Cuba’s Beaches

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A secluded beach in Cuba

Did you know that Cuba is known for its excellent scuba diving? Cuba boasts more than three hundred beaches, and now that it is becoming easier for American citizens to travel to Cuba, you will be able to enjoy some of the best beaches in the world very close to home. The best Cuban beaches are along the north coast, not far from Havana. In fact, Havana is one of the few cities in the world to have miles and miles of beaches so close by. The Playas del Este are a series of beaches along Cuba’s north coast, about twenty miles from Havana. They include a lovely beach with coconut palms and water sports called Santa María del Mar, as well as Tarará, a haven for scuba divers, just to name a few. A little farther east, on the Hicacos Peninsula, is the town of Varadero, one of the largest resort area in the Caribbean. The sand is like white powdered sugar, and the water is different shades of blue, green, and turquoise.

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Credit: Rebecca Smith

The old pier at Playa Esperanza, on the south side of Isla Vieques. What a perfect spot to practie speaking Spanish with the locals!