Soltura Cuba Travel Blog

To Soltura Cuba Travelers, You may have heard the news regarding Trump’s policy on Cuba. We want to assure you of what the facts are as we know them on the ground. The announcement made by the State Department should have no effect on our trip. The US media has been confusing some of the facts. For example, one media source announced that Cuba was no longer issuing tourist visas to Americans, while the truth is that the US embassy is no longer issuing visas to Cubans who wish to visit the US. This is simply because there will not be enough embassy staff to process visas for Cubans. We want to assure you that there is no negative sentiment here toward US citizens. In fact the entire security force of Cuba has been fully cooperating with the US in the investigation into the sonic incidents that damaged a few embassy workers. Several highly regarded US scientists have concluded that it would have been impossible to have intentionally done this. It was likely faulty covert listening device...

For travelers interested in going to Cuba, here are 10 beautiful places you can’t miss when visiting this historic Caribbean Island. Old Havana, also known as Habana Vieja, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving some of Cuba’s richest history. You will not be disappointed roaming Havana’s cobblestone streets, while being serenaded by street musicians of all kinds. For many, Havana is the highlight of Cuba. Baracoa, founded in 1511, is the oldest city in the Caribbean nation. With incredible views of the sea, this town is known for its breathtaking views and hike on Yunque, a mountain famous for its flat top at 589 meters high. Trinidad, a well preserved colonial town in Cuba is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for it’s impressive Spanish-colonial buildings, you can enjoy Playa Ancon, a beach on the southern coast, and enjoy a meal on the rooftop of a historic restaurant in the evening. Playa Paraiso, a paradise beach, is breathtaking. Located on Caya Largo del S...

Written by Sophia Bass A younger generation of Cuban artists are beginning to express newer social conditions through graffiti art in Havana. These works of art are touching on the shifting social and political views that are straying away from Communism. Some would say that newer demonstrations of Cuban art are symbolizing growing independence and materialism on an island that has been isolated for decades. Graffiti began emerging under President Raul Castro in the last few years. As the Caribbean nation has slowly relaxed some of it's communist views and become more influenced by international culture, there has been a rise in Cuban street art. Cuban artist, Yulier Rodriquez states, "I want to create a social conscience with my work, an awareness about what we are turning into." His alien like creatures with malnourished limbs and heads, touch on the state of the Cuban people. Although Cuba has began to transform in recent years, Rodriquez expresses concern that Cub...

Written by Ian Sergeant More news from Cuba yesterday: Roger Martinez was able to access the news at his grandmother’s house. Electricity, water, and internet (essential for Cuban millennials) are all being restored neighborhood by neighborhood at a faster pace than was initially expected. Some of the damages: A few deaths have been reported, mostly from fallen debris from buildings a century or older in a couple of the more densely populated areas of the city that hadn’t been evacuated. A few neighborhoods on the outskirts of Havana set low and close to the water were prone to frequent flooding anyway, and sections were completely destroyed. Among the destroyed zones in the suburbs was Fuster’s decades old community project, Fusterlandia (this was a section of a Havana suburb with wild structures completely covered in mosaics in the style of Gaudi). The architect Fuster gave a live interview on TV. He said the only thing Irma didn’t tear down was a wall where a tiled mural of a ...

Written by Sophia Bass In late August, the Harvard Jazz Band traveled through Cuba, as part of a musical tour of the island. Under the guidance of Director Yosvany Terry, a native Cuban, they toured the historic museum and home of Tata Güines, one of Cuba's top percussionists, and viewed the National Folkloric Company of Cuba perform Afro-Cuban dance, percussion, and chanting. The purpose of the trip was to appreciate the diverse fabric of Cuban music, while also examining it's social and political importance. Marking the Harvard Band's first tour in 25 years, the trip highlighted the vibrancy of Cuba's complex music and rich history of preserving old traditions. "How they learn to internationalize rhythm is just fundamentally different than in the United States," said Ethan Kripke, a sophomore who plays drums. He expressed that the clave is fundamental to Cuban music, aiding percussion, singing, and dancing in Cuba. Students explored the streets of Hav...

Written by Ian Sergeant  Our thoughts are with our Cuban friends this week, after Hurricane Irma ravaged the northern coast of the country, and had a devastating effect on the entire country. As of this writing, the entire electrical infrastructure has been severely damaged, which means that Cubans are also without internet access. The Civil Defense System worked all night trying to keep people safe. He says they were heroic in their endeavors. Many trees are down, buildings completely destroyed, and 5th Avenue (where most of the embassies are) is completely under water. Much rebuilding will need to be done as the water subsides, and we will lend a hand in any way that we can - at the very least by continuing to bring our business to support the people of Cuba. We received word from our recently licensed attorney friend Amalia regarding Cojimar, Hemingway's favorite place to fish and to get away from fame-chasers. Much of it was destroyed in the hurricane. Amalia lives next to Coji...

Written by Sophia Bass Cuba's coffee industry is reviving. Guantanamo province has historically been known for its coffee plantations and mountain ranges, producing some of the highest quality arabica beans in the world. While 90% of Cuba's coffee comes from Eastern Cuba, 8% comes from the central provinces, and 2% from the Western province of Pinar del Rio. Due to deforestation, Cuban coffee no longer grows in the surrounding areas around Havana. In recent months, Cuba has partnered with international marketing companies and foreign investors to increase coffee exports. Cuban Mountain Coffee (CMC), is investing in the revival of Guantanamo's coffee crop and wants to market the coffee beans on the international market. In addition, CMC is partnering with Nespresso to supply the company with green coffee beans. Nespresso, a division of Swiss Food in Nestle, instigated excitement across the United States when it began exporting the first Cuban coffee to the U.S. market in h...

Written by Sophia Bass, translated below by Izzy Valdés. Cuba's culture has historically been known for its contemporary art that emerged out of the 1980's. Today, many contemporary Cuban artists are traveling to international museums and art galleries receiving praise for their work. With new relations in the United States many believe that Cuban art will become widespread. For decades, Cuban art has been marginalized due to political and societal reasons. Article, 10 Contemporary Cuban Artists You Should Know , presents 10 contemporary Cuban artists that play a critical role in portraying Cuba's history and national identity. Sculpting and installation artist, Armando Marino, is one of the most popular Cuban contemporary artists. He is known for portraying issues of gender, race, sex, human trafficking, and freedom in contemporary society. Marino has been exhibiting across the world in Europe, the USA, and Africa since 1990. Cuban painter, Alicia Leal, is a h...

Written by Sophia Bass Cuba has not been historically known for its food scene, but this has rapidly changed in the last decade. Havana’s food scene has become widespread and is attracting travelers from all regions of the world. With nearly 2,000 private restaurants in Havana, visitors in Cuba can enjoy a variety of cuisine from Italian to Vietnamese. When Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul, took control of the government, there began a shift in the restaurant industry. He increased the amount of chairs from 12 to 50 in restaurants and issued new licenses. This started the transformation of Havana’s food scene. The re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba in during Obama’s presidency in 2015 additionally influenced the restaurant scene in Cuba. Today, travelers who visit Cuba can enjoy a filet mignon, shrimp risotto, or a grilled seafood platter with lobster tail. Cubans who travel to Europe, Florida, and Mexico are bringing back foreign flavors and incorporating them into...

Written by Sophia Bass The recent boom in travelers visiting Cuba is aiding tourism throughout the Caribbean region. In the last year, Cuba’s wave of tourism rose by 13.9 percent to a record of just over 4 million. With a 4.2 percent increase as a whole for the Caribbean region, Cuban tourism officials are expecting a record high for tourism in 2017. St. Lucia Prime Minister, Allen M. Chastanet stated, “Cuba opening up is a fantastic thing for the Caribbean. It only strengthens the brand of the Caribbean.” With nearly 2 million international visitors in the first few months of 2017, Jamaica also hit a record high, raising $1 billion in tourism. Because Cuba attracts visitors from Latin America, Europe, Canada, and the U.S., Cuba may inspire visitors to travel to other Caribbean islands. Currently, the United States government allows U.S. travelers into 12 categories, such as support for the Cuban people, humanitarian missions, family visits, journalism, research, or people to people ...