day trips from havana

Schedule: The tour lasts 8 hours. Share using Email. It will take you around 2 hours each way from Havana to Varadero by private transfer. They also helped us make heaps of photos with the car and beautiful scenery. By Conner Gorry 17th February 2012. Just two hours west of Havana, the small town of Viales is in the heart of the countryside and on the edge of one of the most impressive landscapes in all of Cuba. Which places provide the best day trips in Havana for couples? Nothing couldve compared to this experience and I couldnt recommend it enough to anyone who is interested. This vintage character has earned Cienfuegos the World Heritage Site status from UNESCO. I booked this tour due to the fabulous reviews I read, and I am so glad I did. Havana Group Tour Experiences Explore Havana with like-minded travellers GROUP TOURS IN HAVANA Daniel James Are you looking for ideas on getting from Havana to Trinidad, Cuba? For details. Expect to pay around $90 per person for a private day trip to Havana. The 5 Best Day Trips from Havana By Meena Thiruvengadam Updated on 08/20/19 JulieanneBirch / Getty Images Havana is teeming with hole-in-the-wall restaurants, live music, and local handicraft shops, but there's far more to Cuba than its capital city. A drive into the heart of the undulating and verdant Sierra del Rosario range, Cubas first UnescoBiosphere Reserve,is a sure tonic for fatigue and worry. Expect to spend around $100 each way to hire a car and driver for this day trip. Alternatively, you can hire a car and shave about an hour off the travel time. From white-sand beaches to quaint towns, these six great day trips from Havana will allow you to see another side of the country. Los Jazmines is the perfect lookout point for some world-prize-worthy panoramic photos over Viales Valley, but chooseBalcn del Valle restaurant if you also fancy having lunch while overlooking the mogotes. A photo tour with Damian should be required for your first visit to Cuba! 3 days in Havana, Cuba itinerary - Urban Abroad This city on Cubas north coast has long been a haven for the islands writers, poets, and musicians. Cuba's best seaside vacation spot, a 20km-long peninsula with powdery sand, bathtub-temperature sea and all-inclusive resorts, Varadero has all of the facilities required to get pleasure from a fun-filled day journey. There are 4 main ways you can get from Varadero to Havana; by taxi, Viazul bus, renting a car or a by tour. The museum has eclectic opening hours and shuts on rainy days entrance to the museum is US$5. Cienfuegos is located about 2 hours and 45 minutes from Havana. This is the place to go if you need a lazy day away from Havana. However, if youre planning to try and see more in your nature-themed day trip from Havana, then youll want to push onto Soroa where youll truly commune with nature. 10 Epic Day Trips From Havana You Will Never Forget The Cinaga de Zapata National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and its home to unique fauna and flora, while being one of the main freshwater reserves in Cuba. Viales National Park is a UNESCO Cultural Landscape of Humanity found in western Cuba. The farmland and countryside just outside of Havana make for a fascinating day trip in which youll get to see an entirely different side of the city. Transport is easiest by taking a private or shared taxi directly from Havana, or taking a bus from Havana to Viales and getting off at the Las Terrazas stop to explore from there. If you want to spend more than a day at Las Terrazas then the Hotel Moka was the first eco-hotel in Cuba and there are several Casa particulars here too Villa Juanita and Villa Tres Hermanas are highly recommended. Want to travel around in Cuba? Theres a coffee plantation here, a Moka hotel built right into the forest, and some great bird watching. Outside youll find Hemingways 38-foot fishing boat and the cemetery where he buried his 4 dogs and 57 cats. Not far from Havana you can find Las Terrazas, an area of unique flora and fauna that acts as a bio-reserve and is a much-loved day trip from Havana. You can visit this clean beach to relax in the shade of palm trees with a cocktail or two. Cuban Adventures offer a wide variety of Havana day tours with themes such as Cigars, Art Deco, and Havana Nightlife. Home Travel Guides The Caribbean Cuba 15 Best Day Trips from Havana. How to get to Matanzas from Havana:The city is accessible on daily Viazul buses (MLC$7; two hours). During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Che Guevara lived here amongst the many caves which can be explored today in order to survive if the Americans bombed Cuba. Outside of the UNESCO streets, many visitors travel here to experience the spectacular natural areas found nearby. Private classic car tours are bookable directly with a tour operator. Take an early ride 140km (87 miles) east of Havana center and youll be sitting under a palm leaf umbrella before 10am. The beaches of Havana are absolutely spectacular and remind us why the island was such a popular tourist destination before its revolution. TOP DAY TRIP FROM HAVANA: Our pick is the Vinales Valley Day Trip. There are many day trips available from Havana that specifically take visitors here. Road Affair is reader-supported and may earn commission from purchases made through links in this article. Just over an hour north of Viales, Cayo Levisa and Cayo Jutias are also very popular day trip options from Viales theyre actually probably more popular day trips from Viales than they are from Havana. Could not have been happier with this group. This is a company policy for the safety of our guests and staff. 1. Make sure to visit the Topes de Collantes National Park an area of outstanding beauty where many towering waterfalls can be found. Beach Trip To Playa Del Este Or Varadero 2. Soroa takes its name from two Spanish brothers who settled here and acquired the Merced coffee plantation (and several others). The town of Vinales is a small place, and the population of this wild, rugged area is sparse, meaning that the valley and the mountains here are almost untouched. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. If Varadero sounds a little too popular and built-up for your tastes, consider taking an excursion to either Cayo Levisa or Cayo Jutias, two of the white sand cays located west of Havana in the Pinar del Rio province. THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Havana (UPDATED 2023) - Tripadvisor Although you can make many of these day trips with public transport, consider renting a car for the day to give yourself more flexibility and independence. 6 Great Day Trips From Havana, Cuba - TravelAwaits You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Cayo Levisa is known for its incredible snorkeling and diving and has a small dive shop on the island and a tiny hotel, making it slightly more popular than Cayo Jutias. I will use them again! About a half-hour drive from central Havana, you'll find Playas del Este, a strip of several beaches on Havana's eastern edge. We know because weve done the same thing with family in the United States visiting family in Cuba; its a total highlight of a trip to Cuba, and one that you wont forget. Its a place of rum and cigars, of fortresses and historic buildings, and of culture and diversity, where the Cuban spirit is most pronounced. Guided us to wonderful places to stay and eat, as well as taking us anywhere we wanted to go on the island If you are Cuba is a country with layers of interesting history, beauty, and spirit. Another great stop while in Soroa isCafetal Buenavista. Once part of a grubby warehouse district beside the San Juan River, this attractive waterside promenade has become the citys beating heart dotted with free-to-enter galleries, public sculpture and a lively ensemble of bars and restaurants, including the cafe-cum-art-collective, Artys. Take a Day Trip to the Cays. Trinidad & Cienfuegos 2 Day Tour from Havana - Civitatis.com Thank you! Take a look at the amazing reviews and reserve your trip now. Read about the history of Cuban Cocktails in our guide here. Viales When the conversation turns to classic day tours from Havana, it's only a matter of time before Viales is brought up. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Vinales Should I ever have the opportunity to return to Cuba again I will not hesitate to contact Abel. Methods of payment for transportation vary depending on whether its private or state-run. Would highly recommend this tour company! Although the company left when Castro came to power and the government took over the trains, they are still in use today. Just east of Havanas old quarter is the charming fishing village of Cojmar, famous for hosting Ernest Hemingways maritime adventures back in the 1940s and 1950s. However, it's the nicest beach that is close to Havana, and . , a wrecked Spanish fort from the 17th century that was the first to be taken by the British when Havana was attacked in 1762. This day trips from Havana to Vinales are perfect for those who dont have much time, dont want or cant stay in Viales, the pickup in Havana is between 7 and 8 am, but can be flexible depending of your requirements, as long as wont compromise the development of the day tour and with a duration from 10 to 12 hours depending of the tour, always trying to get back to Havana before it . The view over the sunbathed peninsula is simply unparalleled. Henry was friendly and knowledgeable and we had an enjoyable and informative tour. Which places provide the best day trips in Havana for travelers on a budget? Then theres the beachs hinterland, where you can hike in the hills or explore some local caves. Havana is a great travel destination with a lot to do and see, but sometimes you need to get away and explore the surrounding areas. Details here. Dont want to drive or deal with the hassle of public transport? ), these areas are popular escapes from the city for locals and visitors alike, home to great hiking trails and a plunging waterfall with a swimming hole perfect for cooling off on a hot day in Cuba. Visit Cinaga de Zapata National Park on a Havana Day Trip 5. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. See the best of the island with our guide to transportation. So heres our guide to the SIX best places to visit on a Havana day trip. Less than 2km (1 mile) away is. Getting there: You can arrange four-wheel drive tours, but most leave from Varadero, not Havana. PRIVATE VINALES DAY TOUR NearbySoroa is famed for itsOrquideario,an orchid garden and research station with more than 700 species that bloom between December and March. Havana Day Tours Experience Havana With The Experts Let Locally Sourced Havana Tours show you the very best of Havana. The improvements are most marked in the rejuvenated art and architecture of Calle Narvez. Which places provide the best day trips in Havana for groups? You can arrange to have exclusive use of a private driver and a classic American car. Getting there: The only real ways to visit Trinidad from Havana for the day are to take a guided tour or to rent a car for the four-hour journey each way. Lying back on the sand and enjoying the sun is the focus of a visit to Varadero, along with swimming in the pleasantly warm waters. As you pass through, youre guaranteed some wonderful landscape scenery and the odd farming settlement along the way. So much knowledge and she All of the tour guides were fantastic and communication to organise the trip and the transport was seamless. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Playas del Este (the east beaches) are the closest beaches to Havana and this trip to the beach makes for a great day trip from Havana. For those looking to escape the city and experience the nature of Cuba, Las Terrazas is the perfect day trip. The good news is that it is also easy to get out of town, and you can explore other parts of Cuba relatively easily. (I think its better than the one in Havana). THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Havana Day Trips from Havana Enter dates Filters Day Trips Traveler favorites All things to do Category types Attractions Tours Day Trips Outdoor Activities Concerts & Shows Food & Drink Shopping Transportation Traveler Resources City Tours Private Tours Cultural Tours Multi-day Tours Show all Traveler rating & up & up Spend the day strolling the streets of Matanzas and discovering the real Cuba. Once a dry dock, Varadero became a vacation destination in 1887 when families first began building vacation homes there. The villages claim to fame is being an inspiration for Ernest Hemingways The Old Man and the Sea, which explains the statue of the writer near the waterfront. This is the Cuba of your imagination where grand colonial architecture stands proudly in the streets; where classic American cars from the 1950s and 1960s are still very much in everyday use; and where the charm that may be slowly fading elsewhere especially along the busier coast of Havana is still very, very much alive. In terms of culture, Matanzas makes one of the best side trips from Havana. We had a smooth & easy going ride w/AC Daniel was me and my sisters tour guide for our day trip to Vinales. Travel to Playas del Este for laid-back beach days to sip a few cocktails on the sand and enjoy the warm, clear waters. Every taxi was there on time and even five minutes or more early. Havana is also the perfect base from which to explore much of the rest of the island too. Agree on the currency and price before you start your journey. How to get around in Cuba: classic cars, coaches and carriages, The best time to visit Cuba: a seasonal guide to the Caribbean's biggest island, 10 of the very best places to visit in Cuba, Cuba accommodation 101: A guide to everything from casas particulares to all-inclusive hotels, Everything you need to know about traveling legally to Cuba, Cuba beyond the capital: best things to do outside Havana, Havana to Viales: a classic Cuban road trip, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Make time in your Cuba itinerary for these memorable spots as well; theyre all well worth traveling for and will show you an entirely different side of Cuba. The area is easily accessible from Havana by bus make sure to catch a bus from Havana to Viales that makes a stop at Las Terrazas, as not all do. Getting there: You can take the hop-on hop-off Havana Bus Tour to get from Havana to Playas del Este in around half an hour, with buses running every 30 minutes as well. A quick ferry ride will take you to the 18th-century fortress Castillo de Jagua. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Fernando made the process very easy to Seen most of havana. We have a range of private and group Havana day tours to choose from. Guided tours are available and entry costs around US$8. We are well traveled and have high standards, and we were very happy with our tour guide - she was great and spoke excellent English. Few places pique the curiosity of travelers quite like Cuba. Despite a well-publicized announcement by the Trump administration in June 2019, it is still relatively easy for Americans to travel legally toCuba. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Day trips from Havana - BBC Travel Theyre some of the biggest and most impressive in the Caribbean (there are more caves also in the Vinales region to explore). Spend, The Malecon comes alive at sunset. Book . Originally just a fishing village, Jibacoa has developed into a low-key destination for those who want to enjoy the beach in peace. The colorful city of Cienfuegos is another one of the best things to see in Cuba outside of Havana. Consider planning a (relatively cheap!) The historic center of Havana may be a maze of stone buildings and narrow alleyways, all built far back in the colonial days, but away from these old streets and just 30-minutes along the coast is a different world. Taking a walk around the center of Matanzas is interesting youll want to stop at the San Severino Castle Museum where you can take a guided tour of the castle and fortress and understand a little about slavery in Cuba too. The two final stops on a Hemingway day trip of Havana are two of his favorite haunts in Havana La Bodeguita del Medio and El Floridita. I truly cannot say enough good things about Ren. From private homestays to all-inclusive hotels, Cuban accommodation needs some pre-trip thought. (check prices and availability of private transfers to Varadero here). Varadero is a resort town situated on the narrow Hicacos Peninsula about 80 miles east of Havana. This place has amagnificent viewover the rest of the area and of course,good coffee. Full Day Havana Tour Package. Keep a close eye on your bags and wallets. Cubas Best is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Which places provide the most romantic day trips in Havana? Start planning your itinerary with these top destinations you shouldn't miss in Cuba. It is seriously green and peaceful. There are also rowing boats and water bikes for rent here. Youll want the T3 which runs from Habana Centro, where the main stop is Parque Central (opposite the Hotel Inglaterra). Heres our guide to tipping in Cuba. But theres more to Jibacoa than just sunbathing and snorkeling. This little town is a slow-paced community, where it's possible to meet locals in a 100% Cuban environment. (check out our list of great books set in Cuba here). Rent beach chairs and umbrellas, or simply find a shady area and enjoy Cubas favorite beach town youll quickly realize why its such a popular destination in Cuba with travelers and locals alike. Another favorite spot for day trippers and Hemingway fans is the Finca la Vigia Estate. Check out our frequently asked questions about Havana day trips below, or ask us yours in the comments. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. Our flight into Havana was delayed by almost two hours and it was a huge relief to see my name on a sign as we exited the airport. Playas del Este as a day trip from Havana 4. Our Havana tours aim to showcase the capital citys evocative history and enchanting beauty alongside its colonial core and enticing street theatre. A drive into the heart of the undulating and verdant Sierra del Rosario range, Cubas first UnescoBiosphere Reserve,is a sure tonic for fatigue and worry. Carmen was the best guide, she knows so much about Cuba and Havana, and Alex is a great driver. The house, on a hill in the quiet neighborhood of San Francisco de Paula, in San Miguel del Padron with Havana province, is now the Ernest Hemingway Museum. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Havana Tours; Cuba Tours ; Day Tours ; Custom Tours ; Information ; Testimonials . Probably the least known of the beach options on this list is Playa Jibacoa, a resort east of Havana past Playas del Este. You should also visit the Soroa Orchid Garden Orquideario de Soroa where, in this small, but spectacular botanical garden youll see an amazing collection of 20,000 specimens of orchids. 6:30 am - 8:00 pm The western region of Cuba is known for its very high-quality tobacco fields and its impressive landscapes. For a friendly ambiance and freshly made cocktails, dont miss. 1. His room, 511, is preserved as he used to use it. $152 USD. The caves are some of the most impressive in the Caribbean, and certainly the longest network of caves in Cuba. Havana, Cuba has plenty to keep you busy for days or even weeks, but those looking to explore beyond the bounds of Havana will find out just how much Cuba has to offer beyond its show-stopping capital. If you rent a car, the drive takes just under two hours. How to get to Playas del Este from Havana: Hop on the T3 Habana Bus Tour, which runs from Centro Habana to Playas del Este (via Parque Histrico Militar Morro-Cabaa). Cojimar is one of those favorite spots, where Hemingway found inspiration on the coast for his book, The Old Man and the Sea, which helped him to win the Nobel Prize for literature. $65 USD. Divers can have a lot of fun exploring the two shipwrecks off the coast, for instance. Explore life on and beyond the sands with our private Varadero day tour, heading underground into Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. Havana to Varadero: 5 (Easy!) Travel Options - Home to Havana There are five miles (8 kilometers) of glorious beach here. Mafia & The American Influence in Cuba. Since leaving the corporate world in 2014 Sarah has gone with the flow - and that works really well in Cuba. This area is known as the Havana Riviera and they are mercifully undeveloped. Just over two hours from Havana, Varadero is one of the nicest beaches in Cuba (and one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean), making it among the most desirable day trips from Havana. Youll find a lot of dedicated Yumur Valley day trip excursions actually start from Varadero, as many visitors love to combine a visit to the valley with excursions to snorkeling destinations nearby, which fits perfectly with a beachy trip to Varadero. Varadero Day Trip to Havana - The best cultural Varadero day trip. Taxi Trip From Varadero To Havana 3. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Day Trips From Havana 1. It may be a long day trip, but the old city of Trinidad is still one of the best places to visit from Havana. THE 10 BEST Day Trips from Havana (UPDATED 2023) - Tripadvisor exploring tobacco fields and sampling food crops at an organic farm lunch. Sarah's an avid reader and traveller and loves exploring the culture of Cuba through food, drinks, hiking trails and hidden corners. Your email address will not be published. Wifi is spotty, and instead of classic cars, horse-drawn carriages often transport visitors among sites. Locals sometimes call this bayside city the Pearl of the South, and youll see why when you reach its historic center. You can visit Vinales by tourist bus these are operated by Viazul (our guide to the Viazul bus system is here) although this trip takes about 4 hours and the departure times isnt useful for fitting a visit to Vinales into a single day. How To Get From Havana To Trinidad in Cuba - Cheapest, Easiest, Fastest Its laid back, full of sun and full of rum perfect for those awesome lazy afternoons on the beach. Day Trips Outdoor Activities Concerts & Shows Food & Drink Shopping Transportation Traveler Resources Tours City Tours Private Tours Cultural Tours Multi-day Tours Show all Traveler rating & up & up Good for Good for Couples Good for Big Groups Good for Kids Budget-friendly Show more I just watched a youtube video of Havana and the presenter said its the worst place he has visited for scams, being accosted constantly on the streets, and a number of times where he arranged stuff and set a price, then when it was done the presenter argued about the agreed price. The Viales Valley with its gigantic "Mogotes" will be an experience to remember. Indeed, the main appeal of Playa Jibacoa is just how few people youll see there. I will definitely contact Yasmin for support during my next visit to Cuba. Our Havana Day Tours are educational, fun and safe. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. I highly recommend booking a trip to Cuba with Ren as your tour guide. But this country is much more than just Havana, with many of the best places to visit in Cuba being in the western part of the island around the capital. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. These places are best for day trips in Havana: These are the best places for kid-friendly day trips in Havana: These are the best places for couples seeking day trips in Havana: These are the best places for groups seeking day trips in Havana: These are the best places for budget-friendly day trips in Havana: These are the most romantic places for day trips in Havana: These are the best hidden gems for day trips in Havana: U.S. Travel Licensing Restrictions Apply for Travel to Cuba. Once a haven for pirates and slave smugglers, this central Cuban town at one point produced one-third of the countrys sugar. we took this Vinales Valley by classic Car trip and it was an incredible day. Viales from Havana - Havana Journeys Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The following day I had organised a two hour driving tour followed by lunch and a waking tour. You can read about our experiences taking a colectivo from Matanzas back to Havana here. Visit Cinaga de Zapata National Park on a Havana Day Trip, 5. But for the best views of Soroa head to the Castillo de la Nubes the Castle of the Clouds. This awesome day trip to Las Terrazas from Havana will get you right to the heart of the Sierra Del Rosario. It was so calming to know that the trips would happen, on time and right every time. You dont have to travel far for spectacular day trips from Havana. Take a dip in one of the Caribbeans most pristine beaches or sip cocktails in the shade before heading out for a late lunch at any of Varaderos notable restaurants. Cool, crowded January or quiet but stormy September? 5. A regular taxi from Havana costs the equivalent of around US$100 to US$150 one way. Wed recommend booking a private transfer, awesome day trip to Las Terrazas from Havana, check out our list of great books set in Cuba here. Locals will tell you that this is the most beautiful part of Cuba. Alternatively, take a guided excursion from Havana to Soroa and Las Terrazas for. Note: You can also take a day trip to Matanzas from Varadero so if youre visiting both Havana and Varadero, its an option. 4. When you book a hotel or tour that we link to, we may earn a commission. 10 best day trips from Havana - Havana Guide My husband and I did our Havana day tour from Varadero on June 2, 2023. The small city isnt usually found on travel itineraries, as there isnt much of anything to see here, or any particular stand out attraction. However, if youre looking for a beach getaway from Havana and Varadero and Plays del Este dont quite seem to be the right fit, these spots are sure to please.

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