I'm going to Cuba on 23rd June for 10 days and would like some recommendations about places i should visit.
I have my first 3 nights accomodation booked in Havana, and after that i'm not quite sure where to go. I want to spend at least a couple of days on a beach, but would like to avoid Varadero if possible, preferring somewhere a little quieter.
I would also like to check out Trinidad and also Vinales, but not sure if it will be possible to visit both due to time constraints, bearing in mind i will be travelling everywhere by bus/train. Can anybody advise me as to the journey times between each of these locations?
Is there anywhere else closer to Havana that anybody could recommend?
My knowledge is so far restricted to the guidebook, so any personal recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
One suggestion for the beach, which is much quieter than Varadero and also closer to Havana is Jibacoa. There is an all inclusive there called Super Breezes, but also at least one other hotel. The beach is good, although not as good at Varadero apparently and there is excellent snorkelling and scuba diving to be had. From Super Breezes there are also more opportunities than at Varadero to see something of non-tourist Cuba, with walks into the surrounding countryside and scooter tours to Hershey Gardens and elsewhere in the neighbourhood.
With only ten days, I would suggest that after your first three in Havana, you jump on a morning bus (Viazul) to Trinidad, which is five hours away, and spend several days there, enjoying the town, the music venues, Playa Ancon (a long lovely beach just 10 km away), and maybe an afternoon of hiking in the cloud forest around Topes de Collates (20 km away). Best to stay in town where you're within walking distance of what there is to do in the evening, and take a taxi out to the beach in the morning (mornings being the best time on any Cuban beach).
When you've tired of Trinidad, then bus back to Havana for another night. Then catch the Viazul to Vinales (less than 4 hours to the west). Or if you want to do something sort of rural and different, take the Viazul bus only as far as the Las Terrazas biosphere reserve (2 hours west of Havana), spend a night there, then continue on to Vinales next day.
Upon your return from Vinales to Havana, you can either catch the afternoon bus back--or you can take a taxi for two hours to the point on the north coast to where you'd catch the boat (20 minutes) to Cayo Levisa, for a day or more in a cottage on that lovely little offshore island. Then return to the mainland and taxi the remaining two hours back to Havana.
If you want to enjoy one of these typical Caribbean beaches, I wouldn't go to Varadero, I'd recommend to fly to Cayo Largo, which is much more quite and the landscape is not "attacked" by those horrible hotels that are all over Varadero. I got a 2 days trip from Havana for 170 $ all included (Viajes Cubatur, at Hotel Havana Libre). There're also one-day trips; at 9am you'd be already lying on the beach and the flight back departs at 7 pm.
A taxi to Trinidad has the same price than the bus, so I'd go by taxi right after that 3rd night that you'll spend in Havana, and I'd stay in Trinidad until you get tired of it, if it occurs so. I'd suggest riding a horse through the national parks. Playa Ancon is ok to relax for a while after your riding, you can get there in a cocotaxi in 30 min.
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