Havana seashores are the most productive of each worlds. The entire perks of being in Havana with the get away of solar and sand.
Once they named Cuba the pearl of the Caribbean they weren’t kidding. In two years dwelling in Havana I’ve felt intense moments of affection and melancholy for town.
However a few of my favourite moments had been on the Havana seashores.
Wait, There are Seashores in Havana?
Neatly the coastline isn’t fairly in Havana, nevertheless it’s most effective half-hour outdoor to a good looking day of solar, white sand and turquoise water.
There are over 300 seashores in Cuba. And the Havana seashores a few of my favorite.
The place are the Havana Seashores?


Often referred to as Playas del Este, the identify actually interprets to the east seashores. I’ve heard it described because the Havana Riviera, which units up unfair comparisons.
It’s now not just about as advanced because the Riviera however one of the seashores are simply as gorgeous.

 Positioned in Habana province, it is a straightforward day travel from Havana.
Playas del Este features a sequence of seashores on a fifteen mile / 24 km strip part an hour outdoor Havana:
- Tarará
- El Mégano
- Bacuranao
- Mi Cayito (Havana’s unofficial homosexual coastline)
- Santa MarÃa del Mar
- Boca Ciega
- Guanabo
- Los angeles Veneciana
- Brisas del Mar
Inns on the Havana Seashores
Playas del Este are shut sufficient that if you wish to simply opt for the day it’s very manageable.
However as a substitute some vacationers favor a base on the coastline and take the bus into town. However many of the lodges in Playas del Este are concentrated in Santa Maria del Mar and may additionally have swimming pools.
get to Playas del Este?
EASIEST: Transtur Bus from Outdated Havana to Playas del Este:
The primary coastline, Santa Maria del Mar, is a prevent at the hop-on, hop-off Havana Bus T3 excursion path that runs thru Outdated Havana.
It leaves Parque Central each and every half-hour, with the remaining bus leaving the coastline at 6pm. I took the bus in December 2025 and so they accredited CUP 4000, $10 USD or €10 Euro.
It is a important price building up since 2020 because it used to be as soon as $5 however fuel is now a top rate. Stay your price ticket because it covers each tactics.
Observe it takes one hour to succeed in the coastline.
There are 3 stops: Playa Megano, which is essentially the most quiet. Mar Azul, the primary coastline referred to as Santa Maria del Mar. And in the end Ranchón Don Pepe, a cafe with a coastline entrance.
CHEAPEST: The #400 bus, aka the guagua, will take you to Guanabo.
You’ll be able to additionally take a look at Guanabo first after which take a neighborhood bus (#400 or #464) that runs to Santa Marta or you’ll catch a neighborhood cab.
My buddies hate the guagua as a result of (they are saying) it’s tremendous crowded, there are pick out pocketers and ladies could also be groped. I’ve most effective taken it with them in off hours when it’s empty and not to the coastline so I will be able to’t touch upon that.
However I see the bus all the way through the day and it’s packed like sardines.
However they confirmed me the video above of folks seeking to get in during the home windows and stressed out that I used to be now not have compatibility to do this.
FASTEST: Through Personal Taxi to Havana Seashores:
It’s about 20 mins from Outdated Havana when you’re taking a taxi. A taxi is a little more dear as now not all taxis can cross to the coastline.
You’ll wish to negotiate a value with the driving force. The most efficient we’ve had when one among my Cuban buddies have been negotiating used to be $17 to the coastline.
You probably have a gaggle that is inexpensive than the Transtur bus.
Havana lodges additionally be offering to prepare this switch however in case you discuss a little bit of Spanish you’re more likely to get a greater fee than a Havana lodge.
Taking a cab additionally lets you keep later because the solar units a lot later than 6pm in the summertime.
Alternatively, as soon as it turns into darkish the mosquitos are fierce and the contest to get a taxi colectivo (shared cab) can turn into a little bit demanding.
Through Taxi Colectivo:
There may be one shared taxis, or alemendron, direction that runs from Outdated Havana to Guanabo coastline.
You’ll be able to catch it at a taxi stand at the nook of Agramonte and Mision.
If you wish to cross to Santa Marta or the opposite seashores earlier than Guanabo let the driving force know and he’ll prevent alongside the best way (you could wish to stroll a little bit).
Once more my Cuban buddies don’t like this feature, infrequently I believe they’re bougie however they believe I’m loopy for at all times short of to take the most cost effective choice as it’s in most cases essentially the most uncomfortable.
They are saying it takes some distance too lengthy to get to Outdated Havana from our neighbourhood of Vedado then watch for a collectivo to fill.
And on a coastline day it’s simply price paying the additional cash for the time beyond regulation within the solar.
They take colectivos at all times however won’t budge on taking one to the coastline. However whats up in case you’re already in Outdated Havana and discuss Spanish cross on an journey!
As neatly, charges for almendrons around the board had been expanding as taxi drivers are confronted with expanding. prices and rules.
Through Automobile:
I don’t counsel using in Cuba. Now not most effective is it dear and a trouble to check out to hire a automobile, the regulations listed here are other and so in case you get into an twist of fate you won’t notice you’re at fault.
Gasoline may be dear and in case you don’t discuss Spanish discovering the place you need to get to will also be tricky with restricted signage.
Taxis are affordable sufficient and we all know methods to get to the coastline in Havana.
Riding is actually now not price it.
The place is the Perfect Seaside in Havana?
It actually will depend on what sort of coastline day you need to have. Probably the most Havana seashores are an enormous birthday celebration with quite a lot of reggaetón and ingesting and others are extra tranquil and higher suited for let babies construct sand castles.
Listed below are those I love:
Tarará
The primary time I visited Cuba for 4 days this coastline used to be essentially the most continuously really helpful through locals for being essentially the most gorgeous.
It’s the primary great coastline at the Playas del Este strip and subsequent to a housing complicated from the Nineteen Forties for neatly to do Cubans.
However after the revolution it used to be became over for presidency use and has housed the whole thing from camps to a well being centre for youngsters uncovered to the Chernobyl twist of fate.
These days there are eating places, bars, swimming pools and purchasing for visiting vacationers. It feels maximum like a unfashionable bungalow coastline lodge.
El Mégano
A just right choice if you wish to hire chairs and an umbrella however don’t precisely need the coastline birthday celebration.
Bacuranao
Some of the first seashores in Playas del Este, its receive advantages is that it’s the closest however it’s some distance from the most productive.
Whilst the sand isn’t fairly as tremendous as the opposite seashores, folks don’t come for the sand.
Playa Bacuranao is most likely one of the crucial easiest seashores in Havana for snorkelling as there’s a coral reef.
However many of the beach-goers listed here are locals from Los angeles Habana.
Mi Cayito
Like a mini coastline between the bigger sections. Mi Cayito is the unofficial homosexual coastline in Havana.
If you’re taking the bus and get off at Santa Maria del Mar, flip left and it’s a brief stroll at the approach towards Megano. In case you are not sure in case you’ve reached it simply ask a neighborhood, we all know it despite the fact that they don’t cross there.
Santa Maria del Mar
Your easiest guess is to spend time on what is regarded as to be the primary coastline. Santa Maria coastline stretches 9km and is the most important of the seashores in Havana.
We maximum continuously cross right here as it’s simple to hire umbrellas, chairs, sea kayaks and no matter you need from the punto náuticos.
There’s a comfort retailer to shop for rum, water and snacks. As neatly there are such a large amount of distributors promoting cajitas of Cuban meals in CUP costs that you’ll simply spend an afternoon on the coastline for now not an excessive amount of cash.
However even supposing it’s essentially the most advanced, it’s some distance much less from what you’ll to find in Varadero or Holguin.
There also are little spots promoting dishes for only $10 and more than a few Cuban cocktails, even if we’ve by no means splurged on that.
We in most cases get a bottle of rum from the ease retailer. Curse as a result of we forgot to convey glasses once more then prevent off and get a chilly beer earlier than crossing the boardwalk to the coastline.
Beer is quite affordable on the coastline. You’ll be able to purchase beer right here fo a couple of greenbacks each and every.
However first ask if it’s chilly or esta fria?
That is crucial facet for Cubans. I’ve noticed servers climb some distance again into the again of a refrigerator simply to make the sale, no person desires a heat beer on a sizzling day.
A just right store will let you know if it’s now not chilly however ask first and cling it earlier than opening it.
Alongside the coastline there are many distributors promoting the whole thing from 3 yr outdated rum in a coconut to polaroid pictures to commemorate the day – which we oddly did as soon as even supposing all of us have sensible telephones.
2026 Punto Náutico: Seaside Condominium Costs
In height season you’ll wish to get to the coastline now not a lot after 11am to get an umbrella and chair.
You’ll be able to additionally cross later afternoon hoping folks have left. Seaside condominium costs are particularly reasonable, however even inexpensive now if paying in Cuban pesos.
Condominium Costs in CUP
- Seaside umbrella 400
- Lounger 400
- Seaside chair
- Desk
- Gazebo-like tent
Job Leases
- Pedal powered boats
- Kayaks
- Catamaran
- Banana trip
In the event you hire any of the kayaks or pedal boats you need to keep inside of a particular house.
The distributors will whistle to you or pop out to get you in case you cross too some distance.
Playa Boca Ciega
If a rum-fuelled regaetton birthday celebration is the very last thing you’re searching for in a coastline in Havana then that is the coastline for you.
Despite the fact that there are not any shops and no coastline leases, there also are no crowds in Boca Ciego.
We’ve visited with kids and there’s room for them to run round with out concern of bothering neighbours.
However we’ve additionally simply visited later within the afternoon to simply take a seat and loosen up. You’ll wish to convey your personal song, or just simply pay attention to the sea.
It’s additionally unofficially referred to as Havana’s homosexual coastline, even if I didn’t realize when I used to be there.
It’s now not a birthday celebration scene, simply folks quietly placing out.
Playa Guanabo
Best possible if you need a little bit greater than only a coastline, Guanabo is house to fifteen,000 locals and the primary boulevard runs parallel to the coastline.
There are some nice markets and native meals eating places.
This isn’t the most productive coastline within the house through some distance. It used to be as soon as gorgeous however Storm Irma washed a lot of it out and left it stony.
However you come back for the enjoy, that is undoubtedly now not a standard coastline the town, however as a substitute a the town that occurs to have a coastline.
It’s not up to 30km from Havana nevertheless it feels very other with quite a lot of horse drawn carriages along bicycles and a few vehicles.
We’ve stopped right here continuously to consume and as soon as stayed the evening as there are lots of casa particulares on the town – even if I don’t counsel appearing up overdue at evening like we did as there weren’t that many choices.
Havana Seaside Packing Listing
A coastline packing record would possibly appear glaring however those 5 issues make an afternoon on the coastline in Havana a lot more delightful.
Sunscreen
This turns out foolish however such a lot of foreigners come right here and burn the primary day as it doesn’t appear sizzling. It will not be sizzling however the solar is robust. You can not to find sunscreen in Cuba so convey rather a lot.
I love this reef secure sunscreen, which is a more sensible choice for the surroundings.
Aftersun Cream:
You’re going to most likely forget about my first piece of recommendation above and burn. You can not purchase this in Cuba so convey your personal.
Water bottle:
Some Cubans say you’ll drink the water however none of my Cuban buddies will drink from the faucet so I gained’t both.
This Lifestraw water bottle would possibly appear to be a little bit of an funding however you’ll make it again in this travel on my own. I used it for 2 months in Cuba and it’s a lifesaver as infrequently you’ll’t to find water and this filters the whole thing.Â
Reuseable Cups
It’s commonplace to simply pick out up a bottle of rum and to percentage it with buddies however no person ever has plastic cups.
I introduced those affordable collapsible cups for the coastline and folks cherished them. My Cuban buddies requested if I may convey extra as a result of they have been so helpful for youngsters.
Spork
There are a large number of folks promoting meals however they don’t at all times have utensils for such things as tamales.
In the event you’re now not down with {that a} spork is at all times a good suggestion. I trip with this spork and am surprised how continuously I pull it out.
When is the Perfect Time to Consult with Playas del Este?
My opinion on when to talk over with Cuba typically is a little bit debatable. My favorite time has been when it’s 40C each day.
It’s continuously too sizzling and humid for most of the people, and that’s why it’s regarded as off-season in Cuba.
My Cuban buddies gained’t talk over with the coastline outdoor Might thru September. If the water is some extent or two beneath bathtub water.
They will imagine the pool however they gained’t cross to the coastline.
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However in the freshest months, June thru August, Havana seashores are one large coastline birthday celebration.
I really like summer time in Cuba.
Many of the vacationers are long past and it’s most effective Cubans at the coastline.
I like to folks watch and that is the most productive coastline day for me.
You don’t wish to convey your personal song as a result of everybody round you has a large speaker enjoying it some distance too loud.
Cubans convey coolers of meals, numerous rum and it’s my favorite time to talk over with.
That stated, you wish to have to get right here earlier than 11am or else it is going to be tricky to get a coastline umbrella and living room chairs, which you desperately wish to fight the Cuban summer time sweat.
The ones taking a look to commune with nature will have to talk over with Tarará Seaside, the place diving alternatives are considerable, whilst locals will also be discovered placing out in within reach Guanabo.
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Pin it For Later: Playas del Este
