During your diving trip you will discover the underwater landscapes of Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Varadero. You will see everything from sunken ships and corals to hidden caves and rock formations! As a short water break, you will visit the tobacco valley of Viñales on the 5th or 6th day and learn about Cuba’s agricultural economy on a hike, horseback ride or bike tour.
We’ll be there to welcome you at the airport and take you to your accommodation—your diving trip in Cuba starts now. Take the first two days to settle in, explore Havana, and soak up the vibrant Cuban atmosphere. Stroll through the old town, hop into a classic car for a city tour, or just relax and get into the Caribbean spirit.
On day three, it’s time for your first dive. The Marlin Tarará diving station, located right on a stunning stretch of white sandy beach, is the perfect place to kick off your diving trip. Here, you’ll find incredible marine life, coral reefs, and even sunken ships that are part of Cuba’s national heritage. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or just starting out, this spot offers great diving courses and experiences for all skill levels. Prefer to start slow? The region is also ideal for snorkeling before you go deeper into your diving adventure.
For more spectacular dives, Cayo Levisa awaits. Just two hours west of Havana, this secluded island is a diver’s paradise. With only one hotel and access by ferry three times a day, Cayo Levisa is all about the underwater world. If you’re looking for even more hidden gems, the fishing village of Jibacoa, about 37 miles east of Havana, offers another great diving spot where you can explore Cuba’s underwater beauty.
For the next two days, your diving trip will take you into the nature around the Viñales Valley, a little further west inland. But you can also go on sporting expeditions without the sea and the coast. The valley has caves and rocks that you can visit on a hiking tour, by bike or even on horseback. The Viñales Valley is also known for its tobacco cultivation. On the tour, you can also visit a farmer on his plantation and watch him roll a real Cuban cigar.
Now you travel on to central Cuba, where you will undertake exciting dives over the next few days of your diving trip. The underwater landscape in the area around Cienfuegos is particularly characterized by its labyrinth-like caves, tunnels and rock crevices. The highlight is the impressive coral-red rock formation “La Dama del Caribe”. You can also discover more than 10 sunken, very well-preserved shipwrecks in this diving zone! In addition to great diving spots, Cienfuegos also has a beautiful old town with many stately colonial-style buildings. Our tip: After an eventful day underwater, you can enjoy the evening sun with an ice-cold mojito on the Malecón of Cienfuegos.
Your diving trip takes you further to what is probably the most beautiful colonial town in Cuba. The cityscape of Trinidad is characterized by cobblestones and small, one-story houses that exude a very special flair. Horse-drawn carriages crossing your path are not uncommon. Enjoy this place where time has stood still. With the local diving school, you head to a different unique diving area every day, such as the nearby Playa Ancón. There you can explore the sandy bottom, which is patched with coral, and be swarmed by many tropical fish: an experience for both recreational snorkelers and experienced divers. A second diving spot is Guajimico, which is characterized by a great landscape above and below water. In this section of your diving trip, roam through the forests of Guajimico and discover hidden caves and bays. But the diving here is also particularly exciting, as there are tunnels and walls everywhere that are suitable for wall diving.
Towards the end of your diving trip, you will cross the center of Cuba and arrive on the north coast, if you wish, via a worthwhile stopover in Santa Clara. The most famous seaside resort in Cuba is Varadero and is the perfect end to your diving trip. There are also great underwater landscapes to discover here. A unique attraction is the Cayo Piedras del Norte Marine Park, where ships were deliberately sunk to create an artificial biotope. The local diving center offers you a wide range of different diving courses in english as well as spectacular night dives. If you are longing for relaxation after the sporting activities of the last few days, you are in good hands on Varadero’s kilometer-long, white sandy beach.
Your diving trip ends where it started. You will be taken to the airport in Varadero / Havana, from where you will take your return flight. Exhausted, well rested and definitely full of new impressions of the country and the underwater world of Cuba, your diving trip ends and you fly back home. Have a nice flight!
You can get the tourist card (Tarjeta de turista) from us, your tour operator (starting at just 27.50 euros, including VAT / excluding shipping costs). You can also get the card from the Cuban embassy in Germany or from most airlines, directly at the airport. It is valid for 30 days of travel, but can also be extended on site (once for 30 days, for a fee of 25 CUC – in cash – at the airport). When entering the country, you must present the tourist card together with your passport. This visa, which you fill out yourself before entering the country, is stamped when you enter the country. You should keep the part that is not retained, because you will need it when you leave the country. If you lose your tourist card, this can lead to unnecessary discussions and a longer stay at the airport.
Cuba is very safe for its residents and tourists. This is also because Cubans know how important tourists are for the economy in their country. However, we recommend paying attention to the following:
Don’t walk alone through completely unfamiliar parts of town. Valuables such as expensive jewelry, camera equipment, etc. should be carried hidden on your body or, ideally, left in the hotel safe, especially if you are traveling at night or in poorly lit areas.
We recommend that you also make a copy of your passport and leave all original documents, identification papers, flight tickets and large sums of money in the hotel safe. Fraud and theft are becoming more and more common, and occasionally robberies or violent crimes are also occurring.
For Cuban airports, we recommend carrying valuable items in your hand luggage.
You should also be careful in the event of a flat tire and at gas stations, as thieves take advantage of the distraction of vehicle occupants when changing tires or refueling to steal valuables and luggage unnoticed.
In principle, Cuba is a very safe long-distance travel destination. The country can be easily traveled on your own. Of course, the same rules apply in Cuba as when traveling in any other country. It is best to carry your wallet on your body. Valuables such as cameras and cell phones should be held tightly if you carry them openly. Always keep an eye on your valuables on the beach and be very cautious of hitchhikers who want a ride.
Do not carry all your cash with you, it is best to spread it out over several places on your body. The amount of money you are carrying should not be displayed. Just as in the big cities of other countries, more caution is required in Havana and Santiago de Cuba than in other areas. Since hurricanes or earthquakes can occur in Cuba, you should also pay attention to the regional weather forecasts and familiarize yourself with advice on what to do in the event of an earthquake.
BLOCKING EMERGENCY NUMBER: Germans can have their debit cards, credit cards, cell phones and some other electronic authorizations blocked using the blocking emergency number ++49 116 116. The caller is connected to the publishers of the respective media, provided they have joined the blocking emergency number. It is best to save the number in your cell phone. A list of the connected publishers can be found on the Internet at www.sperr-ev.de.
In Cuba, “devices with GPS” are officially banned. Smartphones such as iPhones and iPads were not allowed to be imported for a long time. But: Nowadays, every traveler and Cuban has a smartphone. In reality, importing the devices is absolutely no problem. When you enter the country, no one is interested in your phone. Luckily, because this means you can access offline maps for later navigation and orient yourself using the GPS signal.
If you have any questions or problems during your trip, first contact the emergency numbers provided in your travel documents. You can reach our office in Havana at this number. If you have any questions for the Cuban Embassy, you can use the following contact details:
In Germany
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
Stavangerstrasse 20, 10439 Berlin
Email: consulberlin@t-online.de
Homepage: www.botschaft-kuba.de
In Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
Kaiserstrasse 84 Vienna 1070
Email: secembajador@ecuaustria.at
Homepage: www.ecuaustria.at
In Switzerland
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
Gesellschaftsstrasse 8, Bern 3012
Email: consulcuba.berna@bluewin.ch
For emergencies that need to be dealt with locally, such as if you have lost your passport, you can always contact your respective embassy in Cuba:
German Embassy Havana
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Calle 13, No. 652, esq. B, Vedado, Havana, Cuba
Phone: +53 7 833 25 69
Emergency telephone number: +53 5280 5942 (can also be reached via SMS and WhatsApp if necessary)
Swiss Embassy in Cuba
Embassy of Switzerland
5ta Avenida no. 2005, between 20 and 22, Miramar, Playa, Havana, Cuba
Phone: +53 7 204 26 11
Austrian Embassy Havana
Embassy of Austria
Avenida 5ta A No. 6617, esq. a calle 70, Miramar, Havana, Cuba
Phone: +53 7204 28 25
Driving in Cuba is no problem and very safe. But try to free yourself from the all-too-German driving style, because in Cuban traffic you will find every type of driver, from the Caribbean-relaxed to the temperamental. Road conditions and signage depend entirely on the region, as in all of Latin America. Tourist destinations and main roads are almost comparable to German quality workmanship, although on remote routes “pothole alert” and “no signs” are often the order of the day.
Petrol stations are available nationwide. However, you should of course expect national peculiarities, such as a petrol station that simply hasn’t been supplied or that unfortunately doesn’t have electricity when you visit (important when paying by credit card).
However, nighttime journeys should be avoided due to the various small peculiarities in traffic and, for example, the street lighting, so that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound. Please do not let this text put you off: driving in Cuba is always more than worth it. Exploring uniquely beautiful landscapes on your own or getting to know the country and its people in a completely different way is always best done by car.
Important: There are occasional fuel shortages in Cuba. During such times, we explicitly advise you against using rental cars during our travel consultation, as these shortages can lead to you standing in queues for hours or simply not being able to get any petrol.
At the moment, the import of GPS-enabled devices, including GPS-enabled smartphones, is (actually) prohibited. As I said: “actually”. We have never heard of a case in which Cuban customs officials confiscated a cell phone from someone upon entry. The same applies to GPS trackers.
We keep hearing that GPS-enabled devices don’t work in Cuba. That’s not entirely true. In the Sierra Maestra, we had a GPS tracker with us on our hike and it worked perfectly.
In the meantime, the laws in this area are being relaxed step by step. Nevertheless, GPS navigation systems are still not allowed in Cuba. It is best to get a map in advance or install an offline map. That’s what we do when we travel with Cuba Buddy. One recommendation that we use ourselves is Map of Cuba offline.
If you need more tips, please feel free to ask us. The current apps have the advantage that they contain street directories, maps, points of interest, etc. and you can also enter your accommodation, for example.
We can also recommend Maps.Me, as the app works great offline. Install the apps while you are still in Germany and start them to test them. Often some settings still need to be updated or maps downloaded. So really take a short time in Germany and test all the apps. Try to see it as the start of your Cuba adventure. That way it will be more fun and easier.
