Hot air balloon rides are coming to Cuba and these two cities are first on the list

Cuba and Canada—there’s a nice ring to it. And beyond that, there’s also a truly special relationship between the two countries.

At the beginning of the year, The Cuba Ministry of Tourism had already recorded more than 500,000 visitors to the island. Canadians can take some credit for these results: Cuba remains their top destination in the Caribbean, with more than one million visitors from Canada flying down each year.

READ MORE: Iberostar is building a new hotel in Cuba that opens this fall

But, Cuba isn’t just beach, sun, and sand, and now, for the very first time, travellers heading to Cuba this winter will see the destination in a completely different way.

Beaches, bars…and hot air balloons?

Every year, Cuba’s sugar white beaches in Varadero and Cayo Coco, and aquamarine waters that are just a little greener in Cayo Santa Maria, enchant us down there to escape Canada's frigid winters. Cuba’s capital city, Havana, has turned its charm up a notch, where now, visitors can find new boutique hotels and savoury food tours, alongside the pastel-coloured colonial buildings and classic cars of decades gone by.

According to Eloy Govea, director, Cuba Tourist Board in Canada, soon, travellers to Cuba will be able to take in the islands of Cuba from above, as hot air balloon rides are to be the newest attraction.

During this year’s FIT Cuba, which is the largest professional event in the Cuban travel and tourism industry, The Minister of Tourism announced the new product is indeed on its way.

“Although it has not yet been finalized, they are in the process of testing flights, as well as determining the routes and other details in order for it to start this winter,” Govea told PAX. “The plan is for Varadero and Viñales to be the first destinations where this is started.”

Starting this winter, hot air balloon rides will be offered by Ecotur, in partnership with the Cuban Aviation Club and the firm Goldblack, of Excelencias Group. Ecotur is an organization committed to promoting ecotourism to culturally and historically significant regions in Cuba.

Exploring Viñales and Varadero

Located in western Cuba, in the province of Pinar del Río, Viñales is a small town that’s known for its breathtaking landscapes, which include low mountain ranges and a plethora of tobacco fields. Perhaps the most beautiful sight lies in the Viñales Valley, which has been a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 because of the authentic agricultural methods and traditional practices that are still used there. While there’s no word yet on the air balloon’s routes, gazing over the valley from above would be simply extraordinary, and show visitors just one example of the natural beauty of Cuba’s various rural towns and cities.

One of the most popular tourist destinations, Varadero is famous for its beaches. It simply makes sense to introduce a new tourism product here, where millions of travellers flock each year during the high season. Hot air ballooning through Varadero could mean gazing down at the 20 kilometres of white sand and aquamarine cays from above or enjoying a bird’s eye view of the resort town itself.

More information will become available soon!