Before you do so, pack our 50 tips for traveling to Cuba. There are plenty of restaurants and snack bars nearby, so grabbing a drink (or two) wont be a problem. The 10 Best Beaches in Cuba Ranked #1. Grand Anse in St. Georges, Grenada: A Caribbean Beach Without Seaweed. Known for their stunning white sands and clear blue waters, Cuba's beaches are deliciously uncrowded and full of tranquility. If you are renting a car in Cuba or hiring one of those famous classic cars of Cuba, the drive will be pretty easy. 2023 BBC. Head to the western tip of the cay where giant starfish can be spotted in the crystal clear shallows. The white beach of La Perla Blanca, Cuba Shutterstock. Insubuy offers insurance plans for travelers to Cuba. Cuba is one of those destinations that Canadians really love. Travel protection benefits such as trip interruption and cancellation, baggage delay insurance, etc., are not required. If you enjoyed reading this article, dont hesitate to share it with your friends. If you dont feel like spending your trip to the best beaches in Cuba suffering from food-related illnesses, avoid street food as much as you can. However, there is no public bathroom, and those in the restaurants can be gross. On the western tip of Cayo Guillermo, Playa Pilar is named after Ernest Hemingways yacht, Pilar, and was the authors favourite hideaway in Cuba. Again, thanks for your suggestions! WebDownload Cuba Seaweed stock photos. 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. Is it possible to locate aplace for my husband and I. The best time to visit Cuba is during the dry season (November to April). Find some useful information in our list of tips for backpacking Cuba. The tiny islet of Cayo Largo, a narrow ribbon of land flanked by pale downy sands, is separated from Isla de la Juventud by 100km of sea. Cubans refer to this time of day as when dogs dont come after their master. And when you do venture outside, bring lots of water and sunscreen! No parts of this Playa Cayo Santa Maria Cayo Santa Maria #4. One major question is how long the phenomenon will continue. If you want a peaceful beach to relax without all the hype of beach parties and reggae tunes, go to El Megano, rent a chair and umbrella, kick back, and enjoy. Guardalavaca is the name given to the strip of beaches comprising Playa Esmeralda, Playa Yuraguanal and Playa Pesquero theyre all sublime. Most tourists love this beach because it is peaceful and tranquil. Boasting a dazzling arch of sand with palm trees and calm, clear waters, Ancn also has more than 20 diving close offshore Cayo Blanco International Dive Center at the Hotel Club Amigo Ancn can arrange trips. Has anybody been to Jabacoa and Cayo Santa Maria lately and can let me know the situation. Playa Pilar Cayo Coco #5. Playa Cayo Jutias Cayo Jutias #8. Meanwhile, sargassum continues to arrive. A company in Guadeloupe has developed a boat which collects it using a conveyor belt. Playa Paraiso is on Cayo Largos southwest coast, while Playa Sirena is on its western tip. Report inappropriate content 1-8 of 8 replies Sorted by 1 cubacarol Our advice? 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. The beaches at Varadero get the usual flotsam and jetsam overnight and are raked each morning. 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. Here are the best times to visit Cuba's capital, Havana. Re: Sargassum (seaweed) on beaches December/January. So, when do you think is the best time to visit Cuba? Filled with golden sand and bordered by mangrove forest at its eastern boundary, the shallow bay has a small coral reef a short swim offshore, while a strip of dense forest between the hotel Riu Playa Turquesa and the beach makes it feel perfectly undiscovered. Report inappropriate content. However, there are still plenty of exciting festivals and cultural events. Playa Cayo Santa Maria Cayo Santa Maria #4. Public perception is a factor in the impact and some international headlines "shouting that the Caribbean is consumed in rotting seaweed" have not painted an accurate picture, Prof Oxenford says. "We had a large single raft come in at Long Beach with a foraging turtle population in the water. Satellite images from the University of South Florida's (USF) Optical Oceanography Laboratory currently show historically high monthly levels of sargassum in the region. The seaweed youll see on the shore at Macao Beach and at the waters edge is usually seagrass and not sargassum. If beautiful weather is a big priority for you, then September, October, and June are not the best times to visit Cuba. Enjoy your vacations. Enjoying the nightlife in Varadero at popular nightclubs such as Calle 62, La Comparsita, Casa de La Musica, Cueva del Pirata, and many more! Cayo Cocos big three beaches, home to the all-inclusives and packed with boisterous activities, hog the narrow easternmost peninsula jutting out of the cays north coast. Grand Anse in St. Georges, Grenada: A Caribbean Beach Without Seaweed. Cuba is one of those destinations that Canadians really love. . Hurricanes in the dry season Hurricanes during the dry season are exceedingly rare. Geared toward beach holidays, the peninsula unfurls for 12 stunning miles, meaning there's room on the beach for, well, everyone. The only two moments I found a bit disappointing were: Travel protection benefits such as trip interruption and cancellation, baggage delay insurance, etc., are not required. 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). If you fancy swapping the beach resorts for a tucked-away, tranquil fishing village on a sandy shore, Playa Larga offers casas particulares (private homestays) right by the beach just remember to bring mosquito repellent. Playa Bonita is yet another beautiful beach, perfect for tanning your body. The beach offers 3km of fine sands and transparent waters where tangerine-coloured starfish float through the shallows. Travel Health Insurance Travel medical insurance is an entry requirement for Cuba, so you cant skip it. One downside is that marine life also loves the dry season. In either case, this list will help you decide the best time to visit Cuba for your upcoming trip. The sargassum has remained in the Caribbean and some outlets to the Atlantic. Just a short drive from Cubas bustling capital lie white sands, palm trees and beautiful coral reefs. The beach is as stunning as you can imagine: aquamarine waves gently lapping at the shoreline, sun-soaked sands flanked by coconut trees and enough space to feel like you're on your own private island. When waves of sargassum - a type of seaweed - washed up on Eastern Caribbean shores seven years ago, people hoped it was a one-off. I've seen pics of the weed 12ft. Youre most likely to experience a hurricane from mid-August through the end of October. A steady drinking water supply is critical to surviving Cubas steamy wet season. If you can get a room, itll cost around $25/night. Carry some cash with you, but not too much, Worlds Leading Beach Destination by World Travel Awards, 10th place in the Worlds Best Beaches for 2018, top spot for the best beach in the Caribbean, Some locations in Cuba are rife with mosquitoes, Cuban Tourist Card (a.k.a Cuban Tourist Visa), The Cubans: Ordinary Lives in Extraordinary Times, Cuba Travel Insurance: The 5 Ways to Get It in 2023, Havana Airport (HAV): Complete Guide to the Main Cuban Airport (2023), Backpacking Cuba: Activities, Itineraries, and Practical Tips (2023), Sand Fleas and Mosquitoes in Cuba: The Survival Guide (2023), Travelling to Cuba from Canada: The Complete Guide (2023), Is There WiFi in Cuba? Best beach forday-tripping from Trinidad city. WebIt is, indeed, a beautiful beach, and I would have no worries at all, on that particular score. If you are not shy of rugged, sometimes rocky beaches dotted with coral patches, consider Northeastern Holguin. Trinidad. Seaweed and algae will roll in one tide and wash up on the beaches. Visit Cuba at the time of year that works best for you. 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. when the journey actually takes two hours, but it's worth it. 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. The shallow drop allows you to walk even more than 100 meters into the water before it gets to shoulder level and you have to swim. However, like most tourist destinations, it also has its share of small-time thieves, pickpockets, and scammers. Beaches with the highest seaweed count include Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and some points between Cancun and Puerto Morelos. Did you know that Cuba only gets 30% of its annual rainfall during the dry season? That means they entertain all kinds of people with different intentions. This tourist hub has three popular beaches: Guardalavaca, Playa Esmeralda, and Playa Pesquero. The wet season is when 70% of the islands rainfall occurs, which means lots of heat and humidity between May and October. Picture a place that the great Columbus had that much to say about. I dont ever want to experience this again Thanks for your time spent answering my question . "Certainly we've had it for longer and in huge amounts. This is your guide to exactly what they are, where they happen, and how you can join the party. Northeastern Holguin allows you to enjoy swimming and water sports in a relatively calm sea. Playa Cayo Santa Maria has no shortage of natural scenery like tropical mangrove trees and powdery sand. Three years later the seaweed returned, in larger quantities. The resort of Guardalavaca is popular for good reason: a succession of gorgeous beaches sweeping around sheltered reefs, backed by a surrounding landscape of gentle hills and fields of sugar cane. The beach is as stunning as you can imagine: aquamarine waves gently lapping at the shoreline, sun-soaked sands flanked by coconut trees and enough space to feel like you're on your own private island. When picking the best beaches in Cuba, we considered a few factors: There are quite a few awards that travelers or industry experts grant to the best beaches in the world. "We believe that it initially began as a result of shifts we observed in the climatological and meteorological indices - the waters were extremely warm in 2010; there were some shifts in the currents and winds," says Mr Franks. Well, and the idea of NOW being the best time to visit Cuba is great! 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. The nearest town is Caibarien, about a 1-hour drive, but there isnt much to see there. Morne Rouge Beach on Grenada. You can visit either of these beaches to enjoy numerous activities like windsurfing, swimming, sunning, and indulging in a beach volleyball game. Most visitors know this beach to be a complete package resort for rejuvenating and enjoying the pleasures of a white sandy beach. We prepared the list of the best beaches in Cuba after extensive research and many user reviews to ensure we only offer you the best. It might not have the bright turquoise tone of Cubas northern beaches, but Playa Ancn is one of the islands most beautiful sand-and-sea escapes and definitely the best beach on the southern coastline. 2. it would be nice to visualize somehow all the pieces of info. Cuba is one of those destinations that Canadians really love. Commercial uses of sargassum are also being explored. The waters at this beach are warm and turquoise and lap lazily amidst numerous schools of darting fish. Cayo Santa Maria beaches cover a big chunk of the islands northern coastline. Dont expect many bars or restaurants near the beach, though. Protected from harsh winds and rough waves by the offshore coral reef, and with over 2km of stunning white sands, Playa Sirena, at the western tip of the cay, enjoys a deserved reputation as the most beautiful of all the beaches on Cayo Largo (if not in all of Cuba). ", US and Russia trade blows over Ukraine at G20, Greek trains halted as anger over crash grows, Messages reveal battle over UK Covid policy, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Varadero beach has to be one of the most beautiful I have been on. 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. Report inappropriate content 1-8 of 8 replies Sorted by 1 cubacarol In 2011 people initially assumed the Caribbean influx had, for some reason, drifted from its traditional home in the Sargasso Sea. Tour Republic is a travel marketplace where local entrepreneurs offer memorable experiences in Cuba. Where is it collecting. The waters here are blue and warm, the road is a real adventure, and the general ambiance is lovely and laid-back. Same for Paraiso and Sirenis in CL. Considered among the best beach hubs in the, has all the trappings of paradise: powdery sand, warm crystal waters and more serenity than the beaches at its rowdier neighbor. Some of the fishes you may find here include marlin. Continue to 6 of 10 below. A reusable water bottle with a built-in filter will be your best traveling companion. I know the time is short as we are coming on Saturday 20-27th. Playa Paraiso Cayo Largo del Sur #2. Often referred to as Cubas most beautiful beach, Playa Pilar has all the trappings of paradise: powdery sand, warm crystal waters and more serenity than the beaches at its rowdier neighborCayo Coco. Colorful coral reefs begin just 200m from the beach, so it's ideal for snorkeling, with great dive sites accessible by boat. If you want to experience the best gay holiday on a Cuban beach, visit Mi Cayito. It's becoming a big problem to remove. Mornings and early evenings are perfect for beachgoers, but watch out for dark clouds, rain, and choppy waters around midday. evocative colonial quarters, spending a day (or at least half of it) on the beach is the perfect way to rest both the bones and the senses. Nowadays, Playa Cayo Marias entire west side is dedicated to people who like to enjoy a session on the beach, rocking nothing but their birthday suits. Thanks a lot Cathy After exploring Havana's evocative colonial quarters, spending a day (or at least half of it) on the beach is the perfect way to rest both the bones and the senses. Cuban Tourist Card If yourCuban Tourist Card (a.k.a Cuban Tourist Visa)isnt bundled into your airline ticket or travel package, buy it only throughEasyTouristCard. I've seen pics of the weed 12ft. If you are traveling with kids, you will be glad to know that Playa Paraiso is one of the safest beaches in Cuba for children. James Franks, of the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and co-author of a 2016 study on the subject, says the sargassum circulates through this band, consolidates off Brazil and then is periodically released northwards by currents into the Caribbean. If you are such a frolicker, you will find the community at Cayo Santa Maria quite open-minded. Was wondering if thats possible? If you are interested in naturist walks or snorkeling, this is the perfect place. Beautiful Grande Anse beach in Grenada has not been hit by sargassum seaweed 2. Playa Varadero: one of the top beaches in Cuba. Hotels: Like casas, hotels fill up quickly during peak season. With 22km of creamy-white sands and cerulean waters, Cayo Coco has some of the best beaches in Cuba, hands down, and effortlessly draws holidaymakers to its shores. Coming from the Carribean I know I would appreciate the culture and cusine. Playa Los Cocos (Santa Lucia) Camaguey #9. Jellyfish swim near the coast and wont hesitate to give you a venomous poke if you accidentally swim too close. 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. Tip your beach servers as often as possible, and they will ensure your stay on the best beaches in Cuba is worthwhile. Cubas wet season earned its nickname thanks to the heavy rainfall that hits the island from late spring to early fall. 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