As the pastel colored vintage cars and the iconic buildings of Havana competed for my attention, I pondered over how the historic sequence of events in the 20th century defined the current political standing of Cuba. We sniffed in a bit of history and politics and tasted a bit of nature and beach as we explored the big cities and the small towns during our 10 days in Cuba.
Cuba is a complex country where nature meets history and flamboyance meets hardship. To help you plan your first visit to this fascinating country in the Caribbean, we modeled this Cuba 10-day itinerary based on our personal Cuba itinerary.
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Cuba Entry Requirements
People of all nationalities need to purchase the Cuba Tourist Card for entering Cuba. This paper slip serves as the formal travel authorization document for entering Cuba. You can purchase this through your local travel agency or at the airport before boarding your Cuba bound flight or after arriving at the Havana airport.
If you are an American citizen, you will need special reasons to be able to visit Cuba. See the next section for more details on this. Also, we know first hand that it is not easy to travel abroad on Indian passports, in most cases due to the complicated visa application procedure. Hence, we will talk about that too, traveling to Cuba on Indian passport.
If you are an American citizen
Cuba is a sanctioned country by the United States. Naturally, there are trade and travel restrictions on Cuba for American citizens. However, if you are an American, you still can visit Cuba. But the reason for the visit needs to be among the 12 categories listed for authorized travel to Cuba. “Support for the Cuban people” is the popular chosen reason of Cuba travel for American travelers. You can refer to this article for a breakdown of how exactly you can support the Cuban people on your trip to Cuba.
If you are an Indian citizen
If you are an Indian, I am sure you have a more burning question than how to spend 10 days in Cuba. “Do Indians need a visa to enter Cuba?” No, Indians do not need to apply for a separate Cuba visa. You need to buy the Cuba Tourist Card which will serve as your authorization document for entering Cuba. For details on Cuba Tourist Card, you can read about our experience of traveling to Cuba on Indian passports.
Cuba Travel Tips
As you can guess by now, visiting Cuba will offer you a distinct travel experience. Some people love that about Cuba, some people do not like it so much and some others find that overwhelming.
So, to prepare yourself to get the best out of this Cuba 10-day itinerary, we suggest you to read this post so that you can set your expectations right. However, before moving to the Cuba itinerary planning section, we would like to emphasize on two key aspects of Cuba travel – currency and internet.
Cuban Currency
Cuba practices a dual currency system. While Cuban Peso (CUP) is the original currency, Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) was later introduced in 1994 to boost the country’s economy.
Locals use the former for buying and selling regular commodities. But as a tourist in Cuba, you will need CUC, the currency widely used in the tourism sector of Cuba. 1 CUC is equivalent of 1 USD, whereas 26 CUP earns you 1 USD in exchange.
During your 10 days in Cuba, do remember the following about Cuban currency.
- Always carry cash in local currency (CUC). Very few places accept card payments.
- American credit cards/ debit cards do not work in Cuba.
- USD may have 1:1 conversion with CUC, but Cuba charges a 10% surcharge on all dollar exchange, buy or sell.
- Carry your money in Canadian Dollars/ Euros/ Mexican Pesos for currency exchange, to avoid the 10% surcharge on USD.
- Exchange your money to CUC at the counter just outside Havana international airport or at the national banks in the city.
- Always check the change after you make a payment – did you receive CUC or CUP? It should be CUC.
- Outside of Cuba, CUP or CUC are not valid anywhere in the world.
- Remember to get any unspent CUC exchanged before you depart the country, unless you want them as souvenir.
- Reserve extra time for the airport while departing the country. Since Cuban currency is irrelevant outside Cuba, there is a long queue at the currency exchange counter.
Internet Access in Cuba
For people like you and me, our world revolves around the internet, be it for infotainment or social networking. But the people in Cuba have it different. Cuba systematically limits infrastructure for cheap internet access. That is why you need to follow a complicated process to access internet in Cuba.
You need to buy an internet card in order to access internet in Cuba. It is like a scratch card with a password for WiFi. The most common internet card provider is ETECSA. It costs $1 for a 1-hour card. You can use the internet card to access internet only at designated public WiFi hotspot areas or at some selective cafes/ restaurants/ hotels that have WiFi router.
Best Time to Visit Cuba
Cuba has two seasons, dry and rainy. Dry season runs from November to April, when you can enjoy bright sunny days and moderate temperatures. So, for sunshine and good vibes, choose a dry season month to visit Cuba. Please note, the temperatures are cooler in December and January. Also, the peak holiday period in the dry season is around those 2 months.
We visited Cuba in January, supposedly one of the best months to visit Cuba. We mostly got good weather in all the places we visited in Cuba. But during our stay in Havana, a rare tornado tormented the city one night. So, our recommendation is, choose the best weather for planning your Cuba itinerary, but be prepared for any kind of weather. Essentially, carry a raincoat!
Cuba 10-Day Itinerary: Havana, Vinales, Trinidad, Varadero
We created this 10 day Cuba itinerary, with the aim of discovering the geographical diversity of Cuba. This itinerary considers José Martí International Airport in Havana as your entry and exit points of Cuba.
In between, you get to explore Cuba’s history, culture, nature and beaches. You will be spending a few days in the capital city, as there are plenty of things to do and see in Havana. The rest of the days will be split across Vinales, Trinidad and Varadero.
However, if you prefer to book a readymade itinerary, check out these Cuba tour options:
Day 1: Havana | Introduction to a time warped world
On your first day in Havana, be prepared to be stormed by a strong shift in how you perceive big cities. Although Havana seems to be lost in a time warped world, this is a place where the silence of the past and the noise of the present seem to blend in smoothly. Get ready for a great mix of history and culture, mojito and Cuban salsa for the coming days.
Fly in to Havana
Fly in to Havana, complete the immigration formalities and get ready for a wonderful 10 days in Cuba. Please note, based on where you are coming from, you may be pulled in for additional questioning at the immigration counter. You can read about our immigration experience at Havana airport for some pointers.
Remember to get your money exchanged at the airport as NO other currency works in Cuba except Cuban. You can get a fair exchange rate at the banks in Havana once you are in the city, but you should not rely on that for your first withdrawal. You will need cash to pay your taxi fare from the airport to your accommodation. Card is not a common method of transaction in Cuba. So, it is important that you have cash on you, in the right currency.
Also, remember to retain your Cuba Tourist Card as you will need to return it at the time of departure from the country.
Parque Central
Parque Central is where the city comes in action. Hang around this central park to observe how the local life integrates with the canvas of iconic buildings and classic cars.
El Capitolio
A few hundred meters from the Parque Central, lies Cuba’s one of the most important buildings, the Capitol. Although the building has been under periodic renovations since 2013, you cannot really miss its huge dome structure that characterizes El Capitolio.
Daiquiri at El Floridita
For your first evening in Cuba, treat yourself to some daiquiri at no other place than ‘The Cradle of Daiquiri’, El Floridita. Listening to the cheerful live music, as you sip on your frozen drink, try to imagine why Ernest Hemingway used to frequent this spot.
Day 2: Havana | Cuban revolution + Old Havana
Cuba has a complex past, majorly driven by the Cuban Revolution of the twentieth century. When you are spending 10 days in Cuba, it is best to get an induction to this chapter of Cuba early on in your itinerary. Hence, dedicate Day 2 to understanding the revolution and later explore the other significant places in Old Havana.
Although you can book guided tours, we chose to explore Old Havana on our own, walking from one place to another.
Museo de la Revolución
We highly recommend to do some research and reading about the Cuban Revolution before your first trip to Cuba. Then once you arrive in Havana, Museo de la Revolución is the best place to get yourself more acquainted with the country’s complex history.
The building once served as the Presidential Palace for the Cuban Presidents, until Batista. But now the museum is home to significant exhibits and visual stories about the Cuban Revolution, from how it started to what were its aftermaths.
Spend the morning at this Museo de la Revolución, trying to comprehend Cuba’s baffling history that shaped many of the current socio-economic and political state of this Caribbean country.
Plazas of Havana
There are not just one or two, but five city plazas or squares in Havana. You can spend most of your day walking around the important attractions in the plazas.
Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de San Francisco de Asis, Plaza Vieja, Plaza de Armas are all within walking distance from each other – well, if you are prepared to walk a lot! Each plaza has a distinct character of its own. You can read more about the different plazas of Havana here.
There is another important plaza in Havana, the Plaza de la Revolución or the Revolution Square. It is a bit further away from the other plazas of Havana Viejo, so we will include this for Day 4 in your Cuba itinerary.
Obispo Street
Spend the evening strolling the Obispo Street. It is a narrow street always filled with people from different walks of life. Various small establishments ranging from old bookstores to new ice-cream parlors characterize either side of this busy street. Whether you are out on this street to browse souvenirs or to grab dinner, take note of the vibrant evening around you.
La Bodeguita del Medio
Go for a mojito from another iconic bar in Havana – La Bodeguita del Medio. We listened to the live music while we waited for our drinks. If El Floridita is known for their daiquiri, La Bodeguita del Medio is for their mojito. There is a touristy tradition of signing the wall with your name and you will find thousands of those from visitors over the years, that includes several eminent personalities from around the world.
Day 3: Havana to Vinales Day Trip
After getting a taste of Havana, head out of the city today to experience raw and rural Cuba. Take a day trip to Vinales, a scenic town about 3 hours’ drive away from Havana.
This Vinales trip is filled with interactions with Cuban people. As part of the tour, you will get to visit a tobacco farm, a tobacco sorting place and a home-grown botanical garden among other places. At each of these places, you will have the chance to chat up with Cuban people about their life and experiences. Apart from the cultural interactions, the tour also includes a boat ride through indigenous caves and vantage views of the Vinales valley.
We did this tour with Discover Vinales. The booking confirmation was fairly easy as you can initiate the booking request through the online form on their website. They have various tours on offer, both one-day tours and overnight tours, each curated with authentic Cuban experiences. We highly recommend Disover Vinales for your Vinales discovery excursion. If you have the chance to extend your Cuba 10 day itinerary, we suggest you spend a night or two at Vinales. Yes, it is that charming.
Day 4: Havana | Explore more of the city
You set out to explore more of Havana city on Day 4. But this day is not just for history and politics. This will be a day filled with a mix of culture, music, Cuban cocktails and other typical Cuban experiences.
Havana classic car tour
Long before you started planning your Cuba itinerary, you have probably always been fascinated by pictures of Cuba. Those pictures might have been of people riding in pastel colored vintage cars against the backdrop of Havana cityscape.
Today is your chance to be one of those people and exude the same aura of elegance that you have always seen in photos. Book a classic car ride for an hour or two and zip along the important stretches of Havana city.
Plaza de la Revolucion
At the time of booking the classic car ride, negotiate with your guide for a stopover at the Plaza de la Revolucion. As mentioned earlier in the post, this city square is a bit further away from Havana Viejo. Hence it is more convenient to include this destination as part of your classic car tour.
Plaza de la Revolucion is the largest city square in Havana. It has been witness to several political rallies, including many addresses by Fidel Castro. Large scale murals of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos and the Jose Marti Memorial are some of the popular tourist attractions in this area.
Callejon de Hamel
Cuban artist Salvador Gonzáles Escalona made the street next to his house his canvas to create art. This hidden corner of Havana is a blast of colors.
At Callejon de Hamel, you get to experience the Afro-Cuban culture through art, music, dance, cocktails and of course interactions with the local residents. Try to time your visit on a Sunday afternoon for live music and salsa on the street, one of the best salsa experiences in Havana.
Sunset drinks at Ambos Hotel
After a few action packed days in Cuba, slow down a bit and pause for a sunset. What better way of relishing a sunset than by sipping on a mojito while chatting up about the cultures of your respective countries with the bartender serving you. The rooftop bar at Ambos Hotel is a popular choice for such relaxed sunset drinks.
La Cabana
Visit La Cabana fortress at 9:00 pm. Every evening they practice the ritual of firing a canon ball, announcing the closing of the city walls. This act is preceded by a parade performed by a group of men clad in military uniforms. Although this is not a military act in reality and is only a staged show, the performance is an interesting sight to behold. Besides, the night view of Havana city from La Cabana looks pretty. For planning your visit, you can read more about this canon fire ritual here.
Day 5: Havana – Trinidad
Book a shared taxi, locally called collectivo, for your trip from Havana to Trinidad. The trip takes about 4 hours. But factor in possibilities of delays as you are dependent on the punctuality of your fellow passengers. So, choose an early morning collectivo so that you have the rest of the day to explore Trinidad.
Explore the town of Trinidad
Check in to your Casa Particular in Trinidad and head out for lunch. Then spend the afternoon exploring the town. Trinidad is a charming little town that you will love exploring on foot. Hang out near the main plaza, locally called Plaza Mayor, appreciate the wisdom of the age-old cobblestone streets and visit the museums in the area.
Watch sunset from bell tower
Before sundown, make your way up to the top of the bell tower. Look out of the window and see the town get washed with the last rays of the sun. In the distant horizon, the birds fly home as the sun sets beyond the Atlantic Ocean.
Dinner at Taberna La Botija
During our stay in Cuba, there were very few places where we were actually impressed with the food. Taberna La Botija was definitely one of them. What we loved about this restaurant was not just the food, but the atmosphere. The entire staff is a crew of singing and dancing people, who complement the ongoing live performances at the restaurant. We recommend getting dinner here at least once, just to experience abundant joy.
Day 6: Trinidad
On your sixth day in Cuba, take side trips from Trinidad and fill your day with doses of nature. How about waterfall for the morning and ocean in the afternoon? Later in the evening, chill out with some music and dance.
Vegas Grande Waterfall
Visit the Vegas Grande waterfall in Topes de Collantes National Park. You can hire a cab for a round trip ride from Trinidad. From the cab drop off point, you need to hike to the waterfall. The hiking trail starts with an easy walk on flat dirt road. But it gradually changes to steep descent down an uneven rocky trail. At the end of the hike, you get rewarded with the sight of a beautiful waterfall plunging into an emerald green pool. Go for a swim or sit idle by the pool. Vegas Grande waterfall is worth checking out because of its serene setting.
Playa Ancon
After grabbing lunch at Trinidad, head to Playa Ancon. Spend the late afternoon by lying on soft sand or by taking a dip in the ocean (the water was cold though!). Relax your mind as you watch the sun set behind the Atlantic Ocean.
Casa de la Musica
Chill out in the evening by hanging out with the locals. Casa de la Musica is an open air gallery style community space where people come together every evening to enjoy some drinks and dance. Pay 1 CUC to enter the salsa party after 8pm.
Disco Ayala
Want to party more and party harder? Trinidad will not disappoint you. Disco Ayala is an underground nightclub in Trinidad. Ask the locals for its direction and join the midnight party at this club in the cave. With dance floor full of people swaying to the grooving music, the atmosphere here is electric.
Day 7: Trinidad – Cienfuegos – Varadero
When you are in the largest island nation of the Caribbean, you have got to include some pure beach R&R in your itinerary. There are actually plenty of options to choose from for a beach vacation. But for us, Varadero was the most convenient to fit in to our travel plan for 10 days in Cuba.
For this 4 hours journey from Trinidad to Varadero, you can book either a collectivo or a private taxi. We had booked a private taxi in order to include some custom stopovers.
Stopover at Cienfuegos
Our main stopover was Cienfuegos. About 83 km/ 51 miles away from Trinidad, it is an important industrial town in Cuba. Over the centuries, this city has remained witness to several historic events ranging from the colonial era to the more recent Cuban revolution of the 20th century. So, we took a quick tour around some important sites in the city center of Cienfuegos before proceeding towards Varadero.
Beach time at Varadero
Varadero has earned a coveted spot in many lists of ‘best beaches in the world’ compiled by various big travel brands. Choose your favorite beach activity anywhere along this 20 km long stretch of powdery white sand lining the Atlantic Ocean.
AI Resort vs. Casa Particular: Most international tourists choose to stay at all-inclusive resorts in Varadero. At the same time, many tourists complain about the repetitive offerings at the all-inclusive resorts. So, to avoid spending big bucks on services that we might not have liked, we chose to stay at a Casa Particular in Varadero. We think this decision made us enjoy Varadero even more.
Fine dining at Varadero
For a relaxed evening of wine and dine, make a dinner reservation at one of the fancier restaurants in Varadero. We had dined at Salsa Suarez Restaurant y Bar, loved their excellent food paired with fine wine in a pretty restaurant setting.
Day 8: Varadero
Apply your sunscreen, put on your flip-flops and get ready for a day at the beach!
Beach time at Varadero – Can we ever get enough of this?
While I love the pretty beaches of Costa Rica, I am still not over the color of the water at Varadero beach. I could spend days or months just by gazing at the azure waters, while dipping my feet in the soft white sand.
Souvenir shopping
Cuba is a great place to collect unique souvenirs. If you are not content with the amount of souvenirs you purchased at Havana, there is room for more in Varadero. Check out the local market for pieces of art and craft, or a cute beach bag!
Party at Beatles Bar
Listen to a local live band performing to international rock music at the Beatles Bar. Get a mojito or five, and enjoy a night of great music.
Day 9: Varadero – Havana
As you approach the end leg of your 10 days in Cuba, it is time to make the return trip from Varadero to Havana. Havana is about 2 hours drive away from Varadero. But you can intentionally prolong it by including other attractions along the way. Discuss the stopovers beforehand with your collectivo taxi driver.
Bacunayagua Bridge
For fantastic views of the lush green country of Cuba surrounded by the blue ocean, make a stop at Bacunayagua Bridge. This bridge is the longest and the tallest in Cuba. There is a rest stop here on the bridge, for food, drinks and souvenirs. Grab a snack or a dessert and enjoy the scenery from the different viewing platforms.
Cueva de Saturno
For a fun adventure, include a stopover at Cuevo de Saturno, a cenote cave. Admire the geological formation and swim in the cenote. One can also enjoy scuba diving at this cenote.
Walk the Malecon in Havana
After you reach Havana, spend a relaxing afternoon by the Malecon. It is an 8km stretch of road and seawall stretching from the north to centro. You may have zipped along this road in a classic car. But today, take it slow. Walk along the Malecon and observe the life and love around you in this iconic city.
Cabaret Tropicana
This is your last night in Havana. So you might as well indulge in some classic Havana nightlife – cabaret performance, fine dining, cigar and rum. Book yourself a show + dinner at a fancy nightclub for a night of glitz and glamor. We recommend Cabaret Tropicana, a club that has been entertaining Cuba’s elite since the 1950s.
Day 10: Havana
This is the last day of your Cuba holiday. Choose your activities depending on the time of your flight.
Explore Havana on foot – one last time, for this time!
Have a nice breakfast along with a hot cup of Cuban coffee. If you have the time to spare, we suggest take a stroll along the narrow alleys of Havana. Connect with the distinctive character of Havana one more time before saying goodbye to Cuba.
Fly out of Havana
Arrive at the airport early. The entire exit process takes a lot of time. Do not forget your Tourist Card as you need to return it at the airport. Also, remember to get your Cuban currency exchanged as CUC is not valid anywhere outside of Cuba. As you finally board the flight, let your mind analyze your Cuba travel experience.
10 Days in Cuba: Final Thoughts
By the end of your first Cuba trip, you may end up falling in love with this country. But it might also happen that you grow a resent against the difficulties of traveling in Cuba, and decide to never come back. (We sure want to return though!) But irrespective of whatever feelings you develop about the country, the memories from your 10 days in Cuba will sure last you a lifetime.
Travel Planning Logistics
- Accommodation: For several years now, Booking.com has been our platform of choice for booking accommodation while traveling. You can apply all the desired filters and shortlist the ones that meet your criteria. On continued use, you will keep unlocking their Genius benefits. For long term stays, we use Airbnb. Of late, we have also started browsing Hostelworld for finding hostels.
- Tours: When traveling to new destinations, you can plan ahead and book your activities. Check for highly rated tours on Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Packing: From swimwear to sunscreen, hiking pants to insect repellents, buy your vacation packing essentials on Amazon.
- Flights: We always start our flight searches with Skyscanner and Momondo. They are aggregators that display flight options, compiling information across airlines and combinations. What we like the best about these flight aggregators is that you can put “Anywhere” as your destination, so that you find the best flight deals from your city of departure.
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Wow! What a gorgeous place to visit. Thank you for the tour around, I’d never be able to see it for myself. Everything looked so fun, I love how pretty the beach looked and the waterfall captured my heart.
Thanks Leslie. If I may ask, why do you say that you will never be able to see Cuba yourself?
Wow! What a detailed itinerary! While I haven’t been to Cuba (yet), it doesn’t feel like you missed anything during your ten days on the island.
Hi Kristin, yes ours was a busy itinerary. But we would love to go back to Cuba – there is so much more to see and feel 🙂
I love how detailed this article is. You can never go wrong with an itinerary article either! I love traveling to unique places. All the tips that sometimes you don’t find I am sure will be super helpful too! I love that almost everything you need to know about going is in this article. I will definitely be putting this on my list of places to go! I think I would enjoy the many places you mentioned. How much would you recommend saving to travel to Cuba?
Thanks Stephanie. Glad that the article has been of help. Great question about Cuba travel budget – let us cover that in a different post, so that we can address other similar questions. The total budget will of course depend on how much you want to splurge or save. But to give you a perspective, you can find nice Casa Particulares in Havana for as low as 30 USD, as well as fancier hotels and Airbnbs for much higher nightly prices.
What – only ten days?! That’s far too short for this Caribbean paradise. However, I see from your post that you’ve made the best of your trip.
I was there for three weeks but did a lot of travelling – from Vinales all the way to Guantanamo.
Hi Renata. Agree that Cuba deserves many more days, but we also need to be mindful of our vacation days, haha. So, we did try to make the best use of our time in Cuba, but also always discuss going back to explore more of this fascinating country.
Excellent detailing has been depicted on all the places of attractionin in Cuba which any reader will be fascinated with to visit the country. One can visualise the country very easily followed by elaborate description with a number of excellent photographic illustrations. Please keep on exciting travel lovers like venturing countries.
Thanks for the kind words 🙂
I have often wondered how I would cover Cuba when I go. This was extremely helpful…exploring Havana and also getting a taste of the other towns, including the beach scene.
Thanks Carol, glad our post is of help.
Your write-up is so insightful for people like me who are so keen to step foot in Cuba for 10 days!! ❤
Glad to know that Em. Thank you. Have an awesome trip to Cuba! 🙂
Hi Pubali
All those activities and places you visited for 10 days in Cuba was owned by private parties? As you know as an American I need to visit Cuba based on “support of the Cuban People”
Thank you
Hi Matt. Throughout our Cuba trip, we stayed in Casa Particulares, which are basically home stays hosted by Cuban families. All of our planned activities were with Cuban individuals or families or companies.
For you, as an American, staying in casas hosted by Cuban families, dining at Cuban family owned restaurants and signing up for tours and activities with Cuban individuals/families/companies should suffice for the criteria of “Support for Cuban people”.
What a great itinerary. Do you have a list of the casa particulares and taxis you used? We are heading there next month and are finalizing plans.
I lived in Curridabat over 20 years ago when I was a student, Pura Vida!!!
Hi Gus. Thanks for your comment.
Sorry we could not get back to you earlier. I suppose you have probably already planned (or completed) your Cuba trip.
We had booked our Casa Particulares and Shuttle Taxis from a site called Havana Casa Particular. We were content with their listings, and prompt and clear communication.
How wonderful that you once lived as a student in Central Valley – must have been a memorable experience. Pura Vida! 🙂