The Best of Cuba Guide

Between rolling mountains and dazzling shores, fine cigars and vintage cars, Cuba captivates visitors with its abundant tropical pleasures and cultural treasures. White-sand beaches entice sun worshippers by day, and clubs pulsing with Afro-Cuban jazz own the night. In Havana, locals debate baseball on street corners shaded by royal palms and neo-classical buildings while Studebakers whiz past. In the colonial town of Trinidad, villagers gather in plazas lit by wrought-iron lamps, and in the countryside, tobacco fields tended by guajiros (farmers) spread across the Viñales Valley.  Cuba Vacations is a great way to enjoy a wonderful beach vacation that has so much more to offer.

Central Cuba is Cuba’s geographic heart which beats with the rhythms of Afro-Cuban music, of turquoise waves crashing on white-sand beaches, and of life unfolding in splendid colonial cities. Its coral reefs are awash in color, its mangrove swamps attract flamingos by the thousands, and its lush mountain valleys are filled with birdsong of all types.  Central Cuba’s northern and southern coasts have many beautiful stretches of sand. The beach count leaps dramatically when you include the hundreds of cayos (keys) that flank the shores.

Eastern Cuba is the region known as El Oriente has a variety of sublimely beautiful settings—from palm-lined beaches to the city of Santiago.  Resorts rise in many a cove on Holguín’s northern coast, especially around Guardalavaca. The white-sand beaches here, and their dark-sand counterparts on Granma’s southern coast, draw Canadians and Europeans seeking isolated vacations. Along both shores, water-sports outfitters stand ready to help sailors, fishermen, scuba divers, and snorkelers.

Western Cuba has pristine strands of María la Gorda to Varadero’s internationally popular white-sand beaches.  The provinces of Matanzas, Artemisa, and Pinar del Río, along with the Municipio Especial  Isla de la Juventud, offer attractions that range from the traditional tobacco plantations of Viñales to the cosmopolitan beaches of Varadero to the wilds and wetlands on the Península de Zapata. In addition, pristine beaches and nonpareil diving opportunities can be found off—among other spots—Cayo Levisa, the Península de Guanahacabibes, Cayo Largo, and the Zapata Peninsula.  Cuba vacations has it all.  For more information on Cuba’s beautiful beaches, visit our Greater Antilles Travel page.

Cuba Weather – When to Visit

The best time to visit Cuba is between January and February. The island’s location in the Caribbean affords warm temperatures year-round, with the average lows in Havana dipping to 65 degrees. Because of its location, there are really only two seasons in Havana: wet and dry. The dry season runs through “winter” in Cuba, (November to April) while the wet season (May to October) overlaps with hurricane season, making the likelihood of precipitation very high. But hurricanes in Cuba aren’t common and if a storm of any kind were to strike, it would likely happen during August or September. Festivals of all kinds occur year-round. If you want to see Havana at its most colorful, visit in August during Carnival. If you want to see the city at its most political, attend the International Workers’ Day at Revolution Square in Havana in May, where a speech is made by the president annually.

The 8 Best Cuba Beaches

Varadero Beach

Cuba’s most famous beach stretches more than 12 miles and is bordered by all-inclusive resorts, bustling restaurants, and bars. If the dance lessons, aerobics classes, and games hosted by your resort aren’t enough to keep you busy, then gear up to dive or snorkel the crystal-clear waters. There are sea caves and coral reefs to explore right off the shore. You certainly will not be the only group on the fine white sand, but Varadero remains a good choice if you’re looking for an accessible beach with lots of tourist-friendly amenities.

Playa Paraíso

Playa Paraíso, just slightly east on Cayo Largo, lives up to its paradisiacal name. You’ll find total seclusion with no fancy hotels or restaurants. The east end of it tends to be swimsuit-optional, so if you’re opposed to nudity, stick to the west. A 15-minute walk will land you on the sand of Sirena, so you can compare the two beaches yourself.

Playa Ancón

This gentle arch on Cuba’s southern shore has coral rocks perfect for scavenging for conch shells. The warm waters invite swimmers, snorkelers, and divers. It’s a popular beach only about seven miles south of the small Spanish colonial town of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so Playa Ancón can attract a crowd. Trinidad is a worthwhile place to set up a base for this region. Its charming cobblestone streets and colorful buildings have been preserved from the 1800s.

Playa Larga

The shallow waters of Cayo Coco attract both families with young children and anyone interested in kayaking, sailing, and windsurfing. Playa Larga is a low-key beach inside Cienaga de Zapata National Park on the historically significant Bay of Pigs. It’s a perfect place to kick back with a drink among locals, while also sticking close to bars, restaurants, and hotels.

Playa Pesquero

Playa Pesquero is the best beach in Guardalavaca, once a cattle-rearing rural village that has become a hot spot for beach lovers. The sand is lined with resorts like the five-star Hotel Playa Pesquero, so you’ll see plenty of fellow tourists in addition to locals. Pick up souvenirs like cigars, handbags, and art at the beachside market.

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Playa Santa Lucía

On one side of Playa Santa Lucía is the vast Atlantic and on the other is Nuevitas Bay, a scuba-diving destination with bull sharks and colorful coral fish galore. This beach has a locals-only vibe, but the tour guides at KOAKS Adventures can show you around their idyllic slice of the island on horseback.

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Playa Pilar

Guillermo is off Cuba’s northern coast in the Jardines del Rey archipelago. Playa Pilar is a highlight of the island, with powdery sand and shallow waters. It is one of the country’s most beautiful beaches, but don’t expect vendors, souvenir shops, and all the bells and whistles of busier shores on the main island.

Playa Sirena

This beach is on the western end of Cayo Largo, a small island off Cuba’s southern coast. It’s extremely wide, making plenty of room to sunbathe or shelter in the shade of the palm trees dotting the sand. There are no hotels along the shore, and the lack of wind means the water stays calm. If you’re looking for a quiet beach on a quiet island, this is your spot.

Best Cuba Restaurants

La Fontana  $11 – 30

La Fontana, encased in a hard-to-find but beautiful house in Playa, is one of the best restaurants in Havana, a position it has enjoyed pretty much since its inception in 1995 (back in Cuba’s culinary Stone Age). The secret: the restaurant has progressed with the times, adding space, dishes and multiple quirks like fish ponds and live jazz.  Telephone:  7-202-8337  Web:  La Fontana.

El Rum Rum de la Habana  $11 – 30

El Rum Rum is the talk of Habana Vieja – an ambitious new restaurant run by a cigar sommelier that pays homage to seafood, Spanish gastronomy, cigars and throat-warming shots of the hard stuff.  The restaurant is split into three areas. A front bar decked out like a Spanish tavern, an artier inner sanctum, and a patio for cigar smokers. A suave, non-obtrusive house band do the rounds of all three. If you’re struggling for choices, opt for the paella or the inky black rice with octopus.  Telephone:  7-861-0806  Web:  El Rum de la Habana.

Lamparilla 361 Tapas & Cervezas  $11 – 30

Try the perfect tapa-sized lasagna, the crisp sautéed vegetables served in ceramic dishes, the rich espresso-flavored crème brûlée, or the table menus written on dried palm leaves.  The restaurant has genuine friendliness and will greet you with sincerity even five minutes before closing time.  The open-to-the-street interior is small but thoughtfully decorated. Telephone:  52-89-53-24  Web:  Lamparilla 361 Tapas & Cervezas.

Doña Eutimia  $11 – 30

They serve decent-sized portions of incredibly tasty Cuban food. The ropa vieja (shredded beef) and minced beef picadillo both deserve to be tried. Doña Eutimia was the first private restaurant to grace this small cul-de-sac near the cathedral.  There are at least five other restaurants near Doña Eutimia, and they will try to lure you into their restaurant.  Don’t deter from this restaurant, as the food is delicious and you’ll save money.  Telephone:  53 7 8611332  Web:  Doña Eutimia.

La Cocina de Lilliam  $11 – 30

A legend long before Cuban food became legendary, Lilliam’s was once one of Havana’s only posh private restaurants – the long-standing diplomat’s choice. These days it has more competition, but maintains its prominence with classy service, secluded ambiance and freshly cooked food to die for.  The experience is as much about the surroundings as the food. The restaurant is set in an illustrious villa in Miramar and you are served in a garden with trickling fountains and lush tropical plants. The menu changes regularly, but there’s usually good steak, octopus and pork options.  Telephone:  7-209-6514  Web:  La Cocina de Lilliam.

Best Cuba Bars & Nightlife

Espacios

There’s a little more attitude at this chic and contemporary suburban house bar than some of the other, more quirky places on this list, but the gorgeous green-treed backyard makes even an ounce of pretension totally reasonable. Cuban drink staples abound, but you also might be able to find some international imports if you’re willing to pay.  Telephone:  53 7 2022921  Web:  Espacios.

Fabrica de Arte Cubano FAC

Located in a defunct oil factory, FAC is a prime example of the Cuban government’s dedication to arts and culture. The multi-floored, government-sponsored space — which is part art gallery, part DJ dance club, part concert hall, and part film/performance theater — is giant, with enough outdoor areas and bars to satisfy the hundreds of hipsters who wait in line for an hour to get in every weekend.  Telephone:  53 7 8382260  Web:  Fabrica de Arte Cubano FAC.

Cafe Fortuna Joe

The intrigue here is almost 100% the interior decorations. Vintage typewriters, sewing machines, cameras, radios, and even a toilet clutter the space, and tables are made from old cars and other assorted house parts. Imbibing here will make you feel like you’re back home, if your home is your hoarder grandmother’s basement.  Web:  Cafe Fortuna Joe.

El Chanchullero de Tapas

With only four small wood tables and a few barstools, plus El Chanchullero’s reputation as the premier hip hole-in-the-wall, don’t be surprised if you have to wait a little while before enjoying a first-rate mojito and the shrimp enchiladas. The graffitied interior makes it feel a little divey, but that’s exactly what a detour off the threaded tourist path should entail. Telephone:  53 5 2760938  Web:  El Chanchullero de Tapas.

Casa de la Musica

The name is one of the best-known for live music, and there are two locales — one in Miramar and one in Centro (though the former is probably the one you want). All kinds of music is featured here — from big famous bands to Reggaeton to even occasionally electronica — but be sure to know who’s playing, lest you stumble in on an off night and find the place brimming with old men and sex workers. The party starts around 11pm!  Telephone:  53 7 2026147  Web:  Casa de la Musica.

Best Cuba Hotels

Grand Aston Varadero

A 5-star modern and sophisticated hotel boasting 531 rooms and operating as a 24/7 all-inclusive resort. It is ideally situated on the beachfront of the Oasis Sector in Varadero. Tailored to adults and children above 11 years old, GRAND Aston Varadero provides diverse leisure activities, exceptional service, tranquil retreats, and an opulent ambiance that promises an extraordinary night’s sleep.  Visit Here For More Information & To Reserve Your Room

Hotel Grand Aston La Habana

A haven of contemporary chic and sophistication, the GRAND Aston La Habana leads modern living to the next level, revealing uniquely designed architecture, fresh guest rooms, eclectic dining, inspiring events spaces, and beautiful wellness facilities, including a stunning infinity pool with views of the sparkling water of the Havana Bay.  Visit Here For More Information & To Reserve Your Room

Gran Muthu Habana Hotel

The cutting-edge and magnificent Gran Muthu Habana Hotel is situated in a prestigious and lovely residential area of the city, not far from Havana’s renowned Fifth Avenue and the Miramar Trade Centre. It offers stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and convenient access to the city’s most important historical and cultural landmarks. The National Aquarium of Cuba is right next to the hotel. The hotel is strategically located and blends in with nearby hotels, churches, markets, reference business centres, and other significant locations.  Visit Here For More Information & To Reserve Your Room

Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Hotel

The luxurious Gran Muthu Almirante Beach hotel is situated in the well-liked vacation spot of Guardalavaca and features comfortable rooms, a lounge bar, a gym, a nightclub, a kids water park, a games area, non-motorized water sports, a spa and more. Its rooftop bar invites you to take in the views of the idyllic Cuban beach while sipping your favourite cocktail.  Visit Here For More Information & To Reserve Your Room

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Selectum Family Resort Varadero

Selectum Hotel Varadero offers comfortable and luxurious accommodation options. From Deluxe rooms to ocean view rooms; from Deluxe Junior Suites to Selectum Suites, there are various choices available. Each room features modern design and comfort.  Guests can enjoy the blue sea while staying in an atmosphere where they will enjoy their holidays. Selectum Hotel Varadero is an ideal choice for an unforgettable holiday experience.  Visit Here For More Information & To Reserve Your Room