3 road trips to discover Cuba

Want to enjoy the largest island in the Caribbean on a background of exploration and freedom? Here are 3 road trips to discover Cuba!

Do you want to live more than a trip? A road trip to Cuba is an experience that will remain forever engraved in your memory. Take the road, get out of the beaten paths and make unforgettable encounters! To help you plan this unusual project, we offer 3 routes that cross Central Cuba, Western Cuba and Eastern Cuba. Three different facets of this mythical island.

A road trip in Central Cuba

Day 1: Cienfuegos

Many travellers prefer to go directly to Trinidad. However, we advise you to stop at Cienfuegos. Indeed, this city has a simply unique atmosphere. There are not so many things to see there, but take the time to imbue yourself with its atmosphere, on the background of pastel colors and the Caribbean Sea.

Where to sleep?

The city houses cheap hotels ideal to start your road trip to Cuba. Otherwise, you can turn to one casa particular .

Day 2: Trinidad

A true architectural gem, Trinidad is for many the most beautiful city of Cuba. Its colonial houses and paved streets are lost in a real tropical paradise. Let yourself be worn by the peaceful atmosphere of Trinidad. Although quite a tourist, she lost nothing of her charm to the Cuban.

Where to sleep?

The choices are not enough to stay in Trinidad! In the city centre you can sleep in one of the many colonial houses. Choose well: you are there for two days.

Day 3: Nature Reserve Tops of Collantes

Close to Trinidad, in the heart of the Sierra del Escambray, is the Topes Nature Reserve of Collantes. Plan a hike to enjoy its fantastic biodiversity. But the park will also charm you thanks to its landscapes. Caves, waterfalls, natural pools... You'll take your eyes full!

Days 4 and 5 : Cayo Santa Maria

Meet Cayo Santa Maria! This small island offers real postcard landscapes. Long white sand beaches, translucent water, mangroves... An ideal setting to relax during your road trip to Cuba. Looking for a preserved beach? You can go to Las Gaviotas. It is located in the nature reserve Biosfera Buenavista, classified as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Council : Don't miss the charming city of Remedios on the way.

Where to sleep?

Cayo Santa Maria is home to a large number of all inclusive hotels. If you want to flee mass tourism, we recommend it Cayo Las Brujas . More modest, but also more authentic!

A road trip in eastern Cuba

Day 1: Camagüey

Your road trip to Cuba starts in Camagüey, the third largest city on the island. It is located about 6 hours drive from Havana. Camagüey are mazes of pastel-colored alleys and a rich historical centre and a certain ranking of UNESCO’s world heritage. A day is enough to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city.

Where to sleep?

Camagüey offers a wide range of accommodations: hotels, guest rooms, Airbnb... There are for all tastes and for all budgets!

Day 2 : beaches Santa Lucia and Guardalavaca

Get up in the morning at dawn and prepare for a day of fierceness! The second day of your road trip to Cuba is dedicated to the beach. Go first to Santa Lucia, a very nice maritime village spared by mass tourism. It houses a paradise beach, located just a step from the second largest coral reef in the world... An ideal spot for scuba diving! Then go to discover the sumptuous playa Guardalavaca.

Where to sleep?

Go to Holguin for the night. A very charming town located near Guardalavaca, which offers small hotels and guest houses.

Day 3: Baracoa

Baracoa is a dream destination to discover authentic Cuba. Located between sea and mountain, it offers visitors a parenthesis of nature. Take the day to explore its alleys and visit its monuments. Also take a moment to explore the beautiful beaches of the region: the tiny playa Blanca or the friendly Maguana.

Where to sleep?

Why don’t you sleep with the inhabitant during your visit to Baracoa? You're here for two nights.

Day 4: Alejandro de Humboldt National Park and Yumurí Boca

On this fourth day of your road trip to Cuba, Alejandro de Humboldt Park, a real ecotourism pearl. Let yourself be amazed by the fantastic biodiversity that makes the scene vibrate. For the second part of the day, visit the Yumurí Canyon. A small fishing community lives there. A great place to hike and take a walk in a boat!

Day 5: Santiago de Cuba

In just two hours, you can reach Santiago de Cuba from Baracoa. Second town in the country, it's full of things to do! Discover its monuments and museums. Taste local cuisine in restaurants among the best in the island. Santiago de Cuba opens to you, unveiling its fantastic historical and cultural heritage.

Where to sleep?

Charming hotel, youth hostel or Airbnb, the choice is wide to stay in Santiago de Cuba.

Days 6 and 7 : Sierra Maestra National Park

After enjoying your breakfast in the sparkling Santiago de Cuba, take the road to Sierra Maestra National Park. This mountain range is a true paradise for hikers and mountaineers. It is home to the highest summit in the country, el pico Turquino . On the horizon, the Caracol mountains to the Caribbean Sea, offering a unique show in the world. Plan your two days in the park to make the most of it!

Where to sleep?

Numerous shelters play the park like the park Casa Sierra Maestra or Mirador de Arcadia . You choose the perfect ground foot!

A road trip in Western Cuba

Days 1 and 2: Havana

The discovery of Western Cuba begins with the visit of Havana. Much more than the capital, it contains the soul of the country, its multicolored streets sprinkled with old American cars and scented with Cuban cigars. An enchanting place full of sulphurous history... To make the most of it, don’t hesitate to stay there for two days.

Where to sleep?

You will find all types of accommodation in Havana. If you want to taste its nightlife, opt for the Vedado district.

Day 3: Soroa

Not far from the capital is an unusual place. Known as the Cuban rainbow, Soroa offers visitors real natural treasures. In the midst of its lush forests and waterfalls, it has a unique biodiversity in the world. Excursions offer to go in search of Tocororo. This little bird in the colours of the Cuban flag has become an emblem of the island. Immanquable on your road trip to Cuba!

Where to sleep?

Soroa houses a single hotel and a few guest houses. These are good addresses, but think to book in advance!

Day 4: Valley of Viñales

On the third day, discover the splendid landscapes of the Viñales valley. To get there, you will have to go through the city Pinar del Río. If it offers little tourist interest, it is here that you will find the best Cuban tobacco!

Visiting the Viñales valley is a must for a road trip to Cuba. Its emblematic mogotes are covered with dense vegetation. On the road you will find many bohíos , typical small houses in painted wood. Go to the discovery of the real Cuban countryside and let yourself be carried by the charm of the places.

Where to sleep?

It would be a shame to go to Viñales without sleeping at home! You will find many casas particulares like Casa Remedio , Casa Lucilo y Nirma or Casa Jorge y Ana Luisa .

Day 5: The Peninsula of Guanahacabibes

On the fifth day of your road trip to Cuba, visit Maria la Gorda on the western tip of Cuba. For many, this is the best snorkeling spot in the world! Whether you're novice or experienced, it would be a shame to pass next to its enchanting seabed. There is no city here. Only a few fishermen's houses participate in the beauty of the place. There you will be exceptional encounters: sea turtles, sea birds, iguanas... The site is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ecological reserve, which means!

Where to sleep?

You will find a hotel and several guest rooms close to the beach. Ideal for enjoying your stay in Maria la Gorda!

Now you're here for a roadtrip in Cuba! And you've already traveled to Tierra Caliente ?