Christopher P. Baker—a Lowell Thomas Award 'Travel Journalist of the Year'—is one of the world’s foremost authority on travel and tourism regarding Cuba. His many books include Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba (a two-time national book award winner), plus Cuba Classics: A Celebration of Vintage American Automobiles, as well as the best-selling Moon Cuba handbook, National Geographic Traveler Cuba, and Eyewitness Top Ten Cuba guidebooks, plus more than two dozen guidebooks to California, Colombia, Costa Rica, and various Caribbean destinations on behalf of Dorling Kindersley, Lonely Planet, Moon, National Geographic, and others. He has contributed to more than 200 publications worldwide and has appeared on ABC, CBS, CCTV, CNN, Fox TV, NBC, NPR, & dozens of other radio & TV outlets, speaking on Cuba. He is also a National Geographic Resident Expert and contributing photographer, and currently leads trips to Cuba and other destinations on behalf of National Geographic Expeditions. A keen adventure motorcyclist and moto-journalist, he also leads his own group motorcycle tours in Cuba.
Imagine roaring through Cuba on a motorcycle. How awesome! As Cuban children recite daily in school: you too can “be like Che.” Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara’s epic motorcycle journey through Latin America in 1952 with his pal Alberto Granado is one of the world’s great odysseys, as regaled in Che’s book Motorcycle Diaries and the blockbuster movie of the same name. Although he never...
On weekends Palm Springs, California’s population seems to double as golfers, spa-goers, and Los Angeles’ finest flock for R&R beneath the desert sun. Good choice! Here’s what a perfect weekend combo of activity and blissful chillin’ might look like. Palm Springs: Day 1 No doubt the first thing you’ll want is to put thoughts of work aside. What better than...
Without question one of the world’s greatest cities, and certainly one of its most unique, Havana deserves at least 3 days of anyone’s time. With an endlessly fascinating colonial core full of museums and hidden treasures, Cuba‘s capital a great place for serendipitous exploration. Day 1 in Havana Start your day by hopping aboard the HabanaBusTour for a double-decker sightseeing ride, taking...
Cubans could write the book on sensual pleasures… and none define Cuba more than Cuban cigars and cabarets. Better yet, imagine smoking a stogie while riding in a classic convertible auto to a night of nocturnal bliss at the Tropicana… a 1939-birthed salsa-driven extravaganza recalling Havana’s halcyon heyday of sin. Don’t believe anyone who tells you that Cuban communism means Soviet-style dull. Cuba is easily...
You can’t think of Cuba without thinking of Fidel Castro and the Revolution that toppled ruthless U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and sent Cuba spinning off into Soviet orbit. It’s not enough to simply buy a T-shirt emblazoned with Che’s mugshot. To get a sense for la revolución, set out on a pilgrimage to the major sites associated with this epochal event. Your journey will...
You’d expect Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest isle, to boast diverse scenery, the best of nature’s tropical bounty, and great outdoor activities. It doesn’t disappoint. Three mountain massifs rise over the plains. Sugar-white sands limn the north shore. And the turquoise ocean waters shelter pristine coral reefs. Nature lovers will find their Nirvana in Cuba, with its 3,180 endemic plant species. This is one...
Finding culture in Cuba is easy. Music and dance are in every Cuban’s DNA and their love of culture spans the spectrum from ballet to the cha-cha-cha, mambo, and sizzling salsa hot enough to cook the pork. Cubans can’t seem to exist without music, and everywhere you go you’ll be surrounded by hip-swinging vibes. As to the art scene: It stirs the senses with...
Touring Costa Rica without viewing the wildlife is like touring France without tasting the wine. Stitch together the following animal-rich national parks, reserves, and eco-facilities, and you’re guaranteed to see a menagerie to please Noah. Costa Rica is replete with superb naturalist guides with eagle eyes. Be sure to hire one if you want to maximize wildlife viewing. Costa Rica...
Forget outdated tales about Palm Springs, California, being declassé. Hip and happenin’, this desert hot spot exudes newly compelling contemporary cool. There aren’t many places where you can golf in the morning, go skiing or snowshoeing in the afternoon, and enjoy a cocktail by the pool in the same evening. Which explains why more than five million visitors descend on...
Cuba. Land of rum and revolution. Of socialism and sensuality. Off-limits to most U.S. citizens for the better part of six decades, this exotic, endearing and endlessly fascinating island nation a mere 40-minute flight from Miami, is suddenly hot, hot, hot! Since 2011 every U.S. citizen can sign up for a “people-to-people” program—in reality a “tour”—offered by any of dozens...
Mother Nature has a soft spot for Costa Rica. Small it may be, but this peaceful Central American nation astounds in scenic beauty and sheer volume of wildlife. No wonder the country virtually invented and wrote the book on ecotourism. But wait… there’s more! You can surf Hawaiian-like waves, get covered in mud on an exhilarating ATV off-road adventure, or...
If he were alive, I’d choose Christopher Hitchens, to whom I felt an immense affinity. Or Richard Branson for the sheer fun of it!
An adventure motorcycle such as my BMW 1200GSA. It combines thrill and an ability to take me places I can’t even go in a 4WD vehicle.
The majority of my writing is for guidebooks, for which I need to travel alone. The rigorous routine is too much for most companions, who are a distraction.
Things will invariably work out when they go wrong… usually with the help of caring locals