Cuba is made for tropical tourism: the diamond-dust beaches and bathtub-warm seas the color of peacock feathers; the bottle-green mountains and jade valleys full of dramatic formations; and the ancient cities, with their flower-bedecked balconies, rococo churches, and palaces and castles evocative of the once mighty power of Spain. There are the cabarets to visit, and mojitos and cuba libres to enjoy, and the world's finest cigars to smoke fresh from the factory, as you rumble down the highway in a chrome-spangled '55 Cadillac to the rhythm of the rumba on the radio.
The country is blessed with possibility. Cuba is a large island: it’s sheer size—1,250 km end to end—takes many visitors by surprise. So where to go? You’ll want at least two weeks to explore the main highlights, and longer if you want to include the eastern provinces. Here’s the perfect 21-day self-drive itinerary that takes in the entire country.
|