How to Go Beyond Havana and See the 'Real' Cuba, According to a Top Travel Advisor

"For many travelers, Cuba evokes thoughts of Havana's iconic vintage cars, mojitos at sunset, and beautiful music echoing through cobblestone streets. But beyond the capital lies a Cuba that is rarely seen, where mountain farmers, coastal fishermen, grassroots artists, and independent creatives quietly sustain the island's cultural and natural heritage. As someone who plans trips to Cuba for a living, I delight in helping visitors uncover this lesser-known side of the island."

"In the eastern mountains outside the city of Bayamo, life is defined by the land. Visitors are welcomed into the homes of campesino families, or farmer families, where they can share comforting meals and stories. Here, guests can ride on horseback through shaded forest trails, and evenings unfold around the fire with roast pork, rum, and a game of dominoes. These exchanges provide a rare window into Cuba's rural heart, a world that seldom feels the effects of tourism."

Cuba's rural and coastal regions reveal mountain farmers, coastal fishermen, grassroots artists, and independent creatives who sustain cultural and natural heritage. Travelers can stay with campesino families outside Bayamo to share meals, horseback rides, and communal evenings around the fire. Baracoa on the northeastern coast offers manatee boat journeys in Bahía de Taco and guided treks through Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, plus Taíno-inspired dinners and changüí music. Trinidad and the Topes de Collantes forest feature off-grid family life, hidden rock pools, and locally prepared meals. Community-based, immersive travel experiences provide direct support to local people and ecosystems.

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