Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Best Beaches in Cuba?

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Best Beaches in Cuba?

I've been to Cuba once, Santiago de Cuba and have just returned from the Mayan Riviera Mexico. Are any of the beaches as beautiful as the Mayan Mexico, blue water, white sand beaches?

I've been to many of the different beaches in Cuba Varadero included, but my personal choice for best beach would have to be on the island of Cayo Largo in the Archipielago de los Canarreos off Cuba's south coast. Tranquil setting, aquamarine water and everything you would expect from the Caribbean. Hope this helps. Steve

There is nothing comparable to the beach along the Mayan Riveria, but the private beach used by the Paradisus and Sol Luna Mares (these 3 Melia resorts in the Holguin area used to be called the Rio de Oro, de Luna and de Mares). Also Guardalavaca Beach is very nice as well with it's blue water and white sand..just too bad that the hotel there is quite long in the tooth (the Atlantico). And if you don't want the isolation of Cayo Largo as Steve has suggested (it's just beach, sand and scuba diving), the beaches along Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco on the north coast aren't bad - I loved the shallowness of the beach along our resort, the Melia Cayo Guillermo. The sand is white powder and there are sand bars going about 150 feet out into the water, so you can walk in that beautiful clear blue water and you're only up to your knees....

I liked Guanabo, just outside Havana. Basically, the beaches in Cuba are a bit boring as the waves are very small, although there is some OK windsurfing, sailing and snorkelling to be done. Guanabo attracts a lot of locals and there is a bit of a party vibe down on the beach which I did not find on any other beach in Cuba (although I have been told there are some good beaches over in Guantanamo). Also, Guanabo is dirt cheap and safe. Two policemen came and guarded our stuff all day so we could go swimming, play beach volley ball with the locals etc...

I would not recommend Guanabo. It was full of locals and I thought it was scary. As a tourist you get pestered by people trying to sell you stuff as well as by beggars. The beach is OK but not as nice as Varadero as there are some stones underfoot as you walk in. Also it is not very good for food as there are just some local stalls and shops and no hotels. If you want to relax I would not recommend Guanabo.

FAKE ALERT....FAKE ALERT....FAKE ALERT They say that immitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, the previous poster has used my name and moniker (email addy) to post FALSE INFORMATION that I DID NOT POST. These alledged comments on Guanabo are NOT REAL and bear no relation to reality. They are FAKE COMMENTS. Please do not be fooled or misled by a low-life person with nothing better to do than cause trouble and immitate other posters. Thanks The REAL Steve

No Steve, This is me. My email account is with canada.eh and not with Canada.eh you illerate fool!

Hello again to the IMPOSTER. Nice try.... but anybody who knows Cuba can read the fakery in your post. 1) No tourist is "pestered" by Cubans selling stuff on the beach. The Cuban authorities simply don't allow it. 2) No "beggars" are allowed to bother the tourists. Again, the Cuban Government simply does not allow it. You must be a closet Cuba hater and are trying to cause trouble on this site. Or perhaps you have deep seated psychological issues that you need to deal with, hopefully with professional help. Also, Canada.eh is simply a "nom-de-plume" and is not a real email address. You saying that your "email" is really canada.eh is also fake. Your account can't "be with them" as you state as there is no such extension as dot.eh "eh" is a Canadian colloquialism of which you obviously are not familiar. Your ignorance is shining brightly. And last but not least, when you state "illerate" (sic) your lack of education is readily apparent. I will be so bold as to presume that you really meant "illiterate", which you most definately illustrate. Bye bye....... a$$hole. The "Real Steve@[email protected]"

I would have to say the beaches in Santa Lucia, Camaguey! It is approximatley 27 miles of white sand!

Cayo Largo...just saw some photos of the beach area in front of the Barcelo and it looks spectacular!!!! Powdery white sand, shallow for ages and soft caribbean blue waters.........

Steve

"No tourist is "pestered" by Cubans selling stuff on the beach. The Cuban authorities simply don't allow it."

Where have you been in Cuba to believe this to be the case? maybe in some of the plusher resorts they keep vendors away but when you get out in the sticks you do get pestered.

"No "beggars" are allowed to bother the tourists. Again, the Cuban Government simply does not allow it." Again, where have you been? Have you not been to Havana? I got pestered permanently by beggars in Havana. In the old town there are a lot of police around and you do not get pestered but elsewhere it is rife.

Where did you go? Varadero? Please don't litter this board with daft comments such as yours. Cuba is a very poor country and so you are bopund to come across beggars and people who are very desperate. Others will try and sell things to make ends meet. This is quite normal. Obviously you won't see this going on under the noses of the authorities but please don't try and convince yourselves and others that all is well and everyoner lives a life of riley in Cuba because it just ain't so.

WOW..... UKUKUK

You went back over 7 months to comment on the beaches thread. Kindly note however at that time there was NO registration required to prove who you were, and many fake posts occurred.

For your information, I have travelled quite a bit in Cuba and have swum at the various beaches at Havana (Playa del Este), Cayo Largo, Varadero, Isla de la Juventud to name a few.

While there are indeed local Cubanos trying to sell items to tourists on most public beaches, I have never felt that they approached the level of "being pestered". A simple polite No Gracias is usually all that is required for them to move along. I have had far worse experiences on other beaches in other countries. Where tourists have literally been forced off the beach to the pool because of incessant begging. This has never happened to me in Cuba. That is the point I was trying to make.

As to Havana, well of course there are people trying to make a living off the tourists. I have been asked many times if I am interested in a guide, cigars, Paladar, a Jintera or other amusement. And again, a polite No Gracias is all that is necessary. This is true whether I am in Habana Vieja, Centro, Vedado or Miramar. Walk into SOHO in London and tell me things aren't any different.

And you are correct in that I would never try to convince myself or others that all is well and everyoner lives a life of riley in Cuba. But it is a facinating country and culture and without doubt, the people I have met are very hospitable, friendly, and yes... curious about life on the "outside" of their Island nation.

If you have a hankering to check out some of my travels in Cuba, then please visit.....
http://photopilot.tripod.com
You might find it interesting.

Steve

Nice photos Steve.

I agree with nearly all your comments. Although I would say that the beggars can be quite persistant in some of the outer areas of Havana.

And whilst it is true that there is poverty in Cuba, as a nation I think they certainly live pretty well for a communist country.