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Map of Cuba. Photo by M.Bitton.

15 Interesting Facts about Cuba

Isla de la Juventud, several other archipelagos, and the island of Cuba make up the island nation of Cuba, officially known as the Republic of Cuba.

Cuba is situated where the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and northern Caribbean Sea converge.

 Cuba is situated south of Florida and the Bahamas, east of the Yucatán Peninsula, west of Hispaniola, and north of Cayman Islands and Jamaica.

The largest and country’s capital is Havana, and Camagüey and Santiago de Cuba are also significant urban centers.

The Republic of Cuba has an official area of 109,884 km², but its total area, including the exclusive economic zone, is 350,730 km².

With approximately 11 million citizens, Cuba is the Caribbean region’s second-most populous nation behind Haiti.

The 15 interesting facts about Cuba include the following.

1. Wi-Fi Hotspots for The General Public Debuted in 2015

Prior to 2015, only a small group of people, primarily government officials, medical professionals, and authorized media, had access to Wi-Fi.

Not all websites can be accessed via Wi-Fi hotspots, and the internet is still not free. 

The majority of websites and apps may still be accessed, though. Depending on how many hours you want to use it, Wi-Fi cards range in price from 2 to 5 CUC, or 2 to 5 USD.

2. The Government Owns the Majority of Restaurants

La Guarida Entrance Paladares. Photo by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK.

The Cuban government owns and runs the majority of the country’s eateries.

Even though they are rather rare, privately owned restaurants with the name Paladares do exist.

However, Paladares are frequently considerably better in terms of service and food quality, so it is strongly advised to visit these when the opportunity arises if you wish to sample authentic Cuban cuisine.

3. Cuba Is Much Bigger Than What People Take It to Be

Barbados. Photo by Patdoy at en.wikipedia.

People frequently picture smaller islands like Barbados, Grenada, or St. Kitts and Nevis in archipelagos like the Lesser Antilles when they think of Caribbean islands.

These islands pale in comparison to Cuba, which is by far the largest island in the Caribbean and almost the same size as Pennsylvania in terms of land area.

It is also a long island that might reach all the way to Arkansas from South Carolina.

Beyond the main island, Cuba is a larger country. Around the bigger island, to its south and north, there are four smaller island clusters.

Actually, there are more than 4000 islands and cays in Cuba. Cuba is almost ten times larger than Jamaica, with a total area of 105,806 km2, or 40,852 miles.

4. Cuba Has a Very Diverse Culture

Reconstruction of Taino Village. Photo by Michal Zalewski.

One of the most intriguing things to know about Cuba is that it has a very diversified culture made up of numerous ethnic groups that have settled on the island. 

The Taino were native people that lived in Cuba before the Spanish invasion in the early 1500s.

Although they are now a small minority, some of these people still call Cuba home.

Other Europeans, Africans, Jews, and numerous other racial and ethnic groups joined the Spaniards in bringing their culture and religion to Cuba.

All of these groups have left their imprints on Cuban culture today, which has evolved into a dynamic, vivacious, and hospitable society.

5. There Are Many World Heritage Sites in Cuba

Vinales Valley. Photo by Vgenecr at Dutch Wikipedia.

Cuba has a whopping nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, compared to just one or two in most places.

The breathtaking Viñales Valley, located in the west of the nation, is where tobacco farms are located.

Perhaps the best tobacco in the world is still produced in these tobacco farms using traditional farming techniques.

Old Havana, a World Heritage site that goes back to the 1500s, is located in the city of Havana.

The San Pedro de la Roca castle, a castle built in 1648 that previously guarded the coast against pirate incursions, is another location in Santiago de Cuba that will be pure bliss for history lovers.

6. Cuban Culture Revolves Around Cigars

Cuban Cigars. Photo by Arths-at.

Cuban cigars are well-known around the world and are not just produced for export.

Contrary to the perception in many other nations that cigars are the sole preserve of the wealthy, Cuba has a very high popularity for cigars among all social groups.

What, though, accounts for the enduring appeal of Cuban cigars? Cuban cigars are created from an excellent blend of tobacco leaves that have undergone two curing processes, resulting in a tasty and smooth smoke.

Their widespread appeal is also greatly influenced by how they are produced.

It takes months of training to become a cigar roller in Cuba, and they are still hand-rolled, which produces an exceptionally high-quality cigar that is just the right amount of tight and loose.

7. Cuban Roads Are Littered with Outdated Vehicles

Classic Cuban Cars In Havana. Photo by Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan.

The fact that Cuba is one of the very few places on Earth where you can find old American cars on the highways in large numbers is one of the country’s most entertaining facts.

These vehicles predate the communist revolution and the ensuing American embargo, which curtailed the export of cars to the island.

Cubans were therefore forced to make do with what they had, depending on inventiveness to maintain these outdated vehicles through breakdowns and challenging circumstances.

As a result, when you look at Cuba’s roadways, you could be excused for thinking that you had traveled through time. Old Fords, Chevrolets, and other vehicles are common.

Even though there are a lot of sophisticated cars on the road nowadays, the ancient Yanqui tanks are still very popular.

8. Cuban Shores Are Home to The World’s Smallest Bird

Bee hummingbird. Photo by Charles J. Sharp.

If you enjoy watching birds, you’re in for a treat in Cuba. The bee hummingbird, which is the tiniest bird in the world, lives in Cuba.

This little creature is only 2.5 inches long and weighs less than a tenth of an ounce.

If you’re interested in birdwatching, there are many different species to get enthusiastic about.

In addition to pygmy owls and the colorful Tody, native parrot species in Cuba include the Cuban Amazon parrot and the Cuban parakeet.

You owe it to yourself to see the vibrant flocks of flamingos that call Cuba home, even if you’re not an avid birdwatcher! In the western hemisphere, this is the best area to watch flamingos.

9. Numerous Well-known Cocktails Can Be Found in Cuba

Cuba Libre. Photo by Arnaud 25.

You might not be aware that many internationally well-known cocktails are Cuban thanks to the country’s rum-rich tradition.

For instance, the simple rum and coke, often known as the Cuba Libre, was created when Coca-Cola was first brought to Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

The Mojito is also a Cuban concoction, so the next time anyone savors its minty, energizing flavor, they should think of its origins!

Another well-known cocktail from around the world, the Daquiri, was allegedly invented by an American engineer named Jennings Cox in Cuba.

10. Education and Healthcare Are Free for Cuban Citizens

One of the best health systems in the world is reputed to exist in Cuba, and it is available to all inhabitants without charge.

Additionally, education is free, and school attendance is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15.

11. Cubans Were Prohibited From Owning Cell Phones Until 2008

Cubans were prohibited from owning computers and cell phones until 2008. However, many Cubans purchased a cell phone or laptop after this rule was changed.

Since Wi-Fi hotspots began to appear in Cuba in 2015, whenever you see people in parks using their phones, you can be sure that the location has a Wi-Fi hotspot.

12. Five US Presidents Have Attempted to Purchase Cuba

Ulysses S. Grant. Photo by Popular Graphic Arts.

Among the more intriguing things to know about Cuba are the past attempts to purchase it.

Five different US presidents attempted to purchase Cuba from the Spanish colonial masters between 1808 and 1898.

James Polk, William McKinley, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan Jr., and Ulysses S. Grant are the presidents who made the attempts.

They each made an offer to Spain ranging from $100 million to $300 million, but each one was rejected. Even though, that doesn’t appear to be much money for a nation or does it?

13. There Are Two Different Currencies Used in Cuba

Cuba has two legal tender systems and the two currencies are the Convertible Peso (CUC) and the Cuban Peso (CUP), commonly known as Moneda Nacional.

The majority of salaries are paid in the Cuban Peso (CUP), which is more frequently utilized by locals.

Tourists use the CUC more frequently since it is pegged to the US dollar and is typically worth about 25 times as much as the CUP.

14. Cuba’s Literacy Rates Are High

Prior to 1959, due to the lack of universal access to education, almost 60% of Cubans were regarded as semi-illiterate.

The Cuban government has placed a great premium on education during the past 70 years in an effort to correct this.

Public schools are open to all citizens, and attendance is required until the age of 15.

Thus, Cuba currently has a 99.8% literacy rate—a remarkable improvement! Actually, this is among the highest literacy ratings in the entire globe.

15. The World’s Highest Proportion of Doctors to The Total Population is Found in Cuba

When it comes to occupations, Cuba is known for its doctors. With nine doctors per 1,000 people, Cuba has the highest doctor-patient ratio worldwide.

In addition, there are more than 50,000 medical professionals with Cuban training who are employed in 66 different nations.

Cubans have a life expectancy of under 78 years, which is not surprising given that they have universal healthcare and a large number of medical practitioners.