5 Fascinating Facts About Cuba! (2023)

New to Cuba?

I am sure you have heard a lot about Cuba in your life, as the island has been both famous and infamous over the years, for some good things, and some not-so-good.

A lot of what you already know is probably pretty accurate, but some stuff might be more based on myths, news headlines, and your interpretation of what you have learned about Cuban history!

As I have been living in Old Havana, Cuba, for almost two years now, I think I might be able to update your information a little bit.

5 Facts About Cuba That You Probably Didn’t Know!

I had to think a little while to choose what 5 facts about Cuba to introduce you to, like I said, I live here, so there is SO much I would like to share!

But I will brace myself, here are 5 facts about Cuba I really want you to know, to maybe tickle your curiosity enough to learn some more!

And maybe come visit? (Yes, it is possible, even if you are American!)

Also read: 10 Perfect Day Trips From Havana Cuba!

1. There are 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cuba!

Yes, there are actually nine world heritage sites that are on the UNESCO-protected list, on this rather small island!

It really is no wonder when you think about it, with the rich, partly dramatic, and colorful history Cuba has had in the over 500 years it has existed.

Well, of course, it has existed for more than 500 years, but you know, the island was discovered by the Spanish in the early 16th century, so that is when we started counting.

On the list are the fortifications of Havana, the colonial city of Trinidad, the Vinales Valley and its mogotes (weird hills on the valley floor), San Pedro de la Roca In Santiago de Cuba, and the urban historic center of Cienfuegos, just to mention some of them!

Also read: 33+ Legendary Things To Do In Havana 2022!

2. A Cuban Beach Ranked Second In The World In 2019!

Yep, according to a survey on TripAdvisor, Varadero Beach in Cuba was voted the second most beautiful beach in the world in 2019!

It might not be a shocker that Cuba has stunning beaches, being a Caribbean island and all, you would kind of expect that.

But still, actually being recognized on a world-spanning site by thousands and thousands of people to be the second most amazing beach in the world still deserves some credit.

There are a lot of beaches in the world, and a lot of spectacular beaches as well, so that is pretty neat!

Also read: 18 Of The Unquestionably Best Beaches In Cuba (2022)!

3. Cuban Chocolate Is Famous (Particularly The Cocoa Beans)!

Well, famous, Cuban chocolate is at least famous in chocolate circles! And in particular, it is the Cuban cacao beans that are most famous, as they apparently are among the best in the world too!

Baracoa, a region in Cuba, produces 75% of the Cuban cacao, across thousands of hectares, with the highest productivity-level farms on the island. A lot of rain makes Baracoa an ideal region to grow cacao beans on the cool mountain slopes in those parts.

The cacao from Baracoa is considered of such high quality that the world-renowned chocolatier Spruengli in Switzerland (and everyone knows the rep of Swiss chocolate) has added a line of truffles, two chocolate bars, and assorted Neapolitans made from the Baracoa cacao!

There is one large-scale chocolate factory in Cuba, in the town of Mabujabo, in Eastern Cuba’s Guantánamo province. This factory was actually opened by Che Guevara in 1963, back when he was Minister of Industry in Cuba!

Also read: Sensational 7 Days In Cuba Itinerary!

4. Colonial Trinidad Has Stayed The Same For Centuries!

Trinidad historic center is one of the things in Cuba that are on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, and the reason for this is actually quite random!

Because of fierce competition in the sugar market back in the day, Trinidad, and Cuba in general, were priced out of the sugar market as there were other more prosperous (and less costly) sugar-producing areas in the Americas.

The town went from the super-rich, run by what is referred to as the “sugar-aristocracy“, with heaps of money, grand mansions, and lots of slave labor.

Also read: Cuban Tourist Card | Cuba Extends Tourist Visa To 90 Days!

When this happened, the city was more or less forgotten in Cuba, and while other cities and towns were modernized in line with the development, Trinidad was left in an economic and social backwater.

This is why today, the streets of the historic city of Trinidad are the best-preserved ones in Cuba, like a screenshot of the colonial high-tide era!

Architecture, cobblestoned streets, and remnants of the sugar mills in the Valle de Los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills) are right outside the city, for anyone interested in a walk down the historic memory lane.

FAQ Travel Tips Cuba

5. The Most Common Religion In Cuba Is A Mix!

Cuba is a predominantly Catholic country, and there are catholic churches and even cathedrals around the island, the oldest one on Plaza Vieja in the Old City of Havana.

But around 70 % of the population are followers of the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion, which is a mix of the African religion that was brought to the island in a very involuntary way with the slave trade back in the day.

It is not “voodoo“, as some people believe, Santeria is actually a very benign and peaceful religion, that includes a lot of drums and dancing!

Santeria means “the way of the saints”, and the religion is also referred to as “la regla de ocha“, which means “the order of the orishas”. Santeros believe that they have saints with them at all times.

These are suspiciously similar to the saints in the Catholic church, but with personalities and abilities that are more in line with the Afro-Cuban culture.

Also read: Perfect Day Trip From Havana To Vinales!

Some are prone to liking beer, while others cannot eat pumpkins for some reason, although no one has been able to explain the pumpkin rule to me quite yet!

All Santeros at some point receive one saint, or orisha, in particular, that they are given through a ceremony, and other helpers as well, that are guides and supporters in daily life.

Although, it has a darker side (like most religions), that no one really approves of, but still brujeria (witchcraft) is nevertheless a part of daily life in Cuba.

If you have had bad luck for a while, or bad things keep happening (like illness, or you keep losing things), it is likely that your friends and family will tell you someone has cast a nasty spell on you!

Wrap-Up 5 Facts About Cuba!

So, there you have it, 5 little facts about Cuba! Was there anything here you did not know already?

There are a million things to tell you about Cuba if I (and you) had infinite time and above-average interest, but poco a poco as they say in these parts!

Feel free to roam the website if you want to know more about Cuba, there is a lot to learn!