What Adventure Activities Are There In Cuba?
Cuba has incredible reefs near the coast. You can scuba dive near coral reefs swarming with fish, or check out rare black coral at María La Gorda. The beaches on the islands of Cayo Coco and Cayo Largo del Sur are also good places for scuba diving. Jardines de la Reina is one of the healthiest coral reefs in the world, and it grows off the coast of eastern Cuba.
While you’re near the coast, you can sign up for a boating trip, or a fishing trip. The fishing is excellent near Varadero, as well as along the beaches of Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.
Hiking in the national parks will take you to Cuba’s highest mountain peaks and most incredible valleys. Climb to the top of Cuba’s highest mountain at Pico Turquino National Park, and go to Viñales Valley to see the impressive rock formations that make the landscape look almost surreal. Go inland to see the pine forests of Holguín and Pinares de Mayarí.
Horseback riding is one of the most interesting ways to see the beaches. You can go on horseback riding tours on the beaches of Varadero, Granma, and Guardalavaca.
Related Questions
See all questionsVaradero
Varadero is Cuba’s most popular beach destination. Less than a 2-hour drive from Havana, Veradero extends onto a long, narrow peninsula and boasts blazing white-sand beaches and warm turquoise water.
María La Gorda
María la Gorda is located at the westernmost tip of Cuba. It’s a laid-back, remote beach set within the Guanahacabibes Peninsula National Park.
Cayo Coco & Cayo Guillermo
Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are the two most popular islands in Cuba. Set along the north central coast, these islands boast beautiful beaches and azure-colored waters. Most of the hotels here are all-inclusive resorts.
Holguín
Holguín is Cuba’s fourth-largest city. Located along the Carretera Central in eastern Cuba, Holguín is home to several pleasant plazas.
Pinares de Mayarí
Pinares de Mayarí is touted as a top ecotourism destination in Cuba. In reality, it’s an aging resort set in a remote pine forest. Even so, if you’re looking for peace and quiet in a natural area, this could be a good place for you.
Pico Turquino National Park
The Pico Turquino National Park is home to the highest mountain in Cuba. Visitors can access this forested, remote park from the small community of Santo Domingo.
Eastern Cuba
Shaped like a giant whale’s tail, Eastern Cuba extends across a huge portion of country. The region is home to Cuba’s largest mountains and oldest city, and was instrumental in the early years of the Revolution. Eastern Cuba has a huge proportion of Afro-Cubans and feels more Caribbean than anywhere else in Cuba. A trip here offers travelers an interesting contrast to the rest of the country.
Viñales National Park
Home to the town of Viñales and surrounding countryside, the Viñales National Park encompasses a beautiful, mogote-studded valley in western Cuba. It’s different from other national parks in that it contains population centers, but it’s still undeniably one of the most scenic places in all of Cuba.
Cayo Largo del Sur
Cayo Largo del Sur has 16 miles (26 km) of picture-perfect white sand beaches. Visitors to this island get to choose from a bounty of all-inclusive resorts. The island has never had a significant Cuban population – it was developed simply so that visitors could come and experience its incredible beaches. Visitors typically spend their days bird watching, scuba diving, or relaxing on the beach.
Guardalavaca
The gorgeous beach at Guardalavaca is set 34 miles (55 km) northeast of Holguín. Guardalavaca is much smaller than other beach resorts in Cuba, but it’s one of the prettiest and most authentic coastal destinations in the country.
