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How to get to Cuba… and where to go

Cuba is a country filled with some of the most kind and generous people I have ever met. I have now visited twice and would love to go back again. Although there are travel restrictions, Cuba is actually easily accessible. The two requirements for a U.S. citizen to travel to Cuba are simply to choose one of the 12 categories for U.S. – authorized travel and to purchase Cuban visa. I purchased the visa in advance and I received it by mail within a week.

Having made my second trip just a few of months ago, I can confirm it is a still a wonderful place to visit.

Keep reading for my recommendations on where to go and what I found so special along the way. Below are what I consider the top 7 places to go and what I suggest you do once you’re there.

My first trip to Cuba was in July with a friend of mine. You would think we sweltered and I suppose we did at times. Being an island nation, with breezes common, July in Cuba did not feel much different than July in the southeast U.S. The advantage of visiting in July is that it is harvest season for many of the local fruits. This trip, my friend and I visited 4 cities: Viñales, Trinidad, Varadero, and Havana. We also visited 3 other must-see destinations: the Bay of Pigs (Bahía de Cochinos), Sendero Salto del Caburni, and El Nicho waterfalls; the latter two are both located in Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes. Each location was stunning and unique.

January is also a great time to visit Cuba, which is when I went the second time. There are pros and cons for each time of year but many might consider December or January to be the best time to Cuba as it is less hot and falls within the dry season.

1- Viñales

After landing in Havana in the early afternoon, my friend and I were picked up at the airport by our guide and driven directly to Viñales. The town’s iconic mountain vistas made it an obvious place for us to visit. We had heard about the tobacco farms, rock climbing, and hiking. We arrived to town roughly two hours after we left Havana, with time enough to settle into our airbnb and find a restaurant for dinner. The town is small so we were able to walk to dinner from the airbnb. In fact, our host walked with us to the restaurant. She was perhaps even more enthusiastic than usual as she was in the middle of preparing for her daughter’s quinceañera, or 15th birthday party. The quinceañera is generally a cause for big celebration as it signifies the transition from childhood to adulthood in Latin America.

We spent two full days and two partial days exploring Viñales and the surrounding countryside. We felt that it was a sufficient amount of time to visit. On the first of our two full days, we went rock climbing (limestone cliff pictured above). The routes we climbed were long and challenging and I loved having the opportunity to climb on the unique tufa formations. We hired a local guide for our outing which enriched the experience as we enjoyed spending time with a local rock climber.

On the second full day, we ventured out for a full farm tour experience. Cuba is very community oriented and the locals are eager to help connect tourists with their contacts who offer guided tours. For example, we secured our farm tour guide when chatting with the staff at the restaurant the night before. As promised, the guide was exactly where they said he would be at the agreed upon time. We had the option to take a horse and buggy or walk. We opted for horse and buggy on the way there and walked back. As an aside, I do recommend taking an umbrella to protect you from the sun and heat. Many locals use umbrellas for this exact purpose and we did the same as we walked back to town.

We greatly enjoyed visiting the tobacco farm, learning about the harvesting process, seeing the drying barns, and then learning how to roll cigars. From the tobacco farm, we opted to walk the 45 minutes on a dirt (sometimes mud) road to the next farm that contained both sugarcane and coffee plants. We were treated to a coffee and a taste of locally distilled rum in a beautiful, remote setting.

2- Bay of Pigs

While en route to Trinidad from Viñales, we stopped at the Bay of Pigs (Bahía de Cochinos) to snorkel. I highly recommend this location for snorkeling or scuba diving. The coral reef was vibrant and beautiful and there were so many species of fish swimming all around. We must have been swimming for hours but the time flew by. We spoke with people who were a part of a day tour from Havana, so that is an option if you are limited on time. If you would rather stay longer, there are airbnbs and other accommodations nearby as well.

Snorkeling in the Bay of Pigs was actually not a part of the initial plan; it was suggested by our guide. Now I can’t imagine not having experienced this location and would encourage you to add it to your itinerary.

3- Trinidad

I was partial to Trinidad for several reasons and would absolutely recommend visiting even though it is a 5 or 6 hour drive from Havana. This beautiful colonial city filled with cobblestone streets was near both the mountains and the beach. We enjoyed walking around the city, trying the restaurants, rum drinks, and coffees. There are also several museums, free walking tours, lovely plazas, locally made arts and crafts for sale, and live music playing all around the city.

The first of a several course breakfast at our airbnb in Trinidad

The final reason I loved Trinidad so much was because of our airbnb owners. The accommodation in and of itself was amazing. There were several private rooms, each with its own bathroom but the open air patio in middle of the home was shared. The kitchen was exposed to this open air patio as it was covered but no walls separated it. It is common to pay the little bit extra for the breakfast made by your airbnb host in Cuba, which I highly recommend. The breakfast here in Trinidad was second to none. There were multiple courses made only with fresh, local ingredients, local fruits, and made from scratch dishes. By the end of our stay we had even become friends with one of owners with whom we still keep in touch.

4- Sendero Salto del Caburni

Rewarding views from Sendero Salto del Caburni

If you enjoy hiking and the outdoors, I recommend taking a taxi from Trinidad to the mountains and hike the Sendero Salto del Caburni. It was downhill on the way there, so be prepared to hike back out. The waterfalls and swimming holes were pretty incredible as I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect at the end of trail. The hike was approximately 4 miles round trip, at least according to the app on my phone.

5- El Nicho

On the road again, this time from Trinidad to Varadero, our taxi driver took a slight detour so we could hike to these stunning falls. It was a great way to break up the roughly 6 hour drive. This hike could also be done as a day trip from Trinidad if you are able to make Trinidad your home base for longer than we were.

6- Varadero

Inside the pineapple was a delicious piña colada and it cost just over $1 USD.

I read before the trip that Varadero is very touristy and maybe should be skipped. I’m so glad we didn’t listen. I thought it was the most beautiful beach I had ever visited. To be clear, we stayed in the town and not at the end of the peninsula where the hotels are located so I can’t speak to the beaches there.

To quickly revisit my mention of traveling to Cuba as a U.S. citizen: The U.S. travel category we selected was the support for the Cuban people travel category. As a part of the restrictions in that travel category, U.S. citizens are not allowed to stay in Cuban government run hotels or facilities. Airbnbs are allowed, however, and I found them to likely be preferable anyway, as I greatly enjoyed spending time with local families.

The beachfront in the part of Varadero where we stayed was stunning. We signed up for a catamaran excursion and otherwise enjoyed the soft, white sand beach and the clear, warm, gently rolling tropical waters. We also enjoyed the food, drinks, and cruising around town on the bicycles made available to us by the airbnb owner.

7- Havana

To wrap up an incredible journey, we spent one and a half days in Havana. We hired a tour guide to walk us around to the main attractions, took a ride in a vintage Chevrolet convertible, and went to the Fábrica del Arte. There is a lot to do in Havana and I have yet to spend sufficient time there. One of the highlights of Cuba, but Havana in particular, is the live music. There is so much musical talent on display in practically every corner of at least the more touristy areas of the city.

Conclusion

and other notes about Cuba

Cuba is an incredible place and the people there are wonderful. However, please note before traveling there that there are things you may find difficult. Please also be aware that the experience you have as a tourist is different from real life for the vast majority of the residents. My friend and I each checked an extra suitcase filled with toiletries, over the counter medications, clothing, and children’s toys. Everyone was grateful and no one took offense to our offer – not even the airbnb owners. Many essentials are just not available for purchase, regardless of whether one has the ability to pay for them.

Despite these circumstances, I have never been to a place where the people were more generous.

Tourism is a vital part of the livelihood of many Cubans, whether directly or indirectly. They appreciate us visiting and supporting them directly by way of airbnbs and private tour guided experiences. It is a warm, generous, and safe country and I would highly recommend you visit.

So, are you booking your trip already? Let me know in the comments.