I’m really excited to interview Hege Jacobsen of Epic Nomad Life about Havana, Cuba. Hege’s tips for the best things to do in Havana are awesome because she’s a former military officer who’s now a full-time traveler, blogger and TEDx speaker. She lived in Havana for two years during COVID-19 and was able to experience all that the island nation had to offer.
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View of Vinales Valley.
Havana, Cuba
We share a lot of resources and local suggestions in today’s podcast, but you should also check out Cuba Travel, the local visitor’s bureau. They are a wealth of information and can help you plan an itinerary based on your time, budget, and interests.
If you’d like to learn how to travel for free using airline miles and hotel points, check out my free 7-day email course.
El Morro Tower
Getting around Havana
The local airport is José Martí International Airport (HAV), which is a 25-minute drive to Havana. Use our Expedia tool below to find flight, hotel, and rental car options.
Hege says that there’s no need to rent a car when visiting Cuba. And she discourages it because the car standard is not great and gas is rationed. Plus, there isn’t roadside assistance if something happens to the vehicle.
She recommends taking a taxi if you need to get somewhere further than walking distance. You can pay in pesos, but most cab drivers prefer Euros or U.S. Dollars.
Cabaret Tropicana Havana.
Places we talked about on the Havana, Cuba podcast
Here is a map of all of the places we talked about on the podcast episode with Hege Jacobsen about Havana, Cuba. You can zoom into the map and click on each dot to explore the city.
- Red dots = best places to eat in Havana, Cuba
- Green dots = best things to do in Havana, Cuba
- Yellow dots = best places to stay in Havana, Cuba
Who is Hege Jacobsen?
Hege Jacobsen is a former military officer, veteran, and social scientist who served for over 20 years at home and overseas before she left the service in 2020 to become a full-time traveler, entrepreneur, and certified coach. She has also given a TEDx talk.
Hege is the founder of the Epic Nomad Life travel blog and has worked as a niche travel blogger since 2020. While she travels all over the world, she’s been based in the Caribbean since January 2021. For more than two years, Hege has been traveling and writing in-depth about the Caribbean and Central America as an avid solo and slow traveler – with a main focus on Cuba.
In 2023, Hege also did a TEDx talk about how to communicate better with “A Traveler’s Mindset.” She also offers a coaching service called “The Power To Pivot Coaching,” which is aimed at helping women create their best lives!
Hege Jacobsen in a classic American car at Plaza de la Revolucion.
Here are a few articles that she’s written:
- What Are Casa Particulares In Cuba? Are they legal? (Yes!) How To Book The Best Ones (2023)!
- 42 Legendary Things To Do Havana, Cuba 2023! Ultimate Havana Guide!
- Living in Cuba: Things You Want to Know Before Moving Here
You can connect with Hege on her website and social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Click here to download our one-page guide of Hege’s tips for Havana.
Big thanks to today’s affiliate partner – Acorns
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I’ve been using Acorns for years, and I love how easy it is to use. For a limited time, when you sign up at wetravelthere.com/acorns, we’ll both earn $5.
Tacos at El Dandy.
Stay tuned for our next episode
Cory admires the views in Puerto Veras, Chile.
Listen to the next episode when Cory Lee of Curb Free With Cory Lee. In this episode, Cory and I talk about the importance of accessible travel, including the unexpected ways attractions are making it easier for disabled travelers to participate, what it’s like to fly when you have a wheelchair, and how his foundation is making dream trips a reality for other wheelchair travelers. We hope you’ll join us when We Travel There.
What’s your favorite part of Havana? Send us a Tweet, let us know in the comment section below, or continue the discussion in our Facebook group!
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To see which cities we’ve interviewed and scheduled, please visit WeTravelThere.com/map. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please submit an application at WeTravelThere.com/guest.
Related episodes for Havana
To learn more about areas surrounding Cuba, listen to our episodes below:
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