Cuba's top 10 Beaches
Take your pick Cuba is wealthy in beaches
If you try and imagine what a perfect Caribbean beach is, you will find Cuba’s shoreline is a great fit. Whether you are looking for the best swimming conditions or prefer a secluded spot for sunbathing, you are sure to find everything you want in the best beaches in Cuba. This post is named Cuba’s top 10 Beaches, But you can easily make it top 20, and you will still leave some great beaches out. We have a great piece called Most Popular Destinations in Cuba. Beaches are not the only point there, but you can find a lot more information.
#1 - Cayo Blanco
Photos from tripadvisor
Located in Matanzas, Cayo Blanco is a small island of around 500 meters wide and 15 km long. Here you can find endangered species such as black coral. It’s extension may not seem like much, but the beaches are long, and many of them still virgin. Cayo Blanco is specially enticing due to its beautiful seabed. Its great for serious divers and casual snorkelers alike. You will be able to swim among a wide diversity of colorful fishes and crustaceans. Be witness to an impressive barrier reef or just lay down on the white thin sand and refresh yourself on the clear turquoise waters.
Playa Guardalavaca’s always attracted both locals and tourists. This makes it one of the most popular beaches in Cuba. What’s not to like: a 15000m stretch of incredible white sand and clear water shores makes this beach a paradise. If you like snorkelling, the coral reef just offshore will leave you satisfied. And there are plenty of places where you can rent out equipment for this activity. The hills and sugar cane fields complete the landscape. This is not a deserted place. You can find lots of restaurants or hotels to suit all budgets. Still, the place hasn’t lost its authentic vibe.
Fidel Castro inaugurated the first resort here in the 70s. And Christopher Columbus himself said it was the most beautiful place he ever laid eyes on. If you want to know more, you can also check our Most Popular Destinations in Cuba article, or just go directly to our post dedicated to Guardalavaca.
#3 - Playas del Este
Some photos from tripadvisor
If you are in Havana and you are not looking for a long trip Playas de Este is a great choice for you. Playas del Este is actually made up from several beautiful beaches grouped together. The closest to Havana is Bacuranao. Due to their location, these beaches are very popular and frequented by locals. In Cuba every day is a good day to go to the beach, so take advantage of that fact and visit during the week if you are looking for a quiet day. Weekends are usually very busy.
#4 - Playa Sirena
Photos from tripadvisor
Located on Cayo Largo, it is as good as it gets when it come to beaches. Separated from the main land, Cayo Largo is a narrow islet blessed with white sand and crystal clear waters. There are no permanent residents here. This is a paradise dedicated solely to those drawn to the gorgeous beaches and various water-sports. Many consider this beach among Cuba’s best, if not THE best. Such beauty comes with a price. There are not a lot of choices in hotels or restaurants. Those who come here are mainly looking for a great getaway with spectacular views. Of course, there is also an impressive coral reef just offshore for those into snorkeling.
#5 - Cayo Jutias
Photos from tripadvisor
Sits on a small peninsula to the west of Cuba. It’s not the usual tourist spot in Cuba, but it is a favorite for the Cuban locals of the area. You can find great bars and restaurants near the beach. Coral reefs abound along the shoreline for those who enjoy a little diving. There are also mangroves. So after a day of relaxing on a beach you can do a bit of exploring and discover the thriving local wildlife.
#6 - Playa Esmeralda
Photos from tripadvisor
Located at Holguin, just a short distance away from Guardalavaca. There are only two luxury hotels hidden from view by thoughtfully planted bushes and shrubs. This place is quite exclusive, and the intrusion of locals is kept as close as possible to zero. If hassle-free luxury is what you are looking for, then your search is over. The much needed hotel sunshades are set along the coast line. If you are feeling adventurous after you are done in the beach, you can visit various nearby national parks and nature reserves. You can even swim with dolphins at Naranjo Bay Dolphinarium.
#7 - Playa Pilar
Photos from tripadvisor
Cayo Guillermo is the host of Playa Pilar, named after Ernest Hemingway’s yacht, which is said to have spent large amounts of time here as it was one of the famous novelist favorite places. It is without challenge the best beach in Cayo Guillermo. Its secluded location means largely untouched sand. It provides a more serene type of retreat if what you are looking for is a bit of solitude. You’ll often find it completely deserted. Because it’s proximity to a national park, there are some nice trails to follow amidst the dunes and mangroves. Many come here to watch the majestic pink flamingos on their natural habitat.
#8 - Playa Varadero
Some photos from tripadvisor
Matanzas is the home of Varadero beach. Varadero is the one of the most popular beaches in Cuba and the Caribbean as a whole. It may be popular but its size allows for everyone to find a place to his taste.This is because with more than 20 km of pristine white sands and clear waters, its the the largest beach in Cuba. This place fits perfectly into everyone’s idea of what the Caribbean is.
You will be surrounded by multiple all-inclusive resorts, restaurants, bars and water-sports as well as local culture. If this is not what you are looking for, take your pick of any of the nearby coral reefs or sea caves. There are more than 30 dive sites, such as Parque Marino Cayo Piedras del Norte, where divers can view a sunken military vessel and a soviet military AN-24 aircraft, and Ojo de Mégano, which has an underwater cave east of Varadero. Events and festivals, concerts and open-air shows happen in different places of Varadero.
#9 - Cayo Santa Maria
Photos from tripadvisor
Cayo Santa Maria sits at the northern shore of Cuba, at the the Jardines del Rey archipelago. Cayo Santa Maria is attached to the mainland by a long 48 km causeway. This is where you come to relax and build sandcastles. All-inclusive hotels grant the luxury and catamaran excursions. It is a great place to taste Cuban cuisine. Coral reefs here are shallow, and the diving is good for beginners. Known for its calm waters as the surrounding coral reefs off-shore tone down strong winds and waves. This beach is perfect for swimming. You can also catch a glimpse of the many flamingo colonies. Be sure you’ll leave this paradise feeling like new.
#10 - Playa Paraiso
Photos from tripadvisor
Playa Paraiso means Paradise Beach, and this is a well deserved name. Like most beaches located at Cuba’s Keys, this is a place of incredible thin white sands, calm pale blue waters and beautiful coral reefs boast some of the best diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean. Sea turtles, iguanas and a wide range of birds can be seen throughout the island. The beach probably looks just like it did when Christopher Columbus sailed to Cayo Largo in 1494.
Another great beach mentioned here, Playa Sirena, is just a kilometre apart from Playa Paraiso, and one may easily walk between them when the tide is not full. While Sirena offers full service facilities for tourists, but Paraiso consists only of beautiful virgin and protected beaches with no hotels, only some basic services to accommodate tourists.
