Beach Hopping from Santa Clara: Cuba's Hidden Coastal Gems Near Che's City

Santa Clara isn't a beach town—it's a revolutionary shrine. The city where Che Guevara's forces derailed an armored train and changed Cuban history sits approximately 50 kilometers inland from the northern coast. This positioning makes it perfect for travelers seeking both cultural immersion and coastal escapes.

I established my base at the boutique Hotel La Granjita, a modest yet comfortable establishment where the rooms open to verdant gardens. At roughly $85 per night, it offers exceptional value compared to Havana's inflated tourist prices. What it lacks in luxury, it makes up for with authenticity and location.

Before beach-hopping, spend at least two days absorbing Santa Clara's revolutionary spirit. The Che Guevara Mausoleum and Memorial is non-negotiable—I found myself unexpectedly moved by the eternal flame and the simplicity of the memorial, despite my typically analytical approach to historical sites. The derailed train cars at the Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado tell the story of Che's most decisive victory with rusting eloquence.

For transportation to the beaches, I recommend arranging a driver through your accommodation rather than renting a car. My driver, Carlos, became an invaluable cultural interpreter, pointing out details I would have missed while navigating Cuba's sometimes challenging roadways. For approximately $60-80 per day, you'll have the freedom to explore multiple beaches with local expertise guiding you.

An hour and forty minutes north of Santa Clara lies Cayo Santa María, connected to the mainland by a 48-kilometer causeway that stretches across the sparkling Caribbean. This journey itself is part of the experience—watching flamingos wade through shallow waters as the mainland recedes behind you.

While Cayo Santa María hosts several all-inclusive resorts, I recommend avoiding these tourist bubbles. Instead, I stayed at the boutique hotel, which offers a more authentic experience while maintaining comfort. The property blends Cuban design elements with modern amenities—precisely the cultural fusion that fascinates me.

Playa Periquillo captured my heart with its powdery white sand and gradient blues stretching to the horizon. Unlike Varadero's more famous shores, here you'll find ample space to spread out, even in high season. The beach's western end features natural rock formations creating shallow pools perfect for snorkeling.

What truly distinguishes Cayo Santa María is the preservation of its ecosystem. The causeway includes water flow channels to maintain the natural marine environment, and much of the cay remains undeveloped. As someone who's witnessed overdevelopment destroy beach cultures from Bali to California, I found this commitment to sustainability refreshing.

In the evenings, venture to Pueblo La Estrella, a purpose-built village center where local musicians perform traditional Cuban son and rumba. While designed for tourists, the quality of musicianship is extraordinary. I spent hours nursing a mojito while watching a septuagenarian percussionist create rhythms that would make professional cricket batsmen struggle with their timing.

Before crossing the causeway to the resort islands, I spent a day in Caibarién—a working fishing town that offers a glimpse into authentic coastal Cuban life. Known as 'Villa Blanca' for its white sand streets, Caibarién exists in a time capsule that financial analysts like myself find both perplexing and captivating.

The town's malecón (seafront promenade) lacks the grandeur of Havana's famous waterfront but compensates with authenticity. Fishermen mend nets beside the iconic giant crab sculpture—a monument to the town's primary industry. This is where I discovered the intersection of functionality and craftsmanship that defines Cuban coastal communities.

Visit the local fishing cooperative early in the morning to witness the day's catch arriving. Unlike tourist-oriented seafood restaurants, Caibarién's modest eateries serve catch-of-the-day prepared with generations-old recipes. At Restaurante El Pescador, I enjoyed the simplest yet most delicious grilled red snapper of my life for less than $10.

What captivated me most was discovering local artisans creating fishing implements that double as art pieces. These craftsmen fashion beautiful wooden tackle boxes adorned with marine motifs—the perfect embodiment of functional craftsmanship. I purchased one from an elderly gentleman named Rafael, who explained how his designs incorporated elements from African, Spanish, and indigenous traditions. It now holds my cricket memorabilia in Sydney—a perfect example of how traditional craftsmanship transcends its original purpose.

For beach enthusiasts, Caibarién offers access to smaller, completely undeveloped stretches of coastline. Ask locals about 'Playas del Este'—a series of small beaches where you might be the only visitor. Bring your own supplies, including a reliable waterproof dry bag to protect valuables, as amenities are non-existent.

While most beach excursions from Santa Clara head north, the southern coast offers equally compelling options. Playa Ancón, accessible from Trinidad (a UNESCO World Heritage site approximately two hours from Santa Clara), presents a different Caribbean experience altogether.

The journey to Playa Ancón takes you through the Valle de los Ingenios, where sugar plantations once fueled Cuba's colonial economy. This landscape—dotted with ruined sugar mills and colonial mansions—offers a stark reminder of Cuba's complex history. As someone who transitioned from investment banking to sports management, I'm fascinated by economic transformations, and Cuba's shift from sugar plantation to tourism economy tells a compelling story.

Playa Ancón itself stretches for nearly 4 kilometers along Cuba's southern coast. The sand here is slightly darker than the northern cayes, but the water remains that impossible Caribbean blue. What distinguishes Ancón is the mountainous backdrop—the Sierra del Escambray creates a dramatic contrast to the horizontal expanse of sea.

I stayed at Casa Particular 'Villa Maribel' in Trinidad rather than at the dated hotels near the beach. For approximately $40 per night, I enjoyed home-cooked meals and invaluable local knowledge from my hosts. Trinidad's colonial splendor deserves at least two days of exploration before or after your beach time.

For underwater enthusiasts, Playa Ancón offers exceptional snorkeling opportunities. I spent a morning exploring the coral formations with gear rented from the dive shop at Hotel Ancón. My underwater camera captured vibrant parrotfish and elkhorn coral in the crystalline waters—imagery that now illustrates my presentations on sustainable tourism investment.

What distinguishes Cuban beach communities from other Caribbean destinations is the preservation of traditional craftsmanship alongside coastal culture. As someone who's documented the intersection of traditional crafts and modern fashion across continents, Cuba's coastal regions offer fascinating case studies.

In Remedios, a colonial gem just 9 kilometers from Caibarién, I discovered artisans creating handwoven items using techniques passed down through generations. Local women produce intricate crochet work that rivals anything I've seen in fashion capitals, yet these pieces sell for a fraction of what they would command in Sydney or London. I purchased several doilies and table runners that now adorn my apartment, conversation pieces that connect my professional world with Cuba's preserved traditions.

The connection between craftsmanship and beach culture becomes evident in the fishing implements. Hand-carved wooden floats, often decorated with distinctive patterns, dot the shorelines. These functional objects reflect centuries of African, Spanish, and indigenous influences—a material culture that tells Cuba's complex history more eloquently than any museum exhibit.

For travelers seeking authentic souvenirs, I recommend bypassing the tourist markets in favor of direct purchases from artisans. In Caibarién's side streets, I found workshops where craftspeople create fishing-themed art from repurposed materials—sustainability born of necessity rather than trend.

Beach fashion in Cuba merits special attention. Unlike the branded beachwear of tourist enclaves, locals favor practical, often handmade items. The guayabera—a pleated linen shirt perfect for humid conditions—remains the staple of Cuban men's beach attire. I brought my favorite linen travel shirt from Australia, only to discover that local versions offer superior craftsmanship at a quarter of the price.