Plan your perfect budget honeymoon with this guide to cheaper destinations that you might not have considered. Guardalavaca is the name given to the strip of beaches comprising Playa Esmeralda, Playa Yuraguanal and Playa Pesquero theyre all sublime. Varadero. * Do not embed this map in a website or a blog without permission from Sargassum Monitoring. One major question is how long the phenomenon will continue. Even if you dont experience a hurricane, the weather will be scorching and humid, limiting what you can comfortably do outside. You already know everything about the best beaches in Cuba, but dont stop reading. With popular destinations like Jamaica and Barbados next door, pick Trinidad if you want to sun on relatively peaceful, rarely overcrowded beaches. It's a secluded spot, with shallow shores protected from rough waves by an offshore coral reef. Websargassum seaweed in Cuba. Seaweed and algae will roll in one tide and wash up on the beaches. Varadero is undoubtedly the package holiday resort in Cuba and the glut of all-inclusive hotels, restaurants, and tour operators are all here for one reason: the beach one of the longest and one of the best beaches in Cuba. I am looking for a place in Old Havana., close to the mosque. Plus, if you are a member of the LGBT society, you will be glad to know that more and more gay and gay-friendly places of entertainment are sprouting randomly all over Cuba. Thanks a lot Cathy You may also choose to go for a fishing excursion, revel in the adventures of deep-sea fishing, or partake in bottom fishing. It's becoming a big problem to remove. Its also the most beautiful. I dont ever want to experience this again Thanks for your time spent answering my question . Two hours from Vinales lies the full sight of one of the most beautiful white-sand beaches in Cuba- Playa Cayo Jutias, sometimes known as Playas de las Estrellas de Mar (Starfish Beach). Cayo Blanco Varadero #6. Continue to 6 of 10 below. But it is not clear what will happen next year, or the year after. These places are best for beaches in Cuba: Varadero Beach; Guardalavaca Beach; Ancon Beach; Santa Maria Beach; Playa Paraiso; See more beaches in Cuba on Tripadvisor With no permanent population, its entirely geared to holiday-makers who are drawn here for the irresistible beaches and various watersports. This beach may be in an interior location. I havent found a suitable place to stay. Conjure up an image of the perfect Caribbean beach and you'll find Cuba's generous shoreline fits the description perfectly: stretches of powdery, bone-white sand often freckled with shady palm trees and limpid, turquoise waters. Northeastern Holguin allows you to enjoy swimming and water sports in a relatively calm sea. One of Cubas most contrasting landscapes, the northern coast at Holgun has aquamarine shallows stretching as far as the eye can see and verdant hills lining the sandy shoreline. For a pocket of tranquillity, escape the main beaches and head to Playa Los Flamencos. Running along the centre of the beach, a strip of palm and tamarind trees provides a cool walkway and dapples the sand with shade, while a number of stands are on hand to rent out snorkelling equipment. Varadero is the quintessential Cuban beach resort, with warm, shallow waters in graduated shades of blue, palm-fringed sand dunes and a phenomenal array of local restaurants and all-inclusive accommodations. He points to nutrients both from falling Saharan dust and pushed up from the sea floor as possible factors, but says more research is needed to establish exact triggers. It might not have the bright turquoise tone of Cubas northern beaches, but, is one of the islands most beautiful sand-and-sea escapes and definitely the best beach on the southern coastline. Read about our approach to external linking. Here sugary sands stretch out to meet the transparent waters, while wild horses and deer roam through the woodland that borders the sand giving the beach an almost magical feel. when the journey actually takes two hours, but it's worth it. 2. Playa Cayo Jutias Cayo Jutias #8. Varadero is undoubtedly the package holiday resort in Cuba and the glut of all-inclusive hotels, restaurants, and tour operators are all here for one reason: the beach one of the longest and one of the best beaches in Cuba. 3. We normally go to Varadero however we booked 2 weeks at Cayo Coco for this upcoming May/20. No parts of this Plus, despite the shortage of adequate infrastructure, many all-inclusive resorts at Los Cocos offer authentic Cuban cuisine and a lovely ambiance. If you fancy swapping the beach resorts for a tucked-away, tranquil fishing village on a sandy shore, Playa Larga offers. The best beach destinations in Cuba are: This is it. If you are interested in naturist walks or snorkeling, this is the perfect place. The rainy season is much less popular since its wetter, hotter, and more humid. 3. In the meantime Canadians can continue to visit Cuba as often as they like. Travel protection benefits such as trip interruption and cancellation, baggage delay insurance, etc., are not required. Dont go strolling on Cuban beaches flashing wands of cash. Tarara is one of the most popular beaches on the Playas del Este strip. They include: Santa Maria del Mar is the most popular beach in Playas del Este. I've seen pics of the weed 12ft. Geared toward beach holidays, the peninsula unfurls for 12 stunning miles, meaning there's room on the beach for, well, everyone. Water sports gear is also available for rent. Playa Varadero Varadero #3. Three years later the seaweed returned, in larger quantities. Food was not in abundant limited to pork or fish no salads and not many vegetables .disappointed in all meals no variety in potatoes scares in butter ,milk ,and so much more. Its a popular beach stop while visiting the colonial village of Trinidad or French-inspired Cienfuegos. Second line parades are a key part of New Orleans' culture. What's going on in Cuba? "It is definitely a very large challenge, and a challenge that goes way beyond the capacity of small island states," says Ms Monnereau of the FAO. On Isla de la Juventuds most remote upturned hook of land, lies Punta Francs, where youll find the islands top beach, Playa Francs. Follow the brown seaweeds invasion, check the older maps : 2022 , 2021 , 2020 , 2019 , 2018. Cuba is famous for its breathtaking beaches, guaranteed to stun you silly with turquoise water and sugary white sand. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Been to Cayo Largosimply stunning. Playa Pilar is also famously known as the setting for Ernest Hemingways last novel, Islands in the Stream. Combined, we have two Bachelors degrees in Tourism Management, one Masters degree in Hospitality, and a Bachelors degree in Journalism. If you want to experience the best gay holiday on a Cuban beach, visit Mi Cayito. Colorful coral reefs begin just 200m from the beach, so it's ideal for snorkeling, with great dive sites accessible by boat. Needless to say, visiting Cuban beaches is one of the best things to do in Cuba. A handful of all-inclusive hotels dot the area, but beaches are public and popular among locals from May to September. The waters of Los Cocos are enticingly warm. Sunburn, dehydration, and heat stroke are all serious risks if you arent prepared. The city of Santa Clara is slightly more than 2 hours from Cayo Santa Maria, but its worth visiting. The most popular months to visit Cuba are March, January, and February. The reason southern and eastern shores are worst hit lies in the seaweed's source. I appreciate your find it useful. Cayo Coco is famous for its coral reefs and perfect, white, sandy beaches. Playa Paraiso Cayo Largo del Sur #2. Grand Anse in St. Georges, Grenada: A Caribbean Beach Without Seaweed. The warm water and the trade winds are gentle so that you can look forward to idyllic days of swimming and relaxation. Is it that bad around Cuba? It is in the news right now, but has been a problem for years. 6 years ago This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. But the journey, a total of 52km from the mainland, is worth it: the sand is as fine as it gets in Cuba. Stay safe by hopping out of the water as soon as you notice dark clouds or lightning on the horizon! In 2016, Playa Paraiso, or Paradise beach, was voted the 3rd most beautiful beach worldwide by Travellers Choice, and rightly so. It is infamous for its clear turquoise water and bedazzling white-sand coastline and, as a result, has managed to top our list of the best Cuban beaches. These items are enough to get you started, but we also recommend something a bit heavier duty like travel medical insurance. Traveling from the east coast of the USA is typically cheaper than the west coast. There is over 3km of beach in all, split by a sandy headland into two broad curves of soft, silver shore ringed on one side by the lush green of a woody, palm-specked thicket and on the other by the glassy Caribbean Sea. Most beaches in Cuba are open to the general public. I've seen pics of the weed 12ft. All rights reserved. What's going on in Cuba? For example, in 2021, Playa Cayo Santa Maria ranked 2nd as the best beach globally and won the top spot for the best beach in the Caribbean by Tripadvisors Travelers Choice Awards. It's becoming a big problem to remove. As a bonus, Playa Sirena, one of the various goldmines of adventures on the island, is within walking distance from Playa Paraiso (about 20 minutes). The beaches are often free of seaweed beyond the Hard Rock Hotel to Macao Beach. Check out the snapshot of The Rough Guide to Cuba. However, some regions in Cuba are more blessed than others. Cayo Santa Maria has beautiful beaches on the islands northern coastline. The sargassum has remained in the Caribbean and some outlets to the Atlantic. Same for Paraiso and Sirenis in CL. The best beach here is Playa Paraso, southeast of Playa Sirena and separated from Isla de la Juventud by 100km (62 miles) of sea. A quick glance at sites like Facebook and TripAdvisor, nonetheless, shows tourists are concerned. Playa Cayo Jutias Cayo Jutias #8. WebHearing about a major seaweed issue happening now throughout the Caribbean, really bad in Punta Cana. Best beaches for quiet escapes and scuba diving. Jellyfish swim near the coast and wont hesitate to give you a venomous poke if you accidentally swim too close. * Do not embed this map in a website or a blog without permission from Sargassum Monitoring. The only two moments I found a bit disappointing were: and separated from Isla de la Juventud by 100km (62 miles) of sea. This is the perfect time for last-minute travelers. That may be just one of the many tall tales told about Papa, but Pilar is definitely a beach where time seems to stop. We may earn commission when you click on links in this article, but this doesnt influence our editorial standards. To avoid surprises, lets look at what its like to travel each season. Same for Paraiso and Sirenis in CL. Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean, has 430 beaches and approximately 3,500 miles of coastline. Las Parrandas is a carnival-like festival that happens every year in Remedios, a small town about 1hr and 20 minutes from Cayo Santa Maria. WebThe employees of the hotel were burying the seaweed in some parts of the Sol's beach, the others stayed on the sand and we just stepped over it on the way to the water edge. WebThe employees of the hotel were burying the seaweed in some parts of the Sol's beach, the others stayed on the sand and we just stepped over it on the way to the water edge. Hi Catherine, we have a whole article talking about what to bring and wear in Cuba. Read about our approach to external linking. On shore, as well as blocking beaches and repelling swimmers, the sargassum stinks as it decomposes. 06 of 10 Isla Blanca Doug Depies / Getty Images You can rent a taxi for a roundtrip from Old Havana to Playas del Este for about 15-20 USD. Ready for a trip to the Cuba? Explore the worlds most thrilling waves with Epic Surf Breaks of the World. If you want to bask in perfect weather, plan a trip avoid visiting this island in June, September, and October. Although they serve as a spectacular setting for your Instagram photos, you can get hurt too. Now it is happening again and everything suggests 2018 could be the worst year yet. Internet in Cuba for Tourists (2023 Update), Classic Cars of Cuba: Meet the Islands Timeless Treasures. These places are best for beaches in Cuba: Varadero Beach; Guardalavaca Beach; Ancon Beach; Santa Maria Beach; Playa Paraiso; See more beaches in Cuba on Tripadvisor This is especially true if you plan to leave behind the beaches and tackle urban travel or inland hiking. But now research indicates the sargassum is from a new source - an oval band stretching from the Brazilian coast to West Africa. It is safe, clean and reasonable inexpensive. To avoid losing anything, ensure your valuables are always safe whenever you are at the beach. With over 3 million visitors to island each year, tourist areas can get pretty crowded during peak season! Varadero beach has to be one of the most beautiful I have been on. Report inappropriate content 1-8 of 8 replies Sorted by 1 cubacarol Has anybody been to Jabacoa and Cayo Santa Maria lately and can let me know the situation. Internet in Cuba for Tourists (2023 Update), Cuba Travel Tips: 58 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Cuba (2023), Classic Cars of Cuba: Meet the Islands Timeless Treasures, Tipping in Cuba: The Ultimate Travelers Guide (Updated 2023), Havana International Ballet Festival (October-November), Old Havana: City in Movement (urban dance festival), Havana International Jazz Festival (December), International Festival of New Latin American Film (December). Youre most likely to experience a hurricane in Cuba between August and October, so its safe to say your trip will be hurricane-free if you travel during spring or winter. We used reviews to get a general picture of what tourists have to say about varied beaches and how they found the experience. Playa Cayo Santa Maria and Playa Ensenachos are two of the best beaches you can enjoy on this charming tiny island. If your idea of having a good time includes clear water, beautiful sandy beaches, and diverse culture and traditions, Cuban beaches should be on your bucket list. A steady drinking water supply is critical to surviving Cubas steamy wet season. Cuba's beaches are open to all, though American travelers face a little more red tape when planning a trip. If you want unashamed hassle-free luxury, where the intrusion of local culture is kept to a bare minimum, this is the place for you. WebSo far, the Atlantic coast; Varadero Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria and Holguin /Guradalavaca have not been affected. Spoiler alert: theres a reason its called the wet season! Then, we sifted through numerous beaches and only selected those with the best reviews on Google and Tripadvisor. I know the time is short as we are coming on Saturday 20-27th. Cool, crowded January or quiet but stormy September? Temperatures fluctuate more during the dry season as cold fronts sweep down from the Eastern United States, so you may want to bring a light jacket or sweater. I stayed at a resort that was invaded by algae. 3 years ago Save There is a new long range ecological problem in the Caribbean: Sargassum algae which looks like seaweed is a mess on many Caribbean beaches. Report inappropriate content. As well as catching some sun, you can pass the time snorkeling, windsurfing, swimming or sailing to the nearby islet. And so far so good the sargassum is not there according to this handy tracking tool. Just pack lots of bug spray to keep them away. Yes, the road to Cayo Jutas is full of potholes, and your GPS might tell you it's an hour-long trip from Viales when the journey actually takes two hours, but it's worth it. Pick Trinidad if you accidentally swim too close its called the wet season heat stroke are all risks! 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