Cuba is becoming one of the finest outdoor adventure destinations. There are countless forested areas in Cuba ideal for hiking. Fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, caving, and climbing have all been discovered and are drawing world travelers.

Shortly after Fidel Castro, as the leader of the Cuban Revolution, seized control of the island, he said “the Revolution was the work of climbers and cavers”. Speaking of the fact that the revolutionaries used the caves and mountains as their bases and hiding spots, Castro found time to attempt to climb Pico Turquino, Cuba’s highest peak cresting at 6,561 feet.

Today’s Cuban climbers are students and workers who love rocks and crevices, making every moment precise. The Vinales Valley has a blend of high-quality rock, ease of access, and ambiance that may someday make Cuba the world’s most sought after climbing venue.  

Baseball

Baseball is Cuba’s favorite sport, Fidel Castro himself at one time was a minor-league pitcher, and the island has a great history of baseball.

Baseball was pioneered on the island in the 1860’s by Cubans who studied in the United States, and by American sailors who ported in Cuba. It quickly penetrated the hearts of the Cuban people, who were fighting for their independence from Spain. Cubans began to fancy baseball to viewing bullfights ( which they were dutifully expected to attend as reverence to their Spanish rulers). For this reason, baseball became symbolic of freedom and social equality to Cubans.

In Cuba, baseball is widely supported by citizens and well thought-of as the island's national sport. It is free of business interests, played for sport and love of the game. Children especially are passionate about the game. Cuban streets, vacant lots, and countryside are filled with kids playing baseball without gloves, sometimes using dark little balls rolled up from cloth and sticks as bats. 

The story of baseball is the story of the Cuban people. For to understand baseball is to understand life. One who embraces baseball captures the hearts and minds of Cubans.  

********************************************************************************

The 2006/7 Cuban baseball season has come to a striking end with the Santiago Hornets winning over the Industiales, a flip side to last year's finals.

The rivalry between Santiago and Industriales has been completely absorbed in the interest of the nation. Industriales plays out of the nation's capital. Havana is the center of the island's political and economic life and considered the "land of opportunities". The Santiago team is famous for its musicians with a rebellious past, traditionally supported by Eastern emigrants in the capital and around the island.

Although the season has ended, the Cuban national team will play several warm-up games prior to the Rio de Janeiro Pan American Games in July.

********************************************************************************

Fishing

The island of Cuba has well over 3,000 miles of coastline and a vastness of clear blue waters swarming with fish. Cuba’s world-class fishing can be enjoyed year round, and along with the experience comes an interesting amount of culture and history.

Ernest Hemingway used inspiration from his Cuba deep sea fishing adventures for help in writing his classic novel, “The Old Man and the Sea”. Some of the finest Cuban deep sea fishing trips can be enjoyed near the capital city of Havana. The northwest coast of the country is where the Gulf Stream passes, helping to create ideal fishing conditions. At Playas del Este, which is just minutes from Havana, you can find some great beaches, as well as some wonderful fishing facilities. Swordfish, tuna, and barracuda are among the fish to be found at Playas del Este.

People are quite surprised when they learn that Cuba has over 1,000 lakes and is known as the last frontier for bass fishermen from around the world. Bass fishing in Cuba is a very well-liked sport and today, is almost all “catch and release.” The fishermen get the conquest feeling of the catch, and by releasing, the bass population multiplies.