Caribbean cayes and coast holidays
Caribbean cayes and coast holidays at a glance
Cuba’s Caribbean beaches are among the finest in the region, with unspoilt sugar-white sands and warm turquoise waters ideal for swimming and water sports – and while some stretches of coastline are given over to larger all-inclusive resorts, plenty of it remains remarkably untouched.
Smaller beaches and secluded coves keep things quieter, while offshore coral cayes offer a more exclusive experience surrounded by nature.
The western and eastern extremes of the island – Pinar del Río and Baracoa – are home to some of Cuba’s loveliest beaches, where a rural backdrop of craggy hills and colonial villages sits alongside crystal-clear water. It’s a very different pace of life from Cuba beach holidays built around a single resort, and one well worth building into a longer itinerary.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Caribbean cayes and coast
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
The powdery white sands and inviting turquoise waters of Cuba’s exquisite beaches are ideal for swimming, water sports or simply unwinding on a sun lounger.
When to visit Caribbean cayes and coast
The sea tends to be calmer on the south and west coasts between November and April, and on the north coast between May and September – worth bearing in mind if you’re planning water sports around a specific stretch of coastline.
This is the high season, with warm, sunny weather and less chance of rain, though there are some cooler days. Humidity is not too high. The aquamarine seas are clear with good visibility at this time, ideal for diving or snorkelling. Observe kaleidoscopic shoals of tropical fish and a vast array of marine life, including moray eels, barracudas and sea turtles.
This is the wet season, with hot, humid weather and the possibility of tropical storms and hurricanes from August – November. June can still be a good time to visit, as the heaviest rains have not yet set in.
Top Things to do in Caribbean cayes and coast
Whether you’re after relaxation or adventure, Cuba’s Caribbean coastline offers some of the country’s most rewarding coastal experiences – not least Cuba diving holidays and Cuba snorkelling among coral reefs thick with marine life just offshore.
Explore the underwater world of Cuba’s Caribbean cayes.
Accommodation in Caribbean cayes and coast
Accommodation ranges from intimate island retreats to larger beachfront resorts. Hotel Villa Cayo Levisa offers a small-scale, low-key base on its own private cayo, while Melia Cayo Santa Maria sits on the well-known Cayo Santa Maria itself.
Memories Jibacoa and Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort and Spa round out the portfolio with more traditional all-inclusive comfort, the latter close to Guardalavaca on the eastern coast.
Simple beachfront hotel on a small, deserted and completely idyllic Caribbean island, with spacious, rustic cottages built right on the sand.
Medium class resort offering a wide range of facilities on a whitesand beach.
Memories Jibacoa is a cheerful adult-only all-inclusive in a natural forest setting with a glorious beach and many activities and varieties of entertainment.
Large all-inclusive adults-only resort overlooking a lovely beach near Guadalavaca on Cuba’s east coast.
Large, well-run resort hotel away from the busier parts of Varadero, with a wide range of facilities.
Beautiful resort on the stunning white-sand beach of Cayo Santa Maria on Cuba’s north coast.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Tailor-Made Caribbean cayes and coast Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Signature Cuba: The best of the highlights
Places visited: Havana · Viñales and the Sierra de los Organos · Las Terrazas · Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains · Caribbean cayes and coast · Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and Bay of Pigs
14 days from £2,300
Value Cuba: Cuba at a glance
Places visited: Havana · Trinidad and the Escambray Mountains · Viñales and the Sierra de los Organos · Caribbean cayes and coast
11 days from £1,450
FAQs about visiting Caribbean cayes and coast
Caribbean cayes and coast is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When's the best time to visit Cuba's Caribbean beaches?
The high season for visitors is Dec – Apr when the weather is usually sunny, mostly dry and not too humid, though there can be cool days. Hurricanes and tropical storms are possible Aug – Nov. The sea is calmer in winter on the south and west coasts (Nov – Apr) and in summer on the north coast (May – Sep).
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What's the official language on Cuba's Caribbean coast?
Spanish.
- How do I get local currency on Cuba's Caribbean coast?
For the latest currency info, please see our FAQs page for Cuba.
- What's the time difference between Cuba's Caribbean coast and UK?
GMT -5 hours; usually there is daylight saving in the summer but it is a moveable feast.
- What places combine well with Cuba's Caribbean coast?
From the northern Cayes: Sancti Spíritus (89 km) small, unspoilt colonial town; Cienfuegos (177 km) the Pearl of the South; Trinidad, Cuba’s best preserved colonial city, (198 km).
- How do I get to Cuba's Caribbean coast?
A journey by road from Havana (375 km) takes up to 6 hours, by air to Santa Maria is 1 hour, by air to Holguin (for Guardalavaca) is 1.5 hours.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.