🌟 What to Do & Local Tips
Explore experiences and tips to get the most from your trip in Cuba
Cuba delivers experiences you cannot manufacture anywhere else. Colonial cities where the 1950s feel like last week. Beaches that rival anything in the Caribbean. Music that gets into you before you realise it's happening.
The activities here are defined by the country's distinctiveness. A salsa class in a Havana courtyard. A tobacco farm visit in Viñales. A diving expedition to coral reefs untouched by mass tourism. An evening at the Casa de la Trova where Santiago's musicians have played every night for decades.
Cuba rewards the unhurried traveller. Slow down. Walk without a destination. Sit in a plaza. Let the place come to you.
📍 Book Activities & Experiences
Old Havana Walking Tour
Half-day guided walk through the UNESCO-listed historic centre — Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, Obispo Street, and the harbour fortifications. Local guides explain the social history behind the colonial facades. Typical price: $15–30 per person. Best done in the morning before the heat peaks. Stops usually include a classic car ride and a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio.
Find toursSalsa & Son Dancing Class — Havana
One or two-hour group salsa class in a Havana studio or casa cultural. Cuban son (the root of salsa) is surprisingly approachable — teachers are patient and encouraging. Classes run in the evenings, followed by social dancing. Around $10–20 per person. The Cuban style differs from the salsa you may have learned elsewhere — expect to re-learn some basics.
Find classesViñales Valley Horseback Ride
Half-day guided horse tour through Viñales Valley — past tobacco farms, into a cave system, and across the valley floor with mogote limestone formations rising 300m on either side. Guides stop at farms for a demonstration of hand-rolling cigars. Around $25–40 per person including the horse, guide, and a tobacco leaf. Book through your casa particular.
Find toursDiving — Gardens of the Queen (Jardines de la Reina)
One of the world's top dive destinations — a protected marine park 80km off the south coast accessible only by liveaboard boat. Bull sharks, silky sharks, goliath grouper, and pristine coral untouched by fishing or development. Liveaboard trips run 5–10 days from Jucaro. From $3,000–5,000 per person including all dives, meals, and accommodation on the boat.
Find liveaboards⭐ Top Experiences in Cuba
⭐ Classic car ride — Havana
Open-top 1950s American convertible through Havana's boulevards. Around 500–1,500 CUP/hour. Non-negotiable Havana experience. Agree the fare and route before departing.
Find tours⭐ Live music — Casa de la Trova
Santiago de Cuba's legendary traditional music venue. Son, bolero, and guajira performed nightly by veteran Cuban musicians. Free or small cover charge. The real thing — no tourist theatre.
Find info⭐ Cigar factory tour — Havana
Watch torcedores hand-roll cigars at a state factory in Old Havana. Tours around $10. The reader (lector) position — reading aloud to workers — is a tradition since the 1860s.
Find info⭐ Varadero beach day
20km of white sand on the Hicacos Peninsula. Caribbean water at 28°C. Snorkelling, watersports, parasailing. Day passes at resort beaches available. Free public sections too.
Find activities⭐ Trinidad evening — La Canchanchara
Trinidad's legendary colonial bar on Real del Jigüe, built in the 17th century. Live Cuban music every evening, the famous canchanchara rum cocktail, cobblestone streets outside. Free entry, drinks from $3. Unmissable.
Find info⭐ Rum tasting — Havana Club Museum
Havana's Museo del Ron in Old Havana traces Cuban rum history from 1878. Includes guided tasting of aged rums. Around $10 entry. The 7-year Añejo is worth bringing home.
Find info⭐ Bay of Pigs snorkelling
Playa Girón on the Bay of Pigs has some of Cuba's best shore diving and snorkelling. Wall dives 50m from the beach. Marine turtles and enormous reef fish. Around $25 for a dive.
Find info⭐ Che Guevara mausoleum — Santa Clara
The Che Guevara Memorial in Santa Clara holds the revolutionary's remains and those of his comrades. Free entry. Quiet, respectful, genuinely moving. The armoured train he derailed in 1958 sits nearby.
Find info⭐ Tropicana Cabaret — Havana
Open-air cabaret running since 1939 beneath the palms of Miramar. 200 dancers and musicians in spectacular costumes. Around $80–100/person including one drink. The definition of excess. Magnificent.
Find tickets⭐ Tobacco farm — Viñales
Visit a private farm in Viñales Valley. See tobacco leaves growing, curing, and being hand-rolled into cigars. Around $5–10 for the tour. Buy cigars direct from the farmer — far cheaper than shops.
Find farms⭐ Canebrake cave — Cueva de los Peces
Natural inland cenote at Playa Girón — 70m deep, filled with marine and freshwater fish. You swim in it. Completely surreal. Free entry. Bring your own snorkel mask.
Find info⭐ Valle de los Ingenios — Trinidad
UNESCO-listed sugar mill valley east of Trinidad. Ruined 19th-century mills, watchtowers where slaves were punished, and a rail journey through the cane fields. Around $10–15 for the train.
Find tours⭐ Santiago Carnival
Cuba's most exuberant festival runs late July — the island's largest carnival with comparsas (dancing groups), floats, live music 24 hours. Book accommodation months ahead. Free street events.
Find info⭐ El Morro fortress — Havana
16th-century fortress guarding Havana harbour. Cannon ceremony at dusk daily (El Cañonazo). Lighthouse views across the city. Around $6 entry. Half-day with the nearby Fortaleza de San Carlos.
Find info⭐ Cayo Levisa snorkelling
Small coral cay off Pinar del Río province, reachable by ferry from Palma Rubia. Crystal clear water, healthy reef, very few visitors. Day trips around $30 including ferry and snorkel gear. Overnight bungalows available.
Find trips⭐ Fábrica de Arte Cubano — Havana
Havana's most creative venue — a former cooking oil factory converted into a multi-level arts and music complex. Film, live music, visual art, food, and dancing all under one roof. Thursday–Sunday, around $2 entry.
Find info⭐ Market street food — Havana
Agropecuarios (farmers' markets) throughout Havana sell fresh produce, street food, and cheap meals. The 17 y K market in Vedado is the largest. A meal costs $1–3. Try arroz con frijoles, yuca frita, and ropa vieja.
Find info⭐ Kayaking — Ciénaga de Zapata
Cuba's largest wetland and one of the Caribbean's most important ecosystems. Guided kayak tours through mangrove channels. Flamingos, crocodiles, and endemic birds. Tours from $20–30, departing from the national park visitor centre.
Find tours⭐ Coffee plantation — Sierra Maestra
The mountains behind Santiago grow shade-grown Arabica coffee. Farm visits include a demonstration of wet-process coffee production and tasting directly from the farm. Access through guided trekking or 4WD from Bayamo or Santiago.
Find tours⭐ Sunset — Malecón, Havana
Cuba's most theatrical free experience. As the sun drops into the Florida Straits, the 8km seawall fills with musicians, lovers, fishermen, and rum-drinkers. Bring your own bottle. Stay for the moment the street lights come on.
Find info📋 Booking Tips
- Book Viazul buses early: Seats sell out weeks ahead in high season — essential for Havana–Trinidad and Havana–Viñales
- WhatsApp for everything: Most Cuba tour operators, casas, and local guides communicate via WhatsApp — have it ready
- Carry CUP cash: Card payments are unreliable across Cuba. ATMs often run dry. Arrive with enough cash for the first few days at minimum
- Book diving well ahead: Jardines de la Reina liveaboards have very limited spaces — book months in advance
- Festival timing: Santiago Carnival (late July) fills accommodation across the province — book 2–3 months ahead
💡 Local Tips
Everything you need to know before you go
💡 Essential Info
CUP (Cuban Peso)
Since 2021 Cuba uses a single currency: the Cuban Peso (CUP). Foreign currency (USD, EUR, CAD) must be exchanged at CaDECA offices or banks. Bring cash — card payments are unreliable. ATMs often empty. Exchange rate: approximately 1 USD = 120 CUP (informal).
Spanish
English is spoken in tourist areas and resort hotels but rarely elsewhere. Learning 20 basic Spanish phrases dramatically improves your experience. Cubans are warm and patient with non-Spanish speakers who try.
+53
Emergency: 106 (police), 104 (ambulance), 105 (fire)
Internet is limited — buy Nauta cards from ETECSA offices for WiFi at hotspots. WhatsApp works on mobile data if you have a Cuban SIM (Cubacel). Download offline maps before arriving.
No mandatory vaccines. Hepatitis A and typhoid recommended. Travel insurance with health coverage is legally required for entry — check your policy covers Cuba. Clinica Internacional in Havana provides good care for tourists. Tap water: drink bottled water.
🤝 Cultural Tips
💵 Tipping
Expected in tourist restaurants and for guides, musicians, and casa staff. Around 10% in restaurants. $1–2 CUC equivalent for guides. Musicians at bars expect a small note per song. Tipping is a significant part of Cuban service workers' income.
👋 Greetings
Formal: Handshake. First names immediately. Cubans are warm and physically expressive — expect cheek kisses between women and mixed groups.
Informal: "Hola", "Qué bolá?" (what's up?). Cheo, Oye, Compañero. Very social — strangers talk easily.
🍽️ Dining
Etiquette: Paladares (private restaurants) are almost always better than state restaurants. Ask your casa landlady for her recommendation — she'll know the best local spots.
Pace: Cuban meals are unhurried. Service can be slow by European standards. Budget at least 90 minutes for dinner.
⏰ Time
Importance: Cuba runs on flexible time — "ahora" (now) often means "sometime soon". Appointments, buses, and events regularly run late. Build buffer time into every plan and stay relaxed about it.
👔 Dress Code
General: Light, casual clothes are fine everywhere. Nights can be cooler in winter (December–February), especially in the mountains. Beachwear stays on the beach — not in towns or churches.
🚨 Safety & Health
- Cuba is one of the safer countries in the Caribbean — violent crime against tourists is rare
- Petty theft (pickpocketing) does occur in Havana — keep bags close in crowded areas
- Jineteros (hustlers) around tourist areas will try to guide you to restaurants or casas — friendly but persistent. Politely decline
- Purchase travel insurance covering medical emergencies — it's legally required for Cuba entry
- Check weather forecasts during hurricane season (June–November) — Cuba is in the Atlantic hurricane belt
- Know the location of the nearest Clínica Internacional (international health clinic) in your city
💰 Money-Saving Secrets
- Eat at paladares (private restaurants) rather than state restaurants — better food, similar or lower prices
- Buy rum and cigars from markets or farm direct — airport and tourist shop prices are 3–5x higher
- Use Viazul buses rather than colectivos for very long routes — cheaper and you meet other travellers
- Ask your casa for meals — breakfast (typically $4–6) and dinner are often excellent value
- Visit during shoulder season (April–June, September–October) for lower prices and fewer tourists
- Exchange currency at CaDECA offices, not hotels — hotel rates are significantly worse
📅 Best Time to Visit
Peak Season
December–March ~ 20–27°C, low humidity, minimal rain, clear skies
✅ Pros: Best weather, dry and comfortable, cooler evenings, all attractions open, ideal for beach and sightseeing
❌ Cons: Highest prices, book accommodation months ahead especially over Christmas and New Year, crowded at key sites
Shoulder Season
April–June ~ 25–30°C, increasing humidity, occasional showers, generally good
✅ Pros: Lower prices, fewer tourists, green landscapes, good diving visibility, tobacco harvest in Viñales
❌ Cons: Heat and humidity increasing, occasional afternoon showers, early hurricane season starts June
Hurricane Season
July–November ~ 27–32°C, high humidity, significant rain, hurricane risk
✅ Pros: Lowest prices, Santiago Carnival (late July) is spectacular, fewer tourists, lush green scenery
❌ Cons: Hurricane risk (especially August–October), heavy rains, flooding possible, some roads impassable, some resorts close
Early Dry Season
November ~ 22–28°C, humidity dropping, rain decreasing, increasingly pleasant
✅ Pros: Prices not yet at peak, weather improving, fewer crowds than December, good value accommodation
❌ Cons: Still some rain early November, can feel transitional, some tourist infrastructure not fully operational