We travel to Cuba regularly! This country never gets old and always has something new to offer. Every trip to Cuba turns out vivid and memorable — and this November journey was no exception.
We flew into Varadero. Some members of the group chose to arrive a few days early to rest and acclimatize, while others joined right at the start of the program.
This time we began our Cuban journey in Havana. Each time we plan our stay there, we try to add more and more new locations and bring something unusual and original to the standard program — though the must-see sights are, of course, non-negotiable. We started our introduction to the Cuban capital with a classic excursion: the historic center, the rum and cigar museum. Then we crossed to the other side of the harbor, where Spanish barracks built 300–400 years ago still stand. We climbed the El Morro lighthouse, which offers breathtaking views of the city, the sea, and the port entrance — a completely different perspective on Havana. In the evening we made a separate visit to witness an old English tradition that has survived from the days when the island was under British occupation. When the port was closed and the chain raised, a cannon was always fired. The chains are long gone, but the cannon still fires every day at 9 p.m. — and it is definitely worth seeing.
After Havana we headed to Trinidad, a four-hour drive, and went straight on a city excursion upon arrival. We walked through the central streets and learned about the city's history and its connections to pirates, slavery, and sugar plantations. The next day we took a trip into the mountains, to a beautiful nature park. We swam under waterfalls, explored caves, floated in natural pools, and discovered fruits growing straight off the trees. We then stopped at a coffee plantation where we saw the entire growing cycle: how coffee is cultivated, harvested, dried, cleaned, prepared, milled, and finally brewed. In the evening we went bar-hopping and danced to live music.
The following morning we set off early for the port of Jucaro. On the way we stopped at a historic estate on a sugar plantation, explored the main house and the watchtower used to keep an eye on enslaved workers in the fields, and sampled fresh sugarcane juice.
The weather was slightly against us this year — a mild northerly wind was blowing. There was hardly any swell, but visibility dropped a little due to the stirred-up water, settling at around 15 meters — not a serious problem at all! Caribbean reef sharks and silky sharks came within arm's reach, easy to study in full detail. We also spotted a good number of rays.
But the highlight of the trip this time was neither the sharks nor even the crocodiles — it was the giant groupers. For some reason there are unusually large numbers of them in the park right now, and they never seem to leave. They appear at many dive sites, are incredibly friendly and curious, and actively engage with divers. You can simply be swimming along and suddenly feel someone has pulled up beside you and is moving in perfect sync. They are massive and powerful, yet gentle and sociable — they look at you with intelligent eyes, let you stroke them, and will even let you give them a kiss!
After the dive safari we headed to the city of Camagüey, one of Cuba's historic centers. The excursion turned out to be somewhat rushed due to the intense heat. That same evening we arrived in Santa Lucia.
The next morning we made our way to Playa Bonita — just a 30-minute boat ride away. The weather was perfect, the sea calm, and the facilities excellent. Everything about this place is designed for people to come and simply enjoy themselves. We swam to our hearts' content and had lunch right on the beach, feasting on delicious lobster.
In the afternoon we had a bull shark dive planned. Luck was not entirely on our side — the bull sharks did not show up. Unfortunately, that is the nature of wildlife. To make up for it, we explored a sunken Spanish shipwreck nearby, swimming through its interior, which turned out to be quite fascinating.
The entire following day was spent making our way back to Havana. We traveled in a comfortable coach with air conditioning, so the journey was easy and relaxed.
From Havana we took a day trip to Viñales — the region where the tobacco for the legendary Cohiba cigars is grown. The scenery there is incredible. The valley is vast, so the best way to explore it is on horseback. We were paired with calm, well-tempered horses, and even those who had never ridden before felt confident in the saddle and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The views along the way were simply fantastic. We ducked into a cave with an artificial pool, had a swim, and then made our way to a farmhouse where tobacco leaves were hanging to dry. The farmer told us everything about the plant — its varieties, growing conditions, the entire process of curing the leaves, and the art of rolling cigars. A tasting session naturally followed the demonstration.
Then we moved on to another family farm, where the hosts had roasted a whole suckling pig on a spit especially for us. They set the table outside, put on some music, and we danced until we could dance no more, laughing and making the most of every moment. It was the perfect grand finale to our journey!
Cuba is one of our favorite destinations, and we will certainly be back many more times. We warmly invite you to join us on our Cuban adventures.
