A trip back in time through the heart of the Caribbean
Traveling to Cuba is like to go to a place where time flows at a different speed. A place where what we consider what you have to do daily is extraordinary and where life can be enjoyed in a pure way to the sound of Caribbean music, the warm weather and its people.
On this trip you will discover the magic of the island and why it is one of the most desired destinations for travelers from around the world. You will immerse yourself in the streets, flavors, colors and customs of Havana, swim in the pristine waters of Varadero and discover the natural beauty of Viñales.
So get ready to live an adventure that transcends time and will last in your memories. Here I leave the itinerary that I did and if you want much more detail, you can see it in my blog “Te Quiero Mostrar“.
The prices that appear per day are referential and correspond to the sum of activities that were made that day
The first day you will arrive in Havana. Regardless of your arrival time, the best plan is to walk all day around downtown Havana and Old Havana. Enjoy its architecture, the rustic beauty of its streets and the unique vibes of the city, which both, day and night, never cease to amaze. You can try their typical cuisine and if you have energy you can go out to a salsa bar and dance all night long.
This day you can start your tour in Havana early to make the most of it. The places that I would recommend you can visit by walking or by public transport, the locals can tell you how to get there. You can not miss the Plaza de la Revolución (Revolution Square), the University of Havana, the alley of Hammel, the Walled City on the other side of the sea and the main square. If you want you can enter the Museum of the Revolution.
On the third day you will travel from Havana to Matanzas, a small city that will provide you with the most economical lodging and food options. From there you can visit Varadero, so thats why I recommend you to stay there and also to know this place. You can take a walk around Matanzas in the morning and in the afternoon visit the beaches of Varadero, rent an umbrella to relax a bit or like in my case, look for a tree and take advantage of its shade.
This will be a quite relaxed day in which you can spend your day enjoying the beautiful beaches of Varadero and then, if you prefer, discover the other charms surrounding it such as its grottos, trails, La Cueva de Ambrosio (Ambrosio Cave) and the hotels. You can go to these places on your own or on a Hop Off Hop On bus that costs 5 USD. At night you can return to Matanzas, to prepare your trip for the next day.
I recommend starting the day as early as possible. From Matanzas, you must return to Havana, where you must go to the collective taxi stand near the Plaza de la Revolución (Revolution Square), from there take one to Viñales, the trip takes approximately 3 hours. You will arrive in the afternoon so this day I recommend you take a walk around the small town and its surroundings, from where you can contemplate its natural beauty.
The last day of the trip you can take advantage of all the attractions of Viñales that you did not visit the previous afternoon, either by your own or by an organized tour that you can contact through your private home. You can not miss the Mural of Prehistory, the Cueva del Indio (Indian Cave), Palenque de Cimarrones and a tobacco farm. In the afternoon you will return to Havana and spend your last night there.
The lodging that is shown in the list of each night is recommended by the traveler, you can find more similar options. The cost is per person in a double bed room.
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The prices that appear by transport are referential and correspond to what the traveler paid at that moment
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For the trip I recommend use sunscreen, comfortable clothes and a hat.
Do not forget to drink the most famous mojito in Cuba at La Bodeguita de Medio.
If you want to rent an umbrella or tent on Varadero, the cost is around 10 dollars, so if you want to save, be like most Cubans, take your own tent or umbrella or look for the shade of a tree.
I recommend taking a tour in Viñales and it should not cost you more than 15 dollars. If you want to save, you can do everything on your own or rent a bicycle, which should not cost you more than 8 dollars. These tours can be contracted directly from your accommodation as well as all the private houses have contacts from tour companies.
Check out if you need a visa for Cuba here.
If you are going to take a taxi from the airport to Havana, preferably try to complete the quota of 4 people, so you can spread the expense and so you only pay 7 dollars.
The transportation to go from Havana to Matanzas can be taken near the Capitol. You will see that there are local people waiting for buses there so you can ask them. On the way back, you take it where it leaves you, which is on one of the bridges that pass over the river in Matanzas and on that same bridge you take the one that takes you from Matanzas to Varadero. You can ask at your accommodation how to get there if you are in a doubt.
All the additional information from the Airport to the center by public transport, change currency and general tips to travel to Cuba find it in my blog.
