Cuba is made up of one large island and 1,600 smaller ones. Leader Fidel Castro has tight control over this small nation, which has a long history of struggle for independence.

Columbus landed here in 1492. Claimed by the Spanish in the 1600's, Cuba became home to pirates who preyed on Spanish galleons laden with gold. Today, walking the streets of Havana, 17th century Spanish architecture transports visitors to a world of enduring grandeur.

With a population of 11 million - the largest in the Caribbean - 20% of Cubans live in Havana. But wherever you travel in Cuba, the warmth of the Cuban people add immensely to the traveller's storehouse of delightful experiences.