Cuba Travel Help

I'm Humberto — a Cuban language teacher and tour guide with a curious soul and a critical eye. I teach English and Spanish to teenagers, always seeking a balance Vacaciones en Cuba: Soy Humberto, maestro cubano de lenguas y guía turístico con alma curiosa y mirada crítica. Enseño inglés y español a adolescentes buscando siempre el equilibrio entre lo académico, lo creativo y lo emocional. Me apasionan la historia cubana, la belleza en todas sus formas, y las experiencias que dejan huellas

Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta arts. Mostrar todas las entradas

lunes, 25 de agosto de 2025

Why I dont make Tours in Havana for everyone

Being an independent guide in Cuba is no child’s play. Here it’s not just about pointing out streets, squares, and cathedrals; it’s about opening a door to the living memory of a country—its scars and its daily resilience—outside any preconceived script. And that, though some may not understand it, is not for everyone.

There are tourists who believe the city exists to serve them their whims on a silver platter: those who arrive asking about girls instead of what is truly valuable, those who want cheap bars instead of learning the story of a century-old rum, those who chase cardboard-cutout selfies and have no interest in the truth of a city that breathes between ruins and grandeur. Those, though I may need them, I often don’t accept. They are not clients, they are problems, trying to use a local just to extract information.

I want to work with another kind of traveler—the one who comes with respect and hunger to learn, not with those who confuse Cuba with a tropical theme park. My tours are for those who dare to look beyond the tourist scenery and who care about how people really live, about the history hidden in every peeling balcony, about the work of a forgotten painter or poet, about the music that beats in a courtyard.

It’s not about nationality or money. It’s about attitude. Here, the visitor is not buying a tour; they earn the privilege of entering, with a local guide, the most intimate folds of a unique and complex city.

Havana is too vast, too contradictory, too beautiful and painful to waste on tourists who only come to collect excesses. I compete with the big companies that sell bland “packages.” They may have the power, but my struggle is different: choosing carefully to whom I open the doors of this city I love.

And if you’ve read this far, with the curiosity and respect that brought you—or will bring you—to Cuba, then this tour truly is for you. For those who seek answers where others see only questions, for those who know that history does not live in museums but in the streets, and for those who discover in the architecture, the art, and the people of this island a different mirror—rebellious and luminous. To those, I gladly open my doors.

Humberto – Tours in Havana
History | Art | Society
📱 WhatsApp: +5352646921
📸 Instagram: humberto_habana

jueves, 21 de agosto de 2025

HAVANA, A BIG MISTAKE: NOT HIRING A PRIVATE TOUR

The Mistake of Not Hiring a Local Guide in Cuba

Havana is a whirlwind of history, art, and life—a place that demands to be deciphered. And yet, with an arrogance as naïve as it is devastating, many tourists boast of exploring it on their own, map in hand—or worse, clutching a second-hand guidebook. It is a fatal mistake. There is no other word for it. It is a blatant disregard for the reality of the city and for the opportunities being squandered.

Cuba is not a country to be read about—it is a country to be lived, to be felt. Travel books lie by omission. They reduce a nation with a vast, complex history to a handful of monuments and attractions. They show a polished surface but refuse to dive into the soul of the city. Reality—always richer, always more colorful—hides in the cracks between their pages.

The gravest mistake is to trust the first stranger who approaches with a smile offering to “help.” Tourism in Cuba, as everywhere else, has attracted an army of opportunists, and many of them are nothing more than vultures of ignorance. They have no real knowledge. Their only aim is to drag you into a tourist trap, a restaurant for their commission, or a souvenir shop for a quick cut. They reduce the experience to a mere transaction, a robbery of your wallet, leaving the visitor with a cheap, watered-down version of what could have been.

But the worst crime of all is bias. Some approach you with a political agenda, with a tired, hate-filled narrative, selling you the image of a country that doesn’t exist. They feed you a Cuba in black and white, a caricature that bears no resemblance to reality. They ignore the complexity, the resilience of its people, the art that blossoms in the most unexpected corners. They steal from you the chance to see life in shades, to understand a society that—despite its contradictions and struggles—beats with a force no pamphlet can capture.

A Guide Is a Bridge, Not a Map

Hiring a true Cuban city guide is not a luxury. It is an investment—for your awareness and for your wallet. It ensures your money goes into the hands of an expert who has dedicated their life to understanding the history, the art, and the society of their country.

A real guide is the bridge between what you see and what you understand. They will show you places not found on the map, tell you stories absent from books, and introduce you to people you’ll never meet in hotels. A professional guide will steer you away from the opportunists’ traps and, most importantly, give you the tools to form your own opinion—an informed, nuanced, prejudice-free opinion.

So, when you come to Cuba, don’t be just another tourist. Don’t settle for the superficial. Don’t let them steal the experience from you. Invest in a guide and discover reality. It is tougher, yes—but infinitely more beautiful, more alive, and more authentic than any fantasy they could try to sell you.

Humberto. Art, Society, History. WhatsApp +5352646921

📸 Instagram: @humberto_habana

domingo, 29 de diciembre de 2024

Why traveling to Cuba?

“Cuba: Where the Journey Transforms You from Within”

“More Than a Vacation – A Cuban Experience for the Soul”

“Explore, Connect, and Grow: Let Cuba Change the Way You Travel”

When planning a travel experience, people yearn for a combination of elements that bring them fulfillment and enrichment. Here’s a summary of what someone might desire in their travel experience to Cuba:

Discovery: Traveling to Cuba offers the opportunity to explore the unknown. People crave exciting adventures, discovering new places, cultures, and landscapes. Cuba provides this in a tempered yet beautiful way, without grandiosity.

Human Connections: During a journey, individuals seek meaningful connections with others. They want to meet local people, share stories, and learn from their lives. The best part of Cuba is its people.

Relaxation and Escape: Some yearn for an escape from daily stress. They seek tranquil destinations, sunny beaches, or nature retreats to recharge their energy.

Personal Growth: Travel can be transformative. People desire self-discovery, overcoming fears, and broadening their horizons. In this regard, Cuba can help. A country that has been unfairly persecuted and defamed can make you appreciate the price and cost of being different.

Gastronomy and Culture: Food and culture are essential aspects of any trip. Individuals want to taste local dishes, visit markets, and immerse themselves in traditions.

Spiritual Exploration: Some travelers seek spiritual experiences. They may meditate in natural surroundings or connect with their inner selves amidst breathtaking landscapes.

Photography and Memories: People want to capture special moments. They search for picturesque landscapes, iconic monuments, and unique photo opportunities. Havana is one of the most photographed cities in the world.

Culinary Adventure: Trying authentic dishes is an exciting part of the journey. Individuals crave tasting local flavors and experiencing gastronomic diversity.

In summary, a travel experience combines the exciting with the relaxing with the memorable. A trip to Cuba can be one of those journeys filled with unforgettable moments!

Http://www.mycubarent.com

Humberto, Guide & Teacher in Havana Whatsapp +5352646921

More artícles:

https://mycubarent.com/blog_english.html

jueves, 27 de junio de 2024

Ernest Hemingway in Cuba

Ernest Hemingway had a deep love for Cuba and Havana, where he spent many years of his life. In a Spanish interview in 1954 after winning the Nobel Prize, Hemingway said: "I am very happy to be the first Cuban to win this prize. I am glad that the authorities have said it is based on a Cuban landscape". This shows his connection to the island and how it influenced his work.

Hemingway found in Cuba a refuge to escape the world and write in peace, especially at his Finca Vigía estate near Havana. According to Gabriel García Márquez, when Hemingway chose places to write, his preference for the Hotel Ambos Mundos in Havana "could only have one explanation: without intending to, perhaps without knowing it, he was succumbing to other charms of Cuba, different and more difficult to decipher than the great fish of September and more important for his troubled soul than the four walls of his room".

Fishing seems to have been one of the main reasons that brought Hemingway to Havana, where he enjoyed the best fishing he had ever seen in his life. His love for Cuba is reflected in his work and life, spending decades on the island until his death in 1961.