If you are considering having a break in Cuba, you should be aware that there is plenty more than just the mainland to consider. There is an island that is tucked just underneath the mainland stretch of Cuba itself that is included in the Cuban part of the world. This is Isla de la Juventud – the so called Isle of Youth. Whether it is or not is up to you to decide, but it is definitely worth paying it a visit, if only for a short stay away from the mainland.

As you arrive on the island you probably wouldn’t see much to convince you that Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by it enough to write the famous book ‘Treasure Island’. But this is indeed the case and you can now explore this island for yourself.

Once you disembark from the plane or boat that brought you to Isla de la Juventud, you should take your time to explore the island. Nueva Gerona is the capital of the island, and it is a pleasant enough place to look round. The locals are generally very welcoming, even though not all tourists take the time to make the journey from mainland Cuba to come here. Perhaps the locals like it that way, but you will certainly enjoy soaking up the atmosphere and finding out what the island is all about.

As you might imagine on an island of this kind, diving is a hugely popular way to spend the time. With countless different spots in which to explore the depths, you will appreciate the other side of Isla de la Juventud – namely the one you wouldn’t normally see. Of course there are beaches here as well, and you’ll no doubt appreciate spending some time relaxing on the dark sands.

Isla de la Juventud isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But there is enough here to warrant a closer look and you can even see the prison where Fidel Castro himself was incarcerated many years ago. It may not be a prison any more, but it is still quite foreboding to see.