Between the late-1700s and late-1800s, Cuba dominated the world’s sugar market; until the 1960 embargo, a third of the United States’ sugar imports came from there. Numerous slave rebellions arose during the early 19th century; in 1868, Cuban landowners joined in, launching the first war for independence. The second, in 1898, subsequently sparked the Spanish American War and US influence on the island. For the next half-century, Cuba would be America’s tropical playground; yet a series of dictators, culminating in the reign of Fulgencio Batista in the 1950s, led to one more revolution—and a 50-year halt in friendly relations.

While the Castro era was fraught with tensions between the US and Cuba, by 2013 those tensions began to thaw. The US embassy reopened in Havana, and trade and travel restrictions were loosened. Today the island once again welcomes Americans to her shores, revealing a fascinating culture, landscape, and infrastructure that have stood unchanged for a generation. Upcoming commercial flights and major cruise lines promise an influx of new tourists, making it all the more imperative for expedition travellers to visit now and experience Cuba’s diverse and distinctive character, before the inevitable changes that tourism brings.

CULTURE

Cuba has a rich culture which is largely an amalgamation of African and Spanish influences. The most prominent aspects are by far its music and art.

Cuban music is known the world over for its lively and exciting pulsating rhythms driving many to their feet. It encompasses a great deal of percussion – which is a direct reference to the country’s African heritage – and several types of string instruments including the guitar. Cuban music has also been the basis for other genres including salsa, jazz, and the tango.

Cuban art displays a clear blend of African and European styles, evolving through many phases from Vanguardian to more modernist and contemporary pallets. Art was heavily involved in the political situation from the 1960s onwards with many used as propaganda pieces advocating for the revolution.

LANGUAGE

The official language of the Republic of Cuba is Spanish, and – given the high level of literacy of Cubans – use is correct and ample with “cubanismos” or idiosyncratic words. Many people speak English, and those working in tourism tend to also speak German, French, Italian, and Russian.

In Cuba, Spanish was enriched by the language of Taíno indians, who lived in the archipelago before the arrival of the Spanish. They left words like “batea, bohío, canoa, carey, hamaca, or tabaco.” There is also a clear presence of English through the neo-colonial relations established during the 20th century that left many words and structures in the languages of Central and South America.

You should be aware that there are plenty of words that have a different meaning than the one they have in other Spanish countries, some are worth entirely avoiding. For example, the word “papaya” refers to a fruit in Spain and other countries, whereas it is used to name the genitalia of women in Cuba. The fruit is referred as “Fruta bomba” in Cuba. On the other hand, the expression “vale” that is widely used as “ok” in many countries, could be understood as extremely harsh by Cubans, since it is normally understood as “stop” or “shut up.”