Best beaches in Havana

Bacuranao beach, which is located just 15 kilometres from downtown Havana, is the first beach you will find east of the city. With a kilometre of beachfront, it is a great choice for a small break away from the vibrant city. Paddle in the warm waters and relax under a palm tree on this stunning white sand beach.

Tarara is one of the most popular beaches near Havana and many locals consider it to be the best beach. Located only 18km away from Havana on the well-known Playas del Este strip. With restaurants, a shopping centre, a snack bar, multiple pools, and a marina, you can spend a day doing various things before relaxing on the quiet beach with its crystal-clear waters and white sand.

El Megano is a small beach between Tarara beach and Santa Maria del Mar beach. It has beautiful dunes with plants and coconut trees dotted all over the place and it is a popular choice with locals especially during the weekend. Enjoy a natural setting with few people and a peaceful atmosphere while you seek shelter from the sun under a rustic beach umbrella.

Santa Maria del Mar is the biggest beach in Havana. It has the best infrastructure among the popular Playas del Este beaches. The soft-sandy coastline stretches for 3-4km and is lined with many hotels, restaurants, shops and independent food vendors.

Boca Ciega can be found when you walk east along Santa Maria del Mar until you stumble up the Boca Ciega River flowing into the sea. Cross it and you’ll find yourself on Boca Ciega Beach which offers more than a kilometre of white sand and turquoise waters. There are palm trees, dunes several metres high as well as restaurants and street vendors selling fruits and drinks. This beach can be considered a brief haven between the two busiest and largest beaches east of Havana city.

Brisas del Mar beach is an old residential and holiday spot that was developed back in the 1950s for the wealthy class. Now you can find green fields and the odd cow or horse quietly grazing. This beach is lesser-known on the Playas del Este stretch and offers shallow waters making it ideal for families with young children.

Just east of Guanabo, La Veneciana is a small, untouched gem. Only 800m long, this is a secluded beach often frequented by fisherman who throw their nets from the water's edge. There are barely any crowds ever, so you can relax and enjoy the warm sun on this tranquil bay.

Guanabo beach is located just 27km east of downtown Havana and stretches for 4km. If you are hoping to immerse yourself with Cuban beach, this is the place to be – with tropical waters and a relaxing environment where you can have fun with plenty of things to do.

Jibacoa is a crescent-shaped beach that is great for those who want to explore further off-the-beaten-path. Head to Playa de los Enamorados for some privacy. If you wander east, you will discover more beaches and stumble upon a resort area with hotels and camping centres nearby. It is 50 km away from Havana downtown and you can get public buses or a taxi here.

Varadero is far from Havana at 120 km but can be accessed via Blanca highway. Varadero is one of the most popular resort towns in Cuba. Varadero beach stretches for more than 22km. With crystal clear waters, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and there is a multitude of activities and shops nearby too.