It’s finally here. The highly-anticipated Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana has opened its doors to guests, a major new addition to Cuba’s booming tourism sector. The five-star property has been exquisitely restored, taking a building first constructed between 1894 and 1917 as Cuba’s first European-style shopping arcade and turning it into what’s easily one of the … Read more
If you’re a lover of Cuban cigars, you’re likely a regular at La Casa del Habano, the official global retail network of cigar stores for Cuba’s Habanos company. With more than 140 around the world, they’re mini-outposts of Cuba, typically offering a wide selection of cigars, walk-in humidors, plush seating and knowledgable staff. In many … Read more
Michael Dixon has been making high-end cigar humidors by hand since 1995 and has been a professional woodworker since 1973. He has been in the business long enough to know a high-quality humidor from a poorly made one. According to Michael, in addition to sub-par construction, most inferior humidors (under $100) and all the Chinese … Read more
From May 15 – June 13, 2017, the R/V F.G. Walton Smith will circumnavigate Cuba, conducting daily remotely operated vehicle dives to focus on the mesophotic reef sites at depths of 30-150 meters. The purpose of the research expedition is to – in collaboration with our Cuban scientific partners – discover and characterize the extent … Read more
CIMAvax reportedly works by stimulating the body’s own immune system to attack epidermal growth factor, a naturally occurring protein that can feed cancerous tumors. Since 2011, the vaccine has been available for free to the public in Cuba. It also has been approved for use in Peru. According to media reports, the vaccine shows promise … Read more
Cuba’s potential for attracting massive investment from the hotel industry came into sharper focus last week during the South American Hospitality Investment Conference (SAHIC) held in Havana. Among the major hotel sponsors were Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Choice and Wyndham. Resilient design received much attention from the hospitality industry and Cuban leaders. As part of a … Read more
According to company reports, Meliá’s 2016 performance results in Cuba improved thanks to a 10.3% improvement in RevPAR, largely attributable to improved rates (+17.1%), especially in Santiago de Cuba and Havana. Meliá Hotels International SA specifically cited: the start of the normalization of relations between Cuba and the U.S.., the arrival from the 4th quarter … Read more
Cuba’s distinction as the latest travel novelty has had only a modest impact on the rich urban and rural scenes available for travelers’ camera lenses. But things are changing, and thanks to Cuba’s long history and cultural complexity, travelers can still time warp to the previous century and capture a bit of nostalgia. One enterprising … Read more
There is something different to a Partagas. While the legendary brand has the most famous (recently renovated) factory in Havana, there is a mystique to it, an air of exclusivity that even more easily recognizable brands like Montecristo and Cohiba somehow don’t seem to possess. A Partagas is different; it is understatedly elegant. It is … Read more
Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean, contains an astonishing amount of pristine marine environments. It has 1,500 miles of coastline, 40% longer than Florida’s 1,197 miles. The island national also houses the largest protected biosphere in the Caribbean. The Caribbean as a whole contains the greatest concentration of marine species in the Atlantic Ocean … Read more
