Cuba

Moon Handbooks

by Christopher P. Baker

Moon's award-winning guide to Cuba provides you with the essential details needed to discover all the can't miss sights, attractions, and restaurants in Cuba — for all budgets. Plus, Moon Cuba highlights the best lesser-known and local hotspots. Check out off-beat destinations such as Finca Manacas (the birthplace of Fidel), Parque Lennon, and Rumba de Salvador's Alley. Or read the intriguing sidebars on Tropicana nightclubs, cigars, and the history of Cuba.
With firsthand experience and honest insight, bestselling author Christopher P. Baker provides you with all the tools you need to create your own unique experience. Chris's fun and creative travel suggestions can help you plan your perfect trip.

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction

750 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Christopher Paul Baker (born in Yorkshire, England, on 15 June 1955) is a travel writer and photographer currently specializing in the Caribbean and Central America. He is a contributor to magazines and other publications worldwide, and is the author of travel guidebooks (for publishers such as Lonely Planet and Moon Publications) and a literary travelog.

Baker was educated at Rastrick Grammar School, in Brighouse, Yorkshire. In 1976 he received a BA (Honours) in Geography from University College London, during which time he participated in a university exchange program at Krakow, Poland; and in two Sahara research expeditions. The following year he attended the graduate Centre for Latin American Studies, at the University of Liverpool, where he received a Masters. He returned to the University of London, received a teaching diploma from the Institute of Education in 1978, and spent brief periods teaching at schools in London between periods of travel in Europe and North America. His first travel article appeared in the Brighouse Echo as dispatches from the United States.

The Lowell Thomas Award 2008 ‘Travel Journalist of the Year,' Christopher P. Baker is one of the world's foremost authorities on Costa Rica and Cuba. He has authored and photographed guidebooks to Costa Rica, Cuba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Panama in the National Geographic Traveler series, as well as five other guidebooks on Costa Rica and Panama, plus the Costa Rica Pura Vida! travel app. He is also the author of the award-winning Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba, published by National Geographic Adventure Press. His more than 20 other books include the coffee-table book Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles. He has also written and photographed for more than 200 publications, from National Geographic Traveler to Newsweek, and has given talks about Cuba at National Geographic headquarters, the National Press Club, and the World Affairs Council, among other prestigious organizations. Christopher has been profiled in USA Today and featured on the National Geographic Channel, NPR, and dozens of other radio and TV outlets.

Reviews

[Chris A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative however I found myself skipping to different sections in order to find what I needed. For example, Havana was sectionalized by the various neighborhoods which was all good however the categories such as dinning, sleeping, etc., were all together under Havana as a whole. So if you were focused on one part of the city such as “Habana Vieja”, you had to go to another section to find a good café or something in that neighborhood. This was very confusing and it would be much better if categories were listed among the neighborhoods themselves. I believe that is how my Frommer books do it and for me they are much easier to navigate through. As far as Cuba, an amazing place. The people are incredibly humble, kind, gracious and just loving life. We felt completely safe no matter what time or place. Though we only stayed 10 days we took a bus from the Santa Clara to Havana and were able to see much of the country and meet many folks. When you experience a culture such as theirs you have to truly reevaluate what’s meaningful in your life.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this years ago, though I still recall Baker's quip that Cuban women have "megaton sexuality." At the time - fall of 2003 - it was a handy guide for exploring the island, and the recommendations for casas particulares worked out well.

[josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very comprehensive guide, with a large background section, that is worth reading on its own.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to the others, I found this the most thorough guidbook on Cuba. Extensive and interesting history section.