Peninsula de Guanahacabibes

This westernmost tip of Cuba is definitely worth a visit. You can get here by road from Sandino, but the road is full of potholes, so you have to drive slowly. However, we managed it even with a regular passenger car. We found accommodation in the village of Bajada, where there are several small lodgings. Nevertheless, both the village itself and the entire area remain virtually untouched by mass tourism. We recommend bringing enough bottled water for your entire stay, as it was not possible to buy water anywhere during our visit. The same applies to food, but we had that mostly covered thanks to half board at our accommodation.

The westernmost point of Cuba, Faro Roncali, is definitely worth a visit. The road to it leads through a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve, but it is only possible to go there with a guide. We recommend booking the tour at least one day in advance at the Parque Nacional Guanahacabibes office, located just before the entrance to Bajada. The entire trip by car, with stops at interesting places along the way, took us about six hours. We had the opportunity to observe various animals, including Cuban crocodiles in the wild. The highlight of the trip was a refreshing dip in the ocean near the westernmost point of the island, which was definitely welcome in the tropical heat.

Hanabanilla and EL Nicho Waterfalls

Hanabanilla is located in the Escambray Mountains in central Cuba. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there by car from the city of Santa Clara. The dominant feature of the area is the lake of the same name – an ideal place for lovers of peace and nature away from the main tourist routes. The Hotel Hanabanilla, where we stayed, is located right by the lake. The hotel itself is an interesting place if you want to see how some Cubans spend their vacations. At the time of our visit, we were the only foreign guests. There is live music every evening, the hotel has a pleasant bar on the top floor, and the food is quite good.

Not far from Hanabanilla, on the other side of the mountains, lies El Nicho Natural Park. This area is known for its series of cascading waterfalls, turquoise blue pools, and the opportunity to swim in natural pools in the middle of a tropical forest. Be sure to bring your swimsuit, as swimming here is very pleasant. Just be careful when paying the entrance fee – we encountered a tourist trap here. If you pay in euros, the entrance fee will be significantly more expensive than if you pay in Cuban pesos. Therefore, when paying in cash, insist that you want to pay in the local currency.

Playa Giron

Playa Girón is a small seaside town located on the southern coast of Cuba, on the edge of the famous Bay of Pigs. The beaches here were mostly uncrowded, and the water is crystal clear – ideal for snorkeling and diving. There are several excellent coral reef sites in the area, notably Caleta Buena and Punta Perdiz. We found accommodation here without any problems. There are also a few restaurants, and we can recommend EL Cocodrilo. Don't be alarmed by the live crocodile in the garden – fortunately, it is behind a fence.

Vinales

The Viñales Valley is one of the most beautiful and iconic areas in all of Cuba. It is located in the province of Pinar del Río, about 110 miles west of Havana. The area is known for its karst formations called mogotes – rounded limestone hills rising from the flat landscape. These formations, together with tobacco fields, traditional farms, and lush vegetation, create a unique scenery. Of all our tips, this is the most visited area by tourists, but it is definitely worth a visit. We stayed on the outskirts of the town of Viñales with a view of the large rock painting Mural de la Prehistoria. Otherwise, there are a large number of different accommodation facilities in this area.

There are also several caves in the area – we visited the largest cave in Cuba, Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás. Tickets are easily available on site, and the guided tour takes about 90 minutes. As in many other places in the area, you will be offered local cigars for sale here as well.