22 remarkable images from the first person ever allowed to photograph Cuba from the sky

As relations between the Cuba and the US begin to mellow, the country is becoming more and more accessible.

But back in 2010, when Marius Jovaisa first visited the island, things were still quite tense, presenting a challenge to the aerial photographer, who has a long history of photographing beautiful locations from above, and many books and international exhibits of under his belt.

Jovaisa had come to Cuba with a plan to shoot the island's diverse landscape from the sky. The task turned out to be a tall one.

After two years of pleading with the Cuban government, Jovaisa was finally granted permission to photograph Cuba from above, and he became the first photographer to do so.

He spent two and a half years on the project and his subsequent book, "Unseen Cuba," is now available for purchase. The photographs give an exhaustive survey of Cuba from the sky, showing us just how varied and beautiful a place it can be.