One of the most visited towns in Cuba is Viñales. Located about a 2 hour drive West of Havana, this place sit right in the middle of the Viñales Valley. This makes it a prime spot for growing tobacco. This laid back town is home to the country’s best hiking and rock climbing spots. Several cave systems are also located in the mountains nearby where you can find swimming holes and an underground river. The people here were the friendliest I encountered in all of Cuba.
Cuba Policy and Possible Rollback
Former President Barack Obama began the process of normalizing relations with Cuba in 2014. But sources are saying that the White house is set to roll back some of those changes.
Although no details about the rollback have been released, airlines and travelers could be effected. A formal announcement could come as early as July of this year.
So if you’re planning to go to Cuba, now is the time.
Interesting Facts About Cuba:
The US Navy Base, Guantanamo Bay, is located in Cuba. Technically, the US is leasing the land, and they actually send the Cuban Gov’t a check once a year, but it never gets cashed. It is the oldest overseas U.S. Naval Base, which opened in 1903. There are currently 9,500 U.S. sailors and Marines stationed their.
Last year, Cuba offered to pay back $270 million in debt to the Czech Republic with rum and pharmaceuticals, instead of money.
Grade school is mandatory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. They’re required to wear Uniforms that are a different color for each grade level.
Except for some medications, the Healthcare is free for locals and visitors. Cuba also has the highest doctor to patient ratio in the world. There are so many doctors in Cuba, that doctors are often sent overseas. In fact, Cuba sends more medical personnel to the developing world than the top 8 nations combined.
The Internet, Television, and Radio is censored in Cuba. But there is an underground network where locals can access the latest music, movies, and shows. It’s called El Paquete, which translates into Package. Here is where Cubans can but a USB stick that’s loaded with banned content. These USBs are updated once a week and can be purchased for a small fee.
Cuba was on of the Islands that Christopher Columbus encountered on his first voyage in 1492.
99.8% of Cubans can read. This is one of the highest literacy rates in the world. In 1961, Fidel Castro shut down the Cuban school system for an entire year. Then he had students from the sixth grade and up, teach every illiterate Cuban how to read.
Cuba has two currency. One is used by Cubans and the other used by tourists.
Although there’s been a US embargo on Cuba, the United States is the fifth largest exporter to the island. 7% of all Cuba’s imports are from the U.S.A.
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean.
Every Cuban household has a ration book entitling them to a monthly supply of food and other staple products, provided by the government. Things like eggs, bread, rice and milk are provided by the government, either for free or for cheap.
There are only about 90 miles of ocean separating Cuba and the southern tip of Florida.
Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his most famous works in Cuba. Here he wrote, for Whom the Bell Tolls and the Old Man and the Sea.
Between the ages of 17 and 28, men and women are required to serve two years in the Cuban military.
After the Spanish-American war in 1898, Cuba was briefly occupied by the United States. They gained independence on May 20th, 1902.
That's it for our interesting facts segment. If you have any you want us to add, let us know!
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