Attractions in Island Cuba & Offshore Cays
Remote islands, sea turtles, and endless white sand 🐢🏝️
Showing 14 attractions · Sorted by importance
Pico Turquino - Las Cuevas to Alto del Naranjo
📍 Las Cuevas
🥾 Hiking & Cycling25km challenging 2-day trek summiting Cuba's highest peak (1,974m) with approx. 2,000m elevation gain. Requires a mandatory park guide. Includes a visit to Fidel Castro's former mountain headquarters, La Comandancia de la Plata. Bike rentals are not available for this rugged terrain.
Playa Paraíso
📍 Cayo Largo del Sur
⛱ BeachRenowned for its calm turquoise waters and pristine white sand, this beach is consistently ranked among the most beautiful in the world and offers safe, shallow swimming for families.
Presidio Modelo
📍 Nueva Gerona
🏰 CastleA hauntingly impressive panopticon-style prison complex where Fidel Castro was once held, now serving as a museum and national monument.
Balneario San Diego de los Baños
📍 San Diego de los Baños
♨ Hot SpringInaugurated in 1861, this is one of Cuba's oldest and most significant thermal spa complexes. It features natural sulfate-calcium and sulfurous waters with temperatures ranging from 30°C to 40°C. The facility is housed in a historic neoclassical building and offers medicinal pools, massage therapy, and mud treatments.
Playa Sirena
📍 Cayo Largo del Sur
⛱ BeachA wide expanse of fine white sand with very gentle waves, ideal for families and known for its resident starfish and proximity to turtle conservation efforts.
Viñales Valley Cycling Route
📍 Viñales
🥾 Hiking & Cycling35km moderate gravel and paved loop, taking 4-6 hours with 450m elevation gain. The route passes the Mural de la Prehistoria and various tobacco plantations. Bike rental: Vinales Bike (vinalesbike.com)
Balneario de Santa Fe
📍 Santa Fe
♨ Hot SpringA historic 19th-century medicinal mineral spring facility on the Isle of Youth. It utilizes cold mineral waters exceptionally high in bicarbonates and magnesium, traditionally used to treat metabolic and skin conditions. The site features the historic architecture of the Baños de Santa Rita overlooking the Santa Fe River.
Cueva de Punta del Este
📍 Isla de la Juventud
🏔 Scenic ViewKnown as the Sistine Chapel of Caribbean rock art, this cave features hundreds of ancient aboriginal pictographs in a natural limestone setting.
Delfinario Cayo Largo
📍 Cayo Largo del Sur
🐠 AquariumAn interactive marine park located in a natural lagoon where families can swim with dolphins and watch educational presentations.
Finca El Abra Museum
📍 Nueva Gerona
🏰 CastleA well-preserved 19th-century estate and national monument where Cuban hero José Martí lived during his exile in 1870.
Granja de las Tortugas
📍 Cayo Largo del Sur
🐄 FarmA marine conservation center where families can observe and learn about endangered sea turtles and their life cycles in a hands-on environment.
International Diving Center El Colony
📍 Siguanea
🧗 AdventureA premier outdoor activity center providing access to the Punta Francés Marine National Park for world-class snorkeling and scuba diving expeditions.
Salto del Caburní Trail
📍 Topes de Collantes
🥾 Hiking & Cycling5km moderate day hike with 350m elevation gain, taking about 3 hours. The trail leads through coffee plantations and tropical forests to a 62-meter waterfall. Terrain is steep and can be slippery. Equipment: No specialized gear needed beyond hiking boots.
Sendero El Nicho
📍 Cruces
🥾 Hiking & Cycling2km easy day hike with 120m elevation gain, taking approximately 1 hour. This trail is famous for its cascading waterfalls and natural turquoise swimming pools within the Escambray Mountains. Accessible via Topes de Collantes. Bike rental: Cuba Cycling (cubacycling.com)