8 BEST BEACHES IN CUBA
These are the eight best beaches Cuba has to offer visitors, including Americans!
1. VARADERO
Varadero is the most popular beach destination in the entire Cuban archipelago. You’ve probably seen photos of the place as it’s such a popular destination, and it has much to offer. Varadero offers fine dining at private restaurants like Salsa Suarez, La Vicaria, and La Vaca Rosada, all of which can be checked on TripAdvisor. Aside from all the man-made creations that are at your disposition, let’s concentrate of the one option mother nature made, the endless miles of beautiful beaches. The water temperature in Varadero is usually temperate, and much cooler in the summer than the beaches on Cuba’s southern coast, which are like soup in summer!
2. GUARDALAVACA
The name of this beach means “put the cow away,” and while no one knows who put the cow away, what I do know is that making it to Holguin Province and not visiting this beach should be considered a sin. It is the third most popular tourist destination in Cuba and was a hideout for pirates in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. The SCUBA diving in the area is among the best in Cuba.
3. THE BAY OF PIGS
What we Americans refer to as The Bay of Pigs is known as Playa Giron in Cuba, and this area on the southern coast of Cuba has some of the best waters for both snorkeling and SCUBA diving, with wall, reef and wreck dives within swimming distance from the beach. La Cueva de los peces is a hybrid cenote over one-hundred feet wide, fifty feet deep, and vegetation and fish that will leave you breathless. From Playa Larga to Playa Giron are visitors will find some of the Caribbean’s most unspoiled waters. Don’t forget your camera!
4. EL NICHO
Warning! This is not a beach, but it’s still a great place to take a dip. El Nicho is a waterfall in Cienfuegos and just getting to it is an adventure. Located in the mountains around the beautiful city of Cienfuegos and not too far from Trinidad, El Nicho is reached after a hike in which you will cross several creeks, in an area with lots of endemic Cuban wildlife like the jutia and the zunzun. No doubt after the borderline arduous hike you will find the cool waters of the waterfall welcoming.
5. CAYO COCO
Cayo Coco is in the province of Ciego de Avila and is reached by crossing a gravel road. At Playa el Pilar you will find starfish in bewildering numbers and the water as clear as any you’ve seen anywhere in the world. In July and August pairs of mating dolphins find their way here, apparently, they find these waters romantic.
6. RIO SAN JUAN
Warning! This is also not a beach. In Pinar del Rio Province the San Juan River works its’ way slowly towards Cuba’s norther coast, and along several miles of its trajectory is easily accessible to swimmers. It is minutes away from the Las Terrazas nature preserve and an easy addition to any trip to Viñales.
7. MARIA LA GORDA
Much further down the road and on the southern coast of Pinar del Rio Province is Maria la Gorda on the peninsula of Guanahacabibes. This is a great place to relax and get away from man-made sounds. You may discover you are the only one on the beach while visiting Maria la Gorda. No one knows where the name of the place, Fat Maria, came from, but it has some of the best diving in Cuba, and one of the few with dive boats. Maria la Gorda is worth the effort to get to her!
8. CUBA
In last place is the entirety of the Cuban archipelago, which has the most beautiful beaches of the Caribbean. They are available year-round to visitors with different tastes. On the north shore the waters get cold in the winter, and on the southern coast they stay warm year-round. Aside from the occasional hurricane, the beaches of Cuba are open all year, and they are always welcoming!
By Dina Gomgar