5 ways to Make the Most of Your Time in Havana.

If you are planning a trip to Havana be sure to throw on your fedora and head out for a cruise down El Malecon via a Classic Car Tour. Yes, it’s touristy but it’s hard to resist cruising around town in a classic 1957 Cadillac convertible. These tours are a great way to see all the major sights in a day.

Cabaret Parisien at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba is one of the city’s many cabaret shows. It’s a fun and entertaining way to spend an evening. I kept thinking Ricky Ricardo was going to appear on stage singing his famous Babalu, but he didn’t. Highlights for me were these cute Cuban dancers shaking their booties in some colorful costumes.

Hire a driver and venture outside of Havana. In a day I was able to visit the town of Vinales for some cave exploring, stopped for a cup of coffee at Cafe De Maria in Pinar del Rio, visited a Tobacco plantation and hiked up Orquiderio Botanical gardens in Soroa.

Beach lounging. Take a day trip out to Varadero to see its famous blue waters and relax on the beach. Las Playas de Este in Santa Maria Del Mar is another beach area I would suggest if you are short on time but in need of a beach day. Las Playas de Este has more locals than tourists and is much closer to Havana than Varadero.

Ride around in a Coco Taxi, not sure why these were so much fun to me but they were. I got a kick out of riding around Havana in these yellow round coco-taxis.

My Cuban adventure may have been short but I left with a new appreciation for their culture and its people. Cuba is a country I am eager to return to knowing it will offer friendly people, good music, and a rich history.