Complete Cuba Guide

Cuba stretches 1,250 kilometers from east to west, and each section tells a different story. From our Havana office, we see travelers arriving for the salsa at Casa de la Música who leave transformed by the Sierra Maestra trails or the coral reefs of María la Gorda. The island is more than just Old Havana and its 1955 Chevrolets: there's also Viñales with its limestone mogotes where tobacco dries under bohíos with palm-leaf roofs, Trinidad with its 18th-century cobblestone streets, or the deserted beaches of Cayo Jutías.

Two key points deserve attention before you go. First, the dual currency ended in 2021—the Cuban peso (CUP) is now the sole official currency, but the economy remains tight, so we recommend arriving with euros in cash. Second, internet does exist (Nauta cards, wifi in parks) but remains slow, which is just fine for disconnecting. For accommodation, casas particulares with local families often offer a warmer experience than state-run hotels.

For a first trip, allow 12 to 15 days to combine the west (Viñales, Havana), the colonial center (Trinidad, Cienfuegos), and a beach stop. Beyond that, the east around Santiago and Baracoa requires significant travel time but more than rewards the effort.