A handful of all-inclusive hotels dot the area, but beaches are public and popular among locals from May to September. Just a short drive from Cubas bustling capital lie white sands, palm trees and beautiful coral reefs. Playa Varadero is the most famous beach in Cuba and comes second on our list. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. WebDownload Cuba Seaweed stock photos. Perhaps Playa Ancon is so visited because its near one of the leading tourist destinations in Cuba: Trinidad. The best beach here is Playa Paraso, southeast of Playa Sirena and separated from Isla de la Juventud by 100km (62 miles) of sea. Playa Cayo Santa Maria and Playa Ensenachos are two of the best beaches you can enjoy on this charming tiny island. Playa Cayo Jutias Cayo Jutias #8. "On satellite images the quantity that's being picked up is greater than ever before," says Prof Oxenford, who is based in Barbados. Is it that bad around Cuba? We visit Cuba twice a year and have been there 21 times. Removal techniques have improved and experts have written management guidelines. Casas particulares: Rooms are cheaper at around $20/night and much easier to find, even in popular areas like Havana. If you are interested in naturist walks or snorkeling, this is the perfect place. Travel Health Insurance Travel medical insurance is an entry requirement for Cuba, so you cant skip it. Trinidad is home to gorgeous, tranquil, well-maintained beaches with tall palm trees. 6 years ago This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Here are the best times to visit Cuba's capital, Havana. Varadero beach has to be one of the most beautiful I have been on. One of the most popular beaches in Punta Cana, this white sand beach is located between Playa Bavaro In 2016, Playa Paraiso, or Paradise beach, was voted the 3rd most beautiful beach worldwide by Travellers Choice, and rightly so. You can book excursions to the key from the beach restaurant Ranchon Playa Pilar where kayaks and aquatic bikes are also available for rental. Some things to do at Cayo Blanco include boarding a catamaran for an excursion, diving, snorkeling at the available coral reefs, and enjoying non-motorized water sports with an accompaniment of Cuban music sunbathing. The best time to go to Cuba is the dry season (November to April). Picture a place that the great Columbus had that much to say about. In the meantime Canadians can continue to visit Cuba as often as they like. Public perception is a factor in the impact and some international headlines "shouting that the Caribbean is consumed in rotting seaweed" have not painted an accurate picture, Prof Oxenford says. Thanks for such a detailed review of the article. Thanks a lot Cathy Sunburn, dehydration, and heat stroke are all serious risks if you arent prepared. Head to the only beachside restaurant in Playa Los Cocos to pick some food and cold beers. Playa Arena Gorda Fat Sand Beach. Beaches are the place to be during Cubas wet season. As a guest in a casa particular, you can surely ask for red tomatoes, sweet peppers, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, and carrots. Playa Los Cocos (Santa Lucia) Camaguey #9. Youre sure to have an awesome time, no matter when your trip falls on the calendar. That may be just one of the many tall tales told about Papa, but Pilar is definitely a beach where time seems to stop. From the Blue Mountain to the musical history of Trench Town, Jamaica is the kind of island that beckons you back. Go tailor-made! Thank you for understanding our situation. Mosquito-born illnesses are also a risk, so remember to pack your insect repellent. Santa Lucia is also famous for its coral reef, bull sharks, and tropical fishes. Colorful coral reefs begin just 200m from the beach, so it's ideal for snorkeling, with great dive sites accessible by boat. The waters here are blue and warm, the road is a real adventure, and the general ambiance is lovely and laid-back. It is in the news right now, but has been a problem for years. Nearby (about 3 miles) is a jewel you cant miss: Playa Esmeralda. 6 years ago This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Guardalavaca is the name given to the strip of beaches comprising Playa Esmeralda, Playa Yuraguanal and Playa Pesquero theyre all sublime. If you love seafood, youll be pleased to hear that Cubas lobster season runs from June to February, so you can get your shellfish fix. I am looking for a place in Old Havana., close to the mosque. With popular destinations like Jamaica and Barbados next door, pick Trinidad if you want to sun on relatively peaceful, rarely overcrowded beaches. The islet is home to anhinga, mollusks, iguanas, seagulls, and flamingos. Cuban Tourist Card If yourCuban Tourist Card (a.k.a Cuban Tourist Visa)isnt bundled into your airline ticket or travel package, buy it only throughEasyTouristCard. Arrive in Havana and make your way all throughout the island with stops in Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Cayo Coco, Camaguey and Santiago before returning to Havana. Arm yourself with enough Deep Woods mosquito repellent, and you will enjoy Cuba without getting annihilated by mosquitoes. Cuba is one of those destinations that Canadians really love. Spoiler alert: theres a reason its called the wet season! Enjoy your vacations. A quick glance at sites like Facebook and TripAdvisor, nonetheless, shows tourists are concerned. Varadero one of the best beaches in Cuba Shutterstock. Some beaches in Cuba have garnered a worldwide reputation as the best of the best; thus, they have won an impressive list of awards. The reason southern and eastern shores are worst hit lies in the seaweed's source. Re: Seaweed problem in Cuba? Visiting the nearby beaches is definitely among the top things to do in Havana. Varadero beach has to be one of the most beautiful I have been on. There is also a mini zoo where you can interact with the animals. Websargassum seaweed in Cuba. Satellite images from the University of South Florida's (USF) Optical Oceanography Laboratory currently show historically high monthly levels of sargassum in the region. (private homestays) right by the beach just remember to bring mosquito repellent. Varadero is undoubtedly the package holiday resort in Cuba and the glut of all-inclusive hotels, restaurants, and tour operators are all here for one reason: the beach one of the longest and one of the best beaches in Cuba. In one extreme case, a resort in Antigua was forced to close its doors until 30 September. ", US and Russia trade blows over Ukraine at G20, Greek trains halted as anger over crash grows, Messages reveal battle over UK Covid policy, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Jellyfish swim near the coast and wont hesitate to give you a venomous poke if you accidentally swim too close. 1. some of the links are not available anymore (the NOAA index, Cuban events, and the tourism stats link) * Do not embed this map in a website or a blog without permission from Sargassum Monitoring. Dont go strolling on Cuban beaches flashing wands of cash. The best beaches are clustered on the north coast, dominated by the all-inclusive hotels whose tendrils are gradually spreading along the rest of the northern coastline. There is over 3km of beach in all, split by a sandy headland into two broad curves of soft, silver shore ringed on one side by the lush green of a woody, palm-specked thicket and on the other by the glassy Caribbean Sea. You can visit either of these beaches to enjoy numerous activities like windsurfing, swimming, sunning, and indulging in a beach volleyball game. With such an abundance of largely untouched sand, theres no shortage of options for a bit of solitude but one of the beaches in Cuba that shouldnt be missed is the gorgeous Playa Pilar. The small hoop of rather grubby, seaweed-strewn sand is somewhat redeemed by its friendly atmosphere and a striking hill behind, whose shadow lengthens over the beach in the afternoon. Here sugary sands stretch out to meet the transparent waters, while wild horses and deer roam through the woodland that borders the sand giving the beach an almost magical feel. Check it out here. Boasting a dazzling arch of sand with palm trees and calm, clear waters, Ancn also has more than 20 diving close offshore Cayo Blanco International Dive Center at the Hotel Club Amigo Ancn can arrange trips. The resort of Guardalavaca is popular for good reason: a succession of gorgeous beaches sweeping around sheltered reefs, backed by a surrounding landscape of gentle hills and fields of sugar cane. Best Caribbean Beaches Without Seaweed: Where to Go in 2023. Over the years, it has retained its exquisite appeal with gorgeous reefs, shrubs, and trees. Flight prices: Flights are more affordable at $250 to $300. However, you should know that Cuba has two distinct seasons that may have a big impact on the weather, the travel costs, the mosquitoes, and, most importantly, how much fun youll have on your trip. Check out some popular. Stay safe by hopping out of the water as soon as you notice dark clouds or lightning on the horizon! Plus, despite the shortage of adequate infrastructure, many all-inclusive resorts at Los Cocos offer authentic Cuban cuisine and a lovely ambiance. There are a few tips you should follow to make the best out of your beach vacation in Cuba. Playa Ensenachos is pretty close to Playa Cayo Santa Maria. and separated from Isla de la Juventud by 100km (62 miles) of sea. Playa Pilar is also commonly known as Cayo Guillermo. Free or royalty-free photos and images. Follow along; we will cover the best beaches in Cuba to suit all tastes. The multiple strands at Playas del Este are the closest beaches to Cubas capital a 30-minute taxi ride leads to half a dozen delightful palm-fringed strips of sand. Report inappropriate content. When picking the best beaches in Cuba, we considered a few factors: There are quite a few awards that travelers or industry experts grant to the best beaches in the world. Trinidad. He points to nutrients both from falling Saharan dust and pushed up from the sea floor as possible factors, but says more research is needed to establish exact triggers. 3 years ago Save There is a new long range ecological problem in the Caribbean: Sargassum algae which looks like seaweed is a mess on many Caribbean beaches. Incoming rafts smother sea grasses and coral reefs, while fishermen struggle to get in the water. Floating off the southern shore of Cuba's main island in the Jardines del Rey archipelago, this low-lying cay offers a heaven-on-earth feeling few places in the Caribbean can match. Youre most likely to experience a hurricane in Cuba between August and October, so its safe to say your trip will be hurricane-free if you travel during spring or winter. Cuba is famous for its breathtaking beaches, guaranteed to stun you silly with turquoise water and sugary white sand. That means you can visit both beaches and enjoy the scenery without planning or waiting for another trip. This beach may be in an interior location. If you are renting a car in Cuba or hiring one of those famous classic cars of Cuba, the drive will be pretty easy. If you are a member of the LGBT and would like to relax on a beach with a touch of fashion and panache associated with this group of people, Mi Cayito will not disappoint. Follow the brown seaweeds invasion, check the older maps : 2022 , 2021 , 2020 , 2019 , 2018. The Mexican government and hotels in the Yucatan Peninsula have stepped up their efforts to tackle it, however, the majority of low-budget hotels and hostels do not have the means to clean their beaches on a daily basis. We are here to help you pick the best of the best. The wet season is when 70% of the islands rainfall occurs, which means lots of heat and humidity between May and October. Hotels: Vacancies are more common, but prices still run between $150 and $350/night. But now research indicates the sargassum is from a new source - an oval band stretching from the Brazilian coast to West Africa. There are no sharp rocks or strong currents; the water is calm and relatively shallow. WebIt is, indeed, a beautiful beach, and I would have no worries at all, on that particular score. Simply translated as turquoise beach, it comes as no surprise to find that Playa Turquesa is one of the most beautiful beaches in the region. Needless to say, visiting Cuban beaches is one of the best things to do in Cuba. Has anybody been to Jabacoa and Cayo Santa Maria lately and can let me know the situation. Varadero and the islands of the Jardines del Rey archipelago are just a few essential stops on the long list of flawless turquoise-edged strands surrounding the island. In 2011 people initially assumed the Caribbean influx had, for some reason, drifted from its traditional home in the Sargasso Sea. However, remember that fewer mosquitoes doesnt mean no mosquitoes. Cuba is a sub-tropical Caribbean island, so its warmth is favorable to year-long insect populations. Playa Paraiso is on Cayo Largos southwest coast, while Playa Sirena is on its western tip. I wish more tour operators offered this location. Cayo Blanco Varadero #6. Playa Cayo Santa Maria has no shortage of natural scenery like tropical mangrove trees and powdery sand. Heres what we recommend checking out: If you dont visit during the rainy season, youll be traveling in Cubas other season: the dry season. And so far so good the sargassum is not there according to this handy tracking tool. 3. . Has anybody been to Jabacoa and Cayo Santa Maria lately and can let me know the situation. 2. Geared toward beach holidays, the peninsula unfurls for 12 stunning miles, meaning there's room on the beach for, well, everyone. wide and 3 ft high on the shoreline in PC. Since Cuba doesnt get much rain during the dry season, you can expect consistently clear, sunny skies. The dry season in Cuba is pretty lively and exciting. Cuba is generally safe. However, there are still plenty of exciting festivals and cultural events. A steady drinking water supply is critical to surviving Cubas steamy wet season. Head 40 minutes south along the bay and you can indulge all your snorkeling and diving whims on, s 300m (984ft) coral wall and nearby wrecks and. Furthermore, birdwatchers can lay back and enjoy the sights of flamingoes strutting back and forth in this area. Apparently, Christopher Columbus was enthralled by Guardalavaca and thought it was the most beautiful place he had ever seen in his lifetime. But it is not clear what will happen next year, or the year after. Youre most likely to experience a hurricane from mid-August through the end of October. Cuba: a feast for the senses - take 10 days to discover Havana in depth before heading out to Cienfuegos and Trinidad. Cool, crowded January or quiet but stormy September? The rules for Americans visiting Cuba in 2022, Top things to do in Cuba: how to explore the richness of the country's culture and land, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. These beaches have perfect entrances that do not require you to trek hundreds of feet before reaching shoulder-level waters. I've seen pics of the weed 12ft. Playa Cayo Santa Maria Cayo Santa Maria #4. Commercial uses of sargassum are also being explored. The beaches are often free of seaweed beyond the Hard Rock Hotel to Macao Beach. Complete Cuba: Nature, Tradition and Sights of the Revolution, Highlights of Cuba: Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos, Cycling in Cuba: go before the cars rule the roads, The best places to go in Cuba on a first time visit, The most beautiful places in Scotland reader vote 2022, Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert, Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support, Playa Los Flamencos: an all inclusive beach, Playa Pilar: for a serene nearly private oasis, Playa Varadero: one of the top beaches in Cuba, Playa Turquesa: for a shallow bay with golden sand, Playa Esmeralda: for a beach nearby luxury hotels, Playa Sirena: for an unforgettable holiday, Complete Cuba - Nature, Tradition and Sights of the Revolution, Cayo Santa Maria and the coastline in your own speedboat, e-bike ride along the coastline and the Valley of Sugar Mills, our guide to the best places to go with kids, Travel Tips Cuba for planning and on the go. No parts of this The beaches are often free of seaweed beyond the Hard Rock Hotel to Macao Beach. A number of beaches await you at the north side of the 30km-long coral key the longest of which is Playa Los Pinos, a blindingly white beach thats perfect for a few days of complete tranquillity. Thats why I think it was important to comment even on insects :). Then there is tourism. It also includes a visit to the province capital Matanzas and some free time at Coral Beach. 6. A reusable water bottle with a built-in filter will be your best traveling companion. Is it that bad around Cuba? Take a look at some of the exciting guided tours offered by Tour Republic. Web2023 beaches impacted by Sargassum seaweeds. It is easy for anyone to visit these beaches and have a splendid time at leisure. Finally, if you are on a tight budget, Playa Los Cocos is your best choice since the food and accommodation are less expensive on this side of the country. Tour Republic is a travel marketplace where local entrepreneurs offer memorable experiences in Cuba. Playa Varadero: one of the top beaches in Cuba. "We believe that it initially began as a result of shifts we observed in the climatological and meteorological indices - the waters were extremely warm in 2010; there were some shifts in the currents and winds," says Mr Franks. Let us know in the comments! The beaches at Varadero get the usual flotsam and jetsam overnight and are raked each morning. and enjoy the ocean views from a wooden rocking chair until the sun sets. It is an ideal resort for tourists with its bars, pools, restaurants, and shopping center if you are up for a spree. evocative colonial quarters, spending a day (or at least half of it) on the beach is the perfect way to rest both the bones and the senses. If you want unashamed hassle-free luxury, where the intrusion of local culture is kept to a bare minimum, this is the place for you. 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