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Cuba in 10 Days© RenaatPeeters · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cuba in 10 Days

This trip takes you through Cuba with plenty of contrast over a short distance: colorful street art in Havana, colonial squares, green karst landscapes in Viñales and, to close, bright beaches in Varadero. You stroll along the water, stand at viewpoints over tobacco fields and keep diving into places that have a rhythm all their own. Each day feels different without seeming rushed.

What is special about this route is the mix of city, landscape and coast. You experience several faces of Cuba in a row: lively Havana, relaxed Viñales, elegant Cienfuegos, atmospheric Trinidad and the relaxed finish by the sea.

Who is this trip for?

This trip is ideal for anyone who wants to combine culture, architecture and nature on a round trip. It suits you well if you like being out on foot, love viewpoints in between and want to experience cities rather than just tick them off.

What to expect

Expect a varied rhythm of old-town walks, coastal promenades, viewpoints and individual nature stops. The routes are mostly easy to plan in stages, with days full of impressions and enough moments to simply look and let the surroundings sink in.

Day 1 · Havana

Art, coast, classic Havana

To open, Fusterlandia shows you a playful, color-intense side of Havana that immediately makes you want more. Then you switch to the open coast at the Avenida Malecón, where wind, waves and city life come together. With the Hotel Nacional de Cuba a place follows where history and grand backdrop meet quite naturally.

  1. Fusterlandia
  2. Avenida Malecón
  3. Hotel Nacional de Cuba
  4. National Museum of Fine Arts - Cuban Art
Hotel Nacional de Cuba© Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Day 2 · Havana

Colonial alleys and squares

In Old Havana you begin between narrow alleys, patinaed facades and constantly changing sightlines. The Havana Castle Of The Royal Force then brings a quieter, historic accent into the day. Around Plaza de la Catedral and Old Town Square the old town shows its open, representative side.

  1. Old Havana
  2. Havana Castle Of The Royal Force
  3. Plaza de la Catedral
  4. Old Town Square
Plaza de la Catedral© Gorupdebesanez · CC BY-SA 3.0
Plaza de la Catedral

Day 3 · Havana

Monuments and grand axes

The day starts at the National Capitol of Cuba, whose presence you feel already from a distance. Right after, the Grand Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso sets a strong architectural contrast with its facade. Along the Paseo del Prado it continues toward Plaza de la Revolucion, where Havana suddenly feels wide, monumental and very political.

  1. National Capitol of Cuba
  2. Grand Theater of Havana Alicia Alonso
  3. Paseo del Prado
  4. Plaza de la Revolucion
National Capitol of Cuba© Nigel Pacquette · CC BY-SA 3.0
National Capitol of Cuba
Paseo del Prado© Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
Paseo del Prado

Day 4 · Vinales

Viñales between rock and expanse

With the Santo Tomás Great Cavern the excursion to Viñales begins underground and in the middle of the region's limestone. The Mural of Prehistory then brings a striking splash of color into the landscape. In the Viñales Valley and at the Mirador Los Jazmines exactly the panorama for which this area is known finally opens up.

  1. Santo Tomás Great Cavern
  2. Mural of Prehistory
  3. Viñales Valley
  4. Mirador Los Jazmines

Day 5 · Vinales

Caves, gardens, land view

The Indian Cave provides another exciting change of perspective into the nature of Viñales in the morning. Then Palenque de los Cimarrones leads you to a place that connects landscape and history. In the Vinales Botanical Garden and on the Finca Agroecológica El Paraiso the day turns quieter, greener and very close to the surroundings.

  1. Indian Cave
  2. Palenque de los Cimarrones
  3. Vinales Botanical Garden
  4. Finca Agroecológica El Paraiso

Day 6 · Cienfuegos

Elegance in Cienfuegos

In Punta Gorda Cienfuegos the day begins with lots of water, light and an almost serene openness. The Palacio del Valle sets a striking architectural accent to it that sticks at once. Later the Malecón de Cienfuegos, José Martí Park and the Tomas Terry Theater condense the impression of a city that feels elegant and easy to grasp at the same time.

  1. Punta Gorda Cienfuegos
  2. Palacio del Valle
  3. Malecón de Cienfuegos
  4. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
  5. José Martí Park
  6. Tomas Terry Theater

Day 7 · Trinidad

Trinidad and sugar country

With Manaca Iznaga the day starts outside the old town and shows you the historic landscape around Trinidad. At the Scenic View Of Valle De Los Ingenios it becomes clear how wide and defining this valley is. Back in Trinidad, the Museo Romántico and Plaza Mayor await with exactly the dense colonial atmosphere you look for here.

  1. Manaca Iznaga
  2. Scenic View Of Valle De Los Ingenios
  3. Casa de la Música
  4. Museo Romántico
  5. Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor© Dieter Mueller, dino1948 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Plaza Mayor

Day 8 · Trinidad

Sea, history, nature trail

Playa Ancon first brings air, horizon and a clear contrast to the cobblestone town of the day before. With the Palacio Cantero and the National Museum of the Struggle Against Bandits you then head back into Trinidad's history. San Francisco de Asis and El Cubano Natural Park give the day breadth and green once more at the end.

  1. Playa Ancon
  2. Palacio Cantero
  3. National Museum of the Struggle Against Bandits
  4. San Francisco de Asis
  5. El Cubano Natural Park

Day 9 · Varadero

Varadero with retro flair

The Xanadu Mansion (Dupont House) opens the day with a portion of history and a location that immediately looks like the coast. Then it turns distinctly more everyday and at the same time very Cuban in feel at La Casa del Ron. With Parque Josone and the Great Park of The Craft the day winds down in a relaxed way, between green, paths and small observations on the side.

  1. Xanadu Mansion (Dupont House)
  2. La Casa del Ron
  3. Parque Josone
  4. Great Park of The Craft

Day 10 · Varadero

Beach and nature finale

On the last day the morning belongs entirely to Varadero: long, bright and just right for letting the trip wind down calmly. In the Varadero Dolphinarium and at the Cueva de Ambrosio the beach resort then gets two quite different sides. To close, the Varahicacos Ecological Reserve shows you that even at the beach's end another, quieter landscape awaits.

  1. Varadero
  2. Varadero Dolphinarium
  3. Cueva de Ambrosio
  4. Varahicacos Ecological Reserve
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