Soltura Cuba Travel Blog

Written by Sophia Bass and Izzy Valdés. Translated below by Izzy Valdés. The majority of international travelers may not know about the lesser traveled destinations in Cuba. There is a special village right in the very heart of this island that is worth discovering. Camagüey, formerly called “Santa Maria Del Puerto del Principe” is one of the first seven villages founded by the Spaniards in Cuba and also one of those places you should not miss when traveling to this Caribbean Island. Founded in 1514 in the northern coast of the territory, the town became an urban center for the sugar and cattle industry. Known for its beautiful colonial architecture, you can find endless labyrinthian alleys, numerous squares, and ornate cathedrals, as the city is known for its Catholic history. Exploring a city like Camagüey is quite a challenge. When it seems you have reached the end of a street, it merges with the beginning of another, totally unexpected - right before your eyes you have ...

Written by Sophia Bass  My first trip to Old Havana I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of art vendors, musicians, and colorful fruit stands that colored the streets. I could have spent days wandering around the Cathedral Square that is a central destinations for travelers around the world. After a long day of walking in the heat, I stumbled across the San José Artisans' Market.  Contained in a large warehouse to protect travelers and locals from the sun, arts and crafts vendors set up stands from dawn to dusk to sell paintings, ceramics, clothing, instruments, cigars, and crafts. I can recall men hustling to sell cigars and handmade wooden boxes. My partner bought a beautiful carved wooden box with the Cuban flag carved on the front and two cigars for my father. As my eyes wandered to the paintings and ceramics, I purchased two brightly colored plates painted with blues, greens, oranges, and yellows to decorate my home. As Old Havana is blend of Afro-Spanish c...

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 ...