Playas del Este
A run of beaches half an hour east of Havana where the city goes to swim, busiest at Santa Maria del Mar.
Updated 1 September 2026
The Playas del Este are a chain of beaches beginning at Bacuranao and running east through Santa María del Mar, Guanabo and beyond, and they are what Havana uses in summer. Santa María has the best sand and the most services, Guanabo is a small town with restaurants and rented rooms, and the quieter stretches are between them. The water is warm and clear, the sand is pale, and the atmosphere on a summer Sunday is a Cuban city day out rather than a resort.
The landscape
- Santa Maria del Mar - the widest beach with the best sand and the most services.
- Guanabo - a beach town with restaurants, casas particulares and a local feel.
- The quieter stretches - sections between the main beaches, largely empty on weekdays.
- The Sunday crowd - Havana families out in force, with music, food and volleyball.
When to go
May to September is when the water is warmest and the beaches are busiest. Winter days can be cool and windy, with the sea rough after a northerly front. Weekdays are far quieter than weekends in any season.
Good to know
Facilities are limited and variable, and cleanliness on the busier stretches deteriorates through a weekend. Persistent attention from touts and hustlers is common at Santa Maria. Seaweed and jellyfish appear at certain times of year.
Nearby
Havana is half an hour west along the coast road, and Cojimar is between them.
What to pack for Playas del Este
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon
- Water shoes - Protect your feet on rocky entries, hot sand and sea-urchin spines. Find on Amazon
- Dry bag - Keeps phone, cash and keys safe while you are in the water. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
