Cuba One Week Itinerary

There is no other country on earth quite like Cuba. There seems to be an iconic view almost everywhere you look, from cobbled streets lined with vintage cars, to run-down yet beautiful buildings, to lush green countryside.

It’s hard to narrow down the highlights into just one week, though with such a huge range of sights crammed into a relatively small area, it is possible. Here is a suggested itinerary for one week in Cuba.

Havana

Most visits to Cuba start in the capital city of Havana. This spectacular city makes for a great introduction to the country. It is a city of contrasts, with colourful vintage cars bouncing along potholed streets, and beautifully ornate buildings with crumbling facades. Women fan themselves on rocking chairs in the streets, while men smoke cigars on balconies strung with laundry. It somehow seems like a movie set while being completely authentic.

Havana is split into districts, and can mostly be explored on foot, leaving plenty of time to stop for a cup of coffee (or a mojito, of course).

Start by exploring the dusty streets of Havana’s World Heritage-listed Old Town, before heading to Centro, where, in contrast, you’ll find squeaky clean buildings and manicured plazas. A popular activity here is to take a ride in a vintage car, which is a great way to see the rest of the city.

If you have time, continue on to the modern district of Vedado, and be sure to stop by Cayo Huesa, a colourful neighbourhood with graffitied streets and frequent energetic rumba performances.

As the sun goes down, do as the locals do and head to the Malecon, a sea wall that runs for 5 miles along the coast, connecting Old Havana to Centro and Vedado. Pick a spot on the wall to relax and watch the sun set over the water.

It’s tempting to spend the whole week in Havana, but you would only be seeing one side of the country if you do. Instead, tear yourself away and head to the countryside to sample the rural life of Cuba.

Vinales

In stark contrast to sprawling Havana, Vinales is a small country town set among farmland and hills. Relaxing on a rocking chair on a porch, taking in the beautiful countryside views, visitors instantly get swept up in the laid-back lifestyle of the region.

The best way to see the surrounding countryside is by bike. The roads are quiet and fairly flat, though they are mostly unpaved, and riddled with potholes. You can also rent a car (with or without a driver), or explore on horseback. The area around Vinales is simply stunning; a huge expanse of flat green fields dotted with giant rocky hills and covered in palm trees.

Stop by a tobacco farm to see how the famous Cuban cigars are made. Start by exploring the farmland, then watch as the tobacco is expertly rolled into cigars. You can even try rolling some yourself, and buy some as souvenirs.

There are also several caves in the area to explore, where visitors can enter dark underground tunnels to see the vast cave systems underneath the landscape. Visits here often include a performance with music, dancing or fire juggling.

The best way to experience Cuban life is to stay in a casa particular homestay with a local family. These are rooms in houses, often with their own entrance and bathroom. A homestay can also include dinner or breakfast- a great way to experience authentic Cuban food. Or you can sample the local fare at restaurants in the town of Vinales, where you’ll find a range of options for food and drink.

Trinidad

A trip to Havana and Vinales makes for a fantastic week in Cuba. But if you do have time to squeeze in one more destination, it should be the beautiful city of Trinidad. Here, you’ll find colourful houses against a backdrop of lush green mountainsides, with cobbled streets winding past traditional buildings.

Each night, Plaza Major comes alive with salsa music and dancing. It’s a great chance to join in the fun and party like the locals do. If you want to keep the nightlife going, you can head to Disco Ayala, a unique nightclub inside a giant cave.

Playa Ancon is just a short distance away, and makes for a great day or half day beach trip from Trinidad. Here, you can relax on the sand and swim in the warm Caribbean water. It’s also a great spot for scuba diving among Cuba’s wonderfully preserved coral reefs.

Trinidad is also a great destination for horse riding enthusiasts. Each June, the streets are filled with cowboys on horseback celebrating the festival of San Juan.

Getting Around in One Week

Vinales is located around 150 kilometres west of Havana, while Trinidad is just over 300 kilometres east of the capital. From Havana, you can reach Vinales by car or bus in approximately three hours. The journey from Vinales to Trinidad takes at least six hours. To return from Trinidad to Havana takes four hours.

Be sure to take at least two days to explore the city of Havana. Vinales is far smaller, and some visitors choose to explore this area in a day trip from the capital, though this means packing a lot of travel into one day, and missing out on the chance to stay overnight in a local casa. The city of Trinidad can be explored in a day, though be sure to leave an extra day if you want to visit Playa Ancon, and bear in mind it takes almost a full day to travel from Vinales to Trinidad, and half a day to return to Havana.

If you are lucky enough to have more than a week in the country, you can tackle this itinerary at a more leisurely pace, or cram in additional Cuba highlights by going further afield, perhaps to the beach resorts of Varadero or the beautiful city of Cienfuegos. Whether you choose to visit one, two, or all three of these locations, a week in Cuba is sure to be an unforgettable trip!