Diving and Driving
Habana, Viñales, Cayo Levisa, Playa Girón
Diving and Driving is among the best cuba travel packages. Hence, “Diving and Car to Cuba” has been designed to unite the best in land and sea. You can combine these two attractive offers and manage your trip with your car to manage your time.
Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel or house. Accommodation and Dinner.
After breakfast, leave the city on the highway (A4) towards Pinar del Río (A4). You will drive an hour, more or less, on this wide road, almost without traffic. Before seeing the detour to Las Terrazas (at 52.5 km) turn right. You will head to the impressive Sierra del Rosario. An area of 25,000 ha with tropical forests, plants and wild orchids, declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco. The region is a delight for nature lovers. Consider having a cup of coffee in the quaint town of Las Terrazas or going for a walk.
When approaching Pinar del Río, the landscape becomes wavy and green. After the city of Pinar del Río, the road snakes towards Viñales. The landscape is dazzling. Fields of bright green tobacco, guarded by fertile ground vermilion color and interspersed with dark green cedars and towering palms. Meanwhile, farmers plow fields with oxen alongside iconic tobacco drying houses guarded by majestic “mogotes.” Characteristic formations that give this area its unique charm. Accommodation in a hotel or Bed and Breakfast.
Access to the beautiful beach of Cayo Levisa is by boat from the port of Palma Rubia. It has three daily departures at 10:00 am, at 2:00 pm and at 6:00 pm (Tickets are included if you have made a reservation for the Hotel Cayo Levisa, otherwise you can buy it at the place, it costs 15,00 USD per person/trip, subject to change).
You will pass through Rancho San Vicente, La Palma and Manuel Sanguily before reaching the small port of Palma Rubia, from where the ferry leaves. The car will stay here in a guarded parking lot.
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and is considered a diving paradise. The reasons are no secret. The crystalline waters stand out with favorable temperatures throughout the year and underwater visibility of up to 30 m. In addition, the coral reefs and numerous islands (cays) here, block the strong currents that reach the coast. These are the perfect conditions to appreciate the abundant and multicolored underwater flora and fauna.
Cayo Levisa is part of the Colorados Archipelago and has a beautiful coral reef off the coast. It has more than 120 species of fish, 200 species of sponges and many other marine animals. Here, we have a slogan that defines us by its reality: “life is a beach and then you submerge”.
The return ferry from Cayo Levisa leaves every day at 09:00 (and at 12:20 pm and 5:00 pm). Once on land in Palma Rubia, take the main road east to Bahía Honda. Continue to Mariel – Guanajay (where it becomes the A1 Highway), skirt of the periphery of Havana. Stay on this route, National Freeway is also known.
Soon you will arrive in the province of Matanzas, a fairly flat area, characterized by fields of sugarcane and citrus. Continue to Jagüey Grande, where you will turn right, passing Guamá, before continuing to Playa Larga or Playa Girón. Both places are 34 kilometers further south, in the Bay of Pigs. Divers of all levels come here for superlative diving (and snorkeling).
Between Playa Girón and Playa Larga is the Cueva de los Peces. Overflowing with an impressive variety of tropical fish. It is a marine cave, a geological formation created when the roof of an underground river collapses. Playa Girón became famous when it was the site of the nefarious mercenary landing supported by the United States in 1961.
The peninsula or Ciénaga de Zapata has become one of the most important diving destinations in Cuba. It’s not a surprise: the conditions for doing so are considered among the best on the island. There are 11 dive sites, all accessible from land, without the need of a boat and making the dives more affordable.
Here ends our detailed itinerary guide. Independent travelers always have a wish list that they take advantage of to fulfill and design their own adventures. We recommend you to continue to Trinidad and stay for 3 or 4 days. From Trinidad you can go straight to catch the flight back.