Havana Travel Forum

Hi dear VT's
I'll be going to Havana in 2 weeks (Club Atlantico in playa del este) by myself.. and i was wondering if i did the right choice. are these beachs nice, clean ?? I choose Club Atlantico because of the good review on tripAdv, and that i want to be closer to La havana without missing the beach.
I'm 29 male, and I'm going to Cuba alone to relax (after 6 months of heavy snowfalls in Montreal, I can't take it anymore ;-))
is it better to go to Varadero or Cayo Largo ???
Thanks for your comments

I've never stayed there, so I can't comment on that particular establishment. It sounds like one of those all-inclusive resorts though. If that's what you want, go for it. Also, if it is close enough to Havana, then there are several opportunities for sightseeing in the city itself--old Havana, the fort, the Malecon area, the various neighborhoods (e.g., Vedado, etc.), La Bodeguita, among many others.

If you are including Varadero in your travel itinerary, a good combination of day/night life can be had around that area also. As to Varadero's beach, it was superbly powdery white!

Goodluck & enjoy beautiful Cuba!

thank you for the answer....
Viva La Habana

You're quite welcome. Do enjoy your trip!

Playa del Este is quieter and not as stunning as Varadero but far less touristy. it is the beach for cubans as well so your chance of striking up some friendships are good (watch out for professional tourist-friendly people). guanabo is a town nearby and if i am not mistaken you can get by bus (i am not sure whether viazul has started regular services to havana), you can leave in the morning and be back in the evening and spend all day in havana. Havana is quite close by.

I allways stayed in Havana and drove with the Taxi to the beach Santa maria. They beach has some tourists of course but a lot of local people there to. Police are on the beach but just dont leave anything valuable alone when you go for a swim.I prefer this to guanabo.Hope you have a nice time:)

We're getting into the summer now so the Havana beaches, will be very crowded. As previous responses noted, Cuban locals go to the Playas del Este and they really go to the beach in the summer. I like going in the winter when the beaches are empty and the water is still warm but it is too cold fr the tropical Cubans. The beaches are very pretty but there is no culture of cleaning up after yourself so there is a lot of trash that the Cubans leave behind. I would try to go to one of the beaches near where the river splits Santa Maria from Guanabo. These are normally a little less crowded and I think prettier.

I agree with the prior response that you will meet more real Cubans at the Havana beaches and for some reason the Cubans seem to feel freer on the beaches and express themselves in ways they would be afraid to in the city. That said, watch out for the Jiniteros, People who make a living taking advantage of tourists.