The best places to visit in Cuba

Culture, countryside and beach in the Caribbean's largest island

Although there is a degree of crossover, Cuba’s visitor destinations can essentially be divided into three categories: colonial towns and cities, countryside and the beach.

Cuba is probably most famous for its colonial towns and cities and there are plenty to choose from. In the far east of the island, Baracoa is considered the oldest colonial town in the Americas while, in the west, Havana is amongst the most famous.

Other key colonial destinations include Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Sancti Spiritus, Santa Clara, Remedios, Camaguey, Bayamo & Santiago – the fact that three of these are UNESCO World Heritage site shows just how intact and unchanged Cuba’s towns and cities are.

If your interest lies more in the countryside than the city, the Caribbean’s largest island again doesn’t disappoint although, as yet, eco-tourism remains somewhat under-developed in Cuba.

Destinations that visitors will want to include in their itinerary will certainly include Vinales, Las Terrazas & Soroa as well as, to a slightly lesser extent, the Zapata Peninsula.

However, some of Cuba’s most beautiful and accessible countryside is best accessed from its towns and cities.

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So, for example, El Nicho waterfalls are best reached from Cienfuegos while nearby Trinidad is the perfect base from which to explore the stunning countryside of the Escambray Mountains.

Further east, the colonial town of Bayamo is a jumping-off spot to go hiking in the Sierra Maestra while Baracoa, the oldest town in Cuba, is actually more of a nature-based destination than anything else.

Most, but by no means all, of our clients will wish to end their holiday with time relaxing at the beach and Cuba certainly has plenty to choose from.

What surprises many visitors to the island is the fact that, despite being in the Caribbean, the vast majority of its beach resorts are on the north coast, facing the Atlantic – don’t worry, they’re no less wonderful for it!

Key beach destinations along this north coast include Cayo Levisa, Jibacoa, Varadero, Cayos de Villa Clara (which include Cayos Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos & Cayo Santa Maria) and Guardalavaca. If you’re absolutely set on relaxing by the Caribbean, perhaps consider Cayo Largo.

What does perhaps frustrate some visitors to the island is that almost all Cuba’s beach destinations are somewhat distant and cut off from the ‘real’ Cuba. The only real exception to this is Trinidad, on the island’s south coast which, in addition to being a beautiful town with stunning countryside, just happens to have a lovely beach a short drive away. Too good to be true? Well, for now at least, the three existing beach hotels are somewhat lacking.