Day 1
Exploring Old Havana
After checking in to our airbnb in Old Havana, we explored the old city on foot. With no itinerary or map, we wandered through the narrow streets and alleyways. It was as if I walked into a bright and colorful museum of classic cars and original architecture. Everywhere in Havana reminded me of old movies and documentaries I have seen over the years. There is not much new development, so its as if nothing has changed. Everything is original. We explored shops filled with art, books, and other novelties. Restaurants are conveniently located throughout the city. Nothing is expensive, so your money goes a long way.
The food overall was good and portion sizes are generous. A full meal with protein, rice and beans, salad and plantains will cost on average about $7. Cocktails are inexpensive as well. (On average $4/$5) When at the restaurants, I recommend asking your server about the specialties or what dishes are recommended. All restaurants are not created equally and some are much better than others. The “fine dining” restaurants are a bit more expensive, but still very affordable.
Drinks at Floridita
You must stop in to Floridita for a drink. This iconic bar has been around since 1817 and is the home of the original frozen daiquiri. (Invented by a former owner Constantino Ribalaigua) This was also a favorite hang out spot of Ernest Hemingway. I must say that the daiquiri was quite delicious, and not too expensive. (About $7) In addition to food and drinks, there is also live music. It was crowded and full of tourists but worth the visit. I highly recommend!
Day 2
Horseback riding in Vinales
This was the highlight of our trip!! We rode in a classic car for our 3 hour ride to Vinales (from Old Havana). We booked our tour through horseridinginvinales.com for $125 per person, which included transportation, food and all activities. When we arrived in Vinales, we started with a horseback ride through the valley. The views were breathtaking! We first stopped at Cafeteria el Corazon Valley for a drink (1st is complimentary). Afterwards we walked over to tour the tobacco fields. The farmer showed us how to roll cigars and we purchased a few as well. (They were cheaper than buying in Havana) The tour also included demonstrations on making coffee beans, honey and a rum tasting. Afterwards, we rode back through the valley and stopped at a small restaurant for lunch. The food was the best we had in Cuba!! After lunch our driver drove us back to Old Havana. Although the travel time is long between cities, the views along the way make for a calming and relaxing ride. Visiting Vinales was the best part of our trip!
Day 3
Santa Maria Del Mar
I really wanted to visit a beach before we left Cuba. We called the same driver that we had for Vinales and he was able to take us to the local public beach (less than an hour away) before going to the airport. (The private and popular tourist beaches are about 3 hours away) We arrived around 8 am and were so early that the beach hadn’t yet been cleaned from the previous day. The restaurants were in close proximity along the shore and very inexpensive (because this was not a tourist area) I had lobster, shrimp and fish with a Pina Colada for $12. The water was beautiful and clear enough to see through. There weren’t many other people around so it was very peaceful and serene. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to spend because we had to make our flight. I recommend spending at least one day relaxing at at one of the beaches.
I think everyone should visit Cuba. It is so unique in so many ways, from architecture, to culture to the politics. It is also very inexpensive. My entire 2.5 day trip was less than $600 including lodging, airfare, food and daily activities. If you are planning a trip to Cuba, I recommend traveling for at least 4-5 days. This will give you enough time to explore multiple cities on the island. I have included some helpful info below.
Helpful Information
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: CUC- 1 CUC = 1 USD Don’t forget to convert your cash! The US dollar is not accepted everywhere in Cuba. You will need to convert USD to CUC. This can be done at the airport in US or in Cuba. Also, ATM’s are not very convenient. (I suggest planning an itinerary in advance to ensure you bring enough cash) Most credit cards will not be accepted. Be sure to contact your credit card company/bank regarding fees and limitations prior to traveling.
- Climate: sub- tropical, average temp year round 78.8 F
- Best time to visit: December-May (Dry season). **Hurricane season is from August through October, pricing is usually cheaper during these months **
- Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- Transportation: Taxi, private car service, walking
- Plan to stay for at least 5 days. My friend Larissa was traveling to Cuba for the second time and she invited me to tag along. We could only get away for 2.5 days so we didn’t have time to enjoy everything on our list. Although we had a full itinerary, it just wasn’t enough time to explore the island.
- Avoid checking a bag if you can. I almost never check a bag and I decided to on this trip. Big Mistake! We waited for nearly 3 hours for our luggage! The airport was not very technologically advanced. There were 2 small vehicles transporting luggage to a conveyor belt in the arrival area of the airport. Is was an extremely slow process and the heat was unforgiving!
- Don’t expect to have cell service or a strong wifi connection. One of the best parts of this trip was feeling disconnected from the world. Some places have wifi, but the connection is weak. You will be enjoying the country so much that you will forget all about it
- Safety– I never once felt unsafe. The people were helpful, happy and generous.
