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Central Heartland, Cuba

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.

Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
Central Heartland Cuba
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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.

Personalized Trips for Central Heartland, Cuba

An Excellent Intro to Cuba, Cuba
Cuba
An Excellent Intro to Cuba

Customer Reviewed Our Cuba trip was excellent. During our trip we were met at the appointed times and all the tours were just as described and proved to be very interesting and joyful.

10 days $View Trip
History, Culture, and Exploring Nature, Cuba
Cuba
History, Culture, and Exploring Nature

Customer Reviewed Having Anywhere coordinate our trip to Cuba was amazing! We didn't have to worry about anything and always felt very safe and educated!

7 days $$$View Trip
Romance 101: Essentials of Cuba, Cuba
Cuba
Romance 101: Essentials of Cuba

Expert Choice Need a romantic overview of Cuba? Then this Signature Trip is for you. Assembled by Local Experts, this getaway is guaranteed to give you the ideal Cuban experience.

9 days $$$View Trip
Our Cuban Getaway, Cuba
Cuba
Our Cuban Getaway

Customer Reviewed I like the balance between learning from guides and having free time to explore. Daniel meeting us upon our arrival at Casa Prado Colonial was helpful. Giving us a . phone was a nice touch and made us feel cared for by Anywhere. We didn't feel completely on our won.

8 days $$$View Trip
 Tailored to Our Family, Cuba
Cuba
Tailored to Our Family

Customer Reviewed Our family was looking for a balance of beach fun, exotic nature, and experiencing the classical culture of Cuba for our two young adults. Anywhere delivered a tailor-made experience on this trip.

8 days $$$View Trip
See More Trips

Where to go in Central Heartland, Cuba

Trinidad, CubaTrinidad, Cuba
Camaguey, CubaCamaguey, Cuba
Santa Clara, CubaSanta Clara, Cuba
Cienfuegos, CubaCienfuegos, Cuba
Cienaga de Zapata, CubaCienaga de Zapata, Cuba
Cayos de Villas Clara, CubaCayos de Villas Clara, Cuba
Playa Santa Lucía, CubaPlaya Santa Lucía, Cuba
Cayo Coco & Cayo Guillermo, CubaCayo Coco & Cayo Guillermo, Cuba
Cayo Largo del Sur, CubaCayo Largo del Sur, Cuba
Ancon Beach, CubaAncon Beach, Cuba
Topes de Collantes Natural Park, CubaTopes de Collantes Natural Park, Cuba
El Nicho Waterfall, CubaEl Nicho Waterfall, Cuba
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Key Attractions

Ancón BeachEl Nicho WaterfallTopes de Collantes Natural Park

Key Destinations

CamagüeyCienfuegosSanta ClaraTrinidad
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