The 10 best beaches in Cuba
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Discovering isolation on a butter-soft beach not nabbed by an all-inclusive hotel on the Caribbean island of Cuba can be like searching for the proverbial cocktail stick in the sand. We’ve sunbathed, snorkelled and sipped several mojitos so you can plan your perfect beach adventure in Cuba, without the crowds.
Angelo D'AmicoCayo Jutias
Best beach in Cuba for: boating
A scimitar of sand arcing into the shimmering Atlantic, this beach can’t be described as off the radar. But wander the sculpted driftwood coastline – or hire a boat – to its little-known highlight: the sun-sodden tip where giant starfish can be seen floating in the shallows.
Getting there: It’s some 60km or 1.5 hours’ drive north-west of popular Viñales Valley in south-western Cuba. Take a shared taxi or a minivan tour.
GettyPlaya Maguana
Best beach in Cuba for: cocktails
Find custard-coloured sand and deep turquoise water at Maguana. Bag an Adirondack chair under wild almond trees for beachfront cocktails Chez Victor, before lunching on his aromatic lobster or octopus in a creamy coconut salsa for lunch. Seek sanctuary from the touts by wandering north, finding shade on a bleached branch of driftwood.
Getting there: About 20km north of Baracoa in far eastern Cuba. Hire a local taxi (30 minutes) or a shared one (it will take a little longer), or take a day-trip tour.
Claire BoobbyerCaletón
Best beach in Cuba for: barefoot bohemians
Order an al-fresco massage, bar-crawl the sandy strip and feast on seafood at this emerging indie beach scene. Cute pad La Casita nudges the sand and is a barefoot amble from Casa Sol y Caribe and its Piña Coladas, barbecue snapper and live-band nights.
Getting there: Around 180km south-east of Havana on the Caribbean coast at the Bay of Pigs. By hire vehicle it’ll take about 2.5 hours, or take Víazul, to Playa Larga (3 hours), on the edge of Caletón village.
Claire BoobbyerPioneer's Camp Beach
Best beach in Cuba for: secret sunbathing
A leisurely 20-minute pedal from Caletón reveals wild sea-grape trees, bowing palms and water bobbing with fallen coconuts in a Caribbean cove. Go after breakfast for sun-drenched quiet. After the fifth Daiquiri at Caletón’s homespun bars you’ll want to shout about this secret spot, but try not to.
Getting there: It’s 20 minutes east of Caletón on the coast road on a bicycle, or hire a local taxi.
Claire BoobbyerPunta Perdíz
Best beach in Cuba for: snorkelling
A limestone platform overlooks war wrecks, rare elkhorn coral and a natural aquarium: tropical parrotfish and angelfish dart amid the 1961 invasion landing craft and a gun swivel in gin-clear waters. Food (forgettable) and mojitos are on tap for CUC$15.
Getting there: 25km south-east of Caletón and 12km north-west of Playa Girón, Bay of Pigs. Hire bicycles or a local taxi.
Claire BoobbyerPlaya Los Cocos
Best beach in Cuba for: a weekend getaway
A half-moon curve slopes into a channel of eye-popping electric blue. Slumber in the shallows before moseying to Don Gaspar’s in clapboard village La Boca for fresh snapper. A vintage car, or a horse-drawn carriage, will whisk you there past a flamingo-flecked lagoon from La Maison, nearby Playa Santa Lucía’s most stylish B&B.
Getting there: Head to Camagüey, Central Cuba. Hire a car or take a taxi 110km north-east (2 hours) to Santa Lucía. La Boca is 10km north-west of Playa Santa Lucía.
GettyVaradero
Best beach in Cuba for: big-hitting beaches
Cuba’s headliner unfurls for 20 flawless kilometres, slipping into a shallow Atlantic striped in sapphire, turquoise and teal. This all-inclusive mega hub hosts only two private villas on its golden streak. Breakfast on Casa Menocal’s 1940s terrace, before sipping cocktails at La Casa de Al – eyeballing the pelicans who dive-bomb the ocean before waddling onshore.
Getting there: It’s 2.5-3 hours east of Havana. Take cross-country coach Víazul or a Conectando Cuba bus from various major cities, hire a car, or fly direct to Varadero’s international airport.
Claire BoobbyerPlaya Cajuajo
Best beach in Cuba for: supper on the beach
Fudge-coloured Cajuajo is best reached by bike from Villa Paradiso guesthouse in the town of Baracoa, pedalling south past isolated jungle fishing villages. Order hunks of pulpo bathed in coconut sauce from Restaurant Gilber (+53 5481 2941). Dip before you dine, resting on a chunky branch of sea grape, as Gilber’s family deliver lunch complete with a table: coconut, beer and a home-cooked feast. Heaven.
Getting there: Around 19km south-east of Baracoa in far eastern Cuba. Hire bikes from Villa Paradiso or take a local taxi.
Claire BoobbyerPlaya Manglito
Best beach in Cuba for: a party
Tato’s beach shack is a funky little find at this butterscotch beach strewn with coconut palms, where lazy wooden chairs are lodged in the sand. Dig your toes in while Tato’s crew bring shrimp in tomato sauce and cucurucho – a palm-leaf cone stuffed with papaya, honey and mashed coconut (+53 5362 8584). Mornings are peaceful before the boombox, blasting reggaeton or bachata, shatters the afternoon daze.
Getting there: Some 22km south-east of Baracoa in far eastern Cuba. Hire bikes or a local taxi.
Claire BoobbyerPlaya La Reina
Best beach in Cuba for: a super-secret spot
Emerald green waves roll in through rocky outcrops at this secluded hideaway. Sit and befriend piglets snuffling almond husks at your feet and dine on seafood caught and cooked by Carlos, owner of one of only two candy-coloured casas hitched to the beach. It’s eastern Cuba’s best-kept secret: even some of the locals don’t know it exists.
Getting there: About 20km north of Baracoa in far eastern Cuba. Hire a local taxi (30 minutes), or take a shared taxi to Playa Maguana, just above, and walk south.
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Claire BoobbyerPunta Perdiz