How to visit the best Cuban beaches

Certainly on the Internet you can find a lot of information about the beaches of Cuba. Our goal with this blog is not only to let you know about the best beaches in Cuba. We want to help you know how to visit them. Cuba is a big island and it is not possible to visit all its beaches in a single trip. At the Cuba Travel Agency we organize private car tours. These are exclusive private trips in cars with a driver. The drivers are local experts and know the social dynamics in Cuba in detail. On our trips you can also enjoy these beaches and other very beautiful ones that are not flooded with tourism in Cuba. We visit the main cities and tourist destinations in Western Cuba, which are Havana – Viñales – Playa Larga – Cienfuegos – Trinidad and Varadero. Around all these cities or attractive tourist sites, there are several of the best beaches in Cuba.

Cuban beaches

Varadero

Varadero is the most famous of Cuba’s beaches. And it’s no wonder, this paradise on the north coast of Cuba is like a giant outdoor swimming pool. The well-known Varadero Beach is located in the province of Matanzas. It is 145 km from the Cuban capital. Among the most visited tourist places in Cuba, Varadero ranks 2nd behind Old Havana. Varadero is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is impossible not to be amazed by this wonder of nature. Varadero really becomes an unforgettable experience!

In Varadero you have the chance to interact with everyday life in Cuba, as it belongs to a municipality or town in the province of Matanzas. This while you can enjoy the main attraction of the destination which is its impressive beach. Then Varadero also offers you nightlife, the possibility of practicing water sports (diving), visits to caves, excursions from Varadero to other destinations such as Havana as well as other options. Travel agencies or tourist information bureaus are more common there. Varadero beach is long (over 16km of white sand) and mostly public, so it’s fairly easy to find a relatively quiet spot. When I’ve traveled here, even in high season, I’ve found spots with a bit of privacy, away from the tourist crowds in front of and near the resorts.

Ancon Beach, Trinidad

One of the most visited beaches in Cuba is Playa Ancón. Besides being a wonderful beach, it is very popular with visitors to Cuba due to its proximity to the colonial city of Trinidad. It is located 10 km from Trinidad. This beach also has impressive varieties of corals, which allows for good diving. In the same area of ​​the beach there are several hotels and there is no shortage of leisure activities around the sea. It is the most visited beach in Cuba on the South coast in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. Ancon Beach has crystal clear turquoise waters with beautiful white sand. There are also offshore reefs that make it a beautiful snorkeling destination.

 Cayo Jutías, Viñales

This islet has one of the most unspoiled beaches in Pinar del Río and Cuba, where you can fully enjoy the tranquility that you can breathe. It is a small island of approximately 4 kilometers. Walking west of the Cay, you will eventually find a part where you can see starfish from the shore itself. Of course, you will have to go through mangroves to find them.Cayo Jutías is not on the standard tourist itineraries, so you can enjoy a very quiet beach without a single hotel around, this is something that many tourists who visit Cuba look for. The road to get here is quite rugged, but you will be rewarded with almost empty beaches, white sand and crystal-clear water, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Santa Maria Key

Cayo Santa Maria is home to some of the most popular tourist beaches in Cuba. The well-kept hotel facilities and the landscapes that fill with red, orange and mauve colors at sunset make it, without a doubt, one of the best beach destinations in Cuba.
This beach is a paradise, between the sea and the sky. One can imagine it as a huge natural pool of turquoise, green and blue waters where you can walk for many meters with water up to your waist. The beaches of Cayo Santa Maria have a score of 10 points! Even so, they do not surpass the beach of Varadero.

Cayo  Largo

Cayo Largo del Sur is home to some of the best Cuban beaches in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. This is one of the most touristic Cays in Cuba. It is one of the main tourist sites in the country, where it is only possible to stay in Resorts. It has no local population and has some of the best beaches in the entire Caribbean. Cayo Largo del Sur is one of the most visited Cuban tourist destinations by tourists looking for all-inclusive hotels. It has a magical setting, with 24 kilometers of virgin beaches, surrounded by beautiful shallow coral reefs. It is ideal for diving and water sports. It is located in the south of Cuba, Isla de la Juventud in the Caribbean Sea, 117 km from Havana and 177 km from Varadero. It is a small island in Cuba. This tropical key is also known worldwide for being a Cuban destination for tourists who practice nudism. Of course, to make the list of the best Cuban beaches, you have to know that there are crystal-clear waters and stunning white sand here, but Cayo Largo del Sur has much more to offer. Visitors can also go deep-sea fishing – some of Cuba’s best charter boats depart from this tiny island. Or learn about the turtles that nest here at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center and watch the hatchlings. Going to Cayo Largo del Sur is possible in Cuba only from Havana and Varadero. The trip to this Cayo is done on a short flight of between 30 and 45 minutes.
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Beaches Havana

18 km east of Havana are the Eastern Beaches of the capital of Cuba. These stunning coastal destinations are among the most beautiful beaches in Cuba, offering visitors a perfect escape from the city. They form a group of tropical beaches located just a short drive from the heart of Havana, making them an ideal spot for a quick beach getaway. The Eastern Beaches are known for their crystal-clear waters, soft white sand, and lush tropical vegetation. Unlike other crowded tourist resorts, these Beaches Havana offer a more natural and serene environment. Each beach has its own unique charm, with different atmospheres and leisure options ranging from water sports to relaxed beachfront dining.

One of the main advantages of visiting these beaches is their proximity to Havana. Located just 25 minutes from Old Havana, the most visited area in all of Cuba, they are the closest beaches in Cuba to the capital. This makes them an excellent choice for travelers looking to balance cultural exploration in Havana with a relaxing day by the sea. Whether you’re on a short trip or an extended vacation, the Eastern Beaches provide a perfect combination of city life and tropical paradise.