Product Review

Combining evocative prose and invaluable information, this comprehensive guidebook introduces you to a fascinating and paradoxical country, its rich culture and bounty of sights. Author Christopher Baker, a foremost expert on Cuba, begins the tour in the capital city, Havana. Then it's on to the Far West's Sierra del Rosarios Biosphere Reserve and Parque Nacional la Guira; to the Northwest, homeland of Che Guevara; to the southeast, and the colonial core of charming Trinidad; to the far east, with historic Santiago de Cuba, and many exotic and historic stops in between. Among the special features are mapped walking tours of Santiago de Cuba and the heart of Old Havana; a mapped driving tour along the breathtaking north coast; 3D illustrations of colonial architecture and coral reefs; and detailed sidebars that explore such historical, natural, and cultural interests as tobacco growing and cigarmaking, harsh geography and mangrove swamps, and Che Guevara and Jose Marti. Experiential sidebars, insider tips from National Geographic experts, and a hefty Travelwise section featuring handpicked hotels and restaurants round out this invaluable guide to one of the world's most intriguing places.