Cuba Travel Guide

About Cuba Travel


Cuba travel is slowly opening up to the US and while there are some restrictions in place, it's becoming easier and easier for Americans to travel here. For those of us who have been blessed with a passport that has allowed us travel freedom in Cuba, the country doesn't disappoint.

This is one of the most vibrant, colorful, electrifying and exciting travel destinations on Earth. Cuba just has a romantic, sexual vibe to it and it's almost palpable.

From the old cars and the rumba and salsa dancing in the streets of Havana, to the tobacco fields of Viñales, Colombia has more than enough to satisfy a travellers needs.

There are plenty of good accommodation options in Cuba, there's a decent public transport system and there are plenty of tour operators available as well. Cuba travel doesn't have to be difficult! On this page you'll find everything you need to know about travelling Cuba.

Places To Visit in Cuba


From the bustling streets of Havana to the beaches of Varadero and the diving in the southern reefs, Cuba has so many places to visit that you'll likely need more than one trip to see them all. 

This is the largest island in the Caribbean, so without flying, getting from one end of Cuba to the other isn't very easy. The bus journeys can be long and arduous and there are some very remote areas, but it's always worth it to find yourself in a new place in Cuba.

Below you'll find all of the posts on our blog about individual places to visit in Cuba. This should help you to decide which places in Cuba you want to travel to.

Cayo Guillermo, Cuba – The Hidden Jewel of The Caribbean

One of our most precious, if not the most luxurious (and costly) experiences in Cuba, was definitely our visit to Cayo Guillermo. Located on the northern coast of the country between the Bay of Dogs and the Atlantic Ocean, the place is a true paradise. Think perfectly ...

Cienfuegos, Cuba: A Mini-Guide for Travellers

Situated on the Caribbean coast of southern-central Cuba, Cienfuegos is a compelling place to visit. With its colourful facades, wide streets and charming French colonial architecture, it rightfully deserves the Perla de la Sur (Pearl of the South) title. Founded by the French in 1819, Cienfuegos is ...

Camagüey, Cuba: A Mini-Guide For Travellers

Unless you’ve been travelling in Cuba, or researching a trip to the Caribbean island, you probably have never even heard of Camagüey, which is known for its maze of alleyways, Spanish plazas, performing arts and numerous cathedrals. After reading about how the city was continuously attacked by ...

Havana, Cuba: The Ultimate Independent Travel Guide

Havana is the most fascinating city we’ve ever come across. It’s vibrant, bustling, exotic and raw. Cuba as a whole is a fantastic country to independently travel, but with so much to see, do and experience in the capital, you may never want to leave… Here is ...

Backpacking Cuba: The Ultimate Travel Guide

The largest island in the Caribbean also packs the most punch. Travellers will be staggered by its astounding history, architecture, music, dance and hospitality. Backpacking Cuba is easy, exhilarating and extremely rewarding. If you want to go travelling in Cuba without staying at a resort and without taking ...

Cuba Travel Information


When people first start researching Cuba travel, they often get overwhelmed by all of the information online. What is the Cuban Peso? Is there a tourist currency? Can you take money out of the ATMs? Why are there two types of buses? Can tourists take both buses and spend both currencies? What are casa particulars? What is peso food? Are there places you can't go?

I remember how confusing it was when we were first planning our Cuba travel itinerary. Let me tell you first hand, it's much easier than it sounds! 

Below are all the posts on our blog that include useful Cuba travel information. They will answer all of the questions above and many more. Just know that travelling Cuba really isn't difficult. There are a few things you should know and after that, even amateur travellers will have no problem getting around the country.

Cuba Travel Guide

Cuba travel is slowly opening up to the US and while there are some restrictions in place, it's becoming easier and easier for Americans to travel here. For those of us who have been blessed with a passport that has allowed us travel freedom in Cuba, ...

Food in Cuba


If you've ever heard someone say that Cuban food isn't delicious, it was probably a North American who stayed in a resort here and compared the burgers and pizzas from that resort to their 5-star resort in Mexico. If you're staying at a resort in Varadero then you probably won't be having authentic Cuban cuisine anyway and it's true that typically the resorts in Cuba don't do western food as well as the more touristed resorts in Mexico.

But Cuban food is not resort food. If you actually travel the country and order food from local restaurants or from your casa particular host, you'll find that the food in Cuba is fresh, flavourful and delicious! Read below to learn more about the surprisingly tasty food in Cuba.

Food in Cuba: 7 Dishes That Will Shatter Your Misconceptions

“Make sure you bring some salt with you to Cuba, the food is very unseasoned and bland.” “Don’t forget to pack some hot-sauce, the food is seriously lacking in flavour!” These were the words of advice we received from friends and family while planning our trip ...

Our Cuba Travel Blogs


We travelled around Cuba for about a month and we still felt like we needed more time to explore! This country has so much to offer that you could definitely return time and time again. 

We didn't have time to make it to the far east of the country or to some of the more remote islands off the north coast, so even a month just wasn't enough.

Below you'll find all of our Colombia travel blog posts. These are our own personal experiences in the country. Hopefully by reading them, you'll get a better idea of what Colombia travel will be like for you.

Trinidad, Cuba: Torn Between a Treasure and a Tourist-Trap

Trinidad was one of the cities that we were most looking forward to visiting during our one month backpacking trip around Cuba. Before arriving, other travellers had spoke of cobblestone streets, brightly coloured buildings and blindingly white beaches nearby. And although we did find all of those ...

Cuba With a Splash of Spain – Experiencing the Unique Side of Cienfuegos

The city of Cienfuegos is located on the southern coast of Cuba and is dubbed the “Pearl of the South”. There are around 1,500 Neoclassical buildings here, a fortress used to defend against pirates in the 1700’s, one of the most important naval seaports, a long ...

Finding the Real Cuba in Viñales

Close your eyes and picture a vivid shade of green. Now lay that palette over rolling hills and sprinkle them with tiny wooden homes and enormous palm and Bougainvillea trees. Now pierce through the emerald floor dozens of massive limestone karsts. Hear pure silence interrupted only by ...

Havana, Cuba – Could This Be Our New Favourite City?

It’s hard to put the essence of Havana into words. The colourful capital city is a place that has to be felt in order to truly understand what makes it tick. There’s just something about it. Havana has a vibe, and a feeling, like no other ...

Goodbye Guatemala, Hello Cuba – Our Journey from Lake Atitlan to Havana

We could hardly contain our excitement as we waited on the pier for the next lancha (boat) to take us from our Santa Cruz home to Panajachel. This was the start our journey to Havana, Cuba. A part of us was sad to say goodbye to ...

Why We Decided to Drop Everything & Travel to Cuba

As you may know from our recent posts on our Facebook page and our big announcement on our YouTube channel (video embedded below), we decided to drop everything that we were doing here on beautiful Lake Atitlan to travel to Cuba. Our Big Announcement: But Why? In reality, ...

THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT

When To Travel To Cuba


The Best Time To Visit: Shoulder Season: (April & October)

Cuba can be surprisingly busy in the peak tourism months, especially when we visited as it was a time when everyone was rushing there to beat the imminent increase in American visitors.

The visitor numbers have declined drastically since the US had a change in government policy, but that doesn't mean that a lot of people don't visit Cuba. No matter when you go, expect some crowds, particularly in popular beach places and in the capital of Havana.

We believe that the shoulder season is the best time for Cuba travel. You’ll still see a lot of people, but hotel prices will come back down to normal and you’ll actually find a place to sit on the beach.

The summer months are a great time to meet Cubans as they are on holidays, but many of them flock to the beaches, making it even more crowded than usual (especially the beaches near Havana).

Also keep in mind that it can be unbearably hot in July & August.

Even though the tourism numbers in Cuba didn't rise as much as they were expected when the Obama administration was freeing up tensions between the two countries, there are still more tourists in Cuba than ever before.

Casa, hotel and restaurant owners are all rushing to expand as more and more people are visiting this Caribbean island paradise. Even if you come in the off-season, don’t expect to have all of Cuba to yourself!

We were there in April / May (off-season) and many casas were fully booked, while restaurants and tourist sites were packed.

>