The Secret Beaches of Cuba You Have to Visit

Exploring the Amazing Beaches Cuba Has to Offer 

Cuba is a great country with a rich culture and history. One thing that a tourist will learn about is the generosity of the people and their love for life. Cubans are known for their incredible hospitality.

One of Cuba’s most incredible gems, one that can’t be found anywhere else on earth, are its beaches that consist of some of the most beautiful water in the world!

I mean, as an island, Cuba is literally surrounded by beaches for its entire length. The coastline of Cuba measures 5700 km. That’s a whole lot of beaches. On the north coast, Cuba is bathed in the Atlantic Ocean, while on the south coast, the Caribbean Sea dazzles with its beautiful colors.

And the best part? Beach time is year-round. It’s best to go during spring or winter from December through March when it has not been raining for a while, so there aren’t any storms or strong waves.

If you’re looking for a place where you can relax and enjoy a tropical country at its best, Cuba is the place. Some of its most excellent beaches are Varadero, Cayo Largo, Varona, and Cayo Levisa. However, not all of them are easily accessible.

We've included the gps coordinates of all these beautiful beach fronts, making it super convenient to turn any of these locations into a beautiful coordinates bracelet to remember these amazing destinations by!

Varadero Beach - 23.1500° N, 81.2667° W

Varadero is one of Cuba’s most popular beaches that stretches out for miles on either side of the peninsula. It’s an ideal destination to go if you’re looking for a place with the best hotels and entertainment as well. It has a wide variety of water sports and activities that vary from windsurfing to paragliding.

Varadero’s main tourist beach is the Melia hotel, but there are many other places within walking distance like La Sirena, Playa Pilar, and La Rampa.

So, if you don’t plan on experiencing anything Cuban, go to Varadero. You might as well be anywhere else in the world and only go from the beach to your hotel. Varadero has an airport, so you could go from your hotel to the airport without seeing and interacting with real Cuba.

On the plus side, Varadero is gorgeous. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean compliment the white sandy beach, and it just delights the eye. If you plan to travel independently through Cuba, you might want a break from your backpacking adventures for a few days in Varadero.

And you don’t have to stay at one of the mega-hotels. There are plenty of Casas, particularly on the beach's west side, where you can stay with locals and then enjoy some of the unparalleled natural beauty. 

Caibarien "La Villa Blanca" - 22.5065° N, 79.4760° W

I felt that after Varadero, I had to introduce you to the opposite end of beach tourism. Caibarien is said to have the best beaches in Cuba. The crystal clear waters make it the perfect destination for any type of water sports like snorkeling, scuba diving, and water skiing.

Caibarien is not dressed up for tourism, and you will have a hard time finding all-inclusive resort hotels. This is an excellent alternative for those of you who want to enjoy pristine beaches and cayos in a very friendly part of Cuba, about 10 km away from Remedios. If you come by car, you can explore the area, find your own piece of heaven, and stay at a private home or camp on the beach.

The area is abundant in inexpensive seafood, especially crab. Caibarien was once a very bustling port but has fallen into disrepair, and you will see a lot of abandoned sugarcane factories, once the lifeline of this area.

Guests can also enjoy horseback riding, rock climbing, and hiking. If you’re seeking more adventure, you can go caving or rappelling.

Places to stay in Caibarien are the Montego Bay Resort, the Playa La Teresa Hotel, and El Cid Resort. You will always be able to identify some restaurants within walking distance.

To get to Caibarien, it’s best to go during the months of December through March when there aren’t any storms. To get here from Varadero, you can take a bus or rent a car and follow the signs for Camaguey.

Cayo Santa Maria - 22.6495° N, 78.9797° W

Caibarien may be a lot of things, but it indeed isn’t luxurious. Suppose you’re in the archipelago Jardines del Rey, and you made it to Caibarien but decided you wanted to splurge on a super relaxing vacation. In that case, Cayo Santa Maria is your answer.

Cayo Santa Maria is located in the heart of Ciego de Avila. Located a mere 48 km outside of Caibarien, this is an island, but it is connected to the mainland through a causeway that took a whole decade to complete. So, the resort is relatively new, but there are about 10 hotels to choose from.

This barrier island has beautiful beaches with a long white sand beach that extends for about a mile. It’s a great spot to hang out with your friends, do some scuba diving, and even go fishing.

So, a vacation in this tropical resort might be just what the doctor ordered. Sun, crystal clear waters, pampering of all sorts. It doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Additionally, if you have kids, they will enjoy the Delfinario, a marine park where you can swim with dolphins. 

Close to Cayo Santa Maria is the town of Moa, which is also known for its white-sand beaches. This place also takes pride in its fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling spots.

The beach is always clean and very well maintained. Additionally, it is a great place to go camping, boating, or fishing. There are also many restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy the sun.

Cayo Coco Beach - 22.5090° N, 78.4070° W

With its unique pristine white sands, Cayo Coco is one of the most popular beaches in Cuba. This western island has some of the most beautiful waters in the Caribbean Sea.

This is a great place to bring your family or go by yourself to relax and get some sun. There are also many water sports available, like scuba diving, snorkeling, water skiing, and fishing.

Cayo Coco is a must-visit for any tourist in Cuba that loves the water.

Cayo Ensenachos Beach - 22.6438° N, 79.0885° W

Cayo Ensenachos is another excellent place to go fishing and scuba diving. It’s a small island off the north shore of Cuba with white sands and turquoise-blue waters. This is also an excellent place for anyone who loves camping or hiking through the rainforest. There are also some beautiful caves in this area that you can take tours of.

Cayo Ensenachos is a great place to go for anyone who wishes to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The water is very warm and inviting.

Playa Pilar - 22.6127° N, 78.6982° W

Playa Pilar is a very small and exclusive beach. It’s a great place to bring your family or go on a getaway with your friends. This is also a great place if you’re looking for quiet time to enjoy the sun and the white sand.

This wonderful beach, flanked by dunes, is located in the Jardines del Rey archipelago. Playa Pilar is probably the most beautiful beach you will ever see, and my affirmation will be easily backed by anybody who has been here. Pure Caribbean heaven: peaceful, soft white sand, turquoise waters.

Little beach bars selling mojitos and daiquiris. Doesn’t get crowded during the week. What more can you ask for? Maybe a restaurant that sells exquisite lobster and shrimp dishes? There’s that too.

So, if you’re staying on the hotel strips of Cayo Cuco or Cayo Guillermo and you to escape the confinement of resort life, take a bus for about an hour and ask to stop at Playa Pillar. You will walk on a long walkway, and when you reach the end, you are in paradise. That’s it. You have to live it for yourself now. 

Playa Pilar has a rich marine life, making it the perfect destination if you love scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing. Additionally, it is a great place to go camping and hiking through the rainforest.

Playa Pilar is known for its friendly people and amazing hospitality. This is one of Cuba’s best-kept secrets that can’t be found anywhere else in the world!

Playa Larga and Playa Giron - 22.0691° N, 81.0258° W

Who says you can’t combine history and beach fun? How about a beach located in the Bahia de Cochinos, the Spanish name for Bay of Pigs. How about two beaches? The Cuban exiles sent on the mission by Eisenhower to overthrow Fidel invaded Playa Larga and Playa Giron.

Playa Larga and Playa Giron are two of Cuba’s most famous beaches. They are located near the western city of Matanzas, which is about an hour from Havana. A small rocky islet known as Cayo Paredon Grande separates the two beaches.

These beaches are famous for surfing, and they’re also a great place to snorkel or scuba dive in the crystal clear waters.

Playa Larga is now an excellent destination, especially for its incredible biodiversity, is located right next to the Gran Parque Natural Montemar. About 30 kilometers away from Playa Larga is Playa Giron, an excellent beach offering excellent diving opportunities.

In Giron, you can also visit the Museo Giron, which tells the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion. Don't miss out on these incredible two beaches, where diving and snorkeling is king, and you can discover unique aquatic flora and fauna, blue corals, and a variety of sponges.

Both beaches are serviced by decently priced hotels with all the amenities you need for a water sport vacation.

Playa Santa Lucia - 21.5564° N, 77.0507° W

If you are in the Camaguey province and you're wondering what the pearl of this area is in terms of beaches, look no further than 112 km northeast of Camaguey.

Here you will find a vast beach of over 20 km of golden sands called Playa Santa Lucia. Only Varadero can claim such a lengthy beach, but this is far less touristy and more accessible. The beach is famous for its diving opportunities; picture scuba diving in the coral reef, and if you go to Shark’s Friends, an experienced scuba diving center, you can even dive to see sharks, as the name suggests.

The beach is much more deserted than Varadero but just idyllic, if not even more.

The true gem is Playa Los Cocos, located about half an hour away from Playa Santa Lucia's hotel area. The most interesting way to travel to Playa Los Cocos is by horse carriage.

Playa Los Cocos is another one of those pristine white sand, paradisiacal beaches with only a restaurant on the beach, and the rest is for you to enjoy. You can also spot some flamingoes in the distance when there are many people. Nearby is the village La Boca, a fishing community, and for 10 pesos, you can have an incredible seafood dinner at one of the local's houses.

The beach bar also serves some fantastic Pina Coladas in pineapples. It is a beautiful place to come for a day of beach fun if you stay at one of the hotels in Playa Santa Lucia.

Cayo Levisa - 22.8803° N, 83.5323° W

There are many beautiful islands off the coast of Cuba. Cayo Levisa is one of them. This small island is located off the northern coast of Cuba and is known for its beautiful coral reefs, shipwrecks, and tropical waters that surround it.

Cayo Levisa is one of the most popular places to go diving in Western Cuba. With its clear waters and abundant marine life, you won’t be disappointed when you visit this stunning destination.

All of the beaches in Cuba are not just beautiful but great for relaxation as well. There are also a variety of hotels and hostels on these beaches if you’d like to stay nearby after you’ve had your fill of being at the beach.

Cuba is a country of great diversity with landscapes that hold unique appeal and allure. It’s also a place where one can find the warmest of welcomes from its people as well!