virtual tour of cuba

Exploring Cuba

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Welcome to the beautiful and diverse country of Cuba! Our comprehensive video explores many of the fascinating aspects of this picturesque nation. Geography, politics, history, economy, culture, and natural history are many of the topics we explore, along with others. Don’t take it from us, have a look at our preview! 

Video length: 25:20 minutes

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National Standards for this video

State standards, learning resources with this video*.

Quizzes – PDF & Online

Exploring Cuba – Match-Up

Mapping Cuba

Country Report

Exploring Cuba: Video Breakdown

Control in Cuba: Cause and Effect

Draw A Scene: Exploring Cuba

Universal Resources 

National Standards

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Classroom Ideas 

Greetings Around the World

Explore different ways to greet people across various cultures (bowing in Japan, saying  hola  in Cuba, etc.).

International Cuisine

Explore signature foods from various cultures such as French baguettes, Spanish rice from Barcelona, Cuban rice, beans, and plantains. 

Transportation Around the World

Compare/contrast various modes of transportation in different countries (Japanese subways vs. classic cars in Cuba)

Independence Day Around the World

Compare/contrast celebrations such as Bastille Day (France) and National Revolution Day (Cuba). Explore the similarities and differences between Independence Day traditions in America and other celebrations around the world. 

Exploring Vocabulary

Identify key vocabulary terms while previewing each video. Prompt students to find the meaning of each word as they watch the video. Example: What does the word bohio  mean? Think about the meaning of this word as you watch this video about Cuba.

Have students identify the following for Cuba: landforms, population, how it is similar to the United States, history (how it came to be), type of government, economy, architecture, famous sites, interesting facts, languages spoken, etc.  

Homes Around the World

Compare/contrast houses and other structures from various countries ( bohios  in Cuba, etc.)

What is Communism?

Explore the effects of communism in Cuba. Prompt students to make cause/effect connections and write about how communism changed life and culture in Cuba. 

Landforms and Bodies of Water

Identify the various landforms in Cuba.

Alternatively, identify and compare landforms and bodies of water around the world such as mountains and waterfalls in Cuba, or volcanos in the Galapagos Islands.

Have students print out a map of Cuba and identify where the sites in the video are located.

Draw a scene from the Cuban video you just watched.

Cuban Festivals

See if there are American festivals that celebrate the culture of Cuba.

Cuban Recipe(s)

Create a recipe for a dish seen in the video from Cuba (use fractions, measurements, + directions).

Classroom Ideas for ALL Videos

Here are dozens and dozens of ideas that you can use in your classroom along with our videos!

Topics Covered In This Video

Fun facts about Cuba

Location & climate

Geography of the island

History of Cuba

Cuban Revolution

Cuban Missile Crisis

Definition of Communism

Havana’s famous sites

Vintage cars

Santiago de Cuba

Santa Clara

People of Cuba

Cuban celebrations

Economy of Cuba

Imports & exports

Flora & fauna

Cuban cuisine

Cuban sports & hobbies

Ernest Hemingway in Cuba

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Virtual Vacation: Cuba

May 7, 2020 • 4 min read

Cuba is a wonderfully rich Caribbean nation © Kristian Ashley / Lonely Planet

Being in social isolation doesn't stop us dreaming of all the places we'd like to visit; in fact now we've got even more time to daydream. Escape on a virtual vacation to bring a little piece of Cuba to your living room.

Whether it's the fluid movements of salsa dancers, the blare of a trumpet or the waft of cigar smoke in the air, Cuba is a country that lingers in the mind. From the rural valleys in Viñales to the winding streets of Camagüey, the Caribbean nation is so much more than classic cars and pretty beaches. 

Our editors independently select the best products to help you have amazing experiences. If you purchase through links on our site, Lonely Planet may earn a commission from the retailer.

Best Movies

Romance: Before Night Falls   (2000): The life and struggles of Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas. Fresa y Chocolate   (Strawberry and Chocolate, 1993):  Directors Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabio film marries the improbable themes of homosexuality and communism in 1979 Havana. The Waiting List (2000): A group of people waiting for a bus that never arrives, decide to transform an old decrepit Cuban transit station. 

Drama: Che: Part 1, The Argentine   (2008):  The Steven Soderbergh classic biopic that focuses on Che Guevara's Cuban years. Mambo Kings (1992): A tale of two Cuban brothers who bring a different type of music to 1950s USA.  El Ojo del Canario   (2010): Atmospheric biopic of José Martí, Cuba's national hero.

Documentary: Sons of Cuba (2009): A deep dive into the Havana Boxing Academy and the journey of a collection of 9-year-old boys training to become the best boxers in the world. Havana Suite (2003): A unique documentary that uses sound and images to follow 13 Cubans in their daily lives.  Celia: The Queen (2008):   A look at the life and accession to fame of the "Queen of Salsa" – Celia Cruz.

Classic Cuban music

Cuban hip-hop, best novels, cuban classics:.

Our Man in Havana  (1958): Graham Greene lampoons both the British Secret Service and Batista's corrupt regime in this classic novel. The Old Man and the Sea (1952): Ernest Hemingway's last major fiction about an aging Cuban fisherman who fights with a giant marlin.  Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life  (1997): Jon Lee Anderson's meticulous research helped unearth Che's remains in Bolivia.

Havana Blue (1991): Leonardo Padura's whodunit novel centers on a Cuban police lieutenant who must figure out if the gorgeous wife of a missing high-level official is actually behind it all.  Dirty Havana Trilogy  (2002): Dirty, in-depth study of life and sex in Havana during the Special Period. Three Trapped Tigers ( Tres tristes tigres 1965): Guillermo Cabrera Infante's tale (praised as a Cuban Ulysses ) of a man in search of his home in pre-Castro Havana. 

Best Podcasts 

History of the cuban revolution: an exhaustively detailed podcast about cuba's history., cubacast: a podcast that deals with all things cuban from news and politics to travel and history. , learn the local language .

• ¡Hola! - Hello 
• ¡Acere, qué bolá! – What's up with you?
• ¡Chao pescao! – Goodbye fish! 
•   Está volao – That's amazing
• Gracias – Thank you

Spanish language resources Duolingo : bite-size, fun lessons via app, desktop or mobile device  Lonely Planet Spanish phrasebook and Dictionary : book filled with key words and phrases  

Cuba's culinary scene has certainly grown over the years and though it's still not on level of other Caribbean countries, there are a host of dishes to enjoy. Most of the dishes are made up of rice, beans, meat (primarily pro, chicken and beef) and plantains. Here's a recipe for ropa vieja . 

Best Videos

No trip to Cuba is complete without a classic mojito. Make this sugary and herbaceous cocktail at home with our Destination Drinks recipe.

Cultural Highlights

Tropicana cabaret cuba, epic landscapes , valley of vinales.

Shop Online

Clasdetina - known as "cuba's first independent sustainable fashion brand" the boutique offers tote bags, hats and t-shirts..

        View this post on Instagram                   HABANA PELOTA ⚾️ DISPONIBLE en ⚫️⚪️ para fuera de Cuba en clandestina.co ONLINE 📦 Y para Cuba en 🔴⚪️ entrando en https://bit.ly/clandestinaencasa Inspired by the love of baseball. More than just a national sport, it's a passion. . . . #clandestina99 #diseñocubano #cuba #habana #onlineshopping ⚾️ @carlaguiardinureyes @cubamodela ⚫️⚪️ & @elrollodocumental 🔴⚪️ A post shared by Clandestina (@clandestina99) on Apr 24, 2020 at 8:51am PDT

Alma - A small boutique that specializes in goods produced by Cuban artisans from around the country.  

        View this post on Instagram                   Straw tote | Un bolso hecho a mano podemos personalizar los colores de cintas. Otro detalle para mamá en su día #hechoamano #handmade #cuba #almacubashp #havana #habana A post shared by Alma Cuba Shop (@almacubashop) on Apr 30, 2020 at 5:08pm PDT

You might also like: 

Cuba beyond the capital: best things to do outside of Havana Cuba's classic cars: your ticket to ride   Havana nights: enjoying Cuba's capital after hours    

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Havana: a virtual tour through food, music, films and books

Travel vicariously through the arts, culture and cuisine that give the city its beauty and rhythm

A 1950s highway, bleached to sepia by the Caribbean sun, leads from Cuba’s Santa María beaches through palm and hibiscus. It passes close to the fishing village of Cojímar, crests a small rise and there is Havana, sweeping frontage wounded but upright against the turbulent waters of the Florida Straits.

During Havana’s first centuries, its vast natural harbour was filled with Spanish treasure ships waiting to be shepherded home against British and Dutch wolves. Alexander von Humboldt, visiting in 1800, wrote of “gazing upon the fortresses crowning the rocks east of the port … and the city itself half-hidden by a forest of spars and sails of shipping.”

Soon sirens set up on this rocky shore to sing to travellers. Graham Greene, in his memoir Ways of Escape, wrote of being drawn by the “brothel life, the roulette in every hotel”. The 1959 revolution swept all that away but, in truth, it just swept it under another layer in half a millennium of city life.

“If in 1820 Havana was the most intriguing and beautiful and rhythmic city in the New World,” Joshua Jelly-Schapiro wrote in his 2016 book Island People , “it was also those things in 1920 – and it remains so, beneath the crust of decay and politics, as we near 2020, as well.”

Cojímar, that fishing village, was where Ernest Hemingway kept his fishing boat, Pilar, but there’s a sense Habaneros want to shrug off Papa’s cult. In the neighbouring barrio of Alamar, where refugees from the wars in Latin America have created an edgy community, the Chanchullero restaurant has a sign outside saying Hemingway nunca estuvo aquí (Hemingway was never here).

The tunnel under the bay opens up, and I prepare for the guagua (bus) to dive beneath the fortresses that Von Humboldt described. I glance at the city into which I am to be thrown: at the Havana Libre hotel, the gold dome of the Capitolio , the waves frothing white on the corniche, or Malecon.

Adrenaline spikes the blood, as it always does. I’m as guilty as any foreigner of objectifying this city, but let me try to get under its skin.

From the tunnel, I pop up in front of the Museum of the Revolution, the neo-classical, Tiffany-decorated pile where the pre-revolution dictator Fulgencio Batista (who built the tunnel) fled from heavily armed students. I get off near the statue of José Martí, one of maybe 10,000 in Cuba. The poet is falling dead from his horse as he charges, all but single-handedly, into Spanish lines during the wars of independence. To understand Cuba, it helps to imagine a forlorn, romantic poet charging to certain death.

The old town lies ahead: nostalgia for life on these narrow streets has driven many of the city’s best novels, often written from abroad. “Flowers spilling off balconies, and lichen on the sea-rotted walls, astragal fences and antique doors,” wrote Oscar Hijuelos in his award-winning The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.

Often the buildings are so rotted by rain they’re sliding into the street. But others, restored by the recently departed city historian Eusebio Leal, shimmer in newfound glory. It all adds up to what Cuba’s finest novelist Alejo Carpentier, called “the city of columns”.

Here, residents suck their teeth at passersby, machismo thrives and tolerance has to be fought for. Anna Veltfort’s superb graphic novel Adiós mi Habana portrays her disillusion after being attacked on the street in 1967 for being a lesbian, then persecuted by the authorities for immorality.

Now, though, Havana’s streets are eerily safe. To find crime in Havana, you need the novels of Leonardo Padura Fuentes and his careworn cop hero Mario Conde.

Conde can also be found on Netflix, in the adaptation Four Seasons in Havana. He is played by Cuba’s most famous resident actor, Jorge “Pichi” Perugorría (non-residents include Andy García and Ana de Armas).

Yarini, a bar Pichi’s son has just opened, is now the city’s hippest spot. It’s a louche rooftop joint, named for a pimp who at the turn of the 20th century, with Cuba newly independent of Spain, came to represent cubanidad , the national identity. Chew on that alongside Yarini’s excellent fried snapper.

Wandering west, I cross Parque Central, where I’m almost run down by one of the iconoclichéd cars, a ’57 Chevy. These jalopies were the stars of an extended chase scene kicking off Fast and Furious 8 , a blockbuster Cubans remember as a moment of hope, when in 2016 Hollywood arrived along with the Rolling Stones and Barack Obama, when it looked as if relations with the US might change.

In the barrio of Centro, the city becomes yet more gritty. I pass La Guarida , a grand mansion used as the set for Cuba’s most acclaimed film, Strawberry and Chocolate , and now the setting for Cuba’s most famed restaurant .

The stories these streets produce attract documentary makers, most recently Hubert Sauper and his wonderful Epicentro . Yet so much material remains hidden. “Most of the archives here have yet to be put online,” says Emilio Suárez González, a young archivist who teaches at Havana university. For the moment, the best online material can be found here .

There’s no music on the Malecon at the moment, which feels wrong. It’s the most unsettling aspect of lockdown.

Rafa Escalona, editor of the music magazine AM:PM, misses the sounds of the city: “The rhythm of popular music – reguetón, reparto, timba, rumba, that people used to play on loudspeakers.” AM:PM is the place to go for Spotify playlists, say the 20 songs and albums of the last 20 years .

Music oxygenates Cuba and triggers memories: a moment in the Karl Marx theatre as the great Pablo Milanes sang Yolanda in a voice broken by age. It didn’t matter because the 5,500 strong audience was singing along, and I had started to worry we would float away on shared tears.

And where there’s music, there’s dancing, from the athleticism of Carlos Acosta – a dancer who rose from poverty to become hero of London’s Royal Ballet – to the salsa that draws vast numbers of visitors wanting to learn their Latin from those who know how: here, Havana D’Primera and Los Van Van are your bands. Shows such as Soy de Cuba and Kings of Salsa also offer inspiration. Lia Rodriguez starred in the latter; from the Malecon, I glance towards Bleco, a bar the dancer is building on a rooftop. She’s been developing an alternative online personality: the magnificent Zafraca , arguably the current exemplar of cubanidad – or at least of the creativity of Cubans going loco under lockdown .

Circumnavigating the Hotel Nacional’s gardens, I enter the Vedado neighbourhood. Roots of jagüey trees push up the paving stones outside elegant villas. Estudio Figueroa-Vives , on Victor Hugo park, is a private gallery representing a favourite artist, Belkis Ayon , soon to be subject of a show at Madrid’s Museo Reina Sofia. Dead at just 32, her affecting prints dig into the mysteries of Abakuá, the secret slave society that exists to this day.

Heading towards the sea again, I bump into Rafael Villares , a young artist with a blossoming international reputation. What does he miss when he’s away, I ask. “The smell of the salt,” he replies. As if to illustrate his point, a breeze from the north brings in the taste of the sea.

When food writer AA Gill visited Cuba he thought so little of the food he insisted on referring to it as “doof”. Slowly though, a more sophisticated culinary history is revealing itself. There’s casabe , crispy flatbread first made by the Caribbean’s indigenous Taino people; spicy salsa criolla to cut through the unctuousness of pork; and congrí – rice and beans – which is delicious if made with plenty of fat.

I especially recommend ajiaco . It’s a soup that contains so many ingredients – jerked beef, a “small” hen, yam, plantains, sweet potato are just the start – that it has become a metaphor for Cuba itself. Cuba even had its own Nigella, Nitza Villapol , whose show may now come across as comedy-Soviet, but whose ability to adapt recipes to shortages and hunger brought her love.

Before starting to cook, have a daiquiri. The mojito may be more famous but it doesn’t travel, and certainly not in winter. The daiquiri however, a mix of white rum, lime juice and sugar syrup, is a cocktail that stands, on one slim leg, next to the martini in sophistication.

I’m at my front door and from my terrace the sun will be setting over the sea. So I leave you with Cuba’s biggest hit of the past two years . “ Me voy pa’ mi casa ,” sings Cimafunk, Cuba’s latest superstar, slang for: “I’m out of here.”

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Interesting Havana Facts

• Havana was originally founded in 1515 on the southern coast of Cuba's main island. By 1519, it had been moved to the north coast
• Havana was formerly the most important port in Spain's colonial empire. By the 1700s, it was larger than New York City and Boston.
• Havana has long been a popular destination for travelers and welcomes more than one million tourists annually.
• There are an estimated 60,000 pre-1960 American cars in Cuba, and many of them can be seen in and around Havana. These old cars have become city symbols of sorts and are often depicted in Havana travel brochures.
• Havana's historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

Havana, Cuba was founded in 1515 by the Spanish conquistador, Diego Velazquez de Cuellar. Originally situated on Cuba's southern coast, it was moved to its present location on the island's north coast by 1519. Havana quickly established itself as a major hub of the Americas and became the most important port in Spain's colonial empire. In the early 1700s, the only cities in the Americas that were larger than Havana were Mexico City and Lima . In subsequent centuries, Havana continued to grow, but the growth came to a rather abrupt end in the wake of the 1959 Revolution. Decay and decomposition followed, plaguing many of Havana's historic buildings. Most of the major tourist attractions have been restored, however, especially in the UNESCO World Heritage Site area that is La Habana Vieja, or Old Havana .

Things to do in Havana General sightseeing is one of the most popular things to do in Havana, Cuba. Among the best places to take in the sights is the Old Havana district. The pedestrian-only Calle Obispo is the ideal boulevard for walking tours in this historic district, especially since it links to such attraction-laden areas as Parque Central and the Plaza de Armas. Also not to be overlooked when planning Havana walking tours is the city's famous Malecon . An oceanside pedestrian walkway, the Havana Malecon stretches from the Castillo de San Salvador to the Almendares River. That's a distance of approximately four miles. Common sights along the Malecon include historic buildings, children swimming off coral outcroppings, fishermen, entwined lovers, and groups of revelers. As a side note, don't be surprised if you see a lot of old American cars while sightseeing in Havana. All told, there are an estimated 60,000 pre-1960 American cars in Cuba, and many of these old rides are found in and around the capital.

Other ideas for things to do in Havana include taking a tour of a cigar factory to see how the world's best cigars are made, visiting historic churches and forts, and taking in a baseball game. Baseball is the national sport in Cuba, and the country's amateur baseball players are some of the best in the world. Also to be noted when it comes to the list of things to do in Havana is the city's nightlife. Havana residents love to dance and party, and you might even argue that Havana doesn't really get going until after the sun goes down.

Havana Museums One of the best ways to get in touch with a city or country is by visiting its museums. In Havana, Cuba, one of the more notable museums is the National Fine Arts Museum. Among this institution's main calling cards is its extensive collection of Cuban art and sculpture. Complementing this is a high quality international art collection. Other standouts among the Havana Museums include the Museum of the City and the Museum of the Revolution. The Museum of the City is housed in a beautiful building that was formerly the seat of Cuba's government for more than 100 years. Its displays revolve around colonial-era relics and artifacts. The Museum of the Revolution calls the former Presidential Palace home. Among its main features is Granma - the 59-foot motor launch that carried Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and 80 other revolutionaries to Cuba in 1956. About 10 miles east of Havana at Finca la Vigia is just one more museum that Havana visitors might take an interest in - the Ernest Hemingway Museum .

Hotels and Lodging in Havana Lodging is in good supply in Havana and comes largely in the form of state-run chain hotels and casas particulares. Casas particulares are private rooms for rent. Since Havana is relatively compact, the neighborhood that you choose to stay in shouldn't be a limiting factor. Most tourists wish to spend the bulk of their time exploring Old Havana, however, in which case the Old Havana accommodations and the accommodations in nearby Centro Havana are very popular.

Large groups, package tourists, and business travelers are often directed towards the hotels in the Miramar and Playa areas of Havana. These modern suburbs of sorts are on the west side. Another popular area to stay in is Vedado. Set between Old Havana and Miramar, the Vedado neighborhood offers plenty of accommodations and dining choices to go with its proximity to the rest of the city's attractions. Havana visitors should also know that there are some good lodging choices outside of Havana. Less than an hour's drive from downtown Havana is Jibacoa, for example. Also known as Playa Jibacoa, this community offers beaches and is a good place to go diving and snorkeling. Among the Jibacoa hotels is the all-inclusive SuperClubs Breezes Resort Jibacoa.

LIVING THE DREAM

15 Photos to Enjoy a Virtual Trip to Cuba

Published by Jeremy . Last Updated on May 7, 2020.

Disclaimers : Our site uses demographic data, email opt-ins, display advertising, and affiliate links. Please check out our Terms and Conditions for more information. Listed prices and attraction details may have changed since our visit and initial publication.

Not being able to travel is rough . We get it. There is nothing fun about being stuck at home with no plans for the future.

To help things out, we're publishing a virtual trip series where we share 15 of our favorite photos from a previous trip and share some of the backstories behind the images.

For our sixth entry, we're traveling to Cuba- a country we explored for a long weekend in 2017!

Virtual Tour of Cuba – 15 of Our Favorite Cuba Photos

Old buildings in old town havana.

Our first stop in Cuba was Havana, where we spent most of our time in the old town to check out the historical sights. One of the first things you'll notice here is the stunning architecture which is, sadly, in every kind of state imaginable. Some buildings are wonderfully renovated and look like they just received a fresh touch-up of paint and others show their age. This all comes together for a really interesting scene.

An Obligatory Mojito

When visiting Cuba, it is obligatory to have a mojito or three. Many people consider the country to be the birthplace of this cocktail, and it is a refreshing option to have in the mid-day heat. The best part? Most mojitos run just a couple of dollars even at the nicest of bars!

Empty Town Square

Continuing the architecture trend in Cuba with this town square. We caught it at just the right moment to appear empty, which allowed for the fountain and background architecture to really pop.

The Colorful Classic Cars of Cuba

• Planning a trip? Find a flight deal . • In need of a room? Check out hotel and apartment prices. • Taking a cruise? Find a cruise itinerary for your journey. • Don't overlook picking up a rental car or day tours as well!

It won't take long after arriving to Cuba for you to start seeing the overload of classic cars. In fact, even in just a few short days you're liable to see hundreds. These were found parked near Morro Castle (presumably waiting for tourists). If only all parking lots were this colorful!

Old Time Advertising

Whitewash and handpainted advertisements are the name of the game on many buildings in Cuba. I found myself drawn to taking photos of them as some show their age much more than others. I'm not sure what Express 3c is in reference too, but it sounds like a heck of a deal by today's standards.

The Grand Architecture

Speaking of more architecture, some of the grandest buildings in Cuba know how to go all out. The twilight lighting here was simply stunning.

Our Classic Ride to Vinales

Our main trip outside of Havana from the short visit was to the mountainous region of Vinales. While most conventional tours simply have a bus or private driver take you out, we opted for a premium package with a classic car in order to get the full experience. Like our ride? It's a beauty (and worth the splurge)!

The Mountains and Jungle in Vinales

I want to say it is hard to appreciate the vast beauty of Vinales if you don't get up to a high point lookout, but to be honest it is stunning everywhere you look. Getting up to a high point does not suck though, and there is a reason why this vista is one of my favorites from the region.

Sampling the Regional Specialty

Vinales may be known for its beauty, but it is probably more famous for its tobacco farms which are used for the production of cigars! I have to admit, I had never tried a cigar before this. In fact, I have never even smoked before this either. But there is something about enjoying an all-natural cigar on horseback in the Cuban countryside that seems like a match. Even better was that these bad boys were just $3 each!

Cigar and a Mojito – A Winning Combo

If this isn't the most stereotypical Cuban photo, I am not sure what is. One thing that is going on in this photo that is worth highlighting is that the tip of my cigar was dipped in honey. Apparently it is popular in Havana to dip the end of a cigar in honey (or rum) in order to add some extra flavor when smoking. I don't think I could ever try one without it again!

More Cuban Architecture

While exploring an art gallery back in Havana, we found this gorgeous little alcove overlooking a plaza and decided to sit for a while and watch life pass by.

A Lobster Feast

On the Road in Cuba

One of the must-see spots in Havana is Revolution Plaza for its historical significance, memorials, size, and more. Many classic car-led city tours stop through here, making for a great opportunity to spot these beautiful cars along with the architecture. If you didn't know when we visited Cuba, this picture looks like it could've been taken at any point in time since the monument was built in the 1950s.

Classic Car with Che

Turning around at Revolution Plaza you'll find a beautiful piece of art dedicated to guerilla warrior Che Guevara. Wait a few moments and you'll see, you guessed it, more classic cars!

A Poke at Foreign Politics

To end this one, we finish wit ha little political art- the Corner of the Cretins at the Museum of the Revolution. This one is not posted with any political commentary. 

Do you have a favorite photo from this tour of Cuba?  Comment below to share!  Also be sure to check back soon for another virtual tour from around the world!

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About jeremy.

About the Author: Jeremy is a full-time travel writer based in Pittsburgh and primary author of this site. He has been to 70+ countries on five continents and seeks out new food, adventure activities, and off-the-beaten-path experiences wherever he travels.

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Virtual Cuba Experience

Our virtual tour of Cuba will fascinate educators and students alike – everyone learns so much about this place that can seem so mysterious to U.S. Americans. Walk the streets of several major cities and learn about their history and people. Find out the challenges Cubans face doing something we take for granted every day – using the internet! Learn what the education system is like for Cuban students. Hear the sounds of a few of the 26 unique Cuban rhythms born on the island and see a performance of Tumba Francesa – which was created by enslaved Africans and is now on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list. Learn about US-Cuban relations, the embargo, and the effect on the Cuban people.

Tour highlights:

• Guantanamo City
• Cuban music and Tumba Francesa
• Education in Cuba
• Corals of Jardines de la Reina
• Santiago de Cuba
• US-Cuban relations and the embargo
• Cuban economy and jobs

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The History of Cuba via Virtual Tour of the Cuban Fine Arts Museum

Copperbridge Foundation invited young Cuban Filmmaker, Adolfo Mena Cejas, to give the Miami community a virtual tour of the Cuban Fine Arts Museum

Adolfo Mena Cejas took the Miami community on a virtual journey through the History, Culture, and Society of Cuba, from the Colonial times of the 16th Century to the present, as seen through its Art at the Cuban National Museum of Fine Arts.

Adolfo Mena Cejas – Director, Producer, Screenwriter, and Graduate of the University of Havana with a degree in Art History.

Adolfo worked as the Producer of the audiovisual projects and Assistant Director to the renowned writer, Carlos Diaz, of El Público Theater Company in Havana.

He is a graduate of the Literary Training Center Onelio Jorge Cardoso. He took workshops including directing, scriptwriting, and production under the leadership of distinguished professionals such as Stephen Bayly, Rafael Cobos, and Marisa Fernandez at the International School of Film and Television of San Antonio de los Baños and the ICAIC.

His short film “Lie to Me Well, Jackie Chang” won Best Fiction, Best Sound Design, and Best Editing in 2014 by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC).

He is currently pursuing his film career in New York City.

• NOMI Art Deco Week January 10, 2023

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Cuban Travel Virtual Tour

Where cigars & cuisine meet, virtual tour, cuba: where cigars & cuisine meet virtual tour.

Travel in 2020 (and now 2021) may not be what we envisioned, but that isn’t stopping us exploring from the comfort of our homes! This 1.5 hour virtual tour is co-hosted by Theresa Nemetz (Travel Deliciously), Annette Morejon (owner of Daiquiri Tours USA in Miami, FL), and Marta Bianchini (owner of Cubanitas Restaurant in Milwaukee, WI) where you’ll have a chance to learn more about the Cuban culture and cuisine! 

Your Milwaukee Virtual Tour Expert During our online experience, your Milwaukee expert will entertain you with lively stories of the city’s history and culture, and share behind-the-scenes videos to see the spaces and meet the people unique to the topic at hand. We are excited to connect and share our stories and knowledge with you right in your own homes.

To sweeten the deal, add on a Cuban Travel Box to your purchase! Our “A Night in Havana” travel box is the perfect excuse for a Cuban themed dinner at home and includes:

• 1-3 recipe cards containing easy to make, authentic Cuban dishes and cocktails
• 10 ounces Cuban espresso grounds
• 1 hand painted tea towel featuring a Cuban artist
• 36 grams of plantain chips
• 1 lb. dried black beans
• 16 ounces rice
• Sazon Goya seasonings
• 8 ounces of Mojo Sauce
• 4 Crema de leche cookies
• 4 Sweet potato cookies
• Free shipping in contiguous United States

Want to Travel Deliciously and visit Cuba live and in-person? We’ll be visiting Cuba on a group adventure on November 11 – 16, 2021, or you can schedule a private group of 2 or more on the same itinerary. Book your trip today and receive this travel box for free!  Learn about the trip and make your deposit  HERE! .  

Travel in 2020 (and now 2021) may not be what we envisioned, but that isn't stopping us exploring from the comfort of our homes! Add-on our Cuban Travel Box to make it a delicious experience!

Online experience.

Available For Private Virtual Tours at a Mutually Agreed Upon Time

Tour Duration

Recommended device

Desktop or tablet

How to Participate

How to join.

After you register, we'll send you the link to the Zoom session. If you can't attend live, we'll send you a recording to watch on YouTube afterwards.

Private Virtual Tours

Virtual tours can be booked as a private event for groups of 10 or more. We are happy to customize your date and time. call 262-853-5239 for more details.

Virtual Tour FAQs

Unless otherwise noted, our virtual tours are hosted live via Zoom. After registering for the tour, you will receive a link to join the tour via Zoom. If you cannot attend live, a recording of the tour will be made available to you to watch on YouTube.

If you are unable to attend the tour live during the scheduled time, we will send you a link to watch the recording on YouTube at your convenience.

Yes! All of our tours are available for as private tours – including our virtual experiences. When you arrange for a private tour, you have the flexibility of time and date.  We require 10 or more for a private virtual tour. We can host private groups of up to 200 attendees.  Call 262-853-5239 for more information, or check out all of our virtual tour experiences that we can offer to groups  HERE

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Milwaukee food tours, cedarburg sweets & treats, travel deliciously, magic of poland christmas markets, a treat just for you, sign up for our monthly newsletter and birthday club.

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Virtual Tour

Take a peek inside Cuba Manor!

• Plan Your Visit
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• Eco-Gardening Consultation

Group Experiences

• Youth Programs
• Accessibility

Mt. Cuba is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm.

• Classes & Events
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Classes offered year-round. Learn to garden in harmony with nature, take an art or wellness class, and more!

• Trial Garden
• Native Bee Survey
• Plant Introductions
• Mt. Cuba Collection
• Top Performers

Mt. Cuba Center evaluates native plants and related cultivars for horticultural and ecological value.

• Recent Research
• Land Management
• Open Space Preservation
• Native Plant Conservation

Mt. Cuba conserves and stewards more than 1,000 acres including meadows, forests, streams and riparian corridors.

• Membership Packages
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Enjoy unlimited general admission, member discounts, guest passes, and more!

• Conservation
• Join our Team
• Internships

Delight and inspire your group with an in-person or online experience.

Spend the day on a self-guided walk through our gardens, or schedule a guided tour or group experience. Gardens are open for group visits during our regular visitation season .

• Admission $14 per person for groups of 10 or more. $140 minimum for groups of less than 10 people. This covers your group’s admission and allows you to add on any of the private tour options listed below.
• Reservations Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Peak times fill quickly. Call: 302.239.5083 Email: [email protected]
• Accessibility Due to our rolling terrain and mulched paths, wheelchair access is limited. Golf cart transportation to the Ponds and back is available upon request. Find out more on our Accessibility  page.
• Bus Parking Prior notice is required to ensure space is reserved in our parking lot.
• Group Photography Planning to take group photos? Please see our Photography Guidelines.

Welcome Walks Each walk lasts about one hour and brings Mt. Cuba Center’s mission of inspiring an appreciation for the beauty and value of native plants to life. This introductory tour is perfect for those who wish to learn more about the history of our gardens, native plants, and conservation tips that can be applied at home. One hour, $5 per person in addition to garden admission. 

Garden Enthusiast Tour Take an in-depth look at the gardens and discover how to apply sustainable gardening practices. Learn about environmental topics such as climate change, systems-thinking, and consciously sourcing native plants for your region. This tour expands on concepts covered in the introductory Welcome Walk. Tours are two hours in length and include walking over rolling terrain and mulched paths. Two hours, $7 per person in addition to garden admission.

Guided Trails Hike Join us for a 2-hour hike of the natural lands. Learn about Mt. Cuba Center’s approach to land management and the events that shape our past, current, and future landscapes. Be empowered to take ecologically beneficial actions to support native wildlife and habitats with the effects of climate change in mind. Bring water and be prepared to hike steep paths and uneven terrain. Two hours, $7 per person in addition to garden admission.

Hayride Highlights Tour  Sit back and relax on this one-hour guided hayride through our natural lands. Perfect for groups who like to take in the seasonal scenery in a beautiful outdoor setting. One hour, $125 in addition to group garden admission.

Hayride & Hike Hitch a hayride deep into our natural lands before adventuring on foot for a behind-the scenes experience of Mt. Cuba’s wilder side. Hike to the far corners of the property and discover how Mt. Cuba applies “gardening on a higher level” in natural areas. Learn about ever-evolving land management strategies, conservation efforts and research, and the state of our restoration projects. Bring water and be prepared to hike steep paths and uneven terrain. Two hours, $175 in addition to group garden admission. 

Lectures Learn about what Mt. Cuba Center does best—native plants! Get some great suggestions for your home landscape from our gardening experts. Lectures last one hour and can be added to group visits for $99. Inquire about topics upon scheduling to select from a variety of seasonal options. One hour, $99 in addition to group garden admission.

Can’t come to Mt. Cuba? Let us come to you! Learn about native plants from our gardening experts, and get great suggestions for your home landscape. Each lecture includes time for audience questions and answers and lasts about 60 minutes. For more information or scheduling, call 302.239.5083 or email [email protected] .

Up to 45 participants, $99 per lecture 46-90 participants, $169 per lecture

Choose from one of the following lecture topics:

• Shade-Loving Perennials Discover easy-to-grow native perennials that turn a shaded garden into a lovely sanctuary that will only increase in beauty year after year.
• Show-Stopping Autumn Perennials Explore the broad palette of native perennials that bring color, texture, and visual interest to the autumn garden.
• Beautiful Native Plants Year-Round Learn a variety of wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and vines that are ideal for home gardens and provide color, texture, ecological services, and seasonal interest all year long.
• Native Groundcovers Discover a selection of tough, versatile native plants to use as groundcovers in a variety of growing conditions.

Mt. Cuba Center has an exclusive selection of native plants available for sale on-site, while supplies last. Ask about the option for each member of your group to take home a native plant! A discount is available for groups that purchase their plants in advance of their visit.

Stay for Lunch

Group dining options.

Complete your Mt. Cuba experience with a delicious meal, including breakfast, lunch, tea, or a wine and cheese reception. Room rentals are available for meetings or luncheons, subject to availability