Country Profile

Official Name: República de Cuba  

Capital: Havana

Population: Was 11,241,161 people on December 31, 2010.

Area: 110,860 sq km (42,803 sq miles)

Currency: Cuban Peso (CUP)

Religion: The main religions are, Catholicism 54%, Non- religious 22%, Santeria (Spiritist, a blend of native African religions and Roman Catholicism) 17%, Atheist 5.8%, other 1.2%.

Government type: Communist state

Language: Spanish

NATIONAL EMBLEMS

Cuban FLAG



It has three blue stripes and two white stripes. The blue represents the departments that the Island was divided into at that time. The two white stripes main the purity of the intentions for independence of the people. The triangle stands for freedom, equality and fraternity. Its red color is the blood to reach the independence. The white star is the symbol of absolute freedom among the other people.

Cuban Coat of Arms: 

Consist of three parts, crowned by the Phrygian Cap represents liberty, It has a sole star that represents stand for independence. It is surrounded by bows of olive (on the left) and oak branch (on the right) both represents, honor, glory, peace and strength.

In the superior division is a Gold Key between two mountains and rising sun on the sea, it symbolizes  the position of Cuba in the gulf and the emergence of a new state.

In the left body there are three blue strippes and two white strippes, These are the same of  the flag, and represents the position of Island in colonial times.

On the right there are a landscape with the Royal palm, who represents the richness of vegetation.

National Flower:

White Butterfly or Butterfly Jasmine (Hedychium coronarium). This name is because It seem a butterfly, It wonderfull flower could reach up to 1.50 meters. This flower represents the independence and peace, Also is asociated to the beauty of cuban women.

In century XIX cuban women used It to carry messages to the soldiers in the battlefields during wars of freedom.

National Bird: Tocororo, Cuban trogon or Guatani is a little bird asociated to quetzal, is the most beautiful bird of the nation, and it was choose like national bird by two important reasons, the first are it wonderfull feathers, their colors, white, blue and red, are the same of the Cuban flag; and the second reason is it resistance to captivity because it die when is hunted.

National Tree: The Royal Palm (Roystonea Regia. O.F.Cook). It is in the Shield of Cuba and represents the liberty, independence and the fighter character of cuban people. Is the tallest and most numerous tree in the island. The people use them to do houses with their wood and fronds, and give to eat to their animals with their fruits.

Cuba National Anthem

 PRIME LOCATION



Map of Cuba

Cuba is an Archipielago located in Caribean Sea, therefore It hasn't borders with land; however, there are some countries around what can be consider like neighboring countries. To the North are United States and Bahamas, to west is Mexico, Jamaica and Caiman Islands (Caribean Islands) are in south and La Española island is in southeast .

It Country has a tropical climate, it favors variated and beautiful landscapes. Basically there are two seasons: Winter, between November and April, and during the other six months, May and October, is the Summer, in this time of year, especially between august and october, can be arrive the huricans and tropical storms. The temperature ranges are 24º and 34º degrees celsius in plain, and can be less than 20º celsius in mountains, there exist the most of vegetation and wildlife of the country. The rivers flow depends of the rain, the two main rivers are Toa river and Cauto river.

CAPITAL CITY

The capital of Cuba is Havana, also known as Villa de San Cristobal de La Habana. It is the biggest city of Cuba and It was declared by UNESCO like a World Heritage. There the life is crowded, because It is one of the most important cultural and economic center of Latin America.

In this city, you can visit some places like La Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña, built to ends of 18th century. El Capitolio Nacional, seat of Senate. El Castillo del Morro, inside there is a beacon that directs the navigation. La Calle 23, is the most important street, there are hotels, clubs and discos. And if you are waiting to visit brand stores or designer shops the ideal place is La Calle Obispo, there, you only can pay with pesos convertibles (CUC).

Other important cities are Isla de Juventud, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, Holguín, Guantánamo, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos y Matanzas.

Public Transport

There are some forms to travel around Cuba.

If you want go without time concerns and stay in several places you can rent a car, it's a expensive option.

Viazul Bus and Astro Bus are two lines of public transport, first has airconditioner and bath, second is cheapest than Viazul and can be paid with CUC.

Train and national flies are other options to move faster from all island. International Airport Jose Martí get flies from Canada, Europe and rest of America.

In adittion to the above you can rent a bike.

Cars on Cuba have a special numberplates, it dependes of purpose. Next there are the explanation.

Yellow: Private Car
Dark Red: Beginning with a "T" (tourismo) is a rented Car
Orange: Second letter a K is a car of a foreigner working in Cuba
White: Officials / ministery
Black: Embassy
Green: Army
Light Green: Interior ministery
Light Orange: Managers and important people, free gasoline
Light Red: State own, have to return after working hours
Blue: State own, can go home after working hours.