also treat their steam engines with a bit of reverence, which you can see when visiting the Steam Engine Museum in Havana. Here you can admire quite a few rusty old trains that roamed the island during the times of sugar plantations.

Cuban Railroad was the first in Latin America and it played an important part in the country’s history. You can also see some old locomotives in Mal Tiempo Train Depot in Cienfuegos.