While Havana, with its grandiose architecture and vibrant culture, continues to be the number one place to visit for travelers to Cuba, taking a break from the city buzz will recharge your batteries and give you a broader scope of Cuba’s authentic experiences.

Let the sea breeze pamper your senses in Playas del Este or indulge your ecological side in Las Terrazas and Soroa. With so many great options less than an hour away from the Capitolio, Havana is the perfect base for a day trip filled with adventure.

Methods of payment for transportation vary depending on whether it’s private or state-run. For the Havana Bus Tour (to Playas del Este) and Viazul buses (to Viñales, Matanzas and Varadero), you’ll have to pay by credit card and will be charged in MLC, Cuba’s convertible currency, which has the same value as US dollars. Private taxis usually prefer foreign cash (euros are best). Agree on the currency and price before you start your journey.

Make the most out of every adventure with help from our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. If you have time, consider lingering for more than a day in the gorgeous Viñales Valley © mrtom-uk / Getty Images

1. Explore the beautiful landscapes of Viñales

Travel time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Viñales Valley, peppered with rare pin-cushion hills, is spectacular enough to warrant longer than a day trip if you have the time. The town is quaint in that ceramic-roof, cane-rocker-on-the-porch kind of way, and the hospitality of Cuban guajiros (countryfolk) is unsurpassed. Accept any invite to go horseback riding or hiking amid the oddly bulbous limestone mogotes (hills). Viñales becomes a rock climbing mecca…

Read Full Article Source