When we got engaged and were planning the wedding, we’d spend many days thinking of one of the more selfish points of the wedding; where to go for our honeymoon. After debating over a safari, a Cruise1st cruise holiday, Italy or even the USA, we decided we just wanted to go somewhere to relax, be waited on and to be able to eat and drink well. So all-inclusive it was always going to be, picking a country we may not necessarily get the chance to visit again in Cuba. A two week sun-drenched Cuban honeymoon doing nothing but sitting by the ocean, drinking cocktails and eating well.
After our long flight to Cayo Coco, at the North-Eastern end of Cuba, our late-night transfer and inclement weather meant we arrived in a horrendous torrential downpour. The way that our complex was built, from higher reception and bar levels down to the villas and apartments, we were walking down into 4 inch deep water with sunken paths all the way to our room! Not the best of arrivals. It was that wet, but also too late and we were so hungry but we instead dried off in the room and tried to get some soggy sleep with the rain battering the doors outside.
This rain continued for two days, fortunately not quite so heavy but we didn’t see the famed Cuban sunshine. Fortunately we couldn’t have been better looked after on the resort. Amazing view out across the palm trees (into the rain of course) into the Caribbean ocean, with amazing rum cocktails to hand and such a wide range of food on offer we could have had something different every day and not get bored.
Thankfully after these two days the sun decided to join on our honeymoon and really didn’t go away during the day time. Nobody warned us about the ‘flash’ thunderstorms every evening at about 6pm, but by then the sun was setting and we were getting into an evening mood with more cocktails and great food ahead. An amazing sight to see low-flying bi-planes spraying the treetops while the sun set; reminded me of the movie Apocalypse Now as the beaches were torched with napalm! All it needed was the soundtrack and I’ve have been there.
Being right on the water’s edge, our resort was home to several hundred (maybe thousands) crabs. Every evening once the sun went down you would see them come out and wander round the paths on the lower levels and careful steps had to be taken to not get nipped walking about at night!
As it was our honeymoon we really were being lazy so didn’t venture from our complex. We could have taken advantage of a two day excursion to Havana, but we weren’t in the mood to do anything other than relax, adding an internal flight didn’t help so we have promised ourselves to return in a couple of years and stay nearer to, or in, Havana. This is a country that offers so much more than just a beach holiday and I really want to see it.
We did though get to speak to lots of fantastic Cubans who couldn’t have been friendlier. There was something about the crystal clear waters, the fantastic food and the relaxed atmosphere of all holidaymakers that you never wanted to leave. Lounging on the beach in our luxurious day beds we were lucky enough to see a beachside wedding, all the guests in linen clothes, the groom in a linen cream suit and the bride looking as gorgeous as a bride can be with flowers in her hair and the sand round her toes. A fantastic sight and I’m sure a day they’ll never forget.
At the end of our two weeks were really were sad to be going home; Cuba is one of those welcoming amazing countries that draws you in and doesn’t want you to go. You can say I didn’t see enough only staying in our resort, but this was our honeymoon and we did as much as we wanted to. We met some amazing local people, sampled local food and drink, wanted to stay and be local people! Be it your honeymoon, a solo trip or just wanting to try somewhere different I would recommend Cuba to anybody. Since we were there the regime has changed and some restrictions on travel and import are lifted, but this can only make for a better holiday. Take that flight!
