If you haven’t already heard - The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have made royal history by visiting Cuba.
Prince Charles has made history with his official visit to Cuba. Photo: PA
Prince Charles is the first member of the British Royal Family to step foot on Cuban soil, as part of a ground-breaking official trip. Their touchdown on the island comes at the end of a successful tour of the Commonwealth Realms in the Caribbean.
Many of us non-royals will have visited Cuba on holiday, but this trip is particularly significant as it would have been inconceivable only a few years ago in the aftermath of the dictatorship of Fidel Castro.
During their visit, Charles and Camilla will be guests of honour at an official dinner hosted by Miguel Diaz-Canel the country’s president, and will also meet members of the Buena Vista Social Club at a Havana recording studio.
If the pictures of the royal couple's trip have given you some travel envy, and sparked a desire in you to visit the country yourself, here are 5 reasons to make Cuba your summer holiday destination.
Viñales Valley
The Viñales Valley in the Sierra de los Organos is near the western end of the island.
This is a place you go for some R&R - beautiful mountainous landscapes dotted with spectacular mogotes that rise as high as 300 metres.
Malecon, Havana
Stretching 8 kilometres along the coast of Havana, the Malecón is a broad esplanade, roadway and seawall. It begins at the mouth of Havana Harbor in Old Havana, then along the north side of the Centro Habana neighborhood, and ends in the Vedado neighborhood.
Take a walk from one end to the other - visit the bars and parks on the way and watch the sunset for a memorable experience.
Cayo Largo del Sur
The small resort island just off Cuba’s southern coast is a hugely popular tourist attraction - particularly because of the beautiful white sandy beaches.
The beaches are perfect for taking long walks on and are hotspots for sea turtles during egg laying season.
El Capitolio
The National Capitol Building is a public building and one of the most visited sites in Havana. It’s often compared to the United States Capitol due it’s similar physical appearance.
The building was commissioned by Cuban president Gerardo Machado and built from 1926 to 1929 under the direction of Eugenio Rayneri Piedra.
Cayo Levisa
The Cayo Levisa is a cay (low bank or reef of coral) in Pinar del Rio Province. You can only get there by boat, but it does attract a lot of tourism.
It has several snorkeling and diving sites and the coral reef is well known for its black coral.
More from Katie Haseldine
- Meghan Markle is the ultimate role model for women and young girls
- Dealing with grief on Mothering Sunday
- Seven things you need to do whilst in Morocco
Tagged in Prince Charles Travel Royal Family