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Discover Cuba is to approach the way of life of Cubans
There are many possibilities to discover the authenticity of Cuba, for this you have to forget some of the luxurious tourist accommodations and get closer to the way of life of Cubans, their customs and traditions.
Live like Cubans
For example to live “a la cubana”, the ideal is to stay in private homes.
Staying in the private houses you are in direct contact with the Cuban, you know their customs in depth, you will receive a personalized service and you will have a local person that will be able to explain everything you want of the country: how to move in the island, interesting placest, what is the best Paladar (Cuban family restaurant) or what bar to visit to take the typical Daiquiri or tasty Mojito. They will welcome you as a Cuban and your trip will be more economical, as houses are not as expensive as hotels.
These private houses have all the necessary conditions to offer comfortable and quality accommodation.
Traveling Like Cubans
To admire the beauties of the city, use the “Almendrones” (old American cars) as a means of transport.
In Cuba there are many owners of old American cars, also called “Almendrones”, who use these cars as a taxi.
There are also “Bici-Taxi”, bicycles adapted to 3 wheels widely used by Cubans to move from one place to another.
If you want to visit the provinces, you can use Viazul buses. They are very comfortable buses. There are also private trucks that make routes, are less comfortable than the buses of Viazul, but have in their favor they are much cheaper.
Eat like Cubans
Enjoy the delicious Cuban food in the best Paladares (private restaurants)
All of them have quality service and a great variety of typical Cuban specialties, very tasty and well prepared.
Cuban cuisine is based on rice with beans or congri. Then you can add any type of meats or fish accompanied by typical green salads such as: cucumber, tomato, avocado, lettuce, cabbage, radish, watercress, etc.
A good ajiaco made with different vegetables (malanga, sweet potato, potato, pumpkin, corn and meat assortment). An exquisite dish although not so accessible for Cubans is the stew of lobster or shrimp, much appreciated by travelers who visit the island.
You can enjoy a great diversity of tropical fruits such as: melon, pineapple, guava, mango of different types, tamarind, chirimoya, bananas of different types, mamey, anon, guanabana, mamoncillos, plums, oranges, mandarins, etc., with a rich tropical flavor.
Dancing like the Cubans
On the other hand, you can dance and have fun in a nightclub or disco. The dance is part of the life of the Cuban. Cubans like to visit nightclubs where they often make humorous shows to spend an entire night drinking and dancing to the rhythm of Latin music.
If you like fun and lively nights, do not miss visiting one of these clubs, surely there will be a Cuban who invites you to dance and make you spend a night well entertained.
Another way to get to know authentic Cuba is to visit the world-famous tobacco plantations.
In Pinar del Rio are the largest tobacco plantations in the country, where the world’s most famous tobacco grows and grows: the “Habano”.
Do not miss visiting one of these plantations, where you can learn more about the cultivation of this product, the customs of Cuban farmers and see firsthand how to make a Cuban cigar while enjoying beautiful views of geographic formations very typical in this area , a unique experience.
They are fun and interesting ways to discover the experiences that the Caribbean island offers.
