- Get to Know Cuba in Just One Day.
DON’T LET THE LACK OF TIME DAUNT YOU TO SEE CUBA IN JUST A FEW HOURS. IF YOUR HAVANA JOURNEY ONLY GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO BE A DAY-TRIPPER, THEN THERE ARE OPTIONS GALORE TO WALLOW IN NATURE, SUN AND BEACH, SCUBA DIVING AND A WHOLE LOT MORE…
1. PLAYAS DEL ESTE
The beaches of Bacuranao, Tarara, El Megano, Santa Maria del Mar, Bocaciega and Guanabo offer lovely strips of thin sand lined up by coconut groves and pine trees. The zone is the place of choice for youngsters and families during the summertime. You can get there down Via Blanca, a narrow but well-paved highway. An assortment of gastronomic treats, accommodations and nightclubs make this area a very attractive place.
Distance: 25 km
Travel Time: Approximately a 30-minute drive from the Havana bay tunnel down the Via Blanca highway.
Must-Sees: The Bellomonte watchtower offers the most breathtaking views of Playas al Este in eastern Havana.
Where to Eat: There are lots of choices, especially in Guanabo. From the list of private bistros, Il Piccollo, Chicken Little and Don Peppo rank high.
2. VARADERO
Penciled in as Cuba’s most famous beach, Varadero boasts over 20 kilometers of powder-thin sand and crystal-clear waters. Nestled in the Hicacos Peninsula, this is Cuba’s most sought-after travel destination after Havana. It is home to the island nation’s only 18-hole golf course, coupled with a huge array of options for water sports, plenty of hotels to choose from, restaurants and disco clubs.
Distance: 140 km
Travel Time: Approximately a two-hour drive down the Via Blanca highway.
Must-Sees: Mansion Xanadu or Casa Dupont. Built in 1930, this mansion is an architectural gem of superb finesse. The bar is excellent and features an incredible view of the beach. Next to it you’ll find Cuba’s best golf course. Don’t miss out on the Josone Park, an eye-popping estate full of recreational offers.
Where to Eat: Choices are countless, from fast food, Mexican and Italian cuisines to international and gourmet offerings. Varadero 60, Esquina Cuba and Waco’s Club top the list of preferences.
3. LAS TERRAZAS
Considered one of Cuba’s best-preserved ecological areas, the Las Terrazas Community and Sustainable Development Rural Project is perched on one of the first Cuban biosphere reserves declared by UNESCO: Sierra del Rosario. The location lets visitors take a closer look at local traditions and customs. Bird watching, horseback rides, boat rides, trekking, river swims and visits to former coffee plantations are some of the top options.
Distance: 74 km
Travel Time: Approximately a one-hour drive down the Pinar del Rio highway.
Must-Sees: An incredible 1.6 km-long zipline through the lush foliage.
Where to Eat: Casa del Campesino and Fonda de Mercedes are two classic restaurants at Las Terrazas.
4. SOROA
Soroa is a protected area right in the heart of rocky formations. It features a beautiful orchid garden that hosts a research center and draws scores of visitors eager to take a look at over 700 orchid species. Several ecological trails add to the zone’s interesting offers, including numerous endemic wildlife species.
Distance: 87 km
Travel Time: Approximately an hour and 20 minutes down the Pinar del Rio highway.
Must-Sees: The waterfall, the orchid garden and the ruins of the Buenavista coffee farmhouse.
Where to Eat: The Villa Soroa Hotel is good for snacks, though most travelers have lunch at Las Terrazas or in one of the small mom-and-pop restaurants in the vicinity.
6. VIÑALES
The assorted flora and wildlife, the peculiar mogotes of unfathomable beauty, the tobacco plantations and the countryside houses turn the Viñales Valley into one of the country’s most celebrated travel destinations. Declared World Natural Landscape by UNESCO, this is an ideal location for nature and adventure travelers, trekkers and cave explorers. The Indian Cave and the Mural of Prehistory are two of its many allures. Bird watching, trails, horseback rides, mountain climbing and cave explorations are the most requested to-dos.
Distance: 189 km
Travel Time: Approximately a 3-hour ride. Drivers must be very careful down the road between Pinar del Rio and Viñales, full of close curves and perilous downhill strips.
Must-Sees: Hotel Los Jazmines Watchtower for the best pictures of the valley. The Santo Tomas Cave is a once-in-a-lifetime experience as you scour its quasi-submerged caverns. The Mural of Prehistory is really something.
Where to Eat: It’s way too hard to recommend an eatery where options are so plentiful. The best and most genuine Cuban food money can buy is served in a slew of private restaurants. El Paraíso offers superb food, while Balcón del Valle has a breathtaking view. The restaurant at the Mural of Prehistory is just another classic.
6.PLAYA GIRÓN Y CIÉNAGA DE ZAPATA
Located south of the province of Matanzas, the Zapata Peninsula is a major Cuban ecosystem, recognized as the Caribbean’s largest marshlands. It includes the Grand Montemar Nature Park, marked by Playa Giron and Playa Larga beaches, the Treasure Lagoon, the crocodile breeding grounds and Villa Guama, a place that recreates ancient Taino settlements. Sea bottoms teeming with varied marine species also attract countless scuba diving enthusiasts.
Distance: 211 km
Travel Time: Approximately a two-and-a-half-hour east-bound drive down the A1 National Highway
Must-Sees: The Fish Cave is a lagoon connected to the sea through an underwater stream that features pristine waters and the chance to photograph motley marine species. Guama and the boat ride along the lagoon are genuine trips down to the origins of Cuba. For those who prefer history-laden places and postcards, don’t forget to swing by the Bay of Pigs Museum that recalls the 1961 U.S. invasion.
Where to Eat: Though several travelers drop by Guama to eat, Playa Giron, Playa Larga and Soplillar offer a handful of excellent choices in private restaurants. Want a piece of advice? Don’t pay too much heed to the menu card and better ask the waiter for his suggestion. You could find quite a few interesting surprises.
Travel packages & tour offers on: www.excelenciastravel.com
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