backpacking Archives

Varadero Venture

August 23, 2020August 23, 2020
by tvatravel

Varadero is Cub’s resort paradise. It is basically a peninsula lined on one side with a never-ending white sand beach. Unlike all my other destinations in the country this one is not drenched in history unless you call the constant construction of new resorts history. However I felt I needed to see this famous place for myself, so I made the most out of it by applying my usual tactic of infiltrating resorts for free stuff. You can read my full experience below. If you want to check out my entire Cuba itinerary, click here.

Adventures

Santiago by Storm

June 8, 2020August 23, 2020
by tvatravel

Santiago de Cuba is a city on the far North-East of the island. It is a long way from the usual tourist hotspots like Havana, Trinidad, Viñales and Varadero. However this city is the birthplace of Fidel’s revolution and you can still feel and see this everywhere in the city. It is also ground zero for Cuba’s traditional Trova and Son (from which salsa was born) scene. For these reasons I decided I could not skip this city. Read the story of my Santiago day trip here. For the entire Cuban itinerary click here.

Adventures

City-Tripping Trinidad

May 10, 2020May 10, 2020
by tvatravel

Trinidad is Cuba’s colonial pearl. The city lies between some beautiful green mountain tops, filled with hiking paths and waterfall, and picture-perfect beaches. In Trinidad there is a little bit for everyone. You can visit sugar plantations with an old steam train, beach all day long and enjoy the wild nightlife. Even though Trinidad is a city it has a very cozy town-like feel to it. Find out how I spent my days in this paradise in the post below. For a full overview of my Cuban itinerary click here!

Adventures

Diving at Playa Girón

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020
by tvatravel

Playa Giron is basically 2 streets big. It’s a tiny town but it offers some of Cuba’s best from-shore diving. The town life is so slow it feels like a true escape. The only thing to do is diving, drinking and laying on the beach. It was the perfect stop before going back into the more busy city-life at Trinidad. For the full itinerary click here.

Adventures

Cienfuegos en el Cielo

April 5, 2020April 5, 2020
by tvatravel

Cienfuegos is a small city on the South coast of Cuba yet not directly situated at the ocean. A huge Bahia which is filled with the ocean saltiness through the small inlet near Jagua. It is not as picturesque as Habana Vieja nor as charming as Viñales, but the sunset over bay are incomparable. This make it an ideal stop on your way East to Trinidad. Find out how I made the most of a day and night in this city and get inspired. For my full itinerary click here.

Adventures

Venturing through the Valle de Viñales

March 29, 2020April 5, 2020
by tvatravel

Viñales and its valleys are the green heart of Cuba. The island has many fantastic nature to offer both above and below the waves but the spectacular views of the mogotes are not to be missed. It is also a hive of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, spelunking and many other fun filled adventures. In this post I’ll tell you how I experienced the Valle de Viñales. For more inspiration and a full Cuba itinerary click here!

Adventures

Havana Nights, Cuban Days

March 22, 2020August 23, 2020
by tvatravel

Havana truly is the heart of Cuba. Many other cities have played a crucial role in Cuba’s turbulent history but none as actively as the country’s capital. In this post you can read the report of my first and last days in the country. I tried to capture the essence of the city in the short time I had. For my full two week Cuba itinerary click here. You can also find a custom google maps there that can help you plan your visit.

Adventures

Cuba Two Week Itinerary

March 15, 2020April 10, 2020
by tvatravel

Cuba is a huge country and has a lot to offer for each type of visitor. I chose to backpack the island in two weeks. I soon realized that was not a lot of time but, thanks to recommendations of fellow travelers and locals I met along the way, I was able to capture the essence of this beautiful country in this short time period. Here you will find my cuba two week itinerary and short explanation per destination. You will also find links to stories of my experiences at each place and on the road. Enjoy and hopefully my experiences can help you plan your trip!

Adventures

Cape Town: Climbing Table Mountain

March 2, 2018March 2, 2018
by tvatravel

Table Mountain is omnipresent in Cape Town. You cannot wander anywhere within the Mother City without this gentle giant looming over or dominating the horizon. An essential part of every traveler’s visit to the city logically includes a trip to the top of the Table. Nowadays this is rather easy, you simply buy yourself a retour ticket on the Table Cable Car and off you go. But hey, where is the adventure in that? Wouldn’t it be way cooler if you could say you actually hiked up that monster. Do you want to have the feeling you really deserved that breathtaking sunset? Then by all means, read on! In this post I elaborate on how we conquered the Mountain and put some wine on the Table.

Adventures

Cape Town: 15 things you have to see and…

February 25, 2018February 25, 2018
by tvatravel

Cape Town is often called the Mother City. It got this name from the fact that this city, according to its inhabitants is the only real metropolis in the country. Since metro-polis derives from the Greek words for Mother and City, a new nickname was born. Other less historically correct explanations involve its local dialect featuring the words “your mother” quite often (not many times in a good way). It also apparently takes 9 months to do anything here. What definitely is true is the fact that this is the Mother of all tourist destinations in South Africa. Find out what 14 things you cannot miss during your stay here!

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