Top Reasons to Go to Central Cuba

Beaches. Each central province has a bit of shoreline, and many of the beaches here are lovely: turquoise shallows and powdered ivory sands shaded by coconut palms. Central Cuba's best beaches are on its northern keys—Villa Clara's tranquil Cayo Las Brujas, and Ciego de Ávila's more developed Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.

Colonial Architecture. Several cities have histories that date from the arrival of the Spanish. Trinidad, the best-preserved of these communities, has block upon block of cobblestone streets lined with 18th- and 19th-century structures.

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling. Diving possibilities range from coral formations just offshore to the isolated, hard-to-access, coral-ringed islands of the Jardines de la Reina, protected within a vast underwater park teeming with marine life.

The Cuban People. The increasing popularity of the casa particular (individual homestay) and the paladar (private eatery) provides new opportunities to get to know individual Cubans, witness their everyday lives, and forge friendships.

Great Resorts. Some of the newest Cuban resorts are now found on the cayos of the Jardines del Rey Peninsula. From these island-paradise homebases you can head out to some of the traditional colonial cities.