Top 6 day trips from heavenly Havana
Experience more of Cuba on a day trip from Havana 漏 FG Trade Latin / Getty Images
With its grandiose architecture and vibrant culture, Havana continues to be the number one place to visit for travelers to Cuba. But taking a break from the city buzz will recharge your batteries and give you a broader scope of 颁耻产补鈥檚 authentic experiences.
Let the sea breeze pamper your senses in Playas del Este or indulge your ecological side in Las Terrazas and Soroa. With so many great options less than an hour away, Havana is the perfect base for a day trip filled with adventure.
Your travel options from the capital will vary depending on whether they're private or state-run. For the Havana Bus Tour (to Playas del Este) and (to Vi帽ales, Matanzas and Varadero), you鈥檒l have to pay using a non-US-based credit card.
Private taxis usually prefer foreign cash (euros are best) and it's best to agree on the currency and price before you start your journey.
Start planning your next Cuban vacation now with six of our favorite day trips from Havana.
1. Explore the beautiful landscapes of Vi帽ales
Travel time: 2 hours 45 minutes
, peppered with rare pin-cushion hills, is spectacular enough to warrant a longer stay if you have the time.
The town is quaint in that ceramic-roof, cane-rocker-on-the-porch kind of way, and the hospitality of Cuban guajiros (countryfolk) is unsurpassed. Accept any invite to go horseback riding or hiking amid the oddly bulbous limestone mogotes (hills).
Vi帽ales becomes a haven for rock climbers from December through April. The A-frame structures covered in shaggy fronds you will see are drying houses for the world鈥檚 finest cigar tobacco, grown throughout this part of Pinar del R铆o Province.
Los Jazmines is the perfect lookout point for some world-prize-worthy panoramic photos over Vi帽ales Valley, but choose Balc贸n del Valle restaurant if you fancy having lunch while overlooking the mogotes. For a friendly ambiance and freshly made cocktails, don鈥檛 miss Tres Jotas on Salvador Cisneros St, Vi帽ales鈥 main road.
How to get to Vi帽ales from Havana: Vi帽ales is connected with Havana by daily Viazul buses. You can also book day trips at Havana鈥檚 hotels, most of which include lunch and added excursions, for the equivalent of around US$70 round trip. For more flexibility, rent a car or hire a taxi with a driver for the day.
2. Unwind at Playas del Este
Travel time: 30 minutes
Not far from the hustle and grit of Havana鈥檚 city center is the palm-fringed coast known as (eastern beaches). Half a dozen beaches are out this way, but Santa Mar铆a del Mar 鈥 with appreciable shade and the softest, cleanest sand 鈥 is the best.
Head to the beach town of Guanabo to hang with locals. The stretch near Boca Ciega is a traditional LGBTIQ+ hangout. Most Cubans will not go near the beach in the 鈥渃old鈥 winter months between January and April, but during the peak summer season, these beaches get incredibly crowded.
Guanabo has an assortment of paladares (Cuban private diners) ranging from Italian-inspired pizzerias to kid-friendly chicken restaurants.
How to get to Playas del Este from Havana: Hop on the T3 Habana Bus Tour, which runs from Centro Habana to Playas del Este (via Parque Hist贸rico Militar Morro-Caba帽a). The main stop is in Parque Central opposite the Hotel Inglaterra. All-day tickets for T3 cost the equivalent of US$10 and services run from 9am to 7pm. A regular private cab costs the equivalent of around US$25 one way.
3. Embrace nature at Las Terrazas and Soroa
Travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes
A drive into the heart of the undulating and verdant Sierra del Rosario range, 颁耻产补鈥檚 first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is a sure tonic for fatigue and worry. Las Terrazas, just over an hour west of Havana, is a former artist colony turned ecotourism experiment with open studios, canopy, hiking, birdwatching and swimming in river cascades.
Nearby Soroa is famed for its , an orchid garden and research station with more than 700 species that bloom between December and March.
Off-the-radar Lago El Palmar hosts a 谤补苍肠丑贸苍 (rustic, opened-sided restaurant) offering drinks and snacks, plus an option for renting boats. Less than 2km (1 mile) away is Cafetal Buenavista, a well-preserved remnant of 颁耻产补鈥檚 oldest coffee plantation.
How to get to Las Terrazas and Soroa from Havana: Book a day tour to Las Terrazas and Soroa at a Cubatur desk in any hotel lobby or take a colectivo (shared taxi mainly used by tourists) at the Viazul station and hop off at Rancho Curujey, near Las Terrazas. Make sure to confirm your stop with the driver.
4. Swim in the crystal-clear waters of Varadero
Travel time: 2 hours 20 minutes
颁耻产补鈥檚 finest beach destination, a 20km-long (12.4-mile) peninsula with powdery sand, bathtub-temperature sea and all-inclusive resorts, has all the amenities required to enjoy a fun-filled day trip. Take an early ride 140km (87 miles) east of Havana center and you鈥檒l be sitting under a palm leaf umbrella before 10am.
Take a dip in the Caribbean or sip cocktails in the shade before heading out for a late lunch at any of Varadero鈥檚 notable restaurants. With impeccable service and seafood, Varadero 60 is highly recommended. For an after-lunch spirit, opt for the mahogany-wood Casa Blanca Panoramic Bar atop Mansi贸n Xanad煤. The view over the sunbathed peninsula is simply unparalleled.
How to get to Varadero from Havana: Book an air-conditioned Viazul bus at Terminal de 脫mnibus (approximately US$9; three to four hours). When Viazul buses are in high demand, colectivos (shared taxis) are also an option and are quicker.
You can book one directly at any hotel desk, at your casa particular (private homestay) or just by hanging around at the bus station. A regular taxi from Havana costs the equivalent of around US$100鈥150 one way.
5. Explore Coj铆mar, Hemingway鈥檚 favorite fishing village
Travel time: 20 minutes
Just east of Havana鈥檚 old quarter is the charming fishing village of Coj铆mar, famous for hosting Ernest Hemingway鈥檚 maritime adventures back in the 1940s and 鈥50s. Tourist buses usually stop at Restaurante La Terraza for a daiquiri on the terrace, but more hearty meals and fantastic mojitos are offered at .
This little town is a slow-paced community, where it's possible to meet locals in a 100% Cuban environment. Walk around the 尘补濒别肠贸苍, a smaller version of Havana鈥檚 iconic promenade, for a glimpse of the natural allure that enchanted Papa all those years ago.
For the best pictures of the seaside town, head to the Torre贸n de Coj铆mar, a wrecked Spanish fort from the 17th century that was the first to be taken by the British when Havana was attacked in 1762.
How to get to Coj铆mar from Havana: Yellow cabs from Parque Central or any other part of Old Havana cost the equivalent of around US$10 to Coj铆mar. Old American classic cars may be more expensive, but the scenic ride is worth it. Agree with the driver on a one-way fare if you'll spend more than a couple of hours in Coj铆mar, but ask for a round-trip offer if you only want a glimpse of the landmarks.
6. Check out music and culture in revitalized Matanzas
Travel time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Ignored for decades in favor of Varadero, Matanzas, a once-prosperous cultural hub 100km (62 miles) east of Havana, is making a comeback.
A government-sponsored renovation campaign initiated in 2018 to celebrate the city鈥檚 325th anniversary sparked the renaissance. The staging of the Biennial 鈥 颁耻产补鈥檚 biggest art festival 鈥 in the city the following year raised its profile further.
The improvements are most marked in the rejuvenated art and architecture of Calle Narv谩ez. Once part of a grubby warehouse district beside the San Juan River, this attractive waterside promenade has become the city鈥檚 beating heart, dotted with free-to-enter galleries, public sculptures and a lively ensemble of bars and restaurants, including the cafe-art-collective, Artys.
Elsewhere, look out for matinee performances at the restored Teatro Sauto, and check out the pots and potions at the longstanding pharmaceutical museum. If you arrive on a Friday afternoon, you might get lucky with some live street rumba (Afro-Cuban music and dance) in the historic confines of Plaza de la Vig铆a.
How to get to Matanzas from Havana: The city is accessible on daily Viazul buses (approximately US$7; two hours). A taxi will get you there in around one hour and 45 minutes but is more expensive. Bank on the equivalent of US$80 and up.
This article was first published May 11, 2018 and updated Jan 9, 2024.
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