Would you visit the Caribbean Sea? Are you unsure about which region or island is the ideal choice? Do you prefer beautiful beaches, but historical time travel is also important for you? The island of Cuba has all of these!
Location of Cuba
The Republic of Cuba – or colloquially just Cuba – is a Caribbean island nation. It’s the largest island of the Greater Antilles surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean from the east, the Gulf of Mexico from the west, and the Caribbean Sea from the south. Neighboring island are the Bahamas to the northeast, Haiti to the southeast, and finally the Cayman Islands and Jamaica to the south. The total surface area of the island is 110 861 km2 and has 11 million inhabitants, of which three-quarters live in cities. There are 7 ports and 78 airports in Cuba.
History of Cuba
Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba in 1492. From 1526 the Spaniards imported African slaves to the country. The fight for the independence of Cuba started in 1868 and lasted until 1878. In 1886 they banned slavery. After Spanish authority, the USA took control, but Americans also left in 1902. Cuba was nominally independent, but practically still controlled by the US. Fidel Castro was the leader of the revolution in 1959, then he became the dictator of the country. Castro installed an oppressive communist regime.
Cuba became a satellite state to the Soviet Union, while the relation act with the USA was turning sour. In 1961, 1400 emigrants set up in the USA and tried to land in the Bay of Pigs. The invasion was a complete wash-out. In 2008 Fidel Castro resigned. The former Spanish colonial island is now the most populated Caribbean nation and one of the last socialist countries of the world.
Beaches in Cuba
The largest Caribbean island, Cuba, is a charming country. Besides the timeless beauty of its cities, you shouldn’t forget about its beautiful beaches, which guarantee quality relaxation.
Playa Paraiso:
The Playa Paraiso is a gorgeous, almost untouched seacoast. It’s famous for its ancient white sandy shore and sparkling turquoise water. In 2016, it earned the title of the third most beautiful beach in the world. The beach is known for Cuba’s calmest water. The beachline offers a relaxing atmosphere and a perfect escape from the usual milling of Cuba.
Varadero beach:
Varadero beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cuba, that offers a full service in terms of a seaside holiday. The wonderful, 25 km long, straight, white, sandy shore spreads out on the whole peninsula. The combination of blue and green water creates a great border between the land and the gullet of Florida. Besides all of this, there are more than thirty diving spots on the peninsula and you can enjoy other water sports as well. If you wish for a more adventurous program, rent a boat to discover the localities.
Playa Los Flamencos:
Playa Los Flamencos, known as Cayo Coco beach, has the most popular all-inclusive holiday resort. It’s an island that belongs to Cuba. The 22 km long, white, sandy shore of the island and its sapphire water is every vacationer’s dream come true. The Cayo Coco connects with Cayo Guillermo on the west and Cayo Romano on the east. Take the water to explore the most stunning beaches on the island!
Main attractions in Cuba
The colonial cities in Cuba haven’t changed with the passage of time, and still, they’re more wonderful than ever. When you visit Cuba, you may feel like time has trapped you on the cobbled streets, where everything is telling stories about an era, when pirates landed on the Caribbean islands. It’s worth spending a night in Malécon to taste the street food and enjoy the melodies of live Cuban jazz music. Visit the one-time house of Ernest Hemingway, the FincaVigía, which is a museum now. The city of Cienfuegos is known for the Plaza de Armas square, which is surrounded by neoclassical buildings. The city is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage. If you come here, you should definitely go sightseeing in Cienfuegos. Here, you’ll certainly find anything you need.
Weather in Cuba
The Caribbean region has the traits of all year hot and humid tropical climate. The weather is somewhat cool and dry from the middle of January to the middle of April. From the middle of June to the middle of November it’s usually hot, wet, and rainy. Hurricanes are frequent on the island. Many times more than one sweeps over the region annually.
Sailboat charter in Cuba
The largest ports of Cuba:
Port of Havana
The largest port of Cuba is just a few km from the city centre. Boats can enter the port from the north through a short, straight inlet. It divides into three parts: Marimelena, Atarés and Guanabacoa. The depth of the seabed is between 4, 6 and 11, 9 m. The port can accommodate larger boats. Due to its size, location and infrastructure, there are several commercial terminals. It is an important centre for fish, fuel and oil trade.
Port of Mariel
They started building the port of Mariel in 2009. The canal was dredged to 18 m (even deeper than the port of Havana) so Super-Panamax vessels can also use it. Enormous cruise ships can moor here, there are logistics centres, shopping centres and many entertainment options for tourists.
Port of Baracoa
It is located at the eastern end of Cuba. It is a well-protected port against winds. The canals are 22 m wide. The maximum depth of the seabed is 7, 6 m. The services include refuelling and water resupplying. It is a major port for sugar export.
Port of Cienfuegos
The main port in the southern part of the island is La Perla del Sur or the Pearl of the South. The port of Cienfuegos is considered a large port in Cuba. It can accommodate boats up to 150 m. The depth of the seabed is 12 m. While Christopher Columbus visited in 1494, it was formally founded in 1819.
Port of Casilda
This small port is mainly recommended for local boats and smaller boats. The main attraction of this port is the nearby beach. It is less known, so you can relax in a peaceful environment. You should also visit the local restaurants that offer authentic Cuban specialities.
Port of Santiago de Cuba
The second-largest port city of Cuba is located in the south-eastern part of the island, in Oriente Province. It is a major port for import and export in the region. The bay is quiet and protected against winds. The famous Casa del Habano is a few-minute walk from the port. Here, you can buy the best-quality Cuban cigars and you can visit the Bacardi Museum.
Port of Nuevitas
The port of Nuevitas is on the Guincho Peninsula. It is a smaller port and a major shipping point for sugar. The depth of the seabed is 9-10 m, the canals are 7-10 m wide. There are port elevators and cranes that work around the clock. The services include water resupplying and refuelling. However, boat maintenance is only available to a limited extent. Thanks to tourism the ports have full service and equipment. Many think of Cuba as constant milling and liveliness, that only offers a perfect pastime for young people. This island, however, has a lot more up its sleeves. Buildings silently talk about history, which you can also experience when you arrive. Don’t hesitate to take off on this journey!
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More information about Cuba
The climate diagrams are based on 30 years of hourly weather model simulations. They give good indications of typical climate patterns and expected conditions (temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and wind). The “mean daily maximum” (solid red line) shows the maximum temperature of an average day for every month in Cuba. Likewise, the “mean daily minimum” (solid blue line) shows the average minimum temperature.
The wind rose for Cuba shows how many hours per year the wind blows from the indicated direction. The diagram for Cuba shows the days per month, during which the wind reaches a certain speed.
The climate in Cuba is fairly uniform from one area to the other, but there are some differences that are worth considering. On the coast, the climate is generally balmy year-round. Some months however are rainy and others dry. Cuban climate is influenced by the northeast trade winds in winter and by east-northeast winds in summer. The annual mean temperature is 26 °C. The amount of sunshine in Cuba peaks in spring, when the winter disturbances decrease, and before the clouds and rains of the warm season.
During the rainy season, there’s heat everywhere, it is tempered by the trade winds or the breeze. The hottest months are in summer in July and August. The daytime temperature rarely exceeds 34 °C. Winter in Cuba is pleasantly warm in the north and even quite hot in the south. In the south, where the only mountainous areas are found, there is a greater difference between the slopes. Hurricanes develop in the region between June and November. The rainy season lasts in Cuba from May to October. Late November brings the Dry Season which lasts through late April.
Rent a sailboat in Cuba, and cruise around Cuba
Day 1. Baracoa – Moa 62, 00 km (38, 53 mi), Day 2. Moa – Tanamo 47, 17 km (29, 31 mi), Day 3. Tanamo – Nicaro 29, 92 km (18, 59 mi), Day 4. Nicaro – Antilla 43, 58 km (27, 08 mi), Day 5. Antilla – Banes 49, 26 km (30, 61 mi), Day 6. Banes – Punta Gorda 96, 39 km (59, 89 mi), Day 7. Punta Gorda – Cayo Güín – Baracoa 54, 26 km (33, 71 mi).
Read more about Cuba sailing itineraries, or choose from Caribbean sailing destinations.
