Since travel to Cuba was allowed in 2016, the country has seen no less than 4.28 million visitors, mostly from Canada and the U.S. And there are good reasons for that—this beautiful and fascinating country has so much to offer from historical sites to lush countryside and stunning beaches. Yet, there is still a lot about this Caribbean island’s history and culture not many people know. Here are four interesting facts about Cuba.
Cuba Is Bigger Than You Think
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, with an area of 42,800 square miles—that’s about the size of Pennsylvania. It’s a long island too—it could stretch from South Carolina to Arkansas.
Cuba Has One Of the Highest Literacy Rates In the World
The Cuban Literacy Campaign was a year-long effort to end illiteracy after the Cuban Revolution. Before 1959 the literacy rate in Cuba was between 60% and 76%. Today, the country has a literacy rate of 99.8!
Cuba’s Primary Religion is Catholicism, But Some Cubans Practice Santeria
The Santeria religion is an Afro-Caribbean religion that grew out of the slave trade in Cuba. Santeria translates to “Worship of Saints”. It’s based on Yoruba beliefs (the Yoruba are an ethnic group that inhabits western Africa) with some catholic influences.
Those Vintage Cars Run Against All Odds
Cuba is famous for the plethora of American vintage cars. Beginning in 1959 Cubans were not able to import foreign cars. Keeping these old cars running on spare and custom parts truly shows how innovative the mechanics on the island are!