Playas del Este — Attraction in Guanabo

Habana del Este is home to Playas del Este, a multiflavored if slightly unkempt beach strip situated 18km east of Habana Vieja. While the beaches here are sublime, the accompanying resorts aren't exactly luxurious. Rather, Playas del Este has a timeworn and slightly abandoned air, and aspiring beach loungers might find the ugly Soviet-style hotel piles more than a little incongruous. But for those who dislike modern tourist development or are keen to see how Cubans get out and enjoy themselves, Playas del Este is a breath of fresh air.

Reach there: you can take a bus in Central Park in downtown Havana that usually costs around 5 cuc round trip and it’s normally almost 30 minutes between each one.

Security: the beach is very secure, there are many police offices around. But I really recommend to be until late around that area.

Hotels around: there are few hotels around, the most famous is Mar Azul and there is other one close the Mi Catiyo Beach ... but there are many houses for renting around that area. It’s better to rent a “casa particular” in Boca Ciega area or Guanabo. The prices are around 30~60 and normally they include the breakfast. Those houses are very safe, so no problem.

Comparing this beach with Varadero: to be honest I really prefer this beach more than varadero because there are many options to do around and also it’s almost 30 minutes from downtown Havana and on top of...

Caught the $5 cucs, round trip air conditioned bus in front of the Hotel Iglaterra in Havana Cuba to the beach. It was about a 30 to 45 minute bus ride to the beach. There are 3 stops. Make sure to get off at the last stop. This beach has an umbrella and 2 beach loungers you can rent for $6 cucs or a grass but for $10 cucs. The water is warm and crystal clear. They have a little hut where you can purchase a coco loco rum drink. The sand gets very warm in the afternoon and the bus has return trips back to Havana every 40 minutes. Make sure to hold on to your ticket at the beginning of your trip to get back on the bus. We took our own beach towels, water and some chips to snack on. I loved this beach because the water was calm and the descent wasn't hard to maneuver to get in. I hope you love this beach as...

I've been going there for 30 years. Long beach with space for everyone: you can go to more crowded places with tourists and where you can rent umbrellas and beds, or to more empty areas with less people. It is generally clean. There are life guards during working hours, and red flags mean do not go in the water (or go at your own risk) normally because the sea is rough. A couple nearby convenience stores offer drinks and some snacks. Some people also sell you topical food, specially Tamales. Transport can be as easy as an affordable bus from Parque Central in Habana with air-conditioning, and there are plenty of more expensive taxis. It is very safe in general, but there is a little bit of risk if you leave your stuff unattended. Don't bring valuable stuff like your...