Waking up every morning at the INNSiDE Habana Catedral to find Havana and all its history and culture on your doorstep is really amazing, but today you have decided you want to do something a little different. You’re still really excited about being in one of the most spectacular cities in the Americas. You’ve already done almost everything that has to be done in Old Havana, roaming through its squares, driving along the Malecón in a vintage 1950s car with the roof down, visiting all the museums and galleries, and partying in the clubs and bars while enjoying the most delicious cocktails.
But today you’ve woken up in the mood for something a bit more natural, something at sea or in the countryside. Your travel plan means you can’t travel too far from the city or stay overnight in another place, so after looking at all the alternatives, you’ve narrowed it down to two options: either a day in Las Terrazas, an eco-community managed by its residents with beautiful rivers and fantastic hiking trails or a visit to the eastern beaches to enjoy the gentle sea breeze and some water sports.
Given that it’s closer, you decide on the latter and set your mobile GPS to Playa Santa María, one of the seven beaches near Havana in an area known as Playas del Este, which also includes Playa Bacuranao, Playa Mégano, Playa Boca Ciega, Playa Guanabo, Playa Jibacoa and Playa Trópico. The best way to get there is in a rental car, but you can also get a taxi that will not take more than 30 minutes from your hotel.
The location near hotels, shops and water sports areas made you choose Santa María, but you were almost going to head for Jibacoa thanks to its fantastic scuba diving options. You can rent water sports equipment at any of the hotels in the area, and in the windier periods it’s a fantastic place for kitesurfing.
Today, the plan is just to stay close to a hotel and rent sunbeds and a sunshade before ordering a mojito or two and something to eat from a nearby bar.
As the breeze gently caresses your skin, you can then start to think about your next adventure, about the rivers, hiking trails, zip lines and aroma of moist earth.
Who says you can’t combine history, culture, nature and the beach on your next visit to Havana?
