Old Havana
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Cayo Coco
Ville De Vinales
Playa Paraiso Beach
The Malecon
Topes De Collantes
Trinidad
La Cocina De Lilliam
Cuba Musts
No trip to Cuba is complete without a visit to Old Havana. Explore the street and squares, not to mention the beautiful architecture and vintage cars that line the streets of this historic city.
For those looking for a beach escape, Cayo Coco is an island paradise lying just off the coast of mainland Cuba and connected by a 17 km long stone road. Cayo Coco has a 10 km long beach with soft sand and clear blue water. The island is also a protected reserve for plants and animals, making it a haven for nature lovers.
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Another must-do for nature lovers is the trip to Valle de Vinales in western Cuba. Tours typically begin at Los Jasmines Hotel, which offers stunning views of the valley. Check out the town of Vinales, with its plethora of classic cars and horse-drawn carts, on your way to the valley itself, which contains a vast cave system. Valle de Vinales is a designated UNESCO World Cultural landmark.
Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, Playa Paraiso beckons you with azure sky and white beach that glimmers under the tropical sun. Aptly named for its natural beauty, the beach overlooking the calm and breathtakingly blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico is like a piece of paradise indeed. Lounge all day under a palapa or frolic in the shallow waters with your family. Visit Playa Paraiso once and it will stay with you forever.
Leave the beaten path and visit the historic city of Trinidad in Sancti Spiritus. Be sure to check out the crafts fair where you can find beautiful handicrafts and lots of old books and journals.
El Yunque, a table shaped mountain in Baracoa, Cuba, is a historical landmark. A frequent haunt of hikers and adventure-loving visitors, the mountain offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape from the top. Take a day off hiking and stroll amidst its shady mango orchards, swim in the Duaba River or visit a local cocoa plantation.
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El Yunque
For dining in Havana, one of the best restaurants is La Cocina de Lilliam. The restaurant is located in the house of the owners, Lilliam Dominquez and her husband, Luis Ulloa. The 65-year-old house has a beautifully lighted garden where visitors dine. If interested, you can request a tour of the historic and warmly furnished house.
A great way to spend an evening in Havana would be to stroll along the Malecon, the road along Havana’s harbor front, which is a very popular hangout spot. Listen to local musicians and even join in a sing-along if you muster up the nerve!
Nestled in the emerald-green folds of the Escambray Mountains, Topes de Collantes is one of the most beloved nature reserves in the Cuba. Located 2,600ft above sea level, the reserve boasts of breathtaking beauty as well as a variety of flora and fauna. The eco-tours among caves and grottos, natural pools created by the Caburni Falls, hundreds of orchids and ferns, glimpses of rarely seen tropical birds make it an absolute must do.
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Palacio De Valle
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Travel southeast from Havana to another major Cuban city, Cienfuegos, and tour the spectacular Palacio de Valle. This stunning, Neo-Gothic style palace built in the early 1900s is now home to a restaurant. The palace’s towers are accessible to the public and boasts spectacular views over the city of Cienfuegos.