Cuba Holidays

The streets, squares and parks of Old Havana are filled with dance - even more than usual - for the annual City in Movement festival each April. Known locally as El Callejero, this week-long event sees dancers from all over the world flock to the Cuban capital to display their talents in the city's public spaces. Meanwhile, centred around the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, the International Cuban Dance Festival showcases salsa via classes, workshops, and shows. In short, bring your dancing shoes if you’re coming to Havana in April.

For many travellers, Havana’s pastel-hued streets are the main attraction of a holiday to Cuba. This historical city has seen it all, and echoes of the past can be found everywhere.

Make sure you join a walking tour around Old Havana, where vintage cars and salsa bars line the candy-coloured streets. You can learn more about the city’s iconic landmarks, like Revolution Square, the National Capitol, and the Bacardi Building. Explore the fort and museum of Castillo de la Real Fuerza, and admire the Baroque architecture of Catedral de San Cristobal. Bookworms should also visit Finca Vigia – the house where Ernest Hemmingway once lived in, which is now a museum.

In the evening, you can walk along the city’s famous coastal promenade, the Malécon. Built upon an impressive sea wall, this eight-kilometre stretch is the perfect spot for a sunset stroll. Afterwards, why not stop by one of Havana’s cosy cocktail bars? You can try some Cuban rum in the form of a minty mojito, or a creamy piña colada. Or head to a salsa bar to dance the night away.

Unravelling like a long ribbon of sand, Cuba’s coastline has dozens of powdery stretches and pretty bays. But, if you’re planning a beach break in Cuba, Varadero should be at the very top of your list. Extending like an arm from the north coast, this picture-perfect peninsula serves up calm waters, sugar-like sands, and nodding palm trees. You can spend your days kayaking or swimming across the warm sea, or simply curl up on the beach with a great book. There are some fabulous hotels here, too, including adults-only options like Paradisus Princesa del Mar and Melia Las Americas.

If you’re planning to spend all your time in Havana, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the beach. Just 15 miles east of the city, a series of beaches – called Playas del Este – offers soft sand and turquoise waters. The beaches are fairly untouched, but you’ll have no trouble hiring sun loungers and parasols. It can get quite busy at the weekends so, if you’re seeking some peace and quiet, it’s best to visit Playas del Este midweek.

If you’re a keen snorkeler or scuba diver, you’ll be in your element on your Cuba holiday. This Caribbean gem is surrounded by a number of pristine coral reefs, where you can swim among all sorts of marine life. We’d recommend taking a daytrip to the Gardens of the Queen. Lying 60 miles from Cuba’s southern shore, this place is one of the largest marine parks in the Caribbean, featuring 250 coral and mangrove islands. You’ll be able to see tropical fish, turtles, and a range of shark species, including hammerhead, blacktip, and nurse sharks.

Prefer to stay on dry land? Cuba has six UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, showcasing the island’s diverse landscapes and wildlife. In Guanahacabibes National Park, you can see turtles, flamingos, and the bee hummingbird – the smallest bird in the world. You can see wild bats in the tropical forests of Baconao Biosphere Reserve. Or spend some time in Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve, which is home to parrots, parakeets, manatees, and a range of reptiles.

Thanks to its toasty Caribbean climate, Cuba is always warm, with temperatures consistently hovering in the mid-twenties throughout the year. July and August are the hottest months, when the mercury can reach 32°C – but this is also right in the middle of hurricane season, which lasts from June to November.

So it’s best to book your Cuba holiday for the dry season, between December and May. The island is slightly cooler at this time of year, but you can still look forward to balmy temperatures between 24°C and 28°C. The sea is warm all year-round, too, so you can spend your days swimming and snorkelling in the bright blue waters.