Travel in Cuba is a one of a kind experience. Colorful streets snapped frozen and transported to the present day. Cars that are decades old somehow still work and grab your attention each and every time. For the best Cuba itinerary, here’s a complete rundown of my 2 weeks in Cuba itinerary. As well as what to change if you have more or less time in the country.

Whether you’re after tips for one week in Cuba or the best places to visit in Cuba – you’re in the right spot. Cuba isn’t a very large country, but getting around can be challenging at times – “Cuban Time” is a real phrase I heard multiple times from Cubans themselves. There were a few moments of culture shock in exploring the streets of Cuba, but it was an unforgettable 2 weeks!

This 2 week Cuba itinerary (well…16 days) will guide you around the best things to see in Havana, amazing trails and caves in Vinales, picturesque streets of Trinidad and the stunning coral reefs of the Bay of Pigs where snorkeling and diving in Cuba are easy and unforgettable.

As this post is extremely long, there is a handy table of contents just below here, so you can skip to the parts that interest you most!

Let’s get into the mammoth Cuba itinerary!

Please note: some links below are affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission if you book anything through these links. Please contact me if you have any questions.

 

My Cuba travel itinerary for 16-18 days

Depending if you count half days, this Cuba itinerary of travel could either be 16 days, or 18.

When I booked flights to and from Cuba, the cheapest times were leaving or arriving early in the morning or late at night. I’m a pretty cheap guy when it comes to flights, so the first and final day of this Cuba itinerary is merely a few hours long. Discount them if you must.

Every itinerary for this unique island will be vastly different. For example, I never made it to Varadero, but scuba diving and snorkeling took a large chunk of my time spent in Cuba. I rarely stop exploring or looking for the next activity while on the road, and of these 2 weeks in Cuba, only one was devoted to relaxing by a beach.

While my fast-paced sightseeing isn’t unique by any means, there are plenty of ways to travel. So I’ve added some alternative sights or something to cut off if you’d like another day or two to relax by a beach. You can see these extra add ons, or things that I would skip over if I had my time again, at the bottom of this post.

The most common accommodation in Cuba is known as Casa Particulares. They are similar to AirBnB rooms, except you will almost always be under the same roof as your hosts. They will be able to book you tours or your transport to your next destination in Cuba. It is quite common (especially in low or shoulder season) to book by calling, but you can book your Casa Particular online to make it easier and ensure you get a room.

Cuba is unlike nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I’d love to hear about your experiences. What would make this itinerary more complete? What did I miss, or what is a better alternative than what is in this post? Let me know in the comments below!

Let’s get into the ~2 week Cuba itinerary!

 

This 2 weeks in Cuba itinerary is too long, didn’t read (tl;dr)

If you’re not into reading almost 10,000 words on a full Cuba itinerary, I get it. That’s fair enough. That’s why this super short break down of 16 days in Cuba is below. If you want to skip to a certain section of this post, you can use the blue links at the top of this post and you’ll arrive at the heading you want – magic!

It’ll give you a super quick rundown of the best places to visit in Cuba, and then if you want more information, just check out below.

 

My short 16 day itinerary of Cuba

Day 1 to 3 – Havana

Two walking tours of Havana (Old and Central Havana), Revolution Museum.

 

Day 4 to 6 – Vinales

Tobacco plantations, botanical gardens, self-guided bike tour, two cave tours, day trip to Cayo Jutias and snorkel tour.

 

Day 7 to 9 – Trinidad

Two walking tours, two salsa lessons, El Cubano Waterfall, cave nightclub, great sunset spots.

 

Day 10 – Cienfugos

Castillo de Jagua and Cienfugos.

 

Day 11 to 13 – Playa Giron

Diving at Punta Perdiz, Caleta Buena and Cueva de Las Peces, jungle trek.

 

Day 14 – Playa Larga

Relaxed by the beach

 

Day 15 to 16 – Havana

Fusterlandia, hop on/off bus tour, beautiful sunset by the break wall in Havana.

 

I did say that was going to be short and sweet – because, as you’ll see, once I start talking about Cuba, it’s difficult for me to stop.

Let’s get into the fully loaded Cuban itinerary!

 

Havana Itinerary – Day 1 to 3 in Cuba

Day 1 – Flying into Havana

As mentioned above, I flew into Havana late on my first night in the country – around 11:30pm (hence why I don’t really count that day).

In fact, it was technically the next morning before I got into my AirB&B room and fell straight asleep.

Havana’s José Martí International Airport is the main hub for international and domestic flights in the area and is easy to get a 30 CUC ( $30 USD) taxi into the city.

 

How do I get from José Martí International Airport to Havana?

During my time in Havana, I heard rumors of a local bus to and from the airport, but I never got this confirmed. If it is true, it seemed to be a well-kept secret, as the only other alternative is much more expensive.

There are two ways I found to Havana from the airport. The first being taxi. It should take around 30 minutes and cost 30 CUC (USD). Please take care of Cuba’s dual currency, CUC and CUP are very different and there is a scam for unwary tourists.

Whether you hail a cab from the airport into Havana when you arrive, or organizes it beforehand with you accommodation host, the driver must have special authorization to pick up passengers from the airport – even at 12am my driver was stopped and checked.

You can also book a shared taxi shuttle. It will cost you around $10 USD. That’s 1/3 of the cost of a private, provided you don’t mind sharing the ride with others.

Havana’s empty streets were eerie around midnight.

Once I got into my bed in Old Havana, it was lights out after almost 24 hours in transit.

 

Day 2 – Exploring Havana and walking tours

One of my favorite ways to get familiar with a new country or city is by taking a free walking tour. Many cities around the globe host free walking tours, and Havana is no different.

There are multiple outfits providing walking tours of Havana, but I decided to go with Free Walking Tour Havana for both of these tours and I did not regret it. They were fantastic.

 

9am – Old Havana Walking Tour – Free other than a tip to the guide

Meeting at Plaza del Angel (also known as Angel Square) is the highest point of Old Havana and the beginning of the walking tour through these colorful streets.

Online said this tour is 3 hours in duration, but it ended a little short, around 2.5 hours long. You will cover the main parts of Old Havana (not all of them, as there is too much to talk about in just a few hours). You may even spend a few minutes talking or visiting a couple of close attractions just outside Old Havana (the Revolution Museum being one).

The Old Havana Walking Tour ends at Old Town Square.

Make sure you put your walking shoes on!

 

11 am to Noon – Lunch in Havana

Depending on what time your tour finishes, you’re probably starving. I know I was! While I had lunch at Azucar, right in the main square, I don’t recommend it. It wasn’t overly good, not filling and very pricey. There was a nice view over Old Town Square though.

There are a couple of places I ate at in Havana and highly recommend.

• O’Reilly 304 – This is a highly rated restaurant on TripAdvisor, and if there is a vegetarian in your group, you’ll be treated to a possible cuisine highlight of Cuba. The veggie tacos are amazing and the chicken sandwich is great value for money! You can find O’Reilly 304 on the corner of O’Reilly and Aguiar Streets.
• Surprisingly, pizza is one of the most common foods I encountered in Cuba. If you’re after a cheap meal in Havana, head to Obispo Street, in the middle of Cuba and Aguiar Streets. Here you will find a 15-20 CUP (not CUC) pizza (less than $1 USD). It’s cheap and fast, provided there isn’t a huge line. There’s a refreshing fresh juice store right next to it for 5 CUP a glass.

 

1pm to 3pm – Explore Havana

There’s plenty of places in Old Havana to explore, and there were probably a few you visited on the Old Havana Walking Tour that you want to spend a little more time at – this is a great time to do that.

Stand in line to perform the intricate good luck photo at Pigeon Square or take in some local art displays. Stroll the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico or the Bay of Havana and watch the colorful cars speed past.

 

4pm to 7pm – Central Havana Walking Tour – Free other than a tip to the guide

I really like walking tours. Except this time, the route took the group through the less touristic, but no less beautiful streets of Havana. Central Havana is where “real” Cubans live. There are much fewer casa particulares, the streets aren’t as clean and it’s a lot noisier and overwhelming. But it’s none the less memorable to explore these streets.

This walking tour of Central Havana has a lot more walking involved and went for the full three hours. It begins from the same point as the Old Havana Tour, Plaza del Angel, and ends at the famous Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

8pm – Dinner in Havana

One of the most memorable spots in the Central Havana Walking Tour was Callejon de Hamel.  This colorful and unique street stands out from the rest of vibrant Havana. You’ll notice the bathtubs sliced in half as displays of art.

While it’s a great place to walk through, it’s not a great place to eat. 20 CUC is a little out of my price range.

I recommend a restaurant called La Flor de Loto. On the corner of Salud and Escobar Street. Very decently priced and I can almost guarantee you, that you won’t be able to eat your entire meal in one sitting. Luckily, for a small fee, take away boxes are available. Also, be prepared to clap as birthdays are celebrated by dimming the lights and the restaurant joins in clapping!

 

Havana – Day 3

The second day in Havana holds much less walking, and it was much more relaxed.

While today was largely devoted to planning future travel plans in Cuba, it is much easier to plan when in the country. Visiting an Infotur office, or asking your casa particular host if they would be able to call ahead to the next casa to book it.

 

9am – Breakfast in Havana

Casa particular breakfasts are usually well worth the cost – 5 CUC. I usually booked my casa particular breakfast around 7 to 8am. Breakfasts in casa particulares sometimes take a little longer than you would expect, after all, most are made fresh.

11am – Revolution Museum

A stone’s throw from Old Havana, the Revolution Museum is a great insight into the history of Cuba. I’ll admit, I had very little knowledge of the Revolution led by Fidel Castro and his army, but learned a lot from this museum. It also displays information about before and after the Revolution, mainly Cuba’s relationship with the U.S.

Attached to the museum is an outdoor exhibition that’s included in the ticket price. The main attraction is Granma, the yacht Fidel Castro and 82 others sailed to Cuba from Mexico to begin the rejuvenated revolution.

Don’t get me wrong, you should take most information here with a grain of salt as information feels a bit like propaganda. But it’s still well worth the visit, especially if you’re interested in Cuba’s history! Expect to spend 1-2 hours here and costs 8 CUC to get in.

 

1pm – Exploring Havana

After lunch (them cheap pizzas were always on the menu), there’s a number of things you can do to fill in the afternoon. Whether you’re after art, history or just exploring the streets of Havana, there’s plenty to do to fill out the day.

• Modern art museum – just across the road from the open-air Revolution Museum.
• Explore Castillo de Los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro across the Bay of Havana. It gives a pretty good viewpoint over Havana.

8-9pm – Sunset in Havana

If you haven’t got your fill of vibrant colors from just walking the streets, heading out for sunset in Havana is a great way to see the city in a different light, and possibly meet some friendly locals.

While there are plenty of sunset points in Havana, in my mind, there are two:

• Shielding the shoreline of Havana from the Gulf of Mexico is a large concrete break wall. As the sun dips behind the Central Havana horizon, locals and tourists gather to chat and drink juice box containers of rum. You can chat with locals or watch fishermen casting lines out into the water.
• Ernest Hemingway is a name you will hear multiple times throughout Cuba. His favorite bar is a highlight of almost every tour I took part in within Cuba. Ambos Mundos Hotel, famous for its quite expensive cocktails (on Cuban terms) also gives a beautiful perspective over Havana.

 

Vinales Itinerary – Day 4 to 6 in Cuba

Day 4 – Havana to Vinales – Exploring Vinales

Vinales is a small town about 3 hours northwest of Havana. It’s known for its hiking, horseback riding, and caves. But there’s a lot more to this tiny town. Spending around 3 days in Vinales is a good amount of time to take in the natural beauty of this mountainous area.

 

9am – Getting from Havana to Vinales

As with a lot of Cuba, the most cost-effective, quickest and easiest way to get around is by collectivos. Basically, a shared taxi. They will pick you up, along with other travelers from their casa particulars front door until the car is full, and then set off.

A fee of 20 CUC per person is the going price for a collectivo from Havana to Vinales, and takes around 3 hours – this is depending on how long you stop at the rest stop – a tobacco plantation.

If you’re anything like me, a tobacco plantation doesn’t really sound too appealing. But I was surprised. The workers on the plantation give you a small tour of how the tobacco is cut, dried and sold (which is the most interesting to me). They then give out cigars and coffee, without expectation of you buying anything. Of course, a tip is appreciated, but there’s no hard sell here at all, pretty refreshing I thought.

There is a bathroom at the rest stop here, but no food.

12 to 1pm – Lunch in Vinales

Transport in Cuba is fickle. Everything runs of “Cuba Time”. So, when you get to Vinales, it should be around noon. There are plenty of cheap and filling options for lunch in Vinales.

Just south on the main road of Vinales town center is a number of restaurants. You can’t really go wrong and the menus are fairly similar. Just shop around until something appeals to you.

 

2pm – Vinales Markets

The little market street of Vinales is a great place to get a souvenir of Cuba. There’s a huge variety of items for sale and the number of vendors, art, wooden domino sets, and little wood hummingbirds are the most memorable, but hats, magnets and a ton of other items are also for sale.

It is unheard of to walk down this narrow street and not be greeted by a handful of friendly and smiling locals. You may even meet the local town hustler Christopher. He seemed to be everywhere and always with tourists.

Just so you’re aware, if these locals bring you somewhere and you buy something/take a tour, they get a small “finders fee” for making a sale. Which is honestly fine by me. It doesn’t increase the cost of something for me and spreads the money I spend around a little.

 

3pm – Vinales Tobacco Plantaion

Another Tobacco plantation?!?!

This one is a lot harder to find, and a lot less touristic than the compulsory stop from Havana. And the locals here make it worthwhile.

On top of the tobacco plantation tour, and the same relaxed vibes and no pressure to buy, there are more options at Vinales tobacco plantation.

Rum is common all over Cuba but here you can taste a brand you can not (allegedly) find outside of Vinales. It’s pretty smooth and has a nut inside the bottle. You can also taste local honey and coffee that’s grown right on the plantation.

It’s the guide that makes this plantation stand out though. Always cracking jokes and laughing.

You may have to ask some locals to be pointed in the direction of the plantation as it’s down some very suburban dirt roads – but very easy walking distance.

5pm – Vinales Botanical Gardens

Another thing to do in Vinales and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Entrance is free, but if the owner is offering the guided tour, he will ask for a tip – which is well worth it!

Another funny local Vinales guide, and extremely passionate about plants, we were led around many different types of plants from all around the globe.

Make sure to check out the “beer tree”, a thin, stick tree with empty beer cans for flowers. A personal favorite of mine.

7pm – Dinner in Vinales

Vinales has plenty of options for dinner and while most have similar options, there are a few exceptions.

• One of my best dinners in all of Cuba came from El Olivo. The caramelized onions and pork shoulder were amazing. There are quite a few options for vegetarians at this #1 TripAdvisor rated restaurant in Vinales. It’s on the main road pretty much right I’m the center of Vinales. Lines are common at the busiest times.
• Another great place to eat dinner in Vinales was called 100% Cuba. A BBQ restaurant and a large menu.
• For a vegetarian option, La Berenjena was also really nice! It’s also a recognized eco-friendly restaurant in Vinales.

 

Day 5 – Biking through Vinales and cave tours

8am – Set off on bikes through Vinales

Biking through Vinales is a popular activity and allows you to explore the more remote parts as well as seeing some unique attractions in Vinales. There are a couple of places in Vinales to hire bikes but it’s much easier (and cheaper) to hire through your casa particular. Just ask them and give them a time and they will be delivered to your door.

2-4pm is the worst time to be pedaling through an open field with no shade in Vinales. The sun is unrelenting. Start as early as possible to beat the mid-day heat!

If you have the app called Maps.Me (which I highly suggest you do), following trails, is usually fine. However, there are trails in Vinales that are unmarked or totally incorrect. Farms are everywhere throughout the fields of Vinales and it’s usually fine to use a trail – just remember, if you open a gate, close it behind you.

With a sense of adventure, you can see some beautiful scenery and attractions through Vinales.

• Mural de la Prehistoria – while it was painted in 1961 it depicts human evolution on the 120 x 160 meter cliffside (393 by 524 feet). The entry fee of 3 CUC includes a complimentary drink – try the pina colada without rum.
• Cueva Palamarito – this dark cave is very hard to find and is located at the edge of a farmers field. Directions from a local are the best way to be pointed in the right direction as Maps.Me isn’t much help here. Entrance to the cave is free, but for 3 CUC you can get a guided tour through the dark caves. You can swim in the refreshing muddy water at the end!
• Cueva Indio – This cave is much more touristy and has a boat tour taking visitors through the cave chambers. It costs 5 CUC for a foreigner. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure cycling up the giant hill between this cave and Vinales was worth the effort at all.
• Cueva San Miguel – Even more touristic than Indio Cave. There’s a restaurant in the mouth of the cave, and while the cave itself is impressive, I’m not too interested in dining in a cave like that. Still, a cool sight, if you can look past the established restaurant. You’ll ride right past it on your way to Cueva Indio.

 

Honestly, the best part of the bike ride through Vinales is the scenery. Limestone mountains in the distance and lush green fields are everywhere. It is a beautiful ride.

If you’re not up for an adventure through some difficult and narrow trails, you can book a number of day trips to Vinales.

• Guided hiking tours
• Guided horseback riding tours
• Hail a taxi or collectivo to take you around the sights of Vinales

These are Vinales most popular adventuring tours and can also be easily booked through your casa particular – your host will be more than happy to help you as they receive a small commission if you book through them.

After riding all day (like I did) all I wanted was a shower and a beer! So, the rest of the afternoon was spent recovering from the intense sun and near heat stroke.

If you do decide to ride all day as I did, be better prepared than I was.

7pm – The best sunset in Vinales

Catching a taxi to Hotel Los Jazmines gives a great vantage point over the mountains surrounding Vinales and perfect for sunset. Cocktails are 3 CUC and be warned, if you ask for them strong (fuetre) they are really strong! Good value but you’ll be tipsy before you know it.

The hotel staff seemed to have no issue with non-guests visiting, although I did have my fair share of mojito and pina coladas!

 

Day 6 – Day Trip to Cayo Jutias from Vinales

While Vinales is nestled deep within limestone hills of Cuba, the beachfront isn’t out of reach. Cayo Jutias is a pristine beach with plenty of blue water and golden sands to find a quiet place to swim and enjoy the sunshine.

I booked this day trip through my casa particular (like pretty much everything else) and while they said it would only take one hour, it took more than 2 hours to reach the beach.

But even the double trip time and the bumpy roads couldn’t make visiting Cayo Jutias regrettable. It’s just too beautiful.

The collectivo style bus picks up from casa particular front doors until it’s full and then sets off. Most of the road is flat and smooth, but sometimes, the dirt sides of the road are better to drive on!

Once at Cayo Jutias, there’s no too much to do other than relax by the calm waters. You can take a short walk to more secluded and less visited stretches of sand, or take a snorkel tour that leaves every hour and visits a close-by coral reef.

Scuba Diving is possible at Cayo Jutias but wouldn’t allow just me to go as it’s not worthwhile for them (don’t worry, plenty of diving coming up!). The snorkel tour is 10 CUC and gets you to a reef offshore and home to a decent amount of marine life.

Cayo Jutias has a few places to eat (the fish is apparently amazing) and sandwiches. There are of course multiple bars selling the standard free pour cocktails and beers. The bathrooms cost a tip and the sunbeds cost 3 CUC per day.

 

Trinidad Itinerary – Day 7 to 9 in Cuba

Day 7 – Vinales to Trinidad – Explore Trinidad

Booking a collectivo from my casa particular was easy. My hosts handled everything. It was quite pricey at 40 CUC per person. As you can imagine, the two Cuban destinations (which turned out to be my two favorite places in Cuba) are far apart.

While the collectivo is said to be only 6 hours long, it took just over 9. It might be a better option to take the Viazul bus from Vinales to Trinidad. The price at the Viazul bus office in the town center was 37 CUC and said it took 10 hours.

The bus is said to be air con and quite comfortable, while only half of the run in a collectivo was comfortable. We changed buses on the side of the road just south of Havana into a giant orange bus with small windows and no leg room.

It is a long journey, but it is worth it to visit the beautiful Trinidad.

 

5pm – Exploring Trinidad

The afternoon after the bus arrives in Trinidad, there’s not too much daylight left. But there’s still plenty to see in this city frozen in time.

Plaza Mayor is the biggest square and often you’ll stumble through this picturesque place. There is plenty of attractions close to this open square, including the “music steps”, where seats are based on a first come first served basis and cocktails and salsa dancing go hand in hand.

 

7pm – Dinner in Trinidad, Cuba

My personal favorite meal came from Trinidad and I ate multiple times at Resturant Taberna el Barracon. Try the seafood paella! There are also plenty of veggie options listed throughout the menu. You’ll find this restaurant on Calle Alameda street.

As the sun sets, there is always a local band playing as pinks and purple sweep the skyline of Trinidad, Cuba.

11pm – Where to party in Trinidad

If you’re looking for a night out in Trinidad, there are a few options. To start, you can grab a couple of 1 CUC cocktails (with plenty of rum) from a bar called Happy Hour just down the road from Plaza Mayor.

Cubans like to party late and the local nightclub opens at 11pm. It is a little bit of a walk but it is held inside a cave. It’s a mix of pop and house music, and your entrance fee gets you a complimentary mojito.

Entrance costs 5 CUC per person and goes on into the early hours of the morning.

There are also a number of salsa clubs open where you can practice those moves. If you’re looking to learn salsa, then keep reading! Trinidad is the place to learn salsa!

 

Day 8 – Walking Tour of Trinidad and salsa lessons

8am – Breakfast

Other than a casa breakfast (which is always great value for 5 CUC a person), there’s one little shop that I can’t recommend enough for a quick sandwich. The elderly guy that runs it is open early, so it’s a great place for a quick breakfast in Trinidad.

It’s called Cafeteria Regla. This tiny hole in the wall is super close to Playa Mayor and serves a tasty breakfast sandwich and juices.

You can find this little shop on Calle Alameda, between Calle Colon and Calle Media Luna.

9am – The free walking tour of Trinidad

Trinidad has a couple of free walking tours. Strawberry Tours and Trinidad Free Walking Tours are the two names I found.

I went with Trinidad Free Walking Tours and was very happy with my choice. Free walking tours are all about the guide, and Ernesto, was unforgettable. A young guy, mid 20s, lived in Trinidad all his life and has an open and optimistic view about the future, for both himself and Cuba.

Apart from the memorable sights throughout Trinidad, from the picturesque bell tower and interesting facts about the streets of Trinidad, Ernesto taught my small group something you can’t really find wandering the streets aimlessly.

He sat as all down in a cool patch of shade and explained the history of Trinidad and Cuba in general. He went on to talk about the struggles regular Cubans face and what he hopes for the future. He then opened the floor to our questions and answered the best he could – making jokes about how the only thing censored on the internet for Cubans is porn, but that they have a “black market” for that kind of stuff.

The free walking tour of Trinidad begins at 9am from the park directly opposite the Bell Tower in Trinidad, or Museo Nacional de Lucha Contra Bandidos. The tour ends roughly 3 hours later at Plaza Caillo. While the tour of Trinidad in Cuba is free, tipping an amazing guide like Ernesto is well worth it!

1pm – Lunch

I know I mention pizza a lot, but the absolute best pizza I had in Cuba is right around the corner from where the walking tour ends. Head down Calle Jesus Maria, and it’s a little blue shop on your left. I’m unsure of the name as it wasn’t really advertised other than the line of people waiting for their pizzas!

If you want a restaurant, directly across the road is a place filled with locals. While there is a wait sometimes, the food is worth it!

 

3pm – Salsa lesson #1

If you’re like me, being totally void of any rhythm makes dancing intimidating. But if you’re thinking of learning this dance, Trinidad, famous for its art, is the city in Cuba to learn salsa!

If you want to learn salsa in Trinidad, book with Escuela de Baile Dancing School. Yusel Garcia was a professional dancer and a great teacher. Easy going, perfect English and communicates it well. His best attribute as a teacher comes when you make an error – he will take you back to the beginning, tell you what you did wrong and make you do it right. It’s so easy to learn from him, even if both your left feet have never moved to a rhythm before.

I booked through my casa particular, but you can find his blue dance studio on the corner of Calle San Procopio and Calle Alameda. Lessons are usually one hour long.

If you want to learn salsa in Trinidad, check him out!

5pm – Have a beer at Trinidad’s brewery – Factoria Santa Ana

This giant yellow building has only recently open and for 2 CUC you get 500ml of tasty beer. There are 3 strengths (light to dark beer) to choose from, shade and judging by the l stage and lights all set up, regular entertainment.

It’s a great place to relax and have a few pints.  You can find Factoria Santa Ana on the corner of Ruben Batista and Camilo Cienfugo Streets. Just look for the giant yellow building!

6pm – Explore Trinidad

After walking the streets of Trinidad, you probably have some interesting places you’d like to spend a little more time at. Check out the many artist workshops around the city or visit the many museums scattered around Plaza Mayor. It’s a great time to buy some local artworks!

7pm – Best Sunsets in Trinidad

During my time in Trinidad, I enjoyed two beautiful sunsets. Depending on what you’re after in your sunset view of Trinidad will be better for you. One is in the city, the other a short but tiring walk.

• Trinidad’s Bell Tower (Museo Nacional de Lucha Contra Bandidos) – With a 2 CUC entrance fee ($2 USD) it’s a cheap way to get a beautiful elevated sight of Trinidad as the sunsets. There are some pretty and unique photo opportunities with the large bells dotted around the 3-floor structure. However, don’t ring the bells!
• Trinidad Radio Tower – if you’ve been following this itinerary of Trinidad and Cuba and visited the cave reformatted as a night club, you walked much of the way to Trinidad’s Radio Tower – it’s the big red and white structure perched on top of the hill. Just follow the path to the right of the night club entrance and follow the path up the hill – this is where it gets exhausting! To make it even more worthwhile, two local guys sell refreshments from a little shack at the radio tower – beers are 2 CUC and soft drink 1 CUC. You can climb a small garage on-site for a slightly higher view of the surrounding mountains as the sun sets over Trinidad.

 

Day 9 – El Cubano Waterfall and salsa lesson number 2

8am – El Cubano Waterfall

Want a great day trip from Trinidad? El Cubano Waterfall is a perfect option! It is a one hour hike each way to this waterfall and swimming hole. That’s right, the water is cool and refreshing and has small ledges you can jump from into the 9m deep body of freshwater.

You can visit El Cubano Waterfall easily from Trinidad, but that ease makes it a popular place to visit. Tours leave around 9-930am from the Infortur office in Trinidad. Unless you want to be dodging people all day, getting there early is the way to go.

While you can book a taxi from your casa particular, walking the early morning streets of Trinidad has a lot of taxi drivers looking for a fare. It should cost around 30 CUC return to El Cubano Waterfall from Trinidad by taxi – we were told by locals later on they wouldn’t pay more than 10 CUC.

Expect to spend 2 hours walking return, and then enough time to enjoy the refreshing waterfall. The taxi ride takes around 25-30 minutes each way to El Cubano Waterfall.

 

2pm – Explore Trinidad

There were many Trinidad sights I simply didn’t get time for. This is another free slot if time where you can visit the extra sights of Trinidad.

You could also use this spare couple of hours to have a well-earned nap – the streets are much quieter from 2-4pm and that’s for a reason – it’s hot!

4pm – Salsa lesson #2

I’ve included another salsa lesson here as the second hour-long tutorial cemented the three basic steps and allowed the next set of movements to sink in.

I felt much more comfortable with salsa after my second lesson with, Yusel, the same great teacher!

The good thing about a second tour is that you get passed those 3 basic steps. With those down pat, you can take on more challenging steps.

5pm – The Lonely Planet Photography Walk of Trinidad

If you’ve read the Lonely Planet guide book to Cuba (it will help you out daily), you may have noticed the Photography Walk of Trinidad on page 283. This walk takes around an hour and guides you around the much less visited streets of Trinidad, but just as memorable.

While the scented of Trinidad is home to clean and fairly pristine-looking streets, the outskirts of the city are quite different. This is where local Trinidad lives.

It begins at the bell tower, a stone’s throw from Plaza Mayor, and ends at Casa Templo de Santeria Yemaya.

Whether you’re a photographer or not, it’s a beautiful walk around Trinidad, Cuba.

 

Cienfuegos Itinerary – Day 10 in Cuba

Day 10 – Trinidad to Cienfuegos

9am – Getting from Trinidad to Cienfuegos

My first experience catching a bus in Cuba. And it was quite confusing.

I was told online to book the day before for the bus you want, but my group was denied booking a day in advance. We were told to come back early the morning we wanted to travel.

The bus tickets are first come first served, so get there early. Also, show up around half an hour before your bus leaves – it’s a rumor the staff will re-sell your ticket if you haven’t checked in to make the bus as profitable as possible.

The bus from Trinidad to Cienfuegos is only 90 minutes long. And was easy enough. Aircon and decent legroom. It was a regular-sized coach-style bus and wasn’t full. The cost was 6 CUC per person.

 

12pm – Castillo de Jagua

This Spanish castle, built in 1742 to protect Cienfuegos Bay from pirate attacks is an accessible and pretty cool short trip from Cienfuegos city.

You’ll want to make it to the pier ready for a 45-minute ferry ride across the Bay of Cienfuegos. The ferry costs 1 CUC per person each way and is known as “Katana Cienfuegos – Castillo Ferry” on Maps.Me.

Other than my small group of three, there were no other tourists.

Castillo de Jagua itself is made completely from limestone and a dry most with a well-preserved draw bridge. Entrance into this castle costs 5 CUC per person, and while there isn’t any English text (all Spanish), the view was pretty cool and quite a few interesting relics. Including 2 giant cannons protecting the front and different sized cannonballs to see how heavy they are.

All up it was a nice and cheap half-day trip from Cienfuegos. Double-check the timing of these ferry with your casa particular host to see if they have changed, as there are only a few per day and didn’t seem all that reliable.

4pm – Exploring Cienfuegos

I didn’t find Cienfuegos to be all that exciting and glad I only spent the one night. For the afternoon, exploring the main square of Cienfuegos is a great way to see out the night.

There are a number of museums in the area, but I wouldn’t bother too much with the walking street.

 

Playa Giron Itinerary – Day 11 to 13 in Cuba

Day 11 – Cienfuegos to Playa Giron – Explore Playa Giron

9am – Taxi to Playa Giron

Honestly, Cienfuegos doesn’t have much going on in my eyes, and pretty much every traveler I asked agreed that one day in the city is enough.

The whole bus situation in Cienfuegos was confusing, to say the least. My casa particular owner said there were no buses (even though I had just caught one from Trinidad the day before). This may have been due to a public holiday of sorts going on in the area. Not too sure, but it was confusing.

There’s a pretty easy solution to get from Cienfuegos to Playa Giron though.

While many collectivo drivers and Infotur all quoted 50-60 CUC, there are taxi drivers willing to do the roughly 1 hour trip for 30 CUC. This wasn’t too bad as I was in a group of three. 10 CUC each, or try and sort out buses and save 2 or 3 CUC. It was a no brainer really.

The best place to find a taxi willing to negotiate a decent price is at the bus station. My group of three didn’t even make it into the parking lot before 3 different drivers approached us as bartered with others until there was a fair price. He even drove us to our casa particular to get our bags.

12pm – Where to have lunch at Playa Giron

Playa Giron is a small town and there’s not too much going on. But there are a few restaurants and bars open for some food.

• Giron Especial- A decent little restaurant and good value for money. You can get some quality (and cheap) seafood here as well as all the regular sides.
• Café Cuba – Located just across the road from the museum of Giron. This little shack is run by a chatty guy who loves to serve up strong and tasty cocktails. The pizzas are also decent here.

 

2pm – Museum of Playa Giron

If you spend a day in Playa Giron you will most likely walk or ride a bike passed this museum multiple times. It’s pretty obvious with the tanks and planes sitting out front.

This museum is quite small and shouldn’t take too long to get through. It details the history of the area, including the U.S. invasion which led to the name the Bay of Pigs.

4pm  – Explore Playa Giron

As I mentioned earlier there’s not a ton to do in Playa Giron itself. The activities lay in the outskirts of the town – the jungle, beaches, and reefs.

There is a small beach to the east side of town, Playa Los Cocos. It’s the only one in Playa Giron with sand and easy access to the beach. Most of the Bay of Pigs coast is Rocky and difficult to enter the water.

However, Playa Giron’s only other beach, also known as Playa Giron, is protected by a giant concrete break wall. This breakwall protects the low-lying town in hurricane season and provides a calm pool of water on the land side of the wall.

If you’re looking for a great place to watch the sunset in Playa Giron, the break wall is beautiful. While you can walk along it with ease and free of charge, there are a number of huge holes, so watch your step.

 

Day 12 – Diving at Punta Perdiz

Let me start by saying this, if you want to scuba dive at Playa Giron, stay at Casa Lydia y Julio. Lydia is incredibly helpful at planning diving, and her husband, Julio is a divemaster. Lydia also helps book transportation (she got the bus to stop right out front of her house), activities like jungle hikes and lets guests take bicycles out for free.

 

9am – Diving at Punta Perdiz

While Playa Giron has a dive center, you can go there around 8-9am to organize dives for the morning before the seas get too rough. But by booking through Lydia, my casa host, the giant school bus shuttles you to the dive center where you’re fitted for sizes and pay 25 CUC per dive.

If you have never dived before, you can go on a fun dive here. 5-7m deep is the limit for fun dives, but compared to snorkeling, you will be much more immersed in the aquatic surroundings. The little instructional course is an extra 10 CUC if you’re not a certified diver.

Punta Perdiz is a short 20-minute drive West. You jump off the bus, grab your gear and you’re in the water soon enough. Advanced divers go to around 25-28m deep where most of the attractions of the 14 different dive sites are.

The visibility climbs to around 30 meters and there are plenty of fish and shipwrecks in the area. It was my first time encountering the giant and curious Barracuda – slightly intimidating as it slowly crept from the dark corners of the sea.

If you’re lucky, you may see crabs. Lots of crabs. These forest-dwelling nippers come to the sea to mate and then to lay their eggs. Meaning they have to cross the dangerous road 4 times. While there are many clinging to roofs, hiding within logs and even sneaking into scuba gear – unfortunately a lot lose their lives on the roads and cause many punctured tires.

 

1pm – Hiking through the jungle around Playa Giron

After lunch (I chose a 1 CUC cheap pizza = very bad idea before a jungle walk) my group of three waited out the front of our casa particular for our jungle trekking guide.

He arrived on horse and carriage. Not really what I was expecting seeing as I could see the jungle from the road. But an experience it was, to say the least.

It took around 15-20 minutes along the road by horse and carriage, towards Playa Larga, before the horse turned right off the road onto a small dirt path. From here we were on foot.

It was about a half-hour walk on pretty flat ground. The trek we did, know as Sendero Enigma de las Rocas, isn’t really signposted, there’s only the one sign after you begin the trek.

My guide, Amori, was so knowledgeable about the surrounding jungle. Explaining about the crabs and plenty of plants in the area. He was even able to spot two snakes, one a constrictor that was curled up in the hollow of a tree.

After leading us towards the national bird of Cuba (it has the three colors of the Cuban flag, blue white and red), and showing off the resident baby crocodile (yes, there’s a single croc in the cenote here), he took us to another cenote, or sinkhole for a swim.

There are no crocodiles here and the water is very refreshing. There is also a ledge were jumping off is possible into the deep, deep water.

For 15 CUC each, it was a wonderfully educational and fun tour.

6pm – Dinner at Playa Giron

Normally, I chose to eat dinner out in the town, but my casa particular host Lydia offered grilled lobster for 15 CUC. This was the only dinner I ate from a casa particular and it was amazing! If you get the chance, especially by the sea and like lobster, give it a go!

 

Day 13 – Diving at Caleta Buena – All-inclusive day-resort in Cuba

9am – Getting Caleta Buena

There are plenty of collectivos and taxis wanting to take passengers to Caleta Buena, but there’s a much cheaper option.

Hotel Playa Giron (right on the shoreline) is one of the stops for the shuttle bus that runs multiple times per day, for 3 CUC, for all-day use. You can’t beat that! Just show up and get your 3 CUC ready and you’ll be given a ticket valid for use on the bus all day.

Caleta Buena is only a 15-minute drive away and is a little unique in how the area runs.

Think of Caleta Buena as an all-inclusive, day resort. You pay 15 CUC (unless you’re a guest of Hotel Playa Giron) and get all you can eat and drink until you decide to leave. There are only two buses that leave from There, 930am and 4pm. Caleta Buena shuts at 5pm and last food is served at 3pm.

10am – 4pm – Spending the day at Caleta Buena

I’ll be the first to admit, all-inclusive is not my style. In fact, it’s the first “all-inclusive” anything I’ve ever brought. And honestly, I was done around 3pm, ready to get back to Playa Giron. But that’s not saying it isn’t totally worth it.

Caleta Buena has another dive center and plenty of dive spots. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible and seas much too choppy for the small boat they use to get to the sites. But diving was still an option, around 7-8meters in-depth and still plenty of fish to spot!

This is basically a fun dive, that anyone can do, qualified or not. If the guide thinks your group is capable, he will guide you through a small and dark cave to a freshwater cenote on the other side. While you can look up and see snorkellers above you the entire dive, it’s still a memorable dive.

After diving, you can snorkel or swim in the protected beach or small freshwater sinkhole. Eat and drink as much as you can. Even play beach volleyball if you’re up for it.

5pm – Explore more of Playa Giron

Playa Giron is a very small town. So, 2-3 nights is enough unless you want to go diving again and again, or relax on the beaches around the area. Which I wouldn’t blame you if you did!

One of the best perks of staying with Lydia is those free bikes. Take them out and explore the quiet streets and ends of the beaches around Playa Giron!

 

Playa Larga Itinerary – Day 14 in Cuba

Playa Giron to Playa Larga – Snorkel Cueva de la Peces (plus scuba diving too)

The bus that goes from Hotel Playa Giron, eventually returns to Playa Giron, all the way to Playa Larga. It then makes the reverse trip. Every day, it does this loop twice. So, you can be dropped off somewhere and picked up later on.

This is what I did. I caught the bus from Playa Giron, to Ceuva de la Peces, spent the day there, then was supposed to catch the 3pm bus to Playa Larga – but it never showed up. We may have got there a tad too late maybe? I’m not too sure. But it all worked out anyway.

There are plenty of taxi drivers waiting for people that stay a little later.

10am – Playa Giron to Ceuva de la Peces

The Hotel Playa Giron shuttle bus also runs on this vague timeline of “Cuban Time”, but it’s expected around 10 to 10:30am. Get off on your second stop (the first stop is Punta Perdiz).

Cueva de la Peces has a dive center and there’s a number of dive spots around the area, including the cenote itself. I wasn’t able to dive the cenote – but the beach spot was well worth the 25 CUC. Barracuda, shipwrecks and a huge number of fishes are scattered along the coral reef drop off.

After your dive, you can rent a snorkel set for free through the dive center and snorkel the cenote. The water is much more refreshing as it’s freshwater, but there’s not too much to see really – there were no turtles I could see. If you’re able to dive down a few meters, there are some much bigger fish lurking in the deep and dark shadows of the cenote.

There is a small restaurant and of course, a bar at Cueva de la Peces. Decent prices and pretty filling too. Just be sure to be ready at 3pm for the bus continuing on to Playa Larga. As I mentioned, this bus never arrived for me today, not too sure why, none stopped and sounded the trademark horn. There are taxis on offer for around 5 CUC if you miss the bus to Playa Larga.

4pm – Exploring Playa Larga

Honestly, there’s not too much to do at Playa Larga. If you’re wanting a relaxed day or two on the beach, thinking cocktails and napping in the sun, this is probably a good spot.

There are plenty of casa particulars along the beachfront, a small walk from the center of town. This makes it easy to access the beach as you’re almost right on top of the waves.

 

6pm – Where to have dinner at Playa Larga

I tried multiple restaurants in Playa Larga, but one stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

Casa de Yuni. Originally just a casa particular, opened its restaurant doors to the public and it was my best dining experience in all of Cuba. I don’t say that lightly. Everyone is friendly and smiling, the food is delicious and well-priced. If you’re vegetarian, this is a great place to get a decent meal (if you’re sick of sides of rice and beans).

 

Day 15 – Relax at Playa Larga

I like to travel fast and pack a lot into my days while I’m traveling. I can’t sit around for too long before I get restless and need to explore.

But there’s not too much to do in Playa Larga. The main attractions are those swimming spots and beaches covered in the last few days. Playa Larga and Playa Giron are only just over 30-minute drive apart. So, if you missed anything, you can catch the bus back down the coast of the Bay of Pigs.

Other than relaxing on the beach, there are a few small day tours that can be organized. There is a small village tour and a crocodile farm that helped bring crocodiles numbers back after being hunted for their meat if you want to book a tour of some sort.

 

Central Havana Itinerary – Day 16 to 18 in Cuba

Day 16 – Playa Larga to Havana

9am – Collectivo from Playa Larga to Havana

Leaving from Playa Larga around 9am, it takes around 3 hours to get to Havana by shared collectivo taxi.

As always, “Cuban Time” was closer to 10am by the time we left.

Interesting fact, it is cheaper to get to Havana Airport from Playa Larga (20 CUC) than it is from Havana itself (25-30 CUC depending on the time of day).

The airport will be visited first, before you’re dropped at the door of your Havana casa particular or hotel.

2pm – Exploring Central Havana

As I had spent multiple days on Old Havana, I decided to head to central Havana so I could compare the two distinctive areas of this colorful city. And the differences there were. Much busier, much less clean, but it felt real. There were just local Cubans living their life. Sure, it was a little more challenging – there seemed to be a much stronger “hustle” of people trying to sell, but it wasn’t ever too much in my mind.

I spent the rest of this afternoon sorting out plans for the next day for visiting Fusterlandia, and it was quite challenging with limited internet and conflicting ways of getting there and back. Lucky for you, I’ll explain the easiest and cheapest way to get there, so you can just worry about enjoying Havana!

Go have a cocktail and watch the sunset!

 

Day 17 – Fusterlandia and hop on-off bus tour

Fusterlandia is a mosaic wonderland built by artist José Fuster. Taking after Park Guell in Barcelona, and noting Antoni Gaudi as a major influence of his work, this unique and intricate artwork began spreading out to the surrounding neighborhood as people would ask the artist to give their place a makeover.

Online says it’s possible to get to Fusterlandia via public buses, which is a fraction of the cost. After asking at Infotur, they strongly advised against taking the public bus route as not even the lady was sure if it was 2 or 3 buses. There was no time table she could give and very little other information. She advised a collectivo for around 20-25 CUC each way.

Don’t worry, there’s a much cheaper way, and will give you a tour of Havana itself.

 

9am – Hop-on/hop-off bus from Parque Central in Havana

I’ve never taken a hop-on/hop-off style bus tour before, although I have seen many around. They always looked kinda cheesy and boring to me. And if it wasn’t for the end game of visiting Fusterlandia, I would have been disappointed.

From Parque Central you want to jump on the T1 bus, costing 10 CUC for all-day use. The T1 leaves every 50 minutes from this spot. The T3 goes the opposite way (the T3 costs 5 CUC).

Basically, you want to ride this double-decker bus, that is uncovered at the top (watch out for low lying branches!). Stay on the T1 until the very end, La Cecilia is a restaurant where the bus makes it’s turn to head back into the city. This leg of the journey takes 1 hour.

Where the T1 lets you off, the T2 will pick you up. The T2 only picks up from here 4 times a day( 11am, 1pm, 4pm and 6pm) so you need to plan ahead a little bit. There are no signs for the T2, but it’ll be there “Cuban Time”. It costs an extra 1 CUC for all-day use of the T2 bus.

Stay on T2 until Casa de Fuster, you can ask the driver to call out when it’s coming up. It’s only 10-15minutes before you’re dropped at the side of the road.

From here, just follow the mosaic walls. The main attraction is La Casa de Fuster house itself. It’s pretty damn cool to wander around! While online noted it to be closed on Tuesday. However, I visited Fusterlandia on a Tuesday and it was open. It does appear to be closed from 12-1pm for private tour groups.

As you explore, you can lose track of time. The T2 bus only returns to Havana twice a day. 12 and 3pm. There are plenty of taxis around if you want to spend more time. You can catch a taxi from La Casa de Fuster to La Cecilia for 5 CUC.

The return leg of the T1 takes around an hour and has a slightly different route at the end of the run.

Depending on what time you get back into Havana, there might not be too much time left in your day. You can further your salsa lessons as there are plenty of studios dotted around the city, use up you day pass to see more sights on the hop-on/off-bus tour or just got have a drink at Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar in Havana.

 

Day 18 – Havana Airport and fly home

Getting to the airport from Havana is pretty easy and the easiest way is a taxi. It will take about a half-hour to get to the airport from a lot of Havana, costing 25 CUC usually, or 30 CUC if it’s late at night or early in the morning.

Remember, you can book a shared shuttle bus to and from José Martí International Airport (there is a link in the Day 1  section of this post).

Havana International Airport is known for being quite slow with long lines, so give yourself plenty of time.

 

So, after all that, why should I visit Cuba?

Cuba is a country frozen in time for the most part. It has been isolated from the rest of the world for a long time, and so it holds a great sense of culture and friendly people. Not to mention the colorful cars speeding past vibrant buildings.

However, as Cuba slowly but surely opens its doors to the rest of the world, and Cubans are allowed to travel more freely, outside influence will most likely shift Cuba over the years to come. Visiting this beautiful country is a great way to be transported back decades into a friendly and welcoming world.

Of course, 2 weeks in Cuba isn’t going to allow you to see everything. A country with such rich and unique beauty will always have something more to give each visitor. This two week Cuba itinerary would not remain the same if I had my time over again.

 

Watch a short video on exploring Cuba in 2 weeks

A super short video on 2 weeks in Cuba. It might just inspire some wanderlust to visit Cuba, or help you decide on a destination, like Vinales or Playa Giron.

 

If I had my time again, what would I change about my 2-week travel itinerary of Cuba?

The itinerary above is more or less what I did in 16 days in Cuba. There’s a lot packed into the just over 2 weeks in Cuba itinerary, and not too much downtime.

If I had my time over again, knowing what I know now, there are a few things I would change.

• I would probably cut out Cienfuegos, I didn’t find there to be that much to do and it had quite a city feel to it. Not a good, nor a bad feeling, just wasn’t much of a fan.
• As I mentioned, I’m not a big fan of laying around on a beach for multiple days. Playa Larga was great for that, but not really my style.
• I would probably take those extra 2 days, and head to Baracoa via overnight bus, or spend more time in Trinidad or Vinales.

 

What to cut from you Cuba travel plans if you have less time?

Personally, Cienfuegos would be first as I found little to do and Castillo de Jagua doesn’t warrant a night there in my opinion.

Playa Larga would be second to go as I do get restless some days when just chilling on a beach all day.

 

What to add to your 2 week Cuba itinerary if you have extra time?

I’ve heard great things about Baracoa, far on the eastern side of the island. Much less tourism gets over there but the beauty remains.

Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba are two other cities I only heard good reviews about.

I didn’t make it to any of these three Cuban destinations, but there’s always more to see and hopefully, one day I’ll be back and be able to add these places to my two weeks in Cuba itinerary.

 

Thank you for reading my entire 2-week Cuban Itinerary!

I hope you found this ~ 2-week Cuba itinerary helpful. Of course, mash up dates and activities to suit your style and plans. If you have any questions or comments, as well as recommendations, drop me a comment below – I’d love to hear what you thought of this post and Cuba in general!

 

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Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels!

Ben – Horizon Unknown