Do you have a plane ticket and your tourist card to visit Cuba? In our opinion, these are the best places to stay in Cuba!
An island state located to the west of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea, Cuba lies south of Florida, east of Mexico and northwest of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Initially a Spanish colony from 1492 to 1898, Cuba was then administered by the United States (1898-1902), had to endure the imprecations of the Cosa Nostra mafia under the dictatorship of F. Batista (1940-1944 and 1952-1959) before becoming a socialist republic following the 1959 revolution led by Ernesto Guevara and Fidel Castro. The island-state of Cuba fascinates or disgusts because of the divisions it has generated since 1959 in the context of the Cold War.
Nonetheless, the island of almost 11.25 million inhabitants – the second most populous island in the Caribbean – boasts an inescapable heritage: a dreamy tropical climate, lush vegetation, heavenly beaches, unfailing Cuban hospitality, an exceptional culture, a destination unique in the world, a history that arouses admiration or disgust from different points of view. Since you’re looking for a place to stay in Cuba, we’d like to give you an overview of the cities where you can stay during your stay.
Havana
Photo credit: Unsplash – Alexander Kunze
From near and far, Havana, the Cuban capital, leaves no one indifferent. With 2.4 million inhabitants today, Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the Caribbean. The capital opens onto a bay in the northwest of the country, and is home to an impressive historical and cultural heritage. Founded in 1515, Havana was designated « Key to the New World and Bulwark of the Caribbean » in 1634. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old town – habana vieja – is a must-see: domino players against a backdrop of salsa and omnipresent music, traditional architecture and a mix of styles, old American cars – due to the embargo imposed by the United States – and historic monuments in the city center (the Capitol, the San Salvador de la Punta fortress, the Plaza de Armas, the Parc Martires del 71).
While private tours with a local are popular with travelers, several museums are also worth a visit to discover Cuban history and culture: the Rum Museum, the Museum of the Revolution and the Museum of Fine Arts.
The streets of Havana exude the charm of an bygone era, and you’ll be immersed in an atmosphere that’s out of the ordinary: when you come to stay in Havana, you’re guaranteed a change of scenery! To help you find your way around the capital and choose the area best suited to your needs, read our article « Where to stay in Havana« .
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Santa Clara
Photo credit: Flickr – lezumbalaberenjena
Where to stay in Cuba and follow in the footsteps of its history? Located 300 kilometers southeast of the Cuban capital, the town of Santa Clara was founded in 1698 by the inhabitants of Remedios, who fled the coast for fear of pirate attacks. But the city is world-famous for having played a role during the revolution against dictator F. Batista: E. Che Guevara seized it on December 28, 1958 with just 3,000 men (and, above all, the massive support of the local population). The Argentinian revolutionary’s mausoleum is located here.
Numerous Santa Clara hotels are scattered throughout the downtown streets, amidst bars, cafés and restaurants galore.
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Varadero
Varadero is a small peninsula in north-central Cuba, home to a wide, paradisiacal beach fringed by white sand and lush green vegetation. The area is relatively touristy, so there are quite a few establishments.
It’s easy to find a place to stay in Varadero: the hotels are right on the beach! The sea is warm all year round, making for great diving, snorkeling and dolphin watching.
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Trinidad
Have you seen everything about the Cuban revolution, the country’s culture and the way Cubans live in a country isolated – even banned – from international trade? Trinidad, sometimes considered Cuba’s most beautiful city, remains a must-see. A hotbed of culture and artistic expression, Trinidad is a World Heritage City: the city is known for its colonial old town, cobbled streets and architecture, particularly in the Plaza Mayor. Don’t miss: the Romantic Museum, the Museum of Colonial Architecture and the Museum of Natural History.
Choosing Trinidad for your accommodation in Cuba means you’re just a few minutes from the Topes de Collantes Natural Park and the beaches of the south coast.
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Viñales
Photo credit: Flickr – Simon Matzinger
Where to stay in western Cuba? Viñales, inland, is a typical traditional town lined with colorful wooden houses dating back to colonial times, not far from the Sierra de los Organos mountain range and the Viñales valley.
A must on any trip to Cuba (if you’re not staying there, you can still visit Viñales from Havana), Viñales offers the chance to hike through lush tropical vegetation, tobacco plantations and cigar factories, and to see the « Mogotes », natural oblong limestone hillocks. As the Parque de Vinãles and the « Mogotes » are very popular with tourists, there are many hotels in Viñales, a good alternative for accommodation in Cuba.