ps. Near Vinyales are Cayo Jutias and Cayo Levisa...both have good beaches, according to LP...maybe spend an afternoon at one of these?

eks - we never got to the beach at Vinales but we did spend an afternoon on the beach at Trinidad and it was very nice. There's a pretty good restaurant serving prawns etc., and cheap sun beds [$2 each for a bed each and a shared parasol] and people were coming along taking orders for cocktails which they delivered to your sunbed. There are two hotels there but they weren't intrusive.

We also a day trip to the Cayo Santa Maria where there are a number of hotels but they are all pretty big so far as we could see,

ekscrunchy, I too have gleaned information from your wonderful trip reports (SE Asia, I think). I am leaving next week on a two week Road Scholar tour. I can let you know about the hotels we're staying in as some of them do have pools.

I'm not totally keen on going on a tour, but I'm traveling alone, so it seemed like my best option. Let me know if you're interested and I can report back.

I'd LOVE to hear about your experiences!! Please consider writing a report, or just an outline and where you stayed and what you liked, etc.

Ann: Prawns on the beach--now you are really talking!!

I should add that in no way am I looking for a beach vacation, just wanted to experience one beach while there..and swim in the sea..

we had two beach days [more like half days] in three weeks - one at Trinidad which I described above, and the other one at Santa Maria, where from one direction you approached via a nature reserve and the beach appeared almost deserted, but from the other, was approached via a huge hotel with water sports and beach games available.

Still, i suppose it catered for everyone.

A few days ago, I printed your report and read while awaiting my wash when I was at the neighborhood laundry mat. My it was a most informative and highly interesting read. I thank you very much for sharing!

Have been to Cuba twice: pre the "Low Period" and just last March 2015. I truly desire to return and travel independently. Your information will be most helpful in my being able to do this with a modicum of ease!

Just to say how much I appreciate your report too ;). We will be in Cuba in just over a week and I've planned it all independently, in our case via Mexico.