Two Weeks in Cuba: The Top Things You Should Not Miss

With tropical wheater, great food, great people, and unique culture, Cuba is simply a perfect holiday destination. Our two weeks in Cuba were filled with emotions; we enjoyed everything, from the food to the music, from the amazing cities to the marvellous beaches.

In this post, we will sum up what we covered during our trip and we will include the top things that are not to be missed on a trip to Cuba.

Make sure you don’t miss our blog post ‘How to plan your trip to Cuba’

Let’s start with Havana!

The Top Things You Should Not Miss in Havana

Havana is the capital city of Cuba. An extraordinary cool city that will conquer you with its colours, music, and appearance. From the old colonial buildings to the traditional bars, and from the wonderful sunsets to the welcoming kind-hearted locals, you could spend days there and still have not explored it in full. However, like the majority of people do, you will probably spend just a few days in Havana, to then head somewhere else. This is why we have prepared a shortlist of things you should not miss out on in Havana.

Take a free walking tour

Free walking tours will give you a great opportunity to explore the city on foot. This is a great opportunity to explore much of the city if you have little time available. The insights you can get from the local guides are simply endless. Get soaked into the history of Havana, and discover local cultures and customs. The guides will also give you some useful tips, such as best places for food and drinks, best money exchange offices, etc. We recommend booking in advance both the Free Havana Tour and the Free Tour of Colonial Havana. Each tour follows a distinct route and is very interesting.

Get lost in the city

Even if you opted not to go on a walking tour of Havana, you definitely have to explore this vibrant city. The town of La Habana is divided into two major districts: Old Havana and Central Havana. In both parts, you will get different tastes and vibes which will allow you to have a true appreciation of the city and Cuban culture as a whole.

Old Havana is the pulsing heart and historical district of the city, built around 4 magnificent Plazas: Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de San Francisco de Asis and Plaza Vieja. Stunning architectural gems, such as the National Capitol Building and the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, make you not wonder why Old Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage site. With so many things to do and explore, this part of the city is inevitably where most tourists spend their time.

Central Havana is a place that has kept its authenticity. The streets are so lively with the locals chatting from one balcony to another, and with the music coming out the windows which makes the atmosphere just unbelievable. Some buildings here are literally crumbling, and sadly some of these are not abandoned but are homes.

Enjoy the sunset at the Malecon

The Malecon is the main waterfront in Havana, an 8km coastline perfect for walks by the sea. The locals love to hang around here just as much as tourists do. Despite the many cars driving by at all times, this place is an oasis of peace ideal for a romantic walk with your loved one while also taking some photographs with the sun dipping down at the horizon. It is also a great spot to watch the fishermen fishing and even have a chat with them. We came down here on our first night in Havana and it was a great surprise. This will be without a doubt one of your favourite spots in Havana.

Ride around in a vintage car

In Havana, you will see many vintage cars, mostly from the 50s. These colourful antiques are a true symbol of Cuba, so much so that they are considered part of their national heritage. The majority of these cars are taxis that you could hire for the day to bring you wherever you want. Going for a ride on one of these cars is definitely something to try out while in Havana and we would highly recommend this Havana Classic Car Tour. If you make friends with the drivers, they may even let you behind the wheel. We had a go in a quiet street in Vedado and it felt so cool and authentic!

Head to Hemingway’s favourites

There are two Bars in Havana where Ernest Hemingway was a regular: La Bodeguita for a Mojito and El Floridita for a Daiquiri.

La Bodeguita del Medio

La Bodeguita del Medio is famous for its Mojitos, the bar’s signature drink. Some say the Mojito was actually invented right in this bar. Everyone who visits Havana wants to experience the venue so finding a free table may take a long time. You better ask for a famous Mojito and drink it on the sidewalk outside. Bear in mind that Mojitos are more expensive than those in other bars. If you wish to wait in line, you’ll have the opportunity to take photographs of the exclusive establishment, or even add your name to the walls, along with many celebrities’ signatures.

El Floridita

El Floridita is also a very busy tourist stop, but worth the visit. Daiquiris are great as is live music. Hemingway was such a fixture at the bar that there is a statue of him at the place he always occupied and one of the Daiquiri is named after him. The Private Tour of Havana includes a stop here, at Floridita. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this iconic venue.

Hotel Nacional

Hotel Nacional was also another Hemingway’s favourite. Located in Vedado, it is a historical luxury hotel from the 30s which hosted several celebrities throughout the years such as Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, and John Wayne. It is a great place to enjoy a dinner and cabaret show, a traditional music concert, or simply an aperitif in the garden.

GOOD TO KNOW

For the greatest fans of Ernest Hemingway, there is the unique opportunity to join a tailor-made “Hemingway’s Cuba Guided Tour”. A 4-hour immersive tour will guide you through the places where Hemingway’s used to spend his time writing or simply getting some inspiration.

Learn about the Revolution

If you want to learn more about the Cuban Revolution, then there are a few places you should pay a visit to. One of these is the Museo de la Revoluciόn, located in the former presidential palace and featuring weaponry, photos, and documents from the Revolution times. After visiting the museum of the Revolution, head to Plaza de la Revoluciόn. This is where the most important government offices are located; where some of the most important historic government decisions were made; and where Fidel Castro used to hold his public speeches. Thousands gathered here for Fidel’s last farewell. The memorial square is dedicated to José Martí, one of the heroes of the Revolution, and on one of the government buildings is represented the face of Ernesto Che Guevara, another revolutionary leader.

NOTE

This Plaza is far from everything else. However, by joining the Revolution Walking Tour, you will get transport included and a professional guide that will tell all about the Cuban Revolution including the movement that led Fidel Castro to power. Alternatively, Plaza de la Revoluciόn is also covered by most Classic Havana tours. These are essentially classic car rides that bring you to the main highlights of the city. Many people go this way; however, we did not try them out.

Dance a bit of Salsa

We did not know how to dance salsa and Latin music in general, but we can assure you Cuba will soak you in with its rhythms. It is hard to listen to music and not want to dance at least a little bit! If you already know how to dance salsa, well…. you’ll be in heaven! However, if you don’t, why not take a Dance Class while in Havana? At the Salsa Estilo Cuba Dance School, you could take some private lessons to spice up your mood before heading to a dance club. The best Latin Music clubs in Cuba are located right in Havana, and you should pay a visit to one or more of them.

Visit a tobacco factory

Amongst the many things Cuba is famous for, cigars are definitely up there. If you wish to learn how cigars are made, you could visit the Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás, a cigar factory museum where the world-famous Cuban Habanos are produced (and also sold). If you don’t smoke and don’t want to try them out, they still are a nice gift idea. Pretty much in all streets in Cuba, they will try to sell you 1 CUC poor quality cigars. If you want to buy good quality cigars, La Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás and also La Casa del Habano are the places to go.

TIP

If you do buy some cigars, remember to store them in a wet cloth or in the fridge to keep them nice and moist. For cigar lovers, there is the opportunity to learn more about Cuban cigars and their making process by joining this Cuban Cigar Workshop. A guide will go through the various types of cigars that exist and explain the making techniques. You will also get to make your cigar while sipping some rum and coffee!

As we have seen, Havana has plenty to offer. This city has met all our expectations and we had a great time while we were there.

But there is a town – that I have never heard of until I got there – that truly took me by surprise: Trinidad.

I remember one day in Trinidad, the taxi drivers were around me saying: “we’ll take you here, we’ll take you there”…I just turned back at them and said: “No thanks, I just want to remain here!”

Trinidad, Cuba: A Town Frozen in Time

When we were planning our trip to Cuba, we knew we wanted to experience the local culture, including sightseeing and also some time to relax at the beach. Looking back, no decision was ever better than including Trinidad in our trip to Cuba! An enchanting old town full of history, surrounded by a lush green, and populated by open-hearted people.

We highly recommend you include this gem on your trip to Cuba, even if it’s only for a couple of nights. A visit to Trinidad is definitely one of the best things to do in Cuba. We will never forget the sweet smell of sugar in the air, the cute cobblestone streets, the vibe of the music played by street artists, and the amazing food.

How to get to Trinidad, Cuba

By bus

Reaching Trinidad is quite easy. There are regular buses that connect Trinidad to other Cuban cities, primarily Varadero, Havana, and Cienfuegos. Viazul is an official bus company that provides affordable tickets to Trinidad and fairly good service. A bus trip from Havana to Trinidad takes 6-7 hours. Although their reviews are not great, we did not face any problems and the buses were always punctual. The only downside is that they keep the air con at full speed, and there is no way they’ll turn it down!

To avoid disappointment, make sure you book your seat in advance from their website especially during high season, as tickets tend to sell out fast. We experienced people showing up at the bus station looking to buy a ticket but they were all sold out. You will also need to check-in before boarding, so you should arrive approximately 1 hour before the bus leaves. Another bus company is Conectando, however, they have a very limited online presence.

GOOD TO KNOW:

The internet in Cuba does not work the way we are used to. Getting online is not easy and you will not be able to get it 24/7. Avoid relying on apps and emails to keep your tickets/reservations. Instead, print your pre-booked tickets and bring them with you in your everyday bag. We avoid printing when possible. However, on this occasion, having printed tickets with us proved to be handy.

By taxi colectivo

Another way of getting to Trinidad is by private taxi rides called taxi colectivos. These are collective car rides where you share the car with other people. They are a popular way of getting around in Cuba. Taxi colectivos often do not hold a valid licence and they usually try and pump up the price, so be ready to haggle. We took a bus from Havana to Trinidad but some people we met paid 30 CUC per person for this route, which seems a decent price considering the distance.

A little bit of history

Trinidad is a UNESCO World Heritage town located in the province of Sancti Spiritus. It is considered to be one of the finest and most well-preserved colonial sites of the Spanish era in the Americas. Founded in 1514 under the name “Villa de la Santisima Trinidad”, Trinidad saw growth and prosperity primarily thanks to the sugar demand coming from every angle of the Earth.

Cuba was the main exporter of sugar back in the day, and the surrounding Valle de Los Ingenios was the main hub of Cuba’s sugar cane plantations. The growing wealth attracted businessmen, barons, and others rich in the area building huge manors and palatial houses contributing to the development of Trinidad. As the competition for sugar in Central and South America increased, Cuba eventually lost its market dominance. Trinidad, which was completely dependent on the sugar economy, faced dark times for decades. What remains today it’s a magnificent colonial town frozen in time also known as “The City Museum of Cuba”.

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What to do in Trinidad, Cuba

Despite Trinidad being a small town, there are plenty of things to explore and keep you entertained. If you are coming from Havana, you’ll notice it is a perfect getaway from the hustle of the capital. There are only a few cars in Trinidad, as most people just walk or…ride a horse! How cool is that?

Here is our list of top things to do in Trinidad

Take a walking tour

Joining a walking tour is the best way to visit Trinidad .

On this occasion, we opted for Free Walking Tour Trinidad and we were really happy. We were the only ones attending that day so we luckily got a private tour. The guide Andy was extremely friendly and took us to the most interesting places in Trinidad. Andy is a tourism professional who educates locals on how to run a business. You would meet him day and night in different establishments behind the counter, running meetings with the staff, serving, or just welcoming customers.

Wander around Plaza Mayor

If you missed Andy’s tour you simply can’t miss Plaza Mayor as you wander around Trinidad. The palm tree-lined Plaza Mayor is the main square in Trinidad featuring Brunet Palace and the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Brunet Palace is a large yellow Mudejar and Neoclassic building once a manor house today a museum displaying a valuable collection of 19^th-century objects. The pastel-yellow Church of the Holy Trinity is a Cuban religious icon, as it is home to The Lord of the True Cross, an 18^th-century wooden sculpture.

The holy artifact was meant to be shipped from Cuba to Mexico. However, for three times, the ship carrying it was forced to return to Trinidad due to bad weather. As a result, church officials believed this was an act of divine intervention and decreed the statue should have remained in Trinidad. The Church can be visited for free, although difficult to catch open.

Casa de la Musica

Casa de la Musica is probably the most popular attraction at nightfall. Locals and tourists join together on the steps or at seated tables of this Trinidad institution. You won’t be missing this club as it is located just beside Plaza Mayor. They predominately play live Cuban music, the bands playing are really good, and the atmosphere becomes energetic after a few mojitos! It was honestly fun and even if you do not know how to dance, you’ll feel like you’d want to give it a go. This is also one of the few places in town where you can get a wi-fi hotspot.

La Casa de la Musica is not the only club in town. Disco Ayala is a nightclub in a cave playing primarily Reggaeton music and it is largely popular, especially among youngsters. Whilst the first one is more of a place where you go to chill and listen to some good music while sipping a cocktail, Ayala is more of a raving disco so expect large sweaty crowds.

Lose yourself in the Cuban music

Talking about music, one of the things we liked about Trinidad and Cuba in general, is the music you hear every time of the day. One of the most enjoyable things while walking on the streets was listening to street musicians playing popular songs that, at some stage of the trip, you would know by heart. We often stopped to listen to street artists and it is something we recommend doing especially in Trinidad. The Cuban music simply melts together with the landscape and it creates a wonderful atmosphere. Sometimes people gather together to dance, have a chat and a drink together in the street.

Go for a drink

Many world-famous cocktails were invented here in Cuba, so why not try some? Cocktails can be expensive if purchased in restaurants or clubs, however, it is not hard to find stalls that sell them for 1 CUC. If you want to try a local cocktail make sure you go for Canchanchara. Locals are very proud of their own cocktail made of rum, honey, lime, and aguardiente served in a ceramic cup. There is also a mansion house called La Canchanchara where, they say, the cocktail was invented. It is a nice spot to sit al fresco and get refreshment after a walk in the heat.

Take a day trip

Valle de los Ingenios

Not far from Trinidad is Valle de los Ingenios, a group of three valleys where thousands of slaves used to work in the sugar plantations. An unmissable place to submerge yourself in nature and learn about the local culture. One of the most popular tours is Manaca Iznaga: a manor house with a high tower from which top, the guards used to observe the slaves working. You can climb the tower and enjoy the panoramic view for as little as 1 CUC.

Topes de Collantes National Park

Topes de Collantes is a beautiful, natural reserve located in the Sierra del Escambray, the second-largest mountain range of Cuba. The reserve features several hiking trails and waterfalls. The most famous hike is certainly Salto del Caburni, which leads to a spectacular 62 meters tall waterfall. You will have the opportunity to swim into a freezing, crystal-clear natural pool at the waterfall.

Parque El Cubano

The half-day Horse Riding at The Parque El Cubano Natural Park will bring you through this beautiful park, where it is possible to witness the typical Cuban wildlife. However, the highlight of this tour is the spectacular Javira waterfall. Take your time to relax and enjoy a refreshing dip in the natural pool beneath the falls.

Hoyo del Pilón

If you are looking for a simpler tour, look no further than Hoyo del Pilón, which can be done in half day on a horse ride. The tour goes through an ancient trail, where you will have the opportunity to observe ruins of one of the sugar mills, slave barracks, as well as the typical bohíos: rustic houses of Cuban peasants built with boards and guano. Here they’ll invite you to some coffee or refreshments.

During the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to try some guarapo: juice squeezed directly from sugar cane with the same techniques as the natives. The tour ends at a small natural paradise called Hoyo del Pilón: two natural pools of clean water with waterfalls rushing from the Escambray Mountains. It’s hard not to jump in after a warm and sweaty day…

This tour is not so popular. We were the only ones attending it. Because of this, the waterfall ended up being exclusively for us! We spend some true quality time swimming and relaxing surrounded by nature.

BE SUSTAINABLE:

Most tours include stops at the sugar mills. They may also stop to show you how local families make cigars filled with honey. The locals will try to sell you anything such as coffee, guarapo, cigars, and honey. You are not enforced to buy anything, of course, however with very little money you could enjoy genuine experiences contributing to the local economy.

TIP: For these tours, make sure you wear closed hiking boots and comfortable clothes. Bring with you swimming wear, a towel, water, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and a hat.

Playa Ancon

Playa Ancon is known to be one of the best beaches in Cuba, and we can confirm it. White sand and blue/turquoise water await you, along with a large beach bar. Renting a bike would cost you about 5 CUC for a day, so biking to the Playa Ancon would be something nice to do. If you opt to go this way, please do not underestimate the heat. Make sure you bring plenty of water and cover yourself with sunscreen. Alternatively, you could share a classic car (taxi compartido), which is what we did.

Where to stay in Trinidad, Cuba

As we mentioned in our post ‘How to plan your trip to Cuba‘, staying in a Casa Particular is one of the best things to try out in Cuba. In general, the hosts are very welcoming and would help you with practical stuff, such as sorting out your laundry, directing you to the best restaurants around, etc.

In Trinidad, there is a large selection of nice casas; see below our selection:

Best Casas in Trinidad

Yusi & Vladi House is where we stayed and we were happy with them. The house has been recently renovated and it features a nice balcony that overlooks the city. Perfect to enjoy breakfast or a sunset. Yusi & Vladi house is just 5 minutes walk from the bus station and less than 10 minutes walk from Plaza Mayor.
Casa Gran Cana has many good reviews on Tripadvisor. They are close to CADECA, Cubapoint, Playa Ancon bus stop, and Viazul bus station.
Casa Colonial 1920 is also highly appreciated. It is a historic building in the centre of town.

Now let’s leave cities and move on to something more exotic: the Cuban Cayos. Cuba indeed has some amazing beaches, and you would find the best ones at the Cayos. Who wouldn’t love to sit on a paradisiac beach sipping a cocktail under a coconut tree?

Cuban Cayos: The True Caribbean Treasures

The main island of Cuba is certainly to be explored as much as possible, as it offers a large number of attractions including beautiful beaches. Cuba is well known for its beaches but many don’t know that the best ones are located at Cayos.

What are Los Cayos?

What are the Cayos?

They are small islands located a bit everywhere off the main island of Cuba. Some of them are easy to reach whilst others are more difficult. Most of them, feature fine white sand beaches, crystalline turquoise waters, and exuberant wildlife.

As we did not have much time, we only got to visit two Cayos: Cayo Blanco and Cayo Largo. We will tell you more about it later in the post. First, let’s face a harsh reality: Cayos tend to be quite expensive to stay in.

There is only a handful of hotels located on certain Cayos, in some cases one hotel only. More than hotels, they are resorts that typically offer all-inclusive deals.

Now that we have made this preface, let’s look at the Best Cuban Cayos:

Best Cuban Cayos

Cayo Santa Maria: possibly the most famous Cayo, located just off Santa Clara. The island is easily accessible thanks to the bridge that connects it with the town of Caibriéna on the main island. You could get there on a day tour from Santa Clara or simply go explore by yourself. Expect some paradise beaches as the island is been renowned “La Rosa Blanca de los Jardines del Rey” (The White Rose of the King’s Gardens).
Cayo Coco: also located in the Jardines del Rey archipelago, it is one of the most popular Cayos with its neighborhood Cayo Guillermo. As well as paradisiac beaches, it is known to be one the best Cuban location for water sports, especially diving.
Cayo Levisa: located in Pinar del Río Province and accessible only through boats from Palma Rubia. It has snorkeling and diving sites but one hotel only. It is famous for being an uncontaminated paradise with its Colorados Archipelago coral reef and black coral.
Cayo Blanco: this Cayo features fine white sand, crystal blue water, and no hotels on it. We did the Catamaran tour from Varadero, which included lunch and drinks. The crew was cool and entertaining, and the boat ride was incredibly beautiful.

The Best one for us

Cayo Largo del Sur: getting on this angle of paradise in the Islas de la Juventud was difficult. But it was worth the effort. To get here, you will need to get the Aerogaviota flights from Havana (Playa Baracoa terminal) as there are no boat connections. Flights and excursions to Cayo Largo do not go unless there is a fair number of seats booked.

Because of this, you will have two options: book in advance from an online operator or organize everything in Havana. We went for the first option, we booked with Cubatravel in advance. However, once we were in Havana we had to go to their offices and check our booking was confirmed. Once at the office, we were advised that the day before departure we needed to call them to see if the flight was going!

Thankfully it went, but you can imagine the anxiety from not knowing if you are going or not until the last minute.

The same thing happened on the way back to Havana, the hotel receptionist called the agency to find out what time the flight was at the next day. The transfer to/from the resort is usually included in the hotel’s price (always ask them for confirmation).

Cayo Largo del Sur: A true paradise

Cayo Largo is a true paradise, with long fine white sand beaches and turquoise water. No words can do justice to this place so we are going to show you a photo here 😊

We spent our 2017 Christmas in Cayo Largo. It was a different Christmas spent on a tropical island drinking mojitos and eating lobsters. Who wouldn’t do that once in a lifetime?

On the island, there is a resort zone where all the hotels are located, and a shuttle train passes regularly to collect the guests and bring them to the port. Yes, the beaches are not close to the hotels, which is good in a way. Once at the port, the boats bring the guests back and forth to the beaches – on short, breathtakingly view rides.

The resorts, as we previously mentioned are quite expensive. We paid about 100€ per person per night. Overall, it was not too much considering it was high season and all-inclusive, and we wanted to indulge ourselves for once.

There are certainly other amazing Cayos in Cuba, but we only mentioned those which we have experienced first hand and those that were recommended to us.

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Varadero, Cuba: White Sand Beaches on the West Coast

It’s now time to conclude our wonderful trip to Cuba with the last stop. When we were planning our trip to Cuba we thought a lot about our destinations. We wanted to add more cities such as Santiago de Cuba and Santa Clara, but time was short. In addition, we felt like we have filled our trip so much that we deserved some time off just relaxing at a beach. And so ultimately we opted for Varadero as the last stop of our trip to Cuba.

If you are planning your trip to Cuba, you are probably asking yourself if you should include Varadero or not in your trip. This will most likely be dependent on what you want to do and see. If time is short, you could still visit Varadero on a day tour from Havana. Alternatively, if you’d like to go to Varadero on your own, you could opt for a Transfer.

We do recommend Varadero

Varadero has got much more to offer than just luxury seafront resorts.

If you start walking opposite the seafront, you’ll get to see a bit of local life. The locals would sit on the doorsteps chatting away for hours. The farmer, tired from the long working day, carries the cart loaded with hay. The locals are super welcoming, so do not be ashamed to start a conversation.

Varadero Beach is a long stretch of beautiful white sand and incredibly warm water. As the beach is truly long, you’ll easily find some spots with fewer people where you can relax. It was just the perfect relaxation time after two weeks of trotting around Cuba.

There are also multiple activities available in Varadero, such as The Varadero Classic Ride, The Sugar, Rum & Tobacco Tour, and The Yumuri Valley Jeep Tour.

We stayed at Casa Raquel (Raquel Home) and we were really happy. Yes, there are casas in Varadero too and they are way cheaper than hotels. Casa Raquel was comfy, the house is a bit spartan but Raquel is extremely welcoming. As New Year’s Eve was coming, the family was getting ready for the big event. I once went for a walk with Raquel’s husband to help with all the preparations. We went asking around the local houses if someone had killed the pig already, then we went to the river to see if his friend had caught anything, and finally to buy some rum. It was one of the greatest experiences ever! Raquel treated us like guests more than customers and invited us to dinner a couple of times. It was a great experience sharing our last meal in Cuba with her family.

It was so sad to leave...

This amazing, unforgettable experience, marks the end of our trip to Cuba.

We will never forget the great people we met, the laughs we had, and the magic places we visited.

What we enjoyed about Cuba was the atmosphere. Despite the not-so-wealthy living conditions, the locals were always smiling and welcoming…..they like to enjoy life and think positively! In Cuba, music and dances in the streets are common. The mood is chilled, and everything goes slowly. It’s the opposite lifestyle we find in big cities of developed countries, and we’ve appreciated this. Cuba will always hold a special place in our hearts and we wish to visit it again soon.

We hope you enjoyed reading this post and that you’ll have an amazing trip to Cuba.

If you wish to read more about Cuba, check our related post by clicking on the photo below.

See you soon 😊