How to Spend 5 Days Traveling in Cuba with budget!
Travel to Cuba had been on my bucket list for a long time. So when the previous administration started loosening some of the restrictions, I immediately started researching. On the other hand, my husband had many misconceptions about Cuba and it took me years to convince him to go. By then, the current administrations had already put restrictions back in place, but nothing was going to stop me.
A lot of my research pointed to visiting Cuba with either an American tour company or on a cruise. Neither of these options were for us. American tour company prices started at about $800 a day. I was flabbergasted by these prices. Cuba is extremely affordable, charging $800 a day is price gouging. And a cruise, while somewhat more affordable, would only give us an overnight in Havana. No thanks. Instead we followed my step-by-step guide for travel to Cuba, and came up with the itinerary below.
Travel tip 1: Even on a cruise, price gouging for day tours in Havana occurs. Book your tours independently or through Airbnb experiences.
Day 1: Travel to Havana
Daily Budget: $433 per person
Price Breakdown: Flight $307, Taxi $14, 1 night accommodation $54, Visa cost $50, Dinner $10
Every trip to Cuba will likely start and end in Havana. A vivacious city with so much to explore. When we arrived we took a taxi straight to the Airbnb where we just relaxed on the front terrace, drinking beers, and living our best life.
Travel tip 2: There are “spotters” at the airport that help you coordinate a taxi. They will ask yo “do you need a taxi” as soon as you get through immigration. They are somewhat aggressive but very helpful. The lines for currency exchange at the airport were too long, so our spotter helped us coordinate a taxi that took us to another exchange place closer to our Airbnb.
However, if I had the opportunity to do it again, I would do a old American car excursion right off the bat. Even though we were travel weary, a tour around the Vedado and Habana Vieja would have helped us get our bearings for the next day.
Day 2: La Habana Vieja
Daily Budget: $128
Price Breakdown: 1 night accommodation $54, Taxi to Habana Vieja $25, Meals $38, Misc. $14
No matter how you travel to Cuba, Habana Vieja, or Old Havana, will always be on the itinerary. We explored it on our own, starting at the capital building, which is right at the heart of Habana Vieja. After taking pictures from the steps of the capital, we walked toward the Floridita, the famous bar that Hemingway used to haunt. We eventually walked all the way to Plaza de la Catedral, and the Malecon. We paid $4 to go into the bell tower of the cathedral which allows you to get a great view of the plaza. This is also where my son proceeded to pee his pants, because we couldn’t get down in time! I know, and you’d think I would eventually learn, but as Homer Simpson would say “Doh!” Luckily, my daughter had some shorts on under her dress he could borrow.
Mom travel tip 1: ALWAYS stop and pee when given the opportunity, even if the kids haven’t said they needed to go.
Mom travel tip 2: ALWAYS have some extra clothes encase of emergencies!
There are a lot of different markets and areas to shop in Habana Vieja. I really regret not buying a piece of art to take home from the artists along the main street. There are also plenty of street food tours in Havana, which even though we did not do, would have been a great way to see the city and try all the wonderfully different foods!
Day 3: A Beach!
Daily Budget: $187
Price Breakdown: 1 night accommodation $54, Taxi to Varadero (split) $45, Meals $31, Misc drinks and beach rentals $60
Any travel to Cuba would not be complete without visiting one of the pristine beaches. We were originally going to visit Santa Maria beach in Playa del Este. Yet, when I went to go show my husband reviews of the beach, there were several reviews and pictures saying it was Portuguese Man-O-War season! We immediately pivoted to Varadero, where even though Varadero was further and more expensive, was safe from the jellyfish.
Travel tip 3: Extra research is key when traveling to tropical destinations. Inadvertently visiting during jellyfish season could really ruin a trip, and possibly land you in the hospital. On the other hand, traveling during a mass migration can also give you a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Since Playa del Este is where a lot of the locals go, I do think those beaches would have been more family friendly. There were so many resorts along the beach in Varadero that did not allow children to be on the property. However, Varadero ended up being the better choice for us, and we were able to work out location with the chair vendors. The beach was pristine, and the water was as clear as glass. I grabbed my snorkel gear, and swam out as far as I could and still could see down all the way to the bottom.
Days 4 and 5: Vinales and the Vinales Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Daily Budget (2 days): $245
Price Breakdown: 2 nights accommodation $50, Taxi to and from Havana to Vinales $60, Meals $60, Excursions $30, Souvenirs $45
Rolling cigars on a tobacco farm in Vinales, Cuba 
The different pieces of tobacco that go into making a Cuban Cigar 
Cigars from the tobacco farm 
The beautiful Vinales Valley
Vinales is a small town, but an absolute must see when you travel to Cuba. Also, spending a couple of days in Vinales really helps stretch your budget. We went on a horseback riding excursion through the valley to a tobacco farm. At the tobacco farm we learned about the process for growing, drying, and fermenting the tobacco before it’s ready to be rolled into a famous Cuban cigar. The farmer showed us how we can dip the cigar into honey to get a slightly sweet flavor when smoking one. We also learned about how they roast coffee over an open fire.
UNESCO has deemed this area to be a World Heritage Site due to the cultural significance of the farming methods used. You can see oxen plowing the fields and cowboys on horseback all while the Mogotes encircle the valley. Riding a horse through the valley in the early morning fills you with wonder.
Total budget: $1,000 per person (but you can really get away with cheaper than this
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Travel to Cuba – Again
As you know, I love to travel slowly, and I often have multiple itineraries for each country I want to see. Even though I almost always plan to return to a country, I usually feel content with the time I did spend there. This was not the case with Cuba. It almost broke my heart to leave such a beautiful country after only 5 days. Cuba is a much bigger country than I realized (apparently my geography skills suck), and I feel that I truly missed some great cities. If I had to do it again, I would travel to Cuba for at least 2 weeks. I would add Trinidad (another UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Bay of Pigs, and Cienfuegos.
Dear Cuba, I will be back!
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