Planning Cuban holidays? Excellent, this is one island in the Caribbean where you will want to do more than just a beach holiday. The people are bright, self-assertive and handsome. The heritage of Cuba is so rich as are the monuments and palaces throughout the country. A Cuban Holiday is without a doubt one to consider.

These are just some of the facts to consider and places and things you should not miss in your holidays to Cuba.

Economy: Sugar and its derivatives are the principal source of revenue, followed by tobacco, the Cuban cigar still being the most sought after in the world-and favourite contraband into the United States. Other sources are cattle breeding and fisheries, while agricultural products include rice, beans, coffee, maize and fruit.

Cayo Coco boasts 21 km (13 miles) of impeccable white sandy beaches with first-class facilities for water sports. Flamingos and pelicans strut along the coast, and the interior is covered by dense forest. Casasa on the northeast coast offers excellent opportunities for deep-sea fishing.

Caressed by the prevailing north east trade winds, the island’s climate is agreeably sub-tropical, most often around 25C (77F), rising to an average 28C (82F) in July and August and “dipping” to 22C (71F) in the coolest month, February. The east, especially the mountains, gets more rain than the west. The hurricane season is from June to November, most likely in September and October and more often in the west around Havana and Pinar del Rio than in the east. Storm winds can reach 250 kph (156 mph). Swimmers take note: Caribbean waters are slightly warmer than the Atlantic.

The island’s population is just over 11,000,000 and a fifth of them is living in Havana, the largest city in the Caribbean-in addition to some 700,000 exiles, mostly in Miami. Other major cities are Santiago de Cuba (440,000), Camagiiey (294,000) and Holguin (242,000).

There is a lot more to see, know and do in Cuba other than this few interesting places and facts. Hundreds of beautiful beach and city locations can not be put in just one article. The last advice is to keep researching so that you can enjoy your holidays to the fullest.