Cuba - Lonely Planet [372]
The key to traveling in Cuba is simply to ask for what you need and some kind person will help you out.
Sights & Activities
Like any great city, Havana has plenty for kids (Click here). It has kids’ theater and cinema, two aquariums, two zoos, a couple of great parks and the massive new Isla del Coco amusement park. Resorts are packed with kids’ programs, from special outings to designated kiddy pools. Guardalavaca has the added advantage of being near many other interesting sights such as the aquarium at Bahía de Naranjo. Parque Baconao in Santiago de Cuba Click here has everything from old cars to dinosaur sculptures and is a fantasy land for kids of all ages.
Other activities kids will love include horseback riding, baseball games, cigar-factory tours, snorkeling, miniature golf, exploring caves, and the waterfalls at El Nicho and Topes de Collantes.
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CLIMATE CHARTS
Cuba is hot, with humidity ranging from 81% in summer to 79% in winter. Luckily the heat is nicely moderated by the gentle Northeast Tradewinds and the highest temperature ever recorded on the island was less than 40°C. Beware of cold fronts passing in the winter when evenings can be cool in the west of the island. Cuba’s hurricane season (June to November) should also be considered when planning; see also When to Go.
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COURSES
Cuba’s rich cultural tradition and the abundance of highly talented, trained professionals make it a great place to study. Officially matriculating students are afforded longer visas and issued a carnet – the identification document that allows foreigners to pay for museums, transport (including colectivos – collective taxis) and theater performances in pesos. Technological and linguistic glitches, plus general unresponsiveness, make it hard to set up courses before arriving, but you can arrange everything once you arrive. In Cuba, things are always better done face to face.
Private one-on-one lessons are available in everything from batá drumming to advanced Spanish grammar. Classes are easily arranged, typically for CUC$5 to CUC$10 an hour at the institutions specializing in your area of interest. Other travelers are a great source of up-to-date information in this regard. See also individual chapters for details on specific courses.
While US citizens can still study in Cuba, their options shrank dramatically when the Bush administration discontinued people-to-people (educational) travel licenses in 2003.
Language
The largest organization offering study visits for foreigners is UniversiTUR SA ( 7-261-4939, 7-55-55-77; agencia@universitur.com; Calle 30 No 768-1 btwn Calle 41 & Av Kohly, Nuevo Vedado, Havana). UniversiTUR arranges regular study and working holidays at any of Cuba’s universities and at many higher education or research institutes. Its most popular programs are intensive courses in Spanish language and Cuban culture at Universidad de La Habana. UniversiTUR has 17 branch offices at various universities throughout Cuba, all providing the same services, though prices vary. While US students can study anywhere in the country, they must arrange study programs for the provinces (except Havana or Matanzas) through Havanatur (Click here).
Students heading to Cuba should bring a good bilingual dictionary and a basic ‘learn Spanish’ textbook, as such books are scarce or expensive in Cuba. You might sign up for a two-week course at a university to get your feet wet and then jump into private classes once you