One of the country's leading travel writers has urged visitors to Cuba to explore further than the capital, Havana.

The city, which is known for its breath-taking architecture, retro automobiles and Ernest Hemingway, is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean.

Travellers to Havana have been encouraged to rent a car and explore the island, where it is likely they will discover more than world-class cigars, bolero music and mojitos.

"Beyond the city are unknown beaches fit for the pages of holiday brochures, colonial cities every bit as handsome as Havana and landscapes so deep that its like looking into an Escher painting," said Katie Bowman, writing for the Times Online.

One such destination is the UNESCO World Heritage city, Cienfuegos, which was awarded its status due to its Spanish Enlightenment-influenced urban planning.

Although Cienfuegos only has a population of approximately 150,000, it contains more than its fair-share of stunning sites, such as the Cathedral de la Purisman Conception and the neo-gothic Palacio de Valle.

Cuba is known to be one of the most ethnically diverse islands in the Caribbean, with the population being predominantly made up of Europeans, Africans and Chinese.

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