What Caribbean destination would you choose to enjoy paradisaical beaches, endless villages with history and nature? Have you thought of Cuba? – because you should! We totally fell in love with this island because it is a country where you can visit all kinds of monuments and combine a cultural vacation with relaxation. Cuba has some of the most beautiful beach areas of the Antilles, and although the capital is a well-known city among travellers, Cuba is much more than Havana. Are you coming with us to discover the essential corners of this island?
Cuba, a paradise of sun and beach
Varadero Beach
One of the main attractions of the island is the good weather that the island has, practically all the year (except for the months of rain or “mozón”, especially from August to October), which makes that tourists can enjoy their beautiful coasts – for many Cuba is a paradise of sun and beach. Two hours by car from the capital we’ll find the famous Varadero Beach, a beach of fine white sand where you can bathe in a turquoise and crystalline Caribbean sea.
Do you need something else? Yes, thousands of activities! What do you think of surfing, snorkelling or windsurfing in these beautiful waters… Leisure or relaxation, only you can decide what to do on your trip to Cuba. But don’t forget that Varadero is just one of its paradisaical beaches…
The island has more amazing beaches where you can relax at it fullest. “Los Cayos” are islands surrounded by the waters of the Caribbean where you can find the peace and tranquillity you are looking for during a vacation – and the corals and diverse marine fauna will encourage you to spend hours on the beach. If you want to enjoy a sea of shallow waters, without waves and an intense blue colour we suggest you to visit two of the scenic gems of Cuba: Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco. The latter is named after the numerous coconut trees that border the more than 20 kilometres of coastline that it offers. And Cayo Guillermo is less crowded than the previous one and therefore it has virgin beaches as well as the highest dunes of the Caribbean, you’ll be amazed!
Havana and other places of interest
Old Havana
Well, Cuba has many more cities to get to know than Havana but you cannot miss its capital for sure! Here you’ll find everything you need for your holidays: a great offer of holiday homes, shops, restaurants and millions of places to discover. You can visit the National Capitol, eat near the Cathedral Square, see the Statue of the Republic, enter the Castillo del Morro and -at the end of the afternoon- walk through the Malecón. If you’re interested in getting to know the heart of the city, there’s nothing better than going to Calle Hamell in the Cayo Hueso neighbourhood or to take a walk through the always lively Old Havana.
While staying in Cuba we would also recommend you to visit another very important and touristic destination: Santiago de Cuba – considered the capital of the Caribbean. Here you can get to know two places declared as World Heritage: the Castle of San Pedro of Rome and the first coffee plantations.
Another corner of the country, also declared a Heritage, is the city of Trinidad, where you’ll feel like you are traveling through the past, to the period of the greatest Cuban splendor, still present in its houses and monuments. Another beauty of the city is Cienfuegos, a destination that will let you fall in love with the fine architecture of its buildings which reminds us of some towns on the Cote d’Azur due to its French influences.
What to do in Cuba?
Baracoa
We have talked about the best beaches in the country and the essential cities you should visit, but what else can you do in Cuba? One of the places that you can not miss if you are a nature lover: Baracoa. Here you can do all kinds of activities, from seeing its impressive waterfalls to tours on the waters of the Toa River. If you are an adventurous traveller, you can go deep into the tropical forests or the Yunque mountains; in addition, the urban centre of Baracoa is beautiful in order to get lost in its narrow streets.
Valley of Viñales
Another indispensable visit during your holidays in Cuba is Viñales where you will discover landscapes that you cannot find in Europe. It is located in the Guaniguanico mountain range and in these valleys where agriculture is the protagonist, you will find numerous tobacco plantations, one of the typical products of the country.
And of course in Cuba there are more Natural Parks scattered around the island: the Turquino, the Alejandro de Humboldt, the Caguanes or the Topes de Collantes. The latter emphasizes its abundant vegetation, caves, underground rivers, waterfalls and natural pools to enjoy nature in its purest form.
These are some of the many options that this magical island offers you. If you are planning a trip to Cuba, well don’t forget your bathing suit because the good weather and the waters of the Caribbean Sea will be waiting for you. If you want to combine sun and beach tourism with other activities such as discovering the history and culture of the country, you have already seen that there are many towns that are considered World Heritage Sites – the country is rich in historical gems!