Cuba has plenty to discover beyond the palm-tree studded sands of its all-inclusive beach resorts. With its rich, centuries-old history, and quirks of nature, travel deeper and discover these hidden spots around the island.
Back in the early 20th Century chocolate baron Milton S. Hershey was in a bind. He needed more sugar for his growing Hershey chocolate empire in Pennsylvania. Cuba’s fertile plains answered his prayers. He established a model town, east of Havana, and built an electric train between Havana and Matanzas to get the sugars to port. Tour Hershey town, take a dip in the cool waters at the Hershey Gardens, and board the remaining working train from Hershey (now called Camilo Cienfuegos) down to Jaruco. You can even now stay in the town’s only B&B, an original restored Hershey home.
Not too far from Hershey is the small fishing village of Boca de Canasí, gateway to a beautiful coastline nibbled with coves. Explore from the Memories Jibacoa resort, just up the road, or from MontECOrales, a lovely B&B set in fruit gardens in the village. Snorkel out to sea and then right along the coast for a chance to sight rare corals, colourful darting fish and barracuda. Or cross the river mouth on foot, walk along the jungled coast path and jump into the turquoise blue coves you’ll encounter along this coast.
Boca de Canasi
La Boca is difficult to get to but it’s oh so worth it. It’s home to one of the most dazzlingly beautiful beaches in Cuba, Los Cocos. Lean coconut palms, their fronds bowed towards the sea, tower over a blindingly white beach curved around a sea of the most exquisite turquoise blue. Some of the locals serve up a fish lunch in the colourful homes of the fishing village. You’ll need to get to Camagüey city, then north to Playa Santa Lucía, and from there, west to La Boca.
Playa La Boca, Camaguey
Cuba’s easternmost point is Punta de Maisí. Most travellers visit from Baracoa. The eastern tip of Cuba was off limits for years but now you can stay in the area, visit the lighthouse, take a drink at the ranchón, try to glimpse Haiti from a look out, and then the best bit – take a 4WD to the sinkholes buried in the craggy limestone ledges of this remote region. Pozo Azul is scoured out of karst terraces. Pack your swimmers for the jungle-dressed cenote, fringed with ferns, which colours from emerald green to a brilliant shade of turquoise blue.
Cocodrilo was founded by English-speaking fishermen and turtle hunters from the Cayman Islands who named it Jacksonville. It sits at the very bottom of Cuba’s apostrophe-shaped Isla de La Juventud (Isle of Youth). The villagers – 122 families – live in the most remote spot in Cuba, three hours’ south of island capital Nueva Gerona which is, itself, a four-hour road and ferry journey from Havana. Visit for the gorgeous beaches, the unflustered bird life, the diving, and the chance to participate in a conservation project protecting local coral, turtles, and the coast.
Playa puncho, crocodrilo, Isla de la Juventud
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