My 10 Day Cuban Itinerary
Before policies towards traveling in Cuba were changed, I was fortunate enough to spend 10 days traveling through different towns in the wonderful country. While the administration’s new laws will make it significantly harder to travel to Cuba, I hope that people still find ways to visit that beautiful country. I had an incredible time in Cuba - and I hope this itinerary helps you plan your own trip!
May 23 - May 24: Vedado
After landing in José Martí Airport, my AirBnB host was waiting for me with my name on a sign along with other hosts waiting for their own guests. I originally planned to stay two nights in Vedado because I needed time to buy a bus ticket to Viñales; fortunately my AirBnB Host, the owner of Villa Alam, offered to pre-purchase my ticket which allowed me to leave the next day. And after seeing a fellow American University alum at the Fort Lauderdale airport, we met up at Madrigal Bar and Cafe (nice atmosphere, cheap drinks, not-so great food).
In the Viñales Valley overlooking the tobacco storage
May 24 - May 26: Viñales
The following morning, I was on a 3-hour bus ride from Vedado to Viñales. On the government-run tourist Via Azul bus, I learned the most important component to being in Cuba in May: air conditioning. Once I arrived in Viñales, my AirBnB host was there to meet me. When I arrived at Casa Arcoiris, I was greeted with a mango smoothie (which is mostly how you are welcomed at every casa FYI) and we immediately went over what I could do and see while in Viñales. I scheduled a taxi tour through my AirBnB host on the same day for $20. The taxi tour was over 3 hours and took me to caves, historical sites, and places with amazing vantage points. I would go in a cave, go sit at a bar, then sit at another bar in a cave, and my taxi would wait outside. There were bars everywhere - truly everywhere.
My horse, Mojito, making his way through rivers
The following day, I opted for the 4-hour horse tour for $25. Like my taxi tour, I had a single guide who took me to various sites at my leisure. My time in Viñales was made up of beautiful scenery and an incredibly relaxing atmosphere. I woke up to the sound of horses pulling carts and people greeting each other on the street, and I spent my nights at bars overlooking the Viñales Valley, people-watching while sitting on a rocking chair on the front porch, and reading on rooftops. I could have spent all 10 nights people-watching while sitting in that rocking chair.
Trinidad (credit: Miranda Jade Mayor)
A view of Trinidad atop the bell tower (credit: Miranda Jade Mayor)
May 26 - May 30: Trinidad
Oh Trinidad, Trinidad. While Viñales was my favorite place to visit in Cuba, my time in Trinidad is what made my time in Cuba. This is largely in part because of the 5 friends I made on a 8+ hour “bus ride” from Viñales to Trinidad. My friends and I went to Playa Ancon, and drank and danced in Plaza Mayor where musicians play to 2:00 am. Trinidad presents canchanchara as the drink of choice, usually served in honeypot-looking cups with honey found at the bottom. One of the must-do things in Trinidad is to dance the night and morning away at Disco Ayala. Disco Ayala is a dance club in a literal, naturally-existing cave which is a 10 minute cobblestone walk from Plaza Mayor. While I don’t usually enjoy clubbing, I had one of the best nights of my life dancing the night away with tourist and locals alike.
Walking the streets around Plaza Vieja in Havana
May 29 - June 1: Havana
After spending 7 days in valleys and colonial towns, it was difficult to readjust to Havana. The city was substantially louder, busier, and denser in population. I spent 3 nights in Havana at 3 different casas. I was lucky to tag along with a friend to their reservation at the San Cristobal Paladar, a restaurant that was already incredibly successful but continued to peak after President Obama ate there during his Cuba visit. Plaza Vieja was near two of my casas so I spent a lot of time in the area getting lost while eating churros.
Havana
El Capitolio
If there is one thing that stood out to me in Cuba, it was the unending kindness that most of the Cuban people showed me. As a woman traveling alone, I expected to have a couple problems but I truly encountered none. On my way to the bus station in Vedado, a young man helped me roll my bag and refused money. Locals would walk with me on the streets of Viñales and tell me about themselves and I would tell them about me until they reached their destination. People waved to me on my porch stoop and said hello on their way to school and work. Whenever I sat in Plaza Mayor in Trinidad, people would come sit with me and strike up a conversation. Whenever I looked lost or asked for directions, people would accompany me until I reached my destination. I have traveled to several places around the world and in the U.S., yet I have never been so welcomed or received so much kindness than when I was in Cuba.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------* Miranda is an amazing person/photographer I met on a "bus" in Cuba, she has an incredible Instagram page and you can follower her at x3mjp
