Notes of my last trip to Cuba

Hey Alex, check this when visiting Cuba again. Do not expect a travel diary, it's just a bunch of things to remember.

Before leaving

• Passport up to date
• Cuban visa
• Cuban QR
• Get an insurance
• Install NordVPN so you can book nights within the country
• Get meds
• Suncream
• Mosquito repellent
• Mosquito after-bite
• Cash (~600Eur each for a 10-day trip)

About the trip

We were basically following other people's plans we met along the way, so this map is just our trip plan once we finished.

A. La habana

Decadent but beautiful city, and also very safe. I loved la Habana!

Things to do:

• Visit El Morro
• Sunset in El Malecón
• Get lost in La Habana Vieja
• La fabrica de arte, party and culture alltogether

Expenses:

• Trip from José Marti Airport to el Vedado: 30Eur (with a Taxi) - overpriced
• Trip to Cienfuegos: 30Eur each (with Taxi colectivo)
• Trip from Habana Vieja to José Marti Airport: 25Eur (with Taxi)

B. Cienfuegos

Very beatiful city. Specially the Bulevar street and La Punta. I recommend to visit El Nicho waterfall on your way from Cienfuegos to Trinidad.

Expenses:

• Trip to trinidad + passing by El Nicho: 15Eur each (with a Taxi colectivo)
• Entering to El Nicho: 10Eur each

C. Trinidad

Historic and beautiful city full of amazing people. We've stayed at Casa d' la Popa and it was perfect.

Things to do:

• Playa Ancon
• Salto de Caburní in Topes de Collantes (1h trecking trip).
• Salto del Junco, didn't go there but it's similar to Salto de Caburní.

Nightlife must go's:

• Cafe el Mago, alternative cafe with good bives.
• Las cuevas, disco literally inside a cave.

Expenses:

• Visiting Caburní + Playa Ancon (all day): 25Eur each (with Taxi colectivo)
• Trip to Cayo Santa Maria: 12,5Eur each (with Taxi colectivo)

D. Cayo Santa Maria

Quick fact here: this is not Cuba.

Los Cayos is just a place full of amazing beaches with all inclusive resorts. We've stayed at Meliá Buenavista in Cayo Santa Maria. The experience was amazing, but again, not Cuba. It's a place for rich tourists, which I am not.

Things to remember:

• Make surte that your bank allows you to use your credit card in Cuba before going here (don't be like me). You can ONLY pay by credit card here. Not even cash or phone contactless.
• You need to book a hotel before traspassing the road to Los Cayos. So you can imagine how hard is for locals to visit this beaches.

Expenses:

• Trip to Varadero: 25Eur each (using a bus offered by the hotel). Do not do this again, it's a trap. It was supposed to be a 4 hours trip, but it was 9 hours. And don't forget to book it 48 hours before, otherwise you'll have to stay another night at the hotel. Just call a Taxi colectivo, it will cost you a little more, but at the end is the best option.

E. Varadero

Is a Lloret de Mar in the Caribbean, I don't think I'll come back here. You'll see a bar of The Beatles, I mean... c'mon! I don't know how people keep recommending me Varadero. It's a place made for occidentalized tourists. Also watch out with Jejenes in the afternoon at the beach, it's a sand mosquito that bites like hell.

Things to do:

• Visit Cueva de Saturno near Matanzas
• Visit El Floridita, music bar famous by Ernest Hemingway.
• Pretty amazing sunsets in Varadero's beach btw.

Expenses:

• Trip to la Habana + passing by Cueva de Saturno: 35Eur each (using Taxi colectivo)
• Entering to Cueva de Saturno: 5Eur each.

Missed things I want to do next time

• Freetour in La Habana
• Visit Viñales (We couldn't visit because of Ian hurricane you soab!)
• Go to Bahía de Cochinos + Playa Girón (this is why)
• Visit Santiago de Cuba
• Go to Sierra Maestra + Pico Turquino (this is why)