Have you always been curious about visiting Cuba to see what it’s really like but struggling with planning a trip and knowing where to visit? Well this 10 day itinerary has got you covered to make sure you explore the best of Cuba and get the perfect mix of cities, nature and beaches.
IS CUBA WORTH VISITING?
ABSOLUTELY! Cuba is a country like no other, offering a blend of stunning natural beauty, fascinating and complex history, and unique cultural experiences. From the picturesque white sand beaches to the lush forests and charming colonial towns, Cuba has something for every traveller. In all honesty it would be a shame not to visit Cuba and to miss the opportunity to delve into its history and learn about life from the perspective of the friendly locals.
IS 10 DAYS ENOUGH FOR CUBA?
Personally I found 10 days enough for Cuba for my travelling style but also I had limited annual leave. 10 days allows you to strike a balance between popular destinations and off-the-beaten-path experiences, but unfortunately it doesn’t allow you to explore more rural parts of Cuba in depth. If you do have the time, 2 weeks would be ideal although this doesn’t suit every traveller as the travelling style in Cuba is very different to anywhere else in the world – with no real taxi services or well connected public transport, extremely limited hotels, virtually no internet/data service so you’re cut off from your friends and family, and in general more run-down – this should not deter you at all, just be prepared and don’t expect what you’re used to seeing in western countries.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CUBA BEFORE YOU GO
Planning a trip to Cuba requires a fair bit of research due to limited information on the internet. Also Instagram often portrays a stylized version of Cuba, but the reality is far more diverse and captivating. Stay tuned for a comprehensive guide to help plan your trip effectively.
HOW TO SPEND 10 DAYS IN CUBA
Day 1: Arrival in Havana
Welcome to Cuba! After months of planning you can finally start your adventure in Havana, the vibrant capital city of Cuba. I’d recommend spending at least 2 full days in Havana as there’s quite a lot of ground to cover.
Start in Old Havana (Habana Vieja), the most iconic neighbourhood in Havana that’s also a UNESCO world heritage site, and one that has attracted filmmakers, photographers and tourists to showcase and experience Cuba. The best way to explore Old Havana is by a walking tour hosted by a local to really learn about the history – your Casa Particular should be able to arrange one for you easily or there is usually a free walking tour from Parque Central. We did a private tour with our Casa Particular guide (around USD 10) and then spent the best part of the day with him in Plaza Vieja talking through how the locals feel about the current economic situation in Cuba and what their struggles are. It was incredibly interesting learning about the life of the locals through their eyes and I 100% recommend spending some time with them to hear about the real Cuba.
In the afternoon, continue your way through the colourful streets of Old Havana. The top sights to see are:
- Plaza Vieja
- Museo de la Revolución
- Calle Mercaderes
- Plaza de la Catedral
- Capitolio Nacional
- Gran Teatro de la Habana
- Plaza de Armas
- Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana
In the evening, you’ll find plenty of restaurant choices in Plaza Vieja or alternatively in Vedado which is a bit less touristic than Old Havana.
Note: you’ll see a lot of Instagram posts and travel blogs on the classic car tours in Havana. Personally I wouldn’t choose to do it as I find it too touristy for my liking – it doesn’t actually represent what Cuba looks like now, and I much rather pay a local guide to take me around Havana. However, each to their own and if this is something you want to do to get your Insta-worthy pic then please make sure you book with a local in order to support the local people.
Day 2: Beyond Old Havana
Start your day walking along Malecón (the beautiful waterfront road) from Old Havana to Vedado. Be careful not to stand on the side of the road nearest to the sea because the waves come over the wall and you’ll find yourself getting soaked!
Once in Vedado, head over to Callejon de Hamel which is a colourful alleyway filled with murals, sculptures and artwork made out of bathtubs and pipes, as started by Salvador González Escalona. Others soon joined him and now this alleyway is a vibrant space that represents the Afro-Cuban community in Cuba, both through the artwork and the habitants. It’s important to note the surrounding area was once quite run-down and dangerous, but now it has been completely turned around thanks to Salvador González Escalona. Today, it’s a backdrop for dancers, musicians and locals to gather – if you can, head here on a Sunday afternoon as you’ll find salsa and rumba dancers and often there will be lessons so you can join in on the fun.
Whilst in Vedado, grab lunch either at the iconic restaurant, La Guarida (make sure you make a reservation), or at a more low-key restaurant. I won’t lie it was actually refreshing eating at La Guarida as they had salads, which is pretty hard to come by in Cuba.
For more on Havana, check out my guide on the 10 best things to do in Havana.
In the afternoon venture further out to Plaza de Revolución, host to many of the political rallies and where political figures including Fidel Castro have addressed the local Cubans. Don’t miss out the murals of freedom fighters Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos on the buildings, and the José Martí Memorial.
In the evening you absolutely MUST go to Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), a popular art and music venue housed in a renovated factory. They have numerous diverse art installations and live performances. Our local friend recommended this place and said to go after 9pm as this is when it starts to get lively. It is quite far out from Old Havana so get your Casa Particular to organise taxis for you, or you can try your luck in getting a taxi back from FAC (note that a lot of taxi drivers don’t speak English so it would be extremely useful to learn some basic Spanish to be able to negotiate the fare).
Day 3: Viñales
Viñales is such a unique place and known for its tobacco fields and limestone hills. Whilst it would be great to do an overnight stay here, if you’re short on time you can do a day trip to make sure you don’t miss out (it really would be a shame to miss out on this gem). There are various local companies offering tours or you can organise one through your Casa Particular, but be prepared this is a bit of a long day trip (takes around 3-3.5 hours one way).
If you’re happy to spend a little more, it is definitely worth doing a private day trip with a local guide as then you can avoid waiting around for people, but also you can make sure to visit the less touristic parts of Viñales and see the local life – keep your eyes peeled for my full guide on a day trip to Viñales.
Day 4: Santa Clara
Head east to Santa Clara, known for its revolutionary history. The easiest way to get here is either by a Viazul bus or by a collectivo/private taxi. The only issue with the Viazul bus is that it leaves at very odd times (e.g. 4am) so you’ll just need to check the schedule before deciding if to book this. The preferred route is to organise a collectivo so that you can leave in the morning to arrive in Santa Clara by lunchtime. You can do this through your Casa Particular and it will only be organised 1-2 days before departure. However, don’t worry because if they can’t fill the collectivo they will do it as a private taxi instead (but you will have to pay a bit more).
Once you reach Santa Clara, I recommend having some lunch before sightseeing. Restaurant el Sol was a fantastic place and the prawns and Arroz de Moro were delicious! After lunch make your way to the farthest site which is the Che Guevara Mausoleum and Museum, to learn about the life of the iconic revolutionary leader. To get here you can walk (30 minutes) but it might be too hot, so you can hail down one of the taxis (the taxis are mostly 3-wheelers).
Once you’ve finished at the Che Guevara Mausoleum, head to the other side of the city to the Tren Blindado monument, commemorating a key battle in the Cuban Revolution, and the statue of Che Guevara and child. After this, you’ll be pretty tired from the heat so I’d recommend taking a break at Café Museo Revolucion which houses a collection of Che Guevara and revolution related photos and documents. It is touristy, but it’s quite nice still as you can learn a bit more about the history here with one of the locals working at the café.
In the evening there is usually a lot of activity going on in Parque Vidal, so it’s a great spot to sit and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Santa Clara. There are a few restaurants around the park and you can get a drink whilst soaking it all in before making your way to dinner.
Days 5-7: Cayo Guillermo
It’s time to hit the beach for a couple of days! Cuba has some of the most amazing beaches in the world, with white sand and turquoise crystal-clear waters stretching for miles. Rather than heading to Varadero, which is full of tourist all-inclusive resorts and is very busy, I would recommend Cayo Guillermo.
Cayo Guillermo is a bit far but trust me it’s worth the journey! From Santa Clara it took around 4-4.5 hours, but because of its distance you won’t find as many tourists here, and when we visited we had a lot of the beach to ourselves which is pretty much unheard of in this day and age.
For the best hotel in Cayo Guillermo but also in all of Cuba, check out my hotel review of the Kempinski Cayo Guillermo.
Days 8-10: Trinidad
Saving the best for last, a trip to Cuba is not complete without visiting Trinidad (a 4.5 hour drive from Cayo Guillermo). Trinidad is a true gem, where on one side it is surrounded by mountains and on the other side it’s blessed with beautiful beaches. You need at least 2 full days here (not including the day you transfer from Cayo Guillermo) to explore this colonial town and its surrounding areas.
On the first day I recommend visiting Plaza Mayor, Church of the Holy Trinity, and Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco in the morning, which can all also be done as part of a walking tour with a local guide. As the historical town itself is quite small you will finish all the sites off by lunchtime, so that after lunch you can get a taxi to Playa Ancon and relax on the beach for the remainder of the day. On the second day it is time to go to the mountains, and more specifically to hike to the waterfalls in Topes de Collantes. Our favourite was Salto de Vegas Grandes, which was a hidden gem (full guide coming soon)!
From Trinidad you can either head back to Havana or one of the other major cities to catch a flight out of the country. Most international flights will be from Havana but we actually managed to get a flight from Camaguey to Cancun (and then Cancun to London), which was closer to go to than Havana!
Parting Thoughts
You can easily add to this guide to turn it into a much longer trip e.g. adding on a couple of days in Viñales or adding on other cities like Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. This 10 day guide is perfect for those who don’t have a lot of annual leave to take from work but want to see the highlights of Cuba for your first time to the country!
Stay tuned for more tips and insights to enhance your travel experience in Cuba.