Central Heartland
Welcome to the heartland of Cuba. This region covers a large portion of the island, and includes important cultural and natural destinations. Whether you’re strolling along the cobblestone streets of Trinidad or lounging on the white-sand beaches of Cayo Coco, you’ll be sure to enjoy your time in Central Cuba.
Ancon Beach
The white sands at Ancón Beach are a short, 10-minute drive from Trinidad. As such, it makes a perfect place to spend the day lounging in the sand and swimming in the Caribbean.
Explore PlaceTopes de Collantes Natural Park
The Topes de Collantes Natural Park dominates the forested hillsides above Trinidad. This park has excellent hiking and birding options, and it’s a delight to spend the day exploring its trails while staying in Trinidad.
Explore PlaceEl Nicho Waterfall
The waterfalls and natural pools at El Nicho provide travelers with an ideal place to cool off in the outdoors. El Nicho is about 1.5 hours from both Cienfuegos and Trinidad.
Explore PlaceTrinidad
Trinidad is a charming, colonial city in central Cuba. Its cobblestone streets, historic houses, and lively atmosphere help make it a top destination in Cuba.
Explore PlaceCamaguey
Camagüey, the third-largest city in Cuba, is known as the “City of Squares” for its many pleasant plazas. Strolling around the historic core of this city will give you insight into the culture of Cuba and the lifestyle of its citizens.
Explore PlaceSanta Clara
Santa Clara is a midsized town in central Cuba. It’s best known for its massive Che memorial, but the city is also a good place to soak up unfiltered Cuban culture.
Explore PlaceCienfuegos
Cienfuegos is a midsized town set along the south-central coast of Cuba. It has a pleasant colonial center, and French-styled boulevards that are perfect for strolling.
Explore PlaceCienaga de Zapata
Ciénaga de Zapata National Park is 82 miles (132 km) south of Havana, in Cuba’s Central Heartland region. This wildlife reserve protects miles of rare mangrove forest and swamps that are lively with unusual wildlife.
Explore PlaceCayo Largo del Sur
Cayo Largo del Sur has 16 miles (26 km) of picture-perfect white sand beaches. Visitors to this island get to choose from a bounty of all-inclusive resorts. The island has never had a significant Cuban population – it was developed simply so that visitors could come and experience its incredible beaches. Visitors typically spend their days bird watching, scuba diving, or relaxing on the beach.
Explore PlaceCayos de Villas Clara
The stunning islands of Cayos de Villa Clara are situated just off the northern coast of Cuba. Reached by a 31-mile-long (50-km) causeway, these islands boast lovely, uncrowded beaches.
Explore PlaceCayo Coco & Cayo Guillermo
Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are the two most popular islands in Cuba. Set along the north central coast, these islands boast beautiful beaches and azure-colored waters. Most of the hotels here are all-inclusive resorts.
Explore PlacePlaya Santa Lucía
Playa Santa Lucía is a 12.5-mile (20-km) long beach along the northern coast of Cuba. The hotels here aren’t as nice as those on Cayo Coco, but they do provide travelers with easy access to a beautiful beach and colorful offshore reef.
Explore PlaceA little more about Central Heartland
Central Cuba extends from Bay of Pigs in the east to Las Tunas in the west. This region is home to beautiful islands and coastal destinations, including the Cayos de Villa Clara, Cayo Coco, and Playa Santa Lucía. For a taste of real Cuban culture, make stops in the cities of Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, and Camagüey. And any trip through Central Cuba should include a few days in Trinidad, the colonial gem of Cuba.
The Autopista Nacional (National Highway) runs through the middle of this region, making most destinations easily accessible from this well-maintained road. The landscape varies significantly. Along the northern coast, there are white-sand beaches, jade-colored water, and mangrove swamps. The central part of the region is as flat as a pancake and devoted to agriculture, while the area north of Trinidad is home to the beautiful Sierra Escambray. These mountains have excellent hiking and birding opportunities.
In terms of beaches, this region has some of the best. The Cayos de Villa Clara are accessed by a manmade causeway, which allows you to easily drive onto these two contiguous islands. The islands are home to lovely white-sand beaches and a handful of all-inclusive resorts. The Cayos de Villa Clara are less popular than Cayo Coco, but are every bit as beautiful. Even so, Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are some of Cuba’s best-known destinations. Their powdery beaches shelve into turquoise waters and are a great place to relax on the beach. They are dominated by all-inclusive resorts and lack authentic Cuban culture, but are still a wonderful place to spend a few days chilling by the coast.
There’s also Playa Santa Lucía. Unlike the other two destinations, Playa Santa Lucía isn’t’ an island. This coastal destination is an hour from Camagüey and has a pleasant shoreline. The hotels here cater to a more budget-oriented crowd, and the offshore diving is some of the best in Cuba—you can swim with sharks and explore underwater shipwrecks.
The charming colonial city of Trinidad is located along the south-central coast of Cuba. This town is one of the country’s top destinations, and for good reason—the entire city is a national monument. Travelers will enjoy wandering its cobblestone streets and soaking up the inviting atmosphere. You can listen to live music or learn to dance salsa, or head to one of the many attractions that surround the town. These include the Valle de los Ingenios, which hosts the ruins of important sugar plantations, and the Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes, which has excellent hiking trails. What’s more, the lovely white-sand beach at Playa Ancón is just a short drive away.
The towns of Cienfuegos and Camagüey offer travelers insight into authentic Cuban culture. These two towns are excellent places to experience the less touristy side of Cuba—you’ll see kids playing baseball in the street and locals hanging out along tree-lined parks. Cienfuegos has a handful of historic sites that travelers will find interesting. Camagüey is known as the “City of Squares” for its many pleasant plazas. Spending some time exploring these plazas and the surrounding streets is rewarding, especially for those with a photographic eye. Santa Clara is home to the massive Che Guevara memorial. Visiting this monument is de rigueur for travelers interested in the cult of Che or the history of Cuba.
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