Cigars and coffee are national treasures
Hand-rolled Cuban cigars are famous the world over, and the island’s rich, strong coffee is a point of pride — both are deeply tied to Cuba’s land and identity.
Free healthcare and famously high literacy
Despite its poverty, Cuba runs a universal free healthcare system and trains doctors it sends around the world. It also has one of the highest literacy rates on earth — close to 100% — the result of heavy state investment in free education, from primary school to university.
Its highest peak is Pico Turquino
At 1,974 metres, Pico Turquino in the Sierra Maestra is the highest point in Cuba. The surrounding mountains were the base from which Fidel Castro’s rebels launched the revolution in the 1950s.
The Sierra Maestra mountains
Running along the island’s southeast, the Sierra Maestra is Cuba’s largest mountain range — a green, rugged region of hiking trails, coffee farms and revolutionary history that delights visitors who venture beyond the beaches.
The Cauto is the longest river
At around 340 km, the Cauto is the longest river in Cuba, winding through the east of the island — though much of it is too shallow to navigate.
Many basics still come on a ration book
Since 1962 Cubans have received staple foods — rice, beans, sugar, oil — at subsidised prices through the *libreta*, a monthly ration booklet. It is a vivid, everyday reminder of the island’s centrally planned economy.
Congrí is the classic dish
Cuban comfort food at its best, congrí is rice cooked together with black beans (and often a little pork), served with almost every meal — simple, hearty and delicious.
It treated thousands of Chernobyl children
In a little-known chapter of history, Cuba took in and treated more than 20,000 children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, mostly from Ukraine, in a long-running free medical program at Tarará near Havana.
Its “third” revolutionary hero
Alongside Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos was one of the key commanders of the Cuban Revolution. His image, like Che’s, is still everywhere; he died in a plane disappearance in 1959, aged just 27.
Internet is available, but limited
For years the internet was tightly restricted; today Cubans and visitors can get online via public Wi-Fi hotspots, hotels and mobile data, but connections remain slow, expensive and patchy by international standards, so plan to be offline more than usual.
FAQ
Is Cuba safe for tourists?
Cuba has low violent crime and is generally very safe for visitors; the main frustrations are shortages, queues and unreliable internet rather than danger.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry season, roughly November to April, is the most pleasant; the summer and autumn are hotter, wetter and fall within hurricane season.
What is the nearest airport?
Havana (HAV) is the main gateway; Varadero (VRA) serves the big beach resorts.
