2 days in Miami might not seem like a lot of time but trust me that this itinerary will give you that small Miami boost that you need. This Miami 2 day itinerary is perfect not just for cold season travels but can be referenced all year round.

If you have more time in my favorite city, you can check out my full Miami guide or even my Miami to Key West one and if you’re traveling with your girlfriends, then check out the Miami Girls Weekend guide! Both offer unique ideas for visiting Miami and I am sure you will find something that aligns best with your upcoming trip.

I hope this itinerary will give you exactly what you need to have the perfect 2 days in Miami!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

Day 1: Brunch + Design District + Night Activity

But first, let’s Brunch

Brunch is an absolute must to start your Miami exploring. Some ideas for a good meal:

• Mandolin – Mediterranean food, located in Design District, cool Greek aesthetics 
• Cvi.Che 105 – Stylish Peruvian chain with a couple of locations in the city
• Kalamata – Another Mediterranean spot with high-quality fresh dishes
• Mila – A boujee MediterrAsian restaurant and rooftop lounge with a unique brunch
• Orange Blossom – A typical brunch spot. Make sure to check out the back patio.

Design District

The Design District is a vibrant and dynamic neighborhood that celebrates design, fashion, art, and architecture. It’s one of the fairly newer neighborhoods in Miami and I have to say it’s pretty impressive! In my previous guides, I always mentioned that this area was on my Miami to-do list and I’m happy to say that on my last visit, I got to explore it!

As you stroll through the Design District, you’ll be amazed by the stunning architecture that surrounds you. From the restored historic buildings to the modern structures designed by the world’s top architects, every corner is a feast for the eyes.

The Design District is also a shopper’s dream. From high-end luxury fashion brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada, to independent boutiques and concept stores, you’ll at least indulge in some window shopping like myself. There are some restaurants on site too if you want to take a break from exploring!

Dinner Time

A nice dinner is a must in Miami and there is no shortage of places to have one. Here are some fresh options for you however if you’d like more, head over to the full Miami guide I mentioned earlier:

• Gitano: Have some good Mexican among gorgeous Tulum vibes
• Contessa: Old school Italian located in a modern Design District
• The Bazaar: Dine in Jose Aviles’ boujee Latin restaurant

Night out in Miami

If a 24-hour club in Miami or walking down Ocean Drive along with all the other tourists is the last thing you want to do on a night out, don’t worry, I have better choices for ya. Don’t get me wrong, you certainly have to experience the Miami classics as well but at a certain point you’ll want to try something new instead. I personally don’t want to club until 4 am anymore but still want to have a great night in Miami! So I’d recommend the following alternatives:

Viernes Culturales or Cultural Fridays is an event in Little Havana that takes place every third Friday of the month starting at noon. There will be music, dancing, local artisans, good food, and awesome drinks. Go at night for a fun vibe and a very cute cultural experience. Even if you don’t happen to be in Miami on the third Friday of the month, Little Havana at night is a fun place to be!

Another unique option and totally opposite of a neighborhood party are events at Faena Hotel. If you don’t know Faena, it’s a super boujee hotel that most of us can’t afford to stay at. However, a drink or a show at night, although not cheap, are cool glimpses into Miami Luxury stays. Currently, you can see Allura Cabaret on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at the Faena Theater! In addition to the show, they have live music events along with some rotating shows. Dress to impress and enjoy a nice night out!

Day 2: Beach + Exploring + Activity

Beach time

Do not forget to schedule beach time into your 2 days in Miami! It would honestly be a sin not to take a nice stroll along the beautiful coast or to lay out and soak in the sun for a little bit. The beach hugs Miami on the east side and most of it is public. You can rent chairs at pretty much any point and a lot of hotels have some sort of beach chair arrangement.

On my most recent stay, I stayed in my new favorite Miami hotel, The Confidante, and I enjoyed the beach in that area. I also spent the morning soaking up the sun and swimming in a heated pool.

Afternoon Exploring

Before you explore, don’t forget to grab a bite. If you don’t want a formal sit down, a good place for a quick but delicious bite is the TimeOut Market. Although they’re pretty touristy, I do enjoy them because they do a good job of gathering the local specialties in a nicely situated place where you can also grab a decent afternoon cocktail!

Now back to exploring. Miami has a ton of exciting neighborhoods which I go into detail about in my full Miami guide. However, here’s a quick recap on some:

• Wynwood – What started as a hipster neighborhood with funky murals, coffee shops, and industrial vibes turned into a highly desired living area with $20 drinks. Nonetheless, a visit is well worth it and if you don’t want to spend too much, stop at a brewery like Veza Sur or Cerveceria La Tropical.
• Little Havana – Always a favorite of mine to grab a fresh Mojito and enjoy the Cuban vibes.
• South Beach – The most touristy yet iconic part of Miami with Art Deco buildings, and streets like Ocean Drive, Collins Ave or Espanola Way.
• Brickell – Financial area of Miami with high rises and drink spots on rooftops.
• Coral Gables – A boujee neighborhood with shopping, tree-lined streets, mansions and the famous Venetian Pool.

or some cool Miami activities …

If you’ve been to Miami a couple of times already or if you’re looking for something outside out of the most touristy spots, here are some ideas for unique Miami things to do:

Miami Nature Activities

Miami has some awesome nature spots that people often forget to check out. If you’d like to check out some unique vegetation, head over to Miami Beach Botanical Garden in South Beach, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden or The Kampong both in Coral Gables.

You can also do a classic Everglades tour on an airboat! Some tours pick you up from Miami while others are located in the Everglades National Park.

Tour ideas

Another fun thing you can do is check out some of the local tours. These are pretty unique and give you a totally new perspective on the city! I always recommend a good boat day but there are many more things to do in Miami. Here is a list of cool activities I found with some top-rated reviews!

That’s a wrap on 2 days in Miami!

Miami is truly one of my favorite cities around. Even a quick 2-day getaway gets me the Miami boost I desperately need. Whether it’s your 1st or 20th time in Miami, this city’s vibe is really unmatched. And while you can totally spend the entire 2 days in Miami on a beach, or boat, or sipping drinks by the pool, if you’re an explorer like myself, I hope this guide gave you some new ideas for your upcoming trip!

Don’t forget to check out my Miami to Key West itinerary! Key West truly feels like another country and is a really iconic place to visit in your lifetime.

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With that said, I am here to bring you an awesome one-week Dominican Republic itinerary that doesn’t involve staying at an all-inclusive resort! It will let you see three different sides of the country and give you a small glimpse into life there.

Traveling the more local way in the Dominican Republic requires some preparation, especially if you’re going to rent a car. The island is pretty big and there is a good chunk of places to visit in the Dominican Republic. People fall in love with this destination, especially a lot of older European men if you catch my drift. For me, it was probably a one-time stop but nonetheless, I did have an awesome time here. Today, I am here to give you an awesome itinerary on how to spend 7 days in the Dominican Republic!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

Let’s get to the logistics

Tips on traveling to the Dominican Republic

• DR ain’t cheap. I’m not sure why but I imagined that I would be spending very little money there. Although some things were indeed pretty cheap, things added up quickly at the end of the trip. FYI the currency is the Dominican dollar and the conversion between USD is about 55:1.
• Renting a car is an adventure and gas costs a shit ton. More on that below.
• Restaurant bills are confusing. First, you pay an additional 18% tax, and then a 10% service charge. That charge is supposed to be a tip but from talking to locals, I learned that a lot of times that amount doesn’t even go to the waiter. So if you really did like your service, some people leave an extra tip on top of that. When you think your beer is only $3 because of the menu price, think again.
• Speaking of restaurants, the service is honestly the worst I have EVER experienced. And in every corner of the island too. Only at a couple of places, I had amazing and friendly waiters but at most, it was just plain annoying. The locals have no problem snapping and yelling at the waitstaff but I just couldn’t do it. Patience will be your best friend when eating out.
• DR is a poor country so don’t be shocked at the number of ladies/gentlemen for hire there. An older European gentleman accompanied by a young local girl is a total norm there. Walking on certain beaches you might also be offered unsolicited services.
• While you should always be purchasing travel insurance anywhere you go, make sure to purchase it for the Dominican Republic. I always personally use Allianz as they came in clutch when I got robbed in Spain 🙂

Best time to go to the Dominican Republic

February to April is a good time because the temperatures are decent and it’s not hurricane season but it’s also peak season with a good chunk of tourists. May and June get hotter, drop a little in crowds, and chances of rain increase (most of the rain is very quick to pass through). After July the months are known for lots of rain. A detailed list of the best months along with national holidays can be found here.

I visited in March and the weather was perfect, although tbh I expected the ocean water to be slightly warmer than it was. Whenever it rained, it would pass by quickly and didn’t affect my exploring too much. The nights would be summer chilly meaning I’d have to wear a light sweater at night.

How to get to the Dominican Republic:

There is no shortage of airports in the Dominican Republic. If you’re traveling during peak season and Punta Cana flights are crazy expensive, try flying to other airports instead. I personally flew into Puerto Plata (POP) airport in the north and flew out of Santo Domingo (Las Americas SDQ). It saved me about $400 in airfare and allowed me to see more than just touristy areas of Punta Cana! There are a couple of other smaller airports on the island too, depending on your origin/destination connections. Things to consider:

• Puerto Plata Airport: Located in the north part of the island. Not very crowded and easy to fly into from the NYC area. It’s close to Puerto Plata and Cabarete.
• Santo Domingo Airport: This is a very local airport and I did not see many tourists there the two times I was there. Flights are early in the morning and late at night which makes it a little more difficult to get to. I had to drive to this airport at 3 am despite all advice not to drive at night. It’s located about 30-45 min from Santo Domingo and 2 hours from Punta Cana.
• Airport in Punta Cana: As a tourist, this is probably the most convenient location as almost all people who stay at Bavaro area resorts fly here. It’s also the most expensive.

To rent or not to rent a car in the Dominican Republic

For most countries that I visit, unless I know that the public transport is amazing, I always rent a car because I like the freedom of getting around. Before my trip, I went into the deep hole of the travel forums on the safety of renting a car in the Dominican Republic. The majority of online people tell you that it is a horrible idea due to crazy drivers, lack of rules, corrupt police, and the danger of driving at night. Naturally, I wanted to see whether everything that was said was true and rented a car there. Even after arrival when we talked to locals they were surprised that a young tourist (and a woman) would rent a car and go on a driving adventure.

Was it all true?

Yes. Yes, it was. Driving in the Dominican Republic is nuts. There are cars, motorbikes, animals, and people, sometimes not even going in the correct direction of traffic. Would I do it again? Absolutely. While driving there isn’t for the nervous driver, if you follow the rules, stay aware, and are super careful, you will be ok. However, this is coming from someone who drives in New Jersey and New York in her day-to-day life. If you’re not a confident driver and you tend to get nervous and stressed, skip the rental. Otherwise just know that while driving won’t be easy, it will give you the freedom to see more than you would otherwise.

Car Rental in Puerto Plata airport

At Puerto Plata airport, I rented my car with Europcar from Booking. I never had bad rental experiences until my trip to Mexico and since then, now I always triple-read the fine print and make sure to have all my paperwork ready. The agent was nice but he did try to pull a couple of tricks to get more $$ out of me. I used my credit car insurance which includes putting down a hefty $3k deposit. My Chase Saphire has not failed me yet with car rental coverage even when my car got broken into in Tenerife, so I always decline all coverage and go with the card one. A person in front of me said she waited over 1 hour to get the car but I got mine in about 15 minutes after finishing the paperwork.

Car Rental in Santo Domingo Airport

Even though I picked up my car in Puerto Plata, I was flying out of Santo Domingo so I had to drop off the car there. This, by the way, includes a one-way fee that you will need to pay with the rental company. Dropping off the car rental in Santo Domingo was not a great experience as the agent tried to tell me that a dime-sized imprint on the car is subject to damage. Although I took many initial pictures, the size of this was so small you couldn’t see it. He insisted on filling out a damage report in Spanish and blaming me for the “dent.” I refused to sign anything and left. It’s a shame that even after paying a ton of money (peak season rates) the car companies still try to screw you over, leaving you with a bad taste in your mouth. So, shame on you Europcar.

Gas Station Scams

Another thing that can royally piss you off is the gas-station scams. The most common is the pump not being zeroed out before you fill your tank. In DR you cannot do it yourself and there isn’t a shortage of gas attendants trying to pull tricks on tourists. During my first gas station stop (near Juan Dolio), I got out of the car and made sure to watch the zeros on the pump. The attendant could not have been nicer, washed my windows and we had a nice interaction.

My second stop (near Boca Chica) was a disaster. Although the attendant zeroed the pump, mid-way he asked me to check if my tank is full, and while I looked away for a second, he zeroed the pump and started it the second time. I didn’t get to see the first amount but I know for a fact that his number was at least double what it should have been. He also insisted I sad premium rather than regular. Despite my protest in Spanish, I had to pay most of his scam price but I disputed the charge with my credit card company. So moral of the story, when pumping your gas, get out of the car and watch the pump like a hawk.

So … with all that said, should you rent a car in the Dominican Republic?

If reading my stories above would affect your overall mood on the trip in a very negative way, then maybe you shouldn’t rent a car. If you’ve dealt with similar situations above and look at them as part of your travel experiences, then rent a car 🙂 If you choose not to rent one, there is public transportation connecting the major cities.

Ok, now that you have the basics of what to prep for before your visit, let’s get to the one-week itinerary! I divide up the plan into 3 stops and include awesome places to visit in the Dominican Republic.

An awesome one week Dominican Republic itinerary

The Dominican Republic is a big country. Compared to driving in its neighbor Puerto Rico where places were reachable within a couple of hours, in the DR, you won’t be able to see the whole island. I suggest the following general route with local activities: Puerto Plata -> Santo Domingo -> Punta Cana. These three areas are very different allowing you to see different angles of the island.

Stop 1: Puerto Plata & Cabarete – 3 days

Where to stay in Puerto Plata area

Located in the northern part of the island, Puerto Plata is an area not as commonly visited by the majority of tourists compared to Punta Cana. Not only is flying there is cheaper but you will also experience the variety of landscapes that this part offers. You will have the Atlantic Ocean side, cute beach towns, mountains, and a nice local town. It’s known for water activities, relaxing or adventure tours. Since this was my first stop, I didn’t know I would end up liking it the best. I would say that if you want similar vibes to a resort stay but don’t want the resort part, Puerto Plata area is your answer. Although there are many less crowded resorts in Puerto Plata area too.

I personally stayed at the best hotel ever Cabarete Eco Lodge. It was a beachfront eco-hotel with open-air rooms, a small pool, and a bar & restaurant. Now it’s certainly not for everyone as the open-air concept doesn’t allow for much privacy (you do have curtains though). For me though, it was brilliant. The location was decent, it took about 30 minutes by car from the airport, and then to get to the main part of Cabarete, it was another 10 minutes by car. There are many other hotels and even more Airbnbs in the area too, the only thing I would recommend is being beachfront.

Things to do in Puerto Plata

I recommend 3 days in Puerto Plata but rather than my usual day-by-day plan style, I will give you a la carte list of things to do in Puerto Plata. That way you can choose to have 3 full days of activities or 3 full days of laying on the beach.

Puerto Plata Beaches – Half to full day

Puerto Plata is an actual town and the Atlantic Ocean beaches are located east and west of the town. And Beaches in the Dominican Republic are just amazing so make sure to spend at very least half a day relaxing on one. If you like water sports, Cabarete has a ton of them including kite surfing. If you like to tan and drink cocktails on the beach instead, there are plenty of spots to do that as well. Needless to say, whatever you choose to do, you will love what the area offers for this activity. Here are the most popular spots in the area:

• Sosua: A very popular beach for locals and tourists alike. It gets very busy on the weekends too. You will have white sand and turquoise water along with many beach shops and restaurants.
• Cabarete: The small town of Cabarete has a nice beach with some bars and restaurants. There are neighboring beaches like Kite Beach known for water sports.
• Playa Dorada: A beach to the west of Puerto Plata town. Has a lot of all-inclusive resorts
• Key Paradise: This little sandbar can be accessed on a tour and includes snorkeling, swimming in crystal clear waters, and little booths for lunch. Keep in mind that mind day a ton of people arrive there.
• For a complete review of beaches, Two Monkeys post has an awesome full list of the beaches too.

27 Waterfalls/27 Charcos/Waterfalls of Damajagua – Half day

This half-day excursion is amazing and something you should certainly do when visiting Puerto Plata but before you book it, let me tell you what it entails. I personally booked the excursion without knowing what I would be doing exactly. Naively I assumed that I would simply do some hiking and admiring of the local waterfalls. When we got to the first waterfall, my heart almost exploded out of my chest as I stood on the edge …

Here is what the excursion consists of:

• You can book an excursion with tour providers ($70-80) or you can drive yourself if you have a car and pay ~$10 entry that includes the same thing. Although I had a car in DR, I choose a tour provider because I had no idea you can do this independently … If you have a car, there is no need to book a tour online.
• Once you arrive you will get your vest, helmet, and water shoes. Make sure you rent/bring water shoes! It will be very uncomfortable if you don’t. A tour guide will take you through the waterfalls.
• First, you will walk about 30 minutes through the jungle to reach the waterfalls. It’s mostly uphill but nothing crazy. Your introduction to the river will begin there, you will slowly start your walk toward the first waterfall.
• Ok, here is where I realized I had no idea what I signed up for. From the start, you’re told that you can jump, slide or go down the ladder if you’re scared. When you reach the first waterfall, you quickly realize that you pretty much only have the option of jumping. The ladder in my opinion is scarier.
• I had no idea I was scared of jumping into the water. Although the jump was a little over 20 feet, the narrowness of the caves gave me legit anxiety. I was shaking and my heart was pounding but I jumped because there was no better alternative to get down.
• You repeat this a couple more times and toward the end, there are a couple of slides.
• In my group, everyone jumped, including the older tourists too so it felt like I had to as well. Some people were just as scared as me though but we overcame our fears and just did it.
• Would I do it again? No way. As beautiful as the location and the hike are, this was not enjoyable for me because I was scared. If you know you don’t like cliff/cave jumps, do not do this. If you do enjoy this type of adrenaline you will absolutely love the whole thing 🙂

Puerto Plata Town – Half Day

Most beachfront hotels are located within the Puerto Plata area, not necessarily near the actual town. The town itself is a cute little half-day excursion so make sure to set some time aside for seeing this gem.

Start your trip by taking a ride to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres on the local cable car or Teleferico. The ride takes approximately 15 minutes and includes stunning views of mountains and the town. When I visited in March, it was closed for maintenance but has reopened since. Its operating hours are between 8:30 am to 3 pm.

After your cable car ride, head over to Fortaleza San Felipe Fortress, a historical fortress built to defend the city. The structure offers panoramic views of the ocean and a nice park to stroll around. Locals like to catch the sunset from there too in case you want to come back later in the day.

When you’re done exploring the fortress, take a 15-minute walk into the center of the historical Puerto Plata. Parque Central is the main plaza with beautiful Victorian buildings and Cathedral San Felipe. Two blocks over you will find two cute picture stops, the Umbrella Street (Calle San Felipe) and the vibrant pink Paseo de Doña Blanca. Lastly, if you like drink/food “museums” there is the Macroix House of Rum or Del Oro Chocolate. Personally, you couldn’t pay me to go into one but some people love these types of places 🙂

Puerto Plata Nature Activities – Half Day

There are multiple awesome activities you can do in the Puerto Plata region:

• Monkey Jungle: A monkey sanctuary and/or a zipline adventure located near Cabarete.
• eXtreme Hotel: Has a trapeze school!
• ATV & Horseback Riding Tours: There are a ton of tour providers in town for both of these activities. I don’t have a specific one to recommend but a simple TripAdvisor search will give you a bunch of them.
• Kiteboarding School: Puerto Plata is known for kiteboarding. Why not try something extreme and take a lesson from the pros.
• Laguna Dudu: This beautiful Nature Preserve is located almost two hours from Cabarete. It has a cenote and a small lagoon into which you can zipline jump. There is a park in which you can picnic or a restaurant on-site too.

Where to eat in Puerto Plata

Staying in Cabarete Eco Lodge, I was spoiled with their awesome hotel restaurant’s homemade food so I honestly did not venture out much during this leg of my trip. GaminTraveler has an awesome Puerto Plata Food Guide post and Alex in Wanderland has a beautiful post on Cabarete food.

Stop 2: Santo Domingo – 2 days

From North to South

The transport between Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo is fairly easy. If you rented a car, the drive is mostly on the highways. Driving near Santo Domingo is stressful though so I won’t even sugarcoat it. If you don’t have a car, jump on a bus like Caribe Tours for example, and take this 3.5-hour journey to the southern part of the island.

Fun detour: If you have the time, you can take a small detour toward Jarbacoa, to the Jamaca de Dios restaurant. It’s certainly not a short one and the drive requires some local driving but the views from up-top are super worth it. The restaurant is located on a hill in a gated community, which honestly has the worst roads I have seen in such an upscale area. It’s an in-and-out drive though, you can’t make a loop back to the highway.

Where to stay in Santo Domingo

Whether you decide to stay in a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb, just stay in the Zona Colonial area. The rest of the city isn’t that appealing although the Airbnbs with rooftop pools do look enticing. As a huge fan of hostels, there aren’t many hostel options in town, you pretty much only have Island Life as an option. That is where I stayed and although there is nothing wrong with it, it wasn’t the most exciting hostel I have stayed in. I wish they organized some activities like walking tours or hostel dinners to make the stay in Santo Domingo a little more interesting.

Things to do in Santo Domingo on your Dominican Republic itinerary

Zona Colonial

I’m going to let you in on a little secret about Santo Domingo: there isn’t much to do in the city aside from Zona Colonial (and don’t be mad because you know I’m right). Zona Colonial is a charming area though so spending half to one day exploring is the ideal time there. Many people that I have met there love it as a place to live and I could see the charm of it, small town, good food, cheap cost of living and a community feel. But as a tourist, after you see the highlights, you just end up walking around the same area. Nonetheless, here is a list of places you should add to your walk:

• Parque Colon: This town square/park is the heart of Zona Colonial is where you will find many locals and tourists hanging out. There is a church, a small park (with lots of pigeons), and some restaurants surrounding the area.
• Calle El Conde: The main shopping street in town. It’s a nice walkway with some street vendors, bars, and restaurants. Connected to Parque Colon, you won’t have to go far to find it. Walk all the way down and you will reach Parque Independencia.
• Plaza de la Hispanidad: A beautiful plaza with Alcazar de Colon, a fortified palace owned by the Columbus family as the backdrop.
• Calle Las Damas: The first paved street in the Americas which has a ton of history. If you don’t read about the history you will be a lost puppy like I was. It carries a lot of significance and you should either read about it prior or do a walking tour on the street.
• Mercado Modelo: A market with tons of souvenir shops.

Don’t forget to come back to the square at night either.

Tres Ojos

Tres Ojos or Three Eyes is a park a short ride away from Zona Colonial. As the name suggests, there are 3 cave pools, kinda like the famous Mexican cenotes, which you can admire on your walk. You can enjoy this natural wonder and takes some awesome pictures too. The park is the perfect oasis in the middle of a busy since but the bad news is that you can’t swim there. The whole excursion won’t cost you much, an Uber from Zona Colonial will run you about $5, and the entrance to the park another $2.

Day Trips to Beach Towns

You can see everything you want to see in Santo Domingo in a day so I recommend heading to a local beach town for the second day of your stay in the area. You can take the highway Route 3 east or west to visit some beautiful beaches.

Boca Chica: To be clear, I am not recommending a day trip here but rather telling you to avoid this place. I actually ended up staying a night there to be close to the airport and expected a quick cute local beach town stop. A lot of travel blogs show you pictures and hide certain aspects of a place. I knew Boca Chica had its reputation but I didn’t realize to what extent. So let me be totally honest with you here, Boca Chica is grimy and unless you’re staying at a hotel with a private beach, you might not like it. The hotel I stayed at was on the cleaner side of town and I visited some crazy overpriced restaurants. A walk on the beach was gross and I was scared to walk around there at night.

Juan Dolio: There are two parts to Juan Dolio. One is a local, much nicer alternative to Boca Chica and the second is a smaller town that has some luxury gated communities near Playa Hemmingway. If you have an extra day or so, I recommend renting an Airbnb in that area as many of those complexes provide resort-style amenities. Both of the beaches have crystal clear waters, white sand, and amazing palm trees. There really isn’t much to do there aside from lounging on the beach.

Additionally, I will say that I had amazing meals there (although not cheap) so I will recommend a couple of restaurants in the area that I tried myself. Major disclaimer, these are not local style, they’re located in the more boujee Playa Hemingway area so the crowd there is very different.

• El Concón: Located literally at the very end of Juan Dolio, this place was super tasty. The ambiance of the restaurant was also super cool with all the plants and decor.
• El Mesón Español: Also another gem in the area with really tasty food. I recommend sitting outside too for a nice patio atmosphere.
• Sal Marina: The food here was 10/10. I really enjoyed this spot.
• Gulia’s: Every travel blog and TripAdvisor post talks about this place for breakfast but unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to visit. Maybe you should and then report back about how it was 🙂

Dunes of Bani: Want to experience a random dessert with views of a baby blue ocean as your background? Speak no more and head to Dunes of Bani. It will take you about an hour and a half from Santo Domingo. You can rent a sandboard and have some fun sliding it down.

Stop 3: Punta Cana – 2 days

Getting there

Continuity on our Dominican Republic itinerary, to get from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana you can drive for about 2 hours or if you don’t have a car, the option of a $10 Aptpra bus from city to city. Private transfers run between $100-$150 for the trip. If you’re driving, as a tourist do not drive over 100 km/hr as you will be certainly stopped by police that wants to make some money 🙂

Prepare for a change of vibe – tourists

I debated going to Punta Cana on my itinerary as the goal for this trip was to stay away from resorts. But at the same time, I felt like I wanted to see that side of the country too and why it’s so popular. I didn’t hate being there but at the same time, I quickly remembered why I didn’t want to stay at a resort to begin with. As soon as I drove past the Punta Cana Airport, the “resort-tourist” vibes began.

Don’t get me wrong, people love their resorts and I love a more local way of travel. At the end of the day, I get scammed at a gas station and have to worry about bribing the local law enforcement and my resort counterpart gets to sip on margaritas in the pool …

After spending time in Cabarete, Santo Domingo, and then Juan Dolio, this was a mini-culture shock on my itinerary. I decided to add this part to the itinerary because at least this way you get to see the contrast between the North, the capital, and the touristy east.

Where to stay in Punta Cana

Obviously, Punta Cana is known for resorts, here are some decent ones too, so that might not be a horrible option if you stayed in Airbnbs and non-resort hotels for the first part of your trip. I personally stayed in an Airbnb in the Los Corales gated community. The location was right next to the beach and within a short walking distance of restaurants. The Airbnb itself was just ok so I won’t recommend it to you.

Things to do in Punta Cana

Staying two days in Punta Cana you have the following options: beach day for day 1 and a day trip to Saona Island or an adventure park. If you’re a person who likes activities, sorry pal, there aren’t that many of them here 🙂 This is truly a town for a resort person.

Beaches in Punta Cana – Full Day

Punta Cana is known for its beaches and there is a good reason for that. And if you’re going to visit any beaches in the Dominican Republic, it should be there. They are really really pretty and the first time you see that amazing baby blue water you understand why people love the location so much. If you’re not staying at a resort, don’t worry, you can rent beach chairs, hang out at bars like Soles, or do any water sports pretty much anywhere. The beach is pretty long, you can walk up and down to find the spot that vibes with you the most.

Some places will have beach chairs available to guests only but you will notice that a lot of bars and others advertise daily rentals for a small fee. There are areas in which you can simply lay on a towel too.

Day Trip to Saona Island

Ugh, I really really hoped this wasn’t a tourist trap because I booked it on Airbnb but it was a total tourist trap. Hear me out though …

You book a day excursion from Airbnb experiences where you’re promised an all-inclusive boat ride to a small island where you will lounge, starfish, and then a party catamaran return later. You look at the pictures and you think, omg this looks amazing, how can they possibly ruin this …

Ok here is the sad reality: You spend 2 hours on the bus in the morning picking up random people from resorts, you take a crowded boat to a natural pool where a photographer forces you to take photos (that you obviously have to pay for), you drink cheap rum out of mouthwash cups, you get to the island which is so crowded that you can’t find a spot to lay, the all-inclusive part is a plate of chicken and rice, and when you return on a catamaran which is actually cool.

Were the views amazing? Yes.
Did I see a starfish? From far away, could have been a crab tbh.
Was it enjoyable? Some parts.
Would I do it again? Not again but the scenery was so beautiful that the headache was worth it.

Activity Parks – Full Day

For a resort town, there aren’t many good activities in the Punta Cana area. Compare Playa del Carmen in Mexico where although touristy, the majority of the tourist parks are actually fun. I didn’t do any of the activities because the more I read people’s reviews on them, I knew that it was not really up my alley. However, in case you want to do your own research here are your options:

• Ecological Park Ojos Indigenas: An ecological park in which you can swim in some lagoons, enjoy nature and walk around. The reviews are mostly positive for this place but note that there is a $50 entry fee. It doesn’t seem like you get much out of that though.
• Scape Park: An adventure park with zip lines, cave swimming, a buggy ride (for an extra fee), and some nature trails. It’s crazy expensive for what it offers too, $130 or $160 entry fee. Reviews seem mixed, some love it others say the price is way too high for what you get.
• Bavaro Adventure Park: Another adventure park with buggy rides, horses, and zip lines. Also crazy pricey at $140 a person pop and without the ability to take your own photos. I had fun reading Google Reviews about this. It seems like this park holds you, hostage if you make a small dent in the buggy.

Final Thoughts on a week in the Dominican Republic itinerary

When I look back at my one week in the Dominican Republic, I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I really enjoyed my time in Cabarete and the northern part of the island. It was a beautiful beach destination and not crazy touristy. I wish I spent more time there and had the chance to see more of the northern cities. Visiting Santo Domingo was ok, nothing that spoke to my soul. The city felt limited in terms of what to do and outside the colonial zone, there really wasn’t much to see. Lastly, as beautiful as the beaches were in Punta Cana, that whole area was just too resort-y for me. The whole trip was pretty expensive too for what it was.

Would I recommend visiting? I’ll take a neutral stance here. I don’t think we’re meant to love each place to the same extent and each person is supposed to have their own experiences in a particular destination. I’m very happy I got to do this trip outside of resorts as it allowed me to see many different parts of the country and get a glimpse into a more local side of it. I hope that at the end of the day, my itinerary either gave you an awesome Dominican Republic itinerary for your visit or clarity if you’re on the fence about going. Rather than hyping up a destination for what it’s not, I always try to be honest about what it entails and I hope I accomplished that here too.

My favorite part was certainly the beaches in the Dominican Republic and that’s the one thing that made this whole trip worth it.

Map and Downloadable Dominican Republic Itinerary

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Puerto Rico is a stunning island with baby blue waters, amazing mountain views, tropical forests, and even more stunning smaller islands nearby. While 4 days in Puerto Rico is certainly not enough to see the whole island, it is a good introduction, especially for first-time visitors.

I focus on making the most of your time-off with short stay itineraries so that’s what I plan to give you today. My guide will walk you through all the necessary logistics to travel to Puerto Rico and ideas on how to plan your days. This 4 day Puerto Rico itinerary is perfect for a first-time visitor or someone looking for a quick weekend getaway.

¡Vamos a Puerto Rico!

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through there 🙂

Let’s Get to the Logistics of Visiting Puerto Rico

Before jumping straight into the itinerary, I want to prepare you with the necessary logistics of visiting Puerto Rico. While they might not be as involved as visiting Bolivia or Peru for example, knowing what to expect will go a long way and save you any possible stress on arrival.

Puerto Rico FAQ

• Puerto Rico is a US territory so you can just travel as you would in the states. Your license is enough and you don’t need a passport to travel there.
• The currency in Puerto Rico is the American dollar. Although the prices in smaller shops and restaurants aren’t too expensive, expect more US comparable prices in the main touristy areas.
• A lot of people are bilingual so you can get away with speaking English in the tourist areas but knowing basic Spanish will make your life much easier.
• The drinking age in Puerto Rico is 18 but a lot of clubs will be over 21.
• Tipping is standard just as it is in the US, especially in areas like San Juan.

Best time to go to Puerto Rico

Good news, the best time to visit Puerto Rico is any time! You can visit Puerto Rico all year round as temperatures stay pretty consistent throughout the year. The high season is June to August and expect it to be a tad colder between late November to early March. Don’t forget that September is also the peak of hurricane season so it might be more rainy compared to other months. Note that the mountains are more chilly than more coastal locations so consider where you’d like to travel and pack accordingly.

I visited the island twice, both times during May which is considered the shoulder season. In my opinion, it is the perfect month to visit the island. The water in the ocean was decent to swim in and I was able to get a good tan. I stayed in three different parts of PR, San Juan, Aibonito, and Guanica, and loved the weather in all those locations during that time.

How to get To Puerto Rico

I am lucky because from NYC, there are multiple daily flights from all the airports in the area to Puerto Rico. However, there are connections to the main airport in San Juan from pretty much all major airports in the US.

When you land, you can now get an Uber pickup at the airport which wasn’t the case a couple of years ago. Alternatively, you can grab a cab for a little over $20. If you have a lot of luggage or have a bigger group there are shared airport transfers or private ones as well.

Transport on the Island

I will just say that renting a car is the best way to see Puerto Rico in 4 days. There is an island Metro Bus but with changing schedules and a reputation for being late, I would save myself the headache if you want to see more than one area of the island. However, if you’re only planning to stay in San Juan, Ubers will be sufficient and I would not get a rental in that case.

I picked up my rental at the airport, had no issues at the counter, and was super happy to have the independence of traveling around. If you decide on a little road trip in Puerto Rico, prepare for some twists and turns in the mountains.

I always use RentalCars.com for my car rentals as they have a good selection of vendors and are available in most places.

If you’re from New Jersey like me and never had to pump your gas, when I rent cars, I always google how local gas stations work 🙂 In Puerto Rico, you will have to pump your gas (just like anywhere else outside of New Jersey really). Simply pull up to the pump and go inside the station to pay for the pump that you parked at. A full tank is Spanish is el tanque lleno.

Where to stay during 4 days in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has it all, fun historical cities, stunning beaches, small neighboring islands, and mountains so if you only have 4 short days, plan out your stay based on the route you will take. I recommend reading my guide before deciding on where to stay. For this particular itinerary, I suggest San Juan -> Culebra -> Ponce area but if that’s too dense for you in 4 days, consider San Juan and Ponce only.

San Juan Area

In the northern part of the island, San Juan offers history, a lively atmosphere, and beaches. But San Juan isn’t just one area to stay in, it has a couple of neighborhoods to choose from:

• Old San Juan: This area is the historical portion and also the most touristy. Stay there for a city vibe, restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Consider the colonial El Palacio Hotel
• Condado: Right next to Old San Juan, you will find boujee Condado with luxury hotels, high-end stores, and of course awesome beaches. Consider the beachfront La Concha Resort
• Ocean Park: Going away from Old San Juan, the next beach area where people love to stay for its more quiet vibes is Ocean Park. You’ll find really nice hotels and more of a tranquil kinda vibe. Consider the Bohemian Duna Apartments
• Isla Verde (Carolina): The next town over is closest to the airport. I liked this area for the beach and the restaurants. It’s way quieter too but still super stunning.
  Consider the beachfront Marriot Resort

Here is an awesome blog that goes into a ton of detail about San Juan areas with specific recommendations for hotels and restaurants!

People & safety in Puerto Rico

Overall, Puerto Rico is considered a safe destination for tourists with crime rates lower than a lot of parts of the US. If you’re staying in Old San Juan, you should be ok but don’t let your guard down either. Driving there is pretty safe, the roads are good and drivers are fine for the most part. Oh and also, apparently car theft is still an issue so make sure not to leave any belongings in it and lock up!

Sightseeing options in Puerto Rico

There is so much to do on the island, especially if you only have 4 days in Puerto Rico. We will dive in below on the specifics of what to see! The route I recommend for a first-timer that wants to see the most from the island is the following: San Juan -> East Side: Yunque and Fajardo -> Culebra -> Drive through mountains towards Ponce.

Perfect 4 day Puerto Rico itinerary

Don’t forget to save my map at the bottom of the page with all the recommendations below.

Day 0: Arrival in Puerto Rico

If you’re like me and you channel an old (but active) lady traveler, I love to fly in the night before your trip. It lets me settle in, nest in my Airbnb, and get a good night’s sleep before starting my busy itinerary 🙂 So, if that’s something you relate to and your first night is in the San Juan area, settle in and head out for a quick bite or a drink.

I flew into San Juan airport in the early evening. For my first night there, I stayed in the Condado area. It’s close enough to Old San Juan but after settling in, I decided to walk down the street and eat at Tayzan Sushi which 1) was delicious and 2) was open pretty late which worked with my arrival, and 3) it has interesting fusion dishes. There are many spots on Ashford Ave (main street of Condado) that serve late-night food so finding a place to grab a bite shouldn’t be a problem on late arrival.

Day 1: Exploring San Juan

Ok guys, this one is kind of obvious but you should start with San Juan for your day 1 of the 4-day itinerary. I get that walking around cities might not fascinate you much but I promise that this town, especially Old San Juan shouldn’t be skipped. It’s nice and colorful, full of history and tasty stops for food and drinks. It can be done in half a day if you really wanted to but that would require an early start. Here is a simple route to see the highlights of San Juan on your first day in Puerto Rico!

La Ventana del Mar

If you’re coming from the Condado direction, before entering the historic zone of Old San Juan stop at this cute little park called La Ventana del Mar. It is a public space with a beautiful view of the ocean, a small beach, sculptures, and a couple of restaurants and bars. It’s a nice first impression of San Juan and I enjoyed this beautiful spot before heading into the historic areas.

Castillo de San Cristobal

There are two fortifications in the city of San Juan, one of them being Castillo de San Cristobal. If you’re not planning to dive deep into the history of San Juan’s defense, it is a nice area to take a stroll through. The views from there are awesome and it’s worth stopping at.

Tip: If you’re also planning to visit the second fortification, the $10 entrance fee covers both entries.

Plaza Colon

After visiting the fort, head over to Plaza Colon. It’s a lively town square surrounded by shops and bars. I recommend grabbing a street snack or a drink in this area and taking time to pause and do some people-watching. This is also a good place for some artisan shopping. Don’t forget to grab a chichaito shot at Los Tres Cuernos 🙂

If you’ve read any of my other guides, you will notice that I almost always catch a walking tour of the city. I did attempt to go on one in Old San Juan that had a meeting point at Plaza Colon. But it never showed up … So I’m happy that I prepared a plan beforehand because otherwise, I would have been scrambling last minute on Google.

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

After soaking in some Old San Juan vibes, head to Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Many people recommend going inside and experiencing the beautiful views that you will get from above. Personally, after visiting the first fort, I simply enjoyed spending time on the lawn. It’s a huge outdoor space and it was nice to relax there for a little. The lawn is also a very popular place for people flying kites.

While there, don’t forget to grab a street snack like an empanadilla, alcapurria, bacalaito or chicharrones! If you’re in the mood for something refreshing, try a Puerto Rican shaved ice or piragua!

Another noteworthy location in that area is Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery. It’s a beautiful burial ground facing the ocean. You can walk past it and say a little prayer to all those buried there.

Street Stroll

Heading back to the main part of Viejo San Juan, take a stroll among the most known streets in town. First walk along Calle del Cristo, a nice colorful street that’s a perfect backdrop for some awesome photos as well as a spot for some shopping. Next walk over to Calle de San Justo, which had a beautiful view leading into the ocean. Calle de la Fortaleza is the street with all the colorful umbrellas or kites (whichever display is there at the moment). And lastly, Paseo de la Princesa will lead you to the port and the famous fountain. That’s a good spot for sunset if you will be returning at night too.

La Perla

I will briefly mention this place for awareness but since I did visit I am in no condition to provide you any advice on it. This ocean-front neighborhood connected to Old San Juan got more attention as it became the filming location for Despacito.

Upon my first visit, I was told by two people who grew up in San Juan that I should not visit this place under any circumstance. More recently, I noticed a ton more articles popping up about the tourism efforts and being able to visit. Even Discover Puerto Rico promotes it on its page. So I say do your research to decide whether or not to visit this part of town but know that it has a very dangerous history due to poverty and drugs. No matter what you decide, I wouldn’t recommend going there at night.

Food & Drinks in Old San Juan

For some good food and drink grabs, try the following places:

• El Jibarito: A popular spot in town but who wouldn’t wait for a little for authentic Puerto Rican food that gets consistently good reviews?
• Hecho en Casa: Awesome spot for mofongo.
• Marmalade: For an upscale experience that is worth every cent, visit the amazing Marmalade.
• La Factoría: Arguably the most famous bar in town and of course, the filming location of Despacito.
• Barrachina: Another very know place in town that claims to be the birthplace of the Piña Colada. It was pretty but I found it extremely touristy for my own taste.
• La Verguenza: A nice spot with rooftop views of the ocean.

Here is a very descriptive guide on more restaurants in town to try.

And for your nightlife in San Juan, which you certainly shouldn’t miss out on, I have a couple of places for you too.

• La Placita de Santurce: A part of the Santurce neighborhood that comes to life as it gets darker outside. It’s a connection of a couple of blocks filled with music and dancing.
• El Cafetin: A fun bar in the heart of Old San Juan.
• Club Kronos: If you want to feel a club atmosphere, head to Condado to visit this gem.
• El Bar Bero: A cocktail bar speakeasy if classier nights are your thing.
• El Batey Bar: A little divey but nonetheless very fun.

Day 2: El Yunque & the Beach

During your 4 day Puerto Rico itinerary, you won’t be able to see everything so I suggest picking something that aligns with your interests. However, if you’re a first-time visitor, I strongly recommend going to El Yunque, the national forest.

El Yunque National Forest

Located a short drive from San Juan (a little over an hour), you will find a stunning tropical rainforest, the only one in the US. There are two entry time windows, one morning and one afternoon and you pay per car. Don’t forget to make a reservation before your visit.

Once there, you’ll have numerous waterfalls, stunning viewpoints, and hike routes to choose from. If you’re hiking make sure to plan your routes ahead of time but if hiking is not your thing, you can just simply take a drive through it too. Make sure to stop at Yokahú Observation Tower.

If you’re planning to see this stunning forest, I recommend Angie’s guide which is a very detailed plan for the day.

Afternoon options

Now, option one for the night: If you’re planning to head back to San Juan I recommend driving to Carolina (Isla Verde), the nice and chill beach area of San Juan. Take a nice dip in the ocean and relax for a bit. The area has many restaurants and bars to enjoy during the second part of your day. Recommendations for your food and drinks in that area:

• El Alambique: A beach club restaurant with really good food.
• Lupi’s Mexican Grill: Mexican food in PR? Why not?!
• Panaderia España: Although not beachfront, I made a quick stop there for some croquetas and I was not disappointed.
• Bebo’s: A local spot that might not look the most inviting but has a selection of some tasty BBQ. It is also a short drive from the beach.

For your second option, you can spend the night on the eastern side of the island to be closer to the Ceiba port from which you can take the ferry to the stunning islands of Puerto Rico on the next day. Another bonus of staying in that area for the night is the option of seeing the Bioluminescent Bay (Laguna Grande) located in the city of Fajardo. The drive from Fajardo to Ceiba Port (the departure port for the islands) takes only 20-25 minutes compared to over an hour from San Juan.

Day 3: Visit one of the amazing islands of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has stunning islands on its east side that are reachable by flight or ferry. The flights from San Juan can be pricey but will certainly save you some travel time. They are also accessible from the Ceiba Port located an hour from San Juan airport. That’s why if you’re planning to take the ferry, I recommend spending the previous night closer to the port.

Note that you cannot take your rental car to the islands which might be ok for a day trip or an organized tour. The islands are also connected to each other by ferry so who says you can visit both (although that might be a little hectic). You have the option of doing a day trip or spending the night there. Make sure to know your ferry times well if you’re just spending the day there.

Culebra:

The first island is Culebra. It is home to the famous Flamenco Beach, named one of the best in the world, and a spot to dive or snorkel or just simply relax! Culebra has stunning white sand beaches. I did not visit the island (which I deeply regret) so I cannot give you a detailed guide but I found this blog that has an amazing plan for a trip there.

Vieques:

The second island, Vieques, is a nature lover paradise with some stunning beaches too! In Vieques, you will find the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world Mosquito Bay. Also, there are only 5 of them in total and 3 are in Puerto Rico! Here is another super informative full guide to the island. Side note about the bays, if you google them, most of the pictures you’ll find are heavily photoshopped. Don’t expect them to be that bright.

I’d say that staying a night on the island will give you a little more flexibility with exploring and not stress you out by making sure you take the ferry. Even with staying one night, when you get back the next day you can still have enough time to explore more of the island.

Day 4: Exploring a more local side of Puerto Rico

If you’ve either returned to San Juan or if you spent the night on one of the islands, today you will take a scenic drive from either direction toward Ponce. Most of the roads in the middle of the island offer amazing views of the mountains and are perfect for a super short Puerto Rican road trip. What will distinguish an awesome trip to Puerto Rico from simply a typical one that everyone else takes is days like today.

Although a one-day road trip may not seem too short to see much, I promise you that on this leg of the itinerary you will see a more local way of life, practice more of your Spanish, and see places that a lot of tourists do not venture off to. This is why I recommend getting a car for the island. It will give you the freedom and allow you to dive deeper into the local culture.

Mountain drive toward a lechonera

No matter where you’re driving from, I recommend putting Lechonera Los Pinos in your GPS. That area in the mountains is known for the restaurants that serve amazing roasted pork or Lechon. Honestly, most of the restaurants in the area will have similar dishes but debate with the locals which ones are their favorite 🙂 It is certainly one of those Puerto Rican bucket list items you will remember! I vividly remember sitting at an outside table, sipping on a cold Medalla with a nice plate of rice and pork. I’m pretty sure I was the only tourist there too at that time.

Quick stop in Aibonito

After your lechon stop, put in La Curva del Árbol in your GPS for the first scenic spot, it is a really nice viewpoint. It should take you a little over 30 minutes to get there. After that, head toward Aibonito (20 minutes), a small mountain town that is the highest elevation on the island. There isn’t much to do in the town per se but the drive through the mountains will be worth it. If you choose to stop there, the town has a main plaza with nice surrounding streets so you can grab a drink or ice cream in town. If you’re short on time, you can skip Aibonito and head to Ponce from the last viewpoint.

Exploring Ponce

For your last spot of the day, you’ll head toward Ponce which is another amazing town in Puerto Rico. From Aibonito, it will take another hour. There you can wander around La Guancha Boardwalk or visit Parque de Bombas, or do a wine tasting at Museo Castillo Serralles.

As your 4 day Puerto Rico itinerary is coming to an end, you can head back to San Juan (1.5 hours) to prep for your flight home. If your flight isn’t until the next day, I recommend staying in the area of Ponce. I personally spent a night at Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa arriving late afternoon. Although it was only one day, I really enjoyed the resort. It was waterfront, had a nice bar and jacuzzis, and pretty nice rooms.

More ideas for your 4 day Puerto Rico itinerary

If for some reason you’d like a different option for one of the day options above, feel free to swap it for some other amazing things to do in Puerto Rico:

The western side of the island:

If you rented a car, another road trip you can take is toward the western side of San Juan. Rincon is one of the bigger towns there, is known for surfing and other outdoor activities. More specific ideas on what to do there can be found in this super awesome guide by Vanessa from Travel Lemming.

Here are some stops for your road trip from east to west:

• Parque Las Cavernas del Rio Camuy: These a local caves which look pretty impressive. The tour times run on a schedule and people spend a couple of hours there. If this is something you would like to see, make sure to research current operating times as well as requirements.
• Cascada Gozalandia: A waterfall hike from which you can take a jump into the pool below. Here is some more useful info on making this stop on your western drive.
• Faro Punta Higüeras: Closer to Rincon, you will find this picturesque lighthouse.

And some restaurant spots worth visiting:

• Restaurant El Platanal: Low-key mofongo spot.
• Guayabo’s Tropical Sunset: A beachfront restaurant offering some tasty bites.
• Villa Cofresí Hotel: In Rincon, a place known for its pirata drinks.

Other spots on the island:

• Cabo Rojo Salt Flats: These pink salt flats located in the southwestern part of the island near Cabo Rojo are sure to grab your attention! Since they’re located a little far from San Juan, they might not be reachable on your 4-day itinerary but nonetheless, they should be added to your future itineraries.
• Playa Sucia: Despite its name, this beach is actually a hidden gem for tourists on the island. Located near Cabo Rojo, it’s definitely worth a visit. Here is a super informative blog on this location to help you plan the visit there.
• Cueva Ventana: While you will have to put a little bit of effort to reach this place, it will be worth the unique view it provides. Cueva Ventana means cave window and that is exactly what this place is. Read more on this place and get the details for the hike here.
• Toro Verde Adventure Park: If you like zip lining (the biggest zipline in America) and other adventure activities, head over to this park for the day to get an adrenaline rush in your veins!

Final Thoughts

Puerto Rico is a gem of a destination and being so close to the US, you have no excuse not visit. Even if it’s just a short 4 days, the island will fill your soul with amazing things to do. I hope my plan shows you the best that Puerto Rico has to offer. If you have any additional feedback or thoughts, please comment below!

Downloadable Itinerary

Before downloading the itinerary, which is a pocket summary of the content above, remember to read the full guide so you are best prepared for your travels!

Map for your Puerto Rico Itinerary

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Things To Do In Sucre Bolivia & An Awesome Downloadable Itinerary

It’s truly a rare event to meet a traveler that has disliked Sucre. On my three-week Bolivia trip, one of the most unexpected surprises was visiting Sucre. I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere of the city and deeply regretted not staying longer. Sucre is the capital of Bolivia although you will often hear…

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Was Key West all that I imagined it would be? Yes. There were many older couples having the time of their lives there. However, there was also everyone else having an amazing time too. I honestly cannot wait to go back and spend more time in Key West. It feels like a tropical destination without leaving the country.

In this itinerary, you will find some travel logistics, and cool things to see, and be able to download a weekend in Key West itinerary for your travels. If you’re going to South Florida, don’t forget to check out my Miami Guide and a Miami Girls Weekend getaway!

Logistics of Visiting Key West

Where and how long to stay in Key West

Key West can be expensive for accommodation, so it may be more cost-effective to stay in a location closer to the action on Duval Street. If you are traveling with a group, you could consider renting an Airbnb or VRBO, but these options may not offer significant cost savings. There is a hostel in Key West, but at $90 per bed in a dorm room, it may be more economical to stay in a hotel.

I personally stayed at the Douglas House, an awesome pick in town. There was parking onsite, the staff was super helpful and friendly giving us recommendations outside of the typical tourist trail and the rooms were huge! A cute little pool along with a stunning garden were also great additions to the property.

As far as length, you can see everything in a day or two but chances are you’re not going to Key West looking for cultural adventures. It’s a place to relax, have a drink, and lay on the beach. So spend a weekend there and you should be ok, especially with the high prices in town. Although pricey, it’s not ideal to see Key West in one day.

How to get to Key West

Key West is the Southernmost point of the US which makes it a unique destination. Its tropical vibes will make you feel like you’ve traveled further than you actually have. You can either fly to the small airport located right in town but these can get crazy expensive. Another option is to drive from Miami which will take you about 3.5-4 hours without any stops. However, I will go into which Keys are worth stopping at as this is one of those bucket list drives that people romanticize.

There are buses that have daily departures for a simple Key West day trip from Miami which are an awesome option if you just want to get there without driving or stopping. For as low as a $50 roundtrip on a Greyhound, you can snooze until the very last Key. Lastly, if you’re taking a cruise in the future, a lot of ships stop there too.

When you get to town, don’t use a car unless you’re venturing to a beach a little further away. Most of Key West is walkable but you can also utilize the free shuttle that takes you around town. Another awesome option is renting a bike in town which not only allows you to get some exercise but also covers more ground in a shorter amount of time.

Some common distances for popular Florida road trips:

• Siesta Key to Key West: 370 miles
• West Palm Beach to Key West: 230 miles
• Miami to Key West: 160 miles
• Key Largo to Key West: 97 miles
• Marathon Key to Key West: 50 miles

People & Safety in Key West

I met a couple of locals working in restaurants and bars. People living in tourist destinations are usually friendly and that’s exactly what I experienced there. All others are tourists so prepare to come across a lot of characters.

Key West is super safe. It can get rowdy at night with all the drunks on Duval Street. When you’re in crowded places like where you watch the sunset, for example, use common sense not to get pickpocketed.

Food in Key West

There is a lot of good food stops in the area but Key West is pricey so plan well. Since the island is little, you will often find the same recommendations on a lot of websites. My favorite picks for the area are Grand Vin, a wine bar serving delicious cheese plates, Santiago’s Bodega, an amazing tapas place, or my absolute favorite Key West Cuban Coffee, the best spot for food and some strong coffee!

Perfect Things To Do On Your Weekend in Key West

Drive through the Keys

When I was planning my trip, I insisted on driving to Key West from Miami while stopping at some landmarks along the way. It was one of those romanticized ideas in my head that I always wanted to do. A convertible car, palm trees, and crossing long bridges all the way down. Well … it was that but wasn’t actually as cool as I imagined.

When I was doing my research on multiple travel blogs, many “Ultimate Lists” for the Key West drive from Miami make it seem like there is an overabundance of jaw-dropping activities on the way there. There are a couple of spots that you can enjoy for a little and unless you have a lot of time and can break up the drive into two days just pick a couple not to waste time. Here are the most popular highlights for your drive:

• Key Largo: A little over an hour from Miami, you’ll find John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. If you like snorkeling, glass-bottom boat tours or just walking around in a nice park make a stop here. There are two cool restaurants in the area, Sundowners known for its sunset views and Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen, a cool bar covered with license plates.
• Tavernier: The next stop is just 20 minutes away. It’s a famous Key Lime shop called Blond Giraffe. Key lime pie comes from the Florida Keys so it’s a cute and cheesy thing to try in this lime green store.
• Islamorada: Another popular spot is Rain Barrel Village, which is a little collection of art stores and shops. It’s a small stop for trinket shopping. There are giant sculptures outside of it too. For your half-way point treat make sure to stop for a brew at Florida Keys Brewing Co which has a super groovy beer garden. The one thing I loved in this area was Morada Bay Cafe, a beach restaurant with delicious food a unique dining atmosphere. I actually stopped here on the drive back from Key West for dinner, right before the sunset and I highly highly recommend doing it that way. Oh and the last thing people go nuts for here is feeding some fat tarpon fish at Robbie’s. I liked the bar area better than the creepy fish and I enjoyed some birds at the little port instead.
• Marathon Key: People recommend staying in if you want to break up the drive and you can find the Turtle Hospital that rescues the hurt little buddies.
• Then you will cross the Seven Mile Bridge.
• Bahia Key: Right before reaching Key West, stop at Calusa Beach which is a stunning spot of light blues and turquoise waters with some vibrant green palm trees.
• Bonus: There is a cool little bar a little off your path called No Name Pub.

So with all that said, do I recommend driving to Key West from Miami or skipping this part and just heading to there by plane or by bus? It’s a tricky call. If you have the time and reading about the stops above made you smile, then take this US bucket-list drive there. The views along the way are really really nice so just that aspect of it is worth it. However, if know that super touristy restaurants and feeding fish isn’t your thing, spend some extra time in Key West instead.

Southernmost Point of the US

I’m not listing this as the first activity in Key West because it’s the most exciting one but just to get it out of the way. It’s a bouy at the end of some residential street and there is a line of 40+ people waiting to take a picture with it. It’s 93 miles away from Cuba which makes people go wild for some reason. Aside from being a picture spot, there isn’t much to it.

Watching the Sunset

There really is something extremely magical about sunsets in Key West so you should make it a priority to see one. The most known spot for it is the Mallory Square area which floods with people every night for the sunset. They have a little celebration and people gather to admire the amazing colors in the sky. It’s beautiful but crowded.

Another popular option is taking a Sunset Sail with multiple companies offering an open bar and a music option with it. Then there is Sunset Pier at Ocean Key Resort. People also like Truman Waterfront where you can enjoy a sunset without the crowds, sometimes you can find a local market there too. Other good places include the super long White Street Pier or Historic Seaport with boats as your backdrop!

Duval Street

This is a famous party street in town with all the bars and restaurants. During the day it’s fairly “quiet” but still keeps the atmosphere for a party town. It does have some cute shops and pretty buildings on it so you should experience this rather popular side of town.

At night it gets rowdy with all the music in the bars and balcony drinkers. The more known stops here are Sloppy Joe’s, The Rum Bar, The Smallest Bar, and Green Parrott. If you’re up for an adventure stop at Garden of Eden which is a clothing-optional bar.

I don’t think it’s technically legal to drink in the street but a lot of people do out of plastic cups. If you get too annoying or drunk you will get a ticket though so don’t be that guy.

Hemingway Home

Do you love cats and old mansions? I love them both and I can’t think of a better combo. When I heard that Hemingway had a mansion in Key West and that there are like 50 cats that all have 6 toes, I was like “Sign me up.” I bought my ticket and explored the beautiful grounds. It was worth it but I’d also recommend getting a guide there to actually learn something.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Beach

I love this spot. It’s a nice beach in a park-like setting which makes it a very unique spot for this area. You can get some food and drinks from a little shop and take great pictures with those travel signs. There is more than just the beach there, you can also bike, fish or paddle. Find the most recent list here.

Smather’s Beach

Located in a much more quiet area of town, I enjoyed this beach for its tranquility. There aren’t that many people around so it’s a perfect spot to take a stroll and relax for a little. Note, it’s close to the airport. If you’re an enthusiast of watching planes land and take off like I am, this is a great spot for that.

Historic Port Area

The whole port area of Key West is just amazing. There is something special about ports in any part of the world so whenever I find one, I make sure to spend some time exploring it.

Simply walk around along the water and find some good bars, cute shops, and just soak in the atmosphere of Key West.

Dry Tortugas

Technically this is not in Key West but the boat will take you to this rather unique destination. It’s a state park with a fort but also some secluded beaches, tons of snorkeling options, and of course turtles. I did not get to go on my trip but one day I shall return.

Here is a map for you too.

FREE downloadable guides for Weekend in Key West

Key West is a great relaxing destination. There isn’t a ton of things to do in town but you’ll be going there to enjoy the “island” lifestyle. You will eat some good food, probably drink a lot and enjoy the beach. There is the possibility that you can only spend one day in Key West but that will only occur if you’re on a cruise ship. If that’s the case, just check out my top things to do there and pick the ones that suit your timeframe.

Whether your weekend in Key West is a two or three-day stay, I prepared a detailed itinerary for both!

Perfect Two Days in Key West

As mentioned, in my opinion, a simple day trip to Key West from Miami is not enough. Two days is a great option for the place although you can easily relax for a week there. However, most of the highlights can be seen in two days.

Perfect Three Days in Key West

If you’re staying for three days, your first two days will look like the two-day itinerary. On day three, you will have some options for a unique experience in this beautiful town.

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In this post, first I will cover the logistics of basing yourself in Playa while exploring the surrounding areas. You can easily spend a month there but my goal is to give you the best options for a short stay. I will talk about travel logistics, give you my honest opinion of places to see, and finally, you’ll find a downloadable itinerary for your stay.

Note that you may encounter some affiliate links in this post. They will not make anything more expensive for you but rather provide a small commission for me should you choose to book it via the link I provide. Since I do not charge for any of my awesome travel advice and don’t make you sign up for anything to download my stuff, I appreciate any link clicks and bookings through here 🙂

Let’s get to the logistics

Playa del Carmen vs Cancun

One of the most frequently asked questions about visiting eastern Mexico is which destination should I choose: Cancun or Playa del Carmen? Playa del Carmen is a town in the Quintana Roo state on the Caribbean side of Mexico, about 1 hour south of Cancun. While Cancun is more recognized as a travel destination, it is very touristy and obnoxious. While Playa is obviously also a popular tourist destination, I think it offers a little more local vibes and is the perfect spot for exploring nearby areas. The journey from Cancun to Playa del Carmen will take you between 45 min to an hour.

Playa is also north of Tulum, another spot that the current “woke” crowd frequently flocks to. I personally am not a fan of Tulum and if you keep on reading you’ll find out why. Playa del Carmen to Tulum distance is about 40 miles or an hour of travel. But with this post, I will try to convince you why Playa is 10x more awesome than Cancun or Tulum.

US citizen info

US citizens do not have any visa requirements despite the strict reverse rules on Mexican citizens entering our country. Upon arrival, you will receive a small piece of paper which will be your visa. It is easy to mistake it for something non-important. Pay attention to what it looks like and do not lose it. If you do, you will get stuck at the airport upon exiting as my own mother did a couple of years ago. In a true Mexican fashion, it takes a while to verify your stay and you risk missing your flight home.

How Many Days Should I Stay in Playa del Carmen?

How long to stay in Playa del Carmen depends on what you want to do. If you’re just traveling to base yourself in a resort with the freedom to explore outside, give yourself about a week. The city itself does not have that many attractions but the surrounding towns are FULL of things to do. A lot of ex-pats choose to live in Playa as their base for working remotely too. Personally, I traveled twice for 6 days at a time and it was the perfect sweet spot for a short getaway.

How to navigate Playa and its surrounding areas

There is no airport for Playa del Carmen, so traveling there will require you to land at Cancun Airport instead. With so many flight connections to the city so you can find major airlines from all major airports having flights around the clock.

TIP: If you’re planning to stay at an all-inclusive, make sure to book your flight as a part of a package. You will save a TON on it rather than booking the two separately.

To get yourself to Playa, you will need to arrange a pick up from your hotel, take an expensive taxi or rent a car. Playa del Carmen car rental is an adventure within itself that is actually worth the pain so I will make a separate point about this below. If you’re staying in the main city, you can walk around, rent a bike, or take taxis. However, if you want to go explore the cenotes, ruins, or other towns, you can take the local buses or arrange transport through organized tours. Note: During rona times, I would skip the crowded buses full of tour people.

Public transport is doable but confusing and mostly used by the locals. If you’re staying for an extended period of time, take advantage of this because it can save you a ton of money. This post goes into public transport in great detail. However, if Playa is your home for only a couple of days, save yourself the trouble and either take a taxi or as I mentioned, rent a car.

Playa del Carmen Car Rental

There are two locations to rent a car for your Playa trip, one at the airport and the other in town. Renting a car at Cancun airport is a complete shit-show and I will get straight to the point on how to make this process a little less painful. First, let’s assume you’ve booked a car online prior to your trip and picked it up upon arrival. If that’s the case, once you land, a little shuttle will take you to a rental car hub where all the companies operate from.

Now let’s get into the details of why this might not be as smooth as you want it to be.

Situation 1: You book a car online and you see the total is $18 for the week. You scored the deal of a lifetime and you’re excited to explore Mexico in your sweet ride.

• Problem: Even if you read all the terms and conditions, when you get to the rental place they’ll try to tell you about a separate law that requires you to pay $20/day extra insurance. It’s likely that you did not see this in your rental agreement, it’s non-negotiable and the manager won’t budge on anything.
• Solution: Read and re-read the terms and conditions on what is included in the rental. The extra insurance that they say is mandatory, isn’t really mandatory and other companies can waive it for you. Also as a reference point, a car rental should be around $50-$100 for the week depending on the season and type. Renting in the city of Playa is also significantly cheaper although much more inconvenient and with less availability.

Situation 2: You read all the terms and conditions and have your travel credit card that includes car-rental insurance. You think you outsmarted the system and that you can get away with the insurance “scam” charge.

• Problem: The counter person can do the two of the following based on my experience: a) tell you that although you have insurance, they don’t have proof from your bank that you have the required coverage or b) the car you rented is no longer available.
• Solution: Before you start declining ALL coverage, check if your card actually provides it. In case you didn’t know, you need to decline everything the rental company offers in order to get the full credit card coverage. I always use the Chase Saphire perks and they covered two previous damages that were done to my rental cars without much issue. So a) make sure you get the letter of coverage from your bank, read more about that here and b) if the counter sees that you’re overprepared, they might try to tell you that the car is no longer available. Most car companies have sister ones next door, so insist they find you one and don’t give up.

There is also just the simple option of pre-paying for all the insurance online and not haggling when you get there. However, if you have a card like Chase Sapphire or any other that includes similar perks, there is no reason to pay the extra fees.

Other Important Things to Note:

• Take pictures of the car, be throughout of any scratches and fuel levels.
• If something happens to the car, make sure to take pictures, and get an accident/incident report from either the police or the rental company.
• When you’re at a gas station, avoid the following scams:
  • Make sure the meter starts at 0, not at the previous fill-up level
  • If two people approach you to help be vigilant about what is happening around you
  • If you’re paying cash, count out loud how much money you’re handing to the attendant as they might try to convince you that you gave them a $50 instead of $500 for example
• Driving can seem hectic but if you’ve ever driven in states Jersey you’ll be fine 🙂 I also recently rented a car in the Dominican Republic which made Mexico driving seem like a piece of cake!
• Always follow the speed limit but if for some reason you get pulled over, make a “donation” to the cop and he shall leave you alone.
• Check signs for payments on the streets. The parking people are on their a-game there.

People

Most local people are fine. If you’re staying at a resort, you’re likely to experience amazing service. In town, the locals are usually friendly. For example, I was a couple of minutes from getting a parking ticket and ended up having an awesome convo with the parking person instead of getting a ticket.

The one thing that constantly bothered me, however, is the “little scams” that they pull on you at each corner. For example, you negotiate a good deal on a trinket you want to buy and you agree on a price in American dollars. You get to register to realize that you’ve been overcharged in pesos. Another situation is booking an organized tour and then finding out 3 hidden costs during the excursion. I recommend being a skeptic and knowing how much everything should cost or what they expect from a place. Otherwise being overly naive will lead to being taken advantage of.

Playa del Carmen Safety

Quintana Roo region is generally safe. The horror stories of abduction and Mexican cartel threads are low in this area and your risk of getting hurt is just like in any comparable place. This doesn’t mean you should let your guard down in any way. There have been some recent reports of solo female travelers being approached by sketchy males in the city of Playa so before traveling, check out the most recent stories for any hesitations.

My favorite Playa safety guide that I recommend reading comes from Claire, she lived in Playa so her tips are actually very helpful.

Food

You probably know this, but if you’re staying in a resort, you won’t be eating authentic Mexican food. The real deal can be found in the town at the local restaurants or street carts. I promise that if you find those local holes in the walls, it will change your life. Here is a post on the most popular spots in town and another for even more picks!

Accommodations in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen has amazing all-inclusive resorts. Being the hostel queen that I am, it’s rare that I stay at all-inclusive resorts. Chances are if you’re traveling for a week, you want to relax and escape reality. A beachfront all-inclusive is the place just for that. Being a seasoned traveler means experiencing all types of accommodations therefore Playa might just be the perfect place for trying something new.

I stayed in Riu Tequila in 2015 and Riu Palace in 2020. Riu Tequila is more home-y and has hacienda-type feels while Riu Palace is a modern and more vegas type of place with beachfront access. Both are located in the gated area of Playa which is called Playa Phase I.

Airbnb in Playa del Carmen could also be a good option if you don’t like an all-inclusive vibe. With the rise of digital nomads, the options in town are stylish and safe, perfect for your 6-day Playa del Carmen itinerary.

Perfect Things To Do in and around Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen isn’t a place where you’ll find architecture, museums, or grand cathedrals. Rather, you will enjoy a beach town, filled with tourists or ex-pats taking advantage of the cheap yet relaxed lifestyle. I recommend venturing outside of town to experience the beautiful Quintana Roo state while having Playa as your home base.

Below I list my personal Perfect Things to do in or near Playa, but if you’d like to jump straight to my downloadable itineraries, they’re at the bottom of the post 🙂

5th Ave Playa del Carmen

Avenida Quinta or 5th Ave is the main street in town with all the shops, restaurants, bars, and all things tourist. It’s pretty long but worth the visit and pausing in one of the bars or restaurants on the strip. There are more known ones like Patio 8, Kitxen, or chains like Fat Tuesday or Señor Frogs but I personally liked this small bar called Karen’s. Being on the most touristy street, expect to pay more than you would in more local areas. 5th Ave is a place that will make you feel like you’re on vacation. During the day you can explore and day-drink but at night come back to party as that area changes its vibe. Calle 12 is where you want to be at night.

Right near the Avenida Quinta, you can find Parque Los Fundadores, a beachfront park with sculptures, live performances, and local vendors. Consider making a stop here to enjoy the ambiance or a lively touristy place. Note, in October 2020, it was temporarily closed for renovations.

Stay at a resort

I rarely stay at resorts and don’t usually recommend them. Are they ethical and are they owned by the guys you’re scared of? Man, I don’t know. It’s a tricky battle of questions you’ll be playing with yourself. I digress.

Playa del Carmen, however, has some sweet resorts in its Phase I community area as well as off the main highway. If you’re going to the area to have your beers brought to you as you’re tanning under a palm tree, this is your must-do activity.

Adventure Parks

While Playa doesn’t offer those typical in-city attractions that travelers crave, they certainly make up for it in adventure park options. I would choose one based on the type of activities you want to prioritize since the tickets can be quite pricey. However, they are worth it and you should block out some time to squeeze one in.

• Xplor: Zip-lining, cave swimming, buggy rides, and much more! I loved this park! I would say this one has a little more adrenaline kick compared to others too. It’s around $120 USD per person not including transportation, but if you buy more tickets or get them from a vendor, you can save a little more too. Totally worth the price as you get to do a LOT of things there.
• Xcaret: Another nature park with very similar options as Xplor but your day will be a little longer here as they have some shows at night and also a little more cultural displays. It’s slightly more expensive too.
• Xel-ha: Offers a lot more water activities compared to the two parks above. The entrance is ~$90 USD.
• Xenses: This is a smaller more relaxed version of all the parks above with an admission fee of ~$65 USD.
• Río Secreto: This stunning cave with hanging deposits will leave you in complete shock. A guide will take you swimming inside the caves as the main attraction and then you can also do a couple of small activities after. Tickets run around $80 USD a person and I highly recommend this place.
• Xoximilco: This is a cheesy party on the water type adventure in which you will sit in a traditional colorful trajinera and float on the water. Your $90 USD ticket will include an open bar, food, and some live music. It’s totally staged and very “Hard Rock Dad” style type activity but it’s super cute and worth it 🙂

Here is a treat for you from my Xplor adventure. Why don’t we just all petition for Xplor to make me their poster child? 🙂

Cenotes

Cenotes are those cool caves, giant pits filled with groundwater. A good chunk of them is located in the area of Playa del Carmen so this is a must-do during your trip there. They differ in terms of size, popularity, and the accessibility of snorkeling or diving in them. I recommend choosing one or two for your stay. If you’re a diver, you might want to look at these in more detail for what’s available at each site.

Bring a bathing suit and biodegradable sunscreen as you cannot wear any chemicals going into these natural beauties. Most spots will have lockers and snorkeling equipment for rent. Some notable cenotes include:

• Gran Cenote: This one is located near Tulum so you can either take a taxi from there or even ride a bike. Snorkeling is possible there too. It’s extremely popular so prepare for crowds.
• Cenote Dos Ojos: Also located close to Tulum, this is actually an area of three different cenotes. Dos Ojos is a collection of two beautiful covered ones where you can snorkel or dive with a guide. When you arrive at the gate, you will be able to select which one you want to visit.
• Cenote Sac Akun: Located in the same area as Dos Ojos, this impressive cenote features amazing droopy limestone formations. It’s stunning but also one of the most expensive ones.
• Cenote Nicte-ha: The third one in that same area talked above, this is an open-air one which makes it a little different compared to the others. This one doesn’t get that crowded but arriving at the opening guarantees having the place to yourself.
• Cenote Calavera: This famous spot that looks like a hole in the ground with the swing has become a spot for that perfect insta-shot. If you arrive in the morning, be prepared to encounter a couple of influencers.
• Cenote Azul: Located right between Tulum and Playa, this open-air cenote is also another stunning spot. You can jump off of a cliff into it and arriving early will give you the privacy you want.
• Jardin de Eden: Azul’s open-air neighbor but it was closed for weather damage in October 2020. Little fish will give you a nice fish spa pedicure along the sides.
• Cenote Suytun: Located almost 2 hours away from Playa, this cenote is the one you probably have seen in a lot of travel photos. It has that long circle platform that people line up to get a shot on. Although it is beautiful, if you’re looking for peaceful swimming you might now find that there.
• Cenote Ik Kil: This is about 2.5 hours away from Playa but if you’re making a trip to Chichen Itza, this should be on your stop list. Although a lot of tours will stop here in the afternoon, coming in the morning will guarantee a little peace. It’s a stunning spot worth a visit.

Playa del Carmen Beaches

Beaches in this area are simply amazing. Here is a couple you should visit:

• The main beach in town is a public spot in the town surrounded by vendors, bars, and a ton of people.
• Playacar Phase I has amazing beaches in front of resorts and condos. The lounge chairs belong to those spots but you can still walk down them.
• Punta Esmeralda: A nice spot on the Northern side of the city. You’ll find some locals and tourists here.
• Xpu Ha: A short 30-minute drive from the city, this hidden gem won’t disappoint. There is a small entrance fee and some restaurants on location. It’s certainly worth a trip!

After some lounging and sunbathing, make sure to do at least one water sport. Parasailing is very popular and an awesome activity to experience in that area. Jet skis are also widely available for rentals. If water sports aren’t your thing, an ocean-front massage is also a great option.

Chichen Itza

It’s one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a place you should see for yourself. The pyramid is stunning and the whole history is extremely fascinating. I strongly recommend getting a tour guide as you’ll be able to appreciate the ruins more compared to simply just walking around. Arrive early to get some good shots before the crowds show up and then take a tour after.

Although it is a 3 hour trip outside of Playa, you’ll enjoy the ride and you can make a full day trip of it with stops at Cenote Ik-Kil or the gorgeous town of Valladolid. The entrance is about $25 USD. If you didn’t rent a car, there are dozens of tours to Chichen Itza from Playa del Carmen to take you there.

While I think Chichen Itza is a beautiful sight, I also think it’s become a huge tourist circus. As soon as you arrive your entire experience involves vendors pushing you to buy something and huge crowds of people resulting in a very commercialized experience. Would I still recommend visiting it? Well, you can get past what I just mentioned and simply enjoy the ruins then yes. If this kinda atmosphere isn’t for you, then no.

Coba Ruins

Another archeological site in the area is a much less crowded site compared to Chichen Itza. You can climb all the way to the top of this steep pyramid for some amazing views. The ruins are located about 1.5 hours from Playa but there are also a couple of cenotes nearby that you can enjoy after.

My good friend recently chose to visit Coba instead of Chichen Itza and she was in awe of how beautiful this place was. I hope that this place remains a little less touristy.

Day trip to Tulum from Playa del Carmen

Tulum Ruins

Tulum is a town composed of a couple of areas: the ruins, the town, and the beach area. The ruins are located right on the beach and the color contrast between the stones, the greenery, and the ocean blue makes this space feel extremely special and unique. Get a guide to help you understand the history otherwise, you’ll be walking around in extreme heat taking pictures among buildings you won’t know a thing about.

Tip: If you rented a car, you will turn into the ruins area from the highway. As soon as you turn, a bunch of people will start waving at you and screaming to pull over. This will make you feel like you’re doing something wrong. Ignore them. The tour guides are trying to sell you a parking spot and an overpriced tour. You can continue driving until you cannot go anymore and park in one of the parking lots for around $5. Then you can walk to the ruins on foot.

Tulum town

As mentioned above, Tulum has a couple of nooks. Aside from the ruins, there is also the town which can be reached directly off of the highway. Located about an hour from Playa, it’s a day trip a lot of people are excited to take. It’s full of trinket shops and some good local restaurants. Then you drive about 15 minutes toward the beach and you reach a dirt road that’s lined with those fancy hotels, Airbnbs, and overpriced “local” shops.

And then there is Tulum Beach …

Tulum started as a cool concept with some free souls looking for a spiritual corner. It’s now a base for a lot of influencers taking advantage of the land and jacking up prices at all the local spots. If you’re a “normal” traveler, walking around Tulum beach makes you cringe and question how this place became so shallow. Although it’s advertised as a green space, it’s completely eating the nature around it with all the waste and fuels.

Many will disagree with me here but Tulum is not a place I enjoyed. Don’t get me wrong, the beach is stunning and the hotels do look cool. But when you see the lines of influencers getting the best shots at the same places, it will make you want to leave. I can see how people want to experience it for themselves and that’s why I list it here but please be aware of the major issues with this area.

This very long article from The Cut is the best and most informative piece I read on the reality of Tulum. Aside from Tulum being a strong representation of what is wrong with the Insta-driven society, there are so many other issues that this place is causing. Having been there twice, I highly doubt I will ever return.

Akumal

This is a beach where you can swim with the big turtles! It’s located 30 minutes south of Playa and you can either drive, take a taxi, or a colectivo that will drop you off fairly close. There is a small entrance fee and a lot of people will approach you for tour options. If you don’t know what the expect, you might get “scammed” or ripped off (not just here but in all of Mexico I felt like this). If this is something you’re planning on doing please do yourself a favor and read this post from Travel Addicts which perfectly outlines what to expect and do when you get there.

Neighboring Islands

If you’re into snorkeling to diving, consider venturing out to the local islands for better views. Do your research! There are SO many companies offering tours so check out the reviews or other blogs for their top picks to make a good decision.

Cozumel: Normally this is a big stop for cruise ships so the island would fill up with people and then quickly empty out on departure. During rona, however, there are no cruise ships. When I visited, the emptiness was quite eerie and a ton of businesses were closed. I took a horrible snorkeling tour and I’m pretty sure I was scammed so I won’t recommend that company. However, I have seen a ton of travelers that went on stunning tours so I know it’s possible. You can do a bunch of things there like an ATV tour, diving, snorkeling, water sports, and much more. From Playa you will take a quick ferry (~$20) roundtrip. There are two companies that run on altering days. Don’t bother printing your ticket as you have to wait in a long line to get it printed by them anyway.

Isla Mujeres: This is closer to Cancun than Playa so you will have to take a ferry from there instead. Many people rent golf carts to explore the island. It’s a similar feel to Cozumel. An underground water museum is located there so it’s a popular activity among travelers.

Unique things to do in Playa del Carmen

• Jungle and ATVs in Playa del Carmen: There are many companies offering ATV tours very close to town. I did one in an adventure park and wish I did one outside one too. The tours usually take you to caves and nearby smaller cenotes.
• Beercicleta: A cheesy drinking activity in town.
• Local Food Tours: I love learning about cities through food and having a local take me around to show me the best spots. This tour group gets consistently good reviews and has different options for this awesome activity.
• Salsa dancing: A quite popular activity in town, check out places like La Bodeguita del Medio or Zenzi on the beach for Sunday night Salsa!

Some tour options

Here are some top-rated tours in the area. Personally, I took a tour of Cozumel and Chichen Itza with a group and I visited Tulum and Cenotes by myself. There are pros and cons to either option so I would go by your travel style to choose the best option. If you’re an independent traveler who isn’t afraid of a couple of unexpected bumps on the road, then you can visit all these places by yourself. On the other hand, if you don’t want to worry about a thing, then an organized tour is the way to go.

More awesome nearby locations:

There are a couple of notable places outside of Playa that you might want to consider visiting:

• Cancun: Since I wrote about Tulum, I feel like I should include Cancun in this post too. It’s only an hour north of Playa. It’s a complete tourist trap with a bunch of non-Mexican restaurants and party hotels. But to each your own so if that’s what you’re looking for, visit it.
• Valladolid: A colorful and authentic colonial town located a little under two hours outside of Playa. This town preserves a little more of a local character so it’s worth exploring for that reason. Shop around or eat at one of the local restaurants. It’s close to Chichen Itza and a couple of cenotes too.
• Merida: Another stunning town (3+ hours west of Playa), is also a colorful more authentic spot in the area.
• Holbox: A more secluded fishing island that is a little more difficult to get to but certainly a place for that nomadic lifestyle feel. To get there you will need to get to Chiquila and then take a ferry from there.
• Las Coloradas: These pink salt lakes are a bit of a drive from Playa (3 hours) but they’re super pretty. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to drive there just because as during the past couple of years as its popularity grew, the place changed. You can’t enter the water and there is a bunch of fees at every corner. However, if for some reason you’re in the area, it might be worth taking a stop. Note: the water isn’t always pink either as its color is highly dependent on the salt content. It could be brownish if water was added or drained.

Perfect Playa del Carmen Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guide for your 6-day stay

Playa is one of those cities you should not spend a day, two or three in. You need at least 5 to 6 days in that area to get the bare minimum of what it has to offer. You will need to venture out a little bit outside it to experience the region. The reason why I call it the Perfect Playa del Carmen Itinerary is because I strongly suggest making this your base for all your exploration.

The itinerary below is a condensed version of the details above. Please make sure to read everything in order to be best prepared for your activities! Enjoy Playa 🙂

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Cuba was always on my bucket list so when I turned 26, I decided to buy myself the perfect birthday gift: a ticket to Havana. Although I was more or less familiar with the situation there, I admit that I didn’t dig much into the ethics or realities of Cuban travel. When I got there, however, like many other travelers, Cuba broke my heart. The things we glamorize are a sad reality of life for the local people. It felt wrong to take “amazing” photos with the background of poor living conditions, lack of basic products, and the government’s role in people’s lives. And don’t get more wrong. All the locals I have met there were the sweetest and most welcoming people who made the best out of their situations. However, hearing stories of what day-to-day life looks like, made me stop looking at Cuba through the “cars and cigars” kinda lens.

Should you travel there, is completely up to you. On the one hand, you want to be able to contribute to the economy but on the other when you know that your money will further feed the government, you might not want to feed. I traveled there in 2018 and although a lot has changed since then, tourism is back and many people continue and will continue to visit this place. I am not here to preach whether you should or should not visit. I am simply here to show you what traveling to Cuba entails, what you should expect, and show you what places to see. This Havana itinerary is honest and detailed and I hope it helps you to make your decision.

What you will find in this guide:

• All logistics needed for your Cuba travel
• A realistic look into popular attractions
• Some hidden gems are scattered along the post
• Free downloadable itineraries for 3 days in Havana
• A map with all attraction pins

Logistics of Traveling to Cuba

Traveling to Havana Cuba requires a little bit of preparation, especially for US citizens. Having the correct plan and all required paperwork is absolutely necessary. There are some providers that arrange your paperwork for a fee but I personally think you can figure it out by yourself. I visited in 2018 and had no trouble crossing the border into Cuba or returning to the states. No one asked me much about my plans or what I did there. However, it is absolutely essential that you do everything correctly. Also, remember that things constantly change. Always double-check that the requirements are in agreement with sources like government websites.

Visa to Cuba: US citizen entry requirements

Here is a summary of how to get to Cuba as an American citizen.

• Can Americans go to Cuba? Yes, US travel to Cuba is legal.
• Booking a flight is possible from major airports in the USA. Where is Cuba located? Well, it’s only 90 miles from the south of Florida. New York and Florida have direct flights too, making your connection super easy. As a US citizen, you will only be able to fly into Havana.
• There are 12 categories to select your travels from. Tourism is not a reason for travel. The most popular declared category is Support for Cuban people. There are more like education, research, religious or journalist activity. It’s a self-selected category so pick one that matches your visit the most. You will declare this at some point in your travels, it’s not an official document.
  • When traveling under the Support for Cuban people category, you will need to stay at a Casa Particular. I booked my stay through booking.com and stayed with a local host. For any other locations, check this Restricted List of places in Cuba that US citizens cannot stay at.
  • You will also need a printed-out itinerary with plans for your entire stay. I made sure to have one but no one honestly checked it. You’re required to keep it for 5 years upon return.
• A Tourist Card can be purchased from your airline at the airport. I flew Southwest from NYC connecting at FLL. They had little booth stands at the FLL airport at which you purchased your card and stated your travel category. This is your Visa to Cuba.
• Travel Insurance to Cuba that is specific to Cuba is also required. When I purchased the tickets through the airline, it was included in the price. Check if yours is as well and if not, you can purchase it upon arrival at the airport.

When you arrive:

• Cuban currency is complicated.
• Take enough cash for your trip as your American cards won’t work there. Estimate a budget based on your type of travel and convert it to a CADECA which can be found at the airport, hotels, or other places in town.
• As of 2021, the USD is no longer accepted at the government exchanges so grab some euros as a backup. You can exchange it informally and actually get a lot more than a standard 1:24 exchange.
• Internet connection is hard to get unless you purchase a special card. I would simply plan to “disconnect to connect.”
• Finally, you might think Cuba is a cheaper country. Well, it’s absolutely not. There are two currencies, CUC or convertible peso, and CUP Cuban peso. As a tourist, you will have to use the CUC with a 1:1 conversion to an American dollar. As of 2021, this is not the case anymore. The country now uses only the CUP at a 1:24 conversion rate. Although if you sell it unofficially you might get a 1:80-100 rate instead.
• You can’t get Cuban currency anywhere else but Cuba.
• If you have a US-based debit/credit card, you won’t be able to use it there due to the embargo.

Suggested length of stay in Havana

Is three or four days enough time to properly visit just Havana? Well, kinda, but if you’re planning day trips and other areas of the country, I would plan to spend at least 7 days in Cuba. There is a lot to see there and aside from Havana, you’ll want to take a couple of day trips out. Obviously, that doesn’t sound like much but remember that this is a short-travel kinda blog 🙂

Navigating Havana

Airport Jose Marti in La Habana, Cuba is located about 30 minutes from the city center of Havana. You will need to take a taxi to town. I asked my host to arrange a pick-up for me which was a fixed rate and took me straight to the casa without any confusion. It was around $20 which should be fairly comparable to what random taxi drivers will charge you at the airport. Due to recent changes in the currency don’t bank on your US dollars being accepted. You might be ok with them (ask your drivers) but having some Cuban pesos or euros won’t hurt.

Most of the city is walkable if you’re staying in the main area. For touristy sights, you will be able to get by without a taxi. If you want to venture out a little further, there is an abundance of taxis in the streets always waiting for you to hop it. Bonus, they are mostly vintage cars that you’ve seen in the photos therefore every trip in one makes you feel like you’re in a movie.

Other modes of transportation are Colectivos which are shared rides and can be a more budget alternative. Ask your host to arrange one for you. Viazul is the bus line that will take you all over the island at a pretty good rate. Coco-taxis are yellow tuk-tuk-like transports.

If you’re staying with a host, make sure to ask them to call you a taxi. That way they will make a little money for a referral and you’ll get door-to-door service.

People in Cuba

People are nice. Truly nice good people. It’s actually kinda fascinating how amazing and warm they are with what kind of treatment they get from their own government. And no, Cubans are not brainwashed. On the contrary, they are very informed about what is happening in the world. At least that’s what I experienced with those who hosted me and took me on tours.

Is Havana safe?

Cuba is generally very safe and you shouldn’t be afraid to walk around. They have low crime rates because of the consequences you can face when committing one there. Girls will get cat-called here and most locals consider it a compliment rather than an insult.

Beware that when you’re inside the city, there are local scammers (Jineteros) near the main tourist places. For the most part, they are not dangerous just very sneaky. Simply knowing the most common scenarios should make them obvious when they start happening. Here are some very common scenarios. I promise that you will encounter at least one of them there.

• “Omg! You totally don’t look like a lost duck with your map and a new Nikon. Well, guess what, if you follow me I got good cigars at someone’s house for sale” – Umm, hard no.
• “Oh, it’s your first day here! Guess what lucky guy and gal! There is a cool festival today that you should totally attend and I will show you exactly where it is.” – This actually happened to me. A very friendly individual became not so very very friendly when I refused to follow him to this magical festival.
• “It’s my birthday!” or “Someone died today” or “I’ll buy your coffee!” – All these end in someone mooching off of you for food or drinks and getting their commission at a friend’s bar.
• “My baby needs milk” – Really? Come on people. Don’t use baby guilt on strangers. Your nonexistent baby doesn’t need a $30 milk that your will split with your milkman.
• “Museum/restaurant is closed today my friend” – K thanks for letting me know. I will check for myself first before believing you.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, these seem so silly, how would I even fall for them? Well … these professional hustlers are usually very good at their jobs and it’s easier said than done to avoid them. I mean let’s now talk about my $100 blanket that I bought in Fes fully knowing that a $100 blanket is a scam in Morocco. All I’m saying is that at least knowing the scenarios and having a mental check with yourself when you’re in one is a little better than blindly going in. But overall Havana is a safe place.

Gifting

A common practice among travelers is bringing gifts for the locals as certain basic goods are hard to obtain in the rationed economy. I personally did not bring any and from reading more on the subject, it seems to be a mixed opinion among travelers.

On the one hand, you want to help out the locals but on the other, you’re enabling a culture of expectations each time someone visits. If I could do it again I think I would bring something small for my host and maybe a couple of toys for the kids. It’s a tricky call but it’s something nice to do.

Note as of 2021, this should be researched further as supplies became more and more needed over the past year. If you’re planning to go, this should be important. For a very broad example, bring things like painkillers, common first-aid stuff, hair dye, or make-up.

Food in Havana

Food is a tricky subject in Havana. Some people have horrible meals, while others swear that it’s one of the best they ever had. I personally fell right in the middle. The food was good but it wasn’t something I particularly remember having blown me away. I’m also from New Jersey where Cuban food is widely available and super delicious. My approach was to try it all: at the casa, at a small local restaurant, the more “hip” one, and finally some street food.

Don’t forget that you’re going to a place that doesn’t have access to the same amounts, spices, or varieties of foods that someone for example in the states does. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the food will be bad but it will certainly limit your options. Make sure to have a good mojito too.

Hotels/Hostels

As an American, it is recommended that you stay in a Casa Particular or a locally owned B&B style accommodation. If you’re traveling under the “Support for Cuban People” category, this should be your option. You can book those online prior to your visit. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can book them on arrival in town. Lastly, if you’re planning on choosing another option, make sure that it’s not on the sanctioned list.

I loved my experience at the Casa I stayed in. Our host made us breakfast every morning and gave us some local tips on what to see. It was a more authentic way of seeing the country. She also helped with our money exchange as well as arranging a tour for one day of our stay.

Additionally, a lot of travelers choose to pick hostels in Havana thus a more social way to see the city. I would check out Hostelworld to find the best match for you. I wish I stayed in one to have gotten to know more travelers. However, hostels are not for everyone so unless you’ve stayed at one, I wouldn’t recommend Cuba to be your first experience with that kind of accommodation.

Sightseeing in Havana

There is a good amount of things to see in Havana. In comparison to a typical trip, the whole city itself is a sight. In addition to exploring, make sure to set time aside for soaking in this extremely unique and vintage place. People watching, drink sipping, and strolling in the old streets will be some of your favorite memories from there. Try to talk to locals but don’t touch on the topic of politics unless they choose to talk about it.

Things To Do On Your Havana Itinerary

Havana is charming and beautiful in its own way but remember, don’t romanticize people’s actual struggles. It’s easy to be impressed by the vintage cars, colorful buildings, and just a different way of living. However, when you dive deeper into why Cuba is the way that it is, all this stops being magical. It was a difficult place for me to visit and I felt wrong using its hardships as a background for my pictures. I got to talk to a couple of locals that were willing to share the realities of their lives. Despite it breaking my heart a little, the Cuban people were the ones that made my trip amazing. I hope you find things you love there as well without being blind to the realities of this place.

Old Havana

Habana Vieja is the main tourist area of the city filled with landmarks, restaurants, music, dancing, and everything else that makes it one of the most recognizable places to travel to. This is the area I would recommend staying in or at least nearby at a casa particular. Note that it’s very touristy and not as representative of actual living conditions, however, it’s something you should see.

There are numerous landmarks within this part of town that I will cover below but this part of town is an attraction all within itself. Make sure to roam around the streets and note the patched-up tourist buildings vs. the real way of life a couple of blocks away. As expected, the scammers are the most active here.

If you’re going to do any activity there, make sure to do a free walking tour. A quick history lesson from someone who lives in Havana is a must. I used this company for my Havana tour and I was very happy with everything I saw on the tour.

Obispo Street

Obispo Street is simply a long pedestrian street dedicated to all things tourists. I walked it at least once a day as it connects all the major sights in the city. It’s full of little stores and historic buildings. Although it has some street restaurants, I didn’t love the quality of the food there. At night, find some lively dancing and music shows. It’s one of those streets you just have to visit.

The places every travel guide writes about

You must have heard about Bar Floridita, Hemingways spot for a good daiquiri, Bodeguita del Medio where Hemingway (again) liked his mojitos, Sloppy Joe’s Bar long bar, La Guarida’s famous rooftop dining or Tropicana for the famous shows. If you’re going to visit, it for sure won’t be an authentic experience but I would at least try to see one of them. Remember that famous places are usually famous for a reason.

Plaza Vieja

I loved this square. It has colorful (updated) buildings, street artists, and cute bars with balconies overlooking the plaza. Aside from the bars, little vendors, and occasional street shows, there isn’t much to do there but for some reason, this was one of my favorite places in the city. I recommend grabbing a drink and a bite on one of the balconies overlooking the plaza too. It lets you see everything from a different perspective.

If you want to experience something unique, make sure to check out the Cámara Oscura located in one of the buildings in the plaza. It’s a light trick device that gives you a 360 view of the city. There aren’t many of them left in the world so it’s a very unique experience to see one. You will also get unmatched city views from the rooftop.

Castillo de la Real Fuerza

It’s a fort in Havana with a museum inside. I only explored the outside during the walking tour but if you’re into forts and that stuff, they offer tours for around $10. If you take a free walking tour, this will be one of the stops going into the history of this place.

Plaza de Catedral

Speaking of Plazas, this one has a cathedral hence the name. It’s one of the historical plazas in town and it attracts a ton of tourists. As the name suggests, there is a cathedral in this place. The inside of it is very beautiful so make sure to take a peek inside. There are a couple of restaurants and local vendors in the plaza worth a couple of additional minutes of your time too.

El Capitolio

This capitol building is a stunning piece of architecture. It’s inspired by the Capitol Building in the US. You can simply stroll around and admire the old cars, parks, and colorful buildings right next to this impressive structure. Fun fact, you can actually enter this building, something I wish I did. The admission ($3) includes a free tour with it.

Havana Art Scene

Gran Teatro de La Habana

This is a beautiful theater in the city. The building and its surroundings are beautiful from the outside. Very elegant and different for this city. They offer tours for a little under $10 so I would recommend doing that. The history is quite interesting and complicated. Additionally, you can catch the ballet, opera, or other shows at cheap prices (compared to NYC). Make sure to see this place during the day as well as at night.

Fine Arts Museum

The museum has two locations, one near Prado in Havana Vieja housing international art from world-famous artists like Goya or Velazquez. The second location is the Palacio de Bellas Artes near Parque Central. Here you will find Cuban art. I regret not visiting because when I saw the uniqueness of the art online after my trip, I really wish I got to see it in person.

Fabrica De Arte Cubano

On a whole different spectrum of art, here is Fabrica de Arte. I will let this review speak for me because I could not have said it better.

Callejon de Hamel

A random hidden gem of the city! I stumbled upon this place totally by accident. It’s basically an alley filled with cool art by an artist named Salvador Gonzáles Escalona. They have some local music and shows on Sundays around noon. It’s a little out of the way but the detail and quirkiness of the art is worth making a trip there.

Fusterlandia

Jose Fuster, another famous Cuban artist, created this gem in the 70s. Inspired by Gaudi, he transformed a whole neighborhood into a piece of art. If you visit, you’ll immediately notice the Gaudi inspiration in all the intricacies of the tile. However, it is very clear how much Cuban culture was incorporated into it as well. Here is an interesting article about this place that I recommend reading.

Vintage car ride

This is the most touristy Havana thing you can do but why wouldn’t you?! Did you see those cars? They’re beautiful. You can take a guided tour where the driver will explain to you each landmark around the city and that should cost you around $20 per hour. Or you can use it as a regular taxi to get you somewhere you want to go. I personally hired a driver to get me to the beach and then pick me up, all in a pink convertible. Even though it costs me some money, it was one of the main highlights of my trip.

El Malecon

This is a long esplanade along the water that stretches for a decent distance. You will see a lot of the locals fishing and enjoying their afternoons. This is a very “Cuba” spot. A beautiful sunset cannot be missed at least once during your trip from there. One of my favorite things I discovered off this street was an old-style Russian restaurant Nazdrovie. It was super random but the food was delicious there and the balcony dining had the best views.

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

Historical gem of Havana. This hotel was built almost 100 years and was a staple of class back in the day. A bunch of famous people stayed there and there is a TON of history surrounding this building.

I skipped the history and opted out for a cold mojito in a beautiful garden. It was classy and divine 🙂 A lot of tourists love the cigar shop inside too. As a non-guest, you can wander around the lobby and explore the property grounds that are filled with peacocks. Note that Americans cannot stay in this hotel.

Day Trips from Havana

Playas del Este

There are no beaches in Havana, Cuba so if you want that tropical baby blue water atmosphere, head to Playas del Este located only about 30 minutes outside the city. The place is beyond stunning and the water was crystal clear and super warm. A couple of beach restaurants offer live music and good food! I would say this is a must if you’re not going to other beach areas on the island.

I personally hired a driver for the day in a bright pink taxi. I found him in a taxi stand and paid him $40 to take me to the beach and then back along with some additional drives around the city. Honestly, I probably overpaid for this but this was the one thing I wanted to do on my trip there.

Varadero Day trip from Havana

Varadero is another beach town with many all-inclusive resorts and beachfront properties. There are a couple of ways to do this day trip: you can hire a car, take a bus or pay for a day tour to an all-inclusive resort. I opted for the third option because the price of that option was very comparable to a private taxi and I did not want to deal with the bus. I asked my casa host for an agency contact to book this trip the day before and made the decision to explore this area of the island.

The day started off rocky as our pick-up was over 1 hour late. Then the little passenger bus stopped along the way for some viewpoints. When we arrived at the all-inclusive, they separated us into small same-sex groups and put us into rooms where we were able to leave our things and change. Then we spent the day with our all-inclusive passes enjoying the beach and resort. It was very touristy and very curated but it allowed me to spend a day on a beautiful Cuban beach without a worry in the world.

Havana to Vinales day trip

Viñales is an amazing 2 hour trip into the STUNNING valley of mountains and tobacco fields. It’s certainly not close to the city, but it’s a favorite of day trips from Havana if you’re not venturing too much into the island. For my day trip, I used Discover Viñales and I loved the private tour they offered. Note, that it was super pricey. In addition to the day trip to Vinales from Havana, they do offer a couple of other Cuba tours. We got to see the stunning valley, a cave, a cigar factory, a botanical garden, a family tobacco farm, each lunch on that farm, and then end the day with a drink in a restaurant overlooking the valley.

Although seeing Vinales in one day is doable, I would certainly recommend spending a night there. The valley is a very unique destination and deserves much more of your time than what I gave it. However, this is one of those major downs of short-term travel. If you find a place you really like, you don’t really have the flexibility to add more time.

Aside from seeing the valley, one of my favorite parts was interacting with our hosts for the tour. The driver and tour guide was super friendly and amazing to bond with for the whole day. They gave us a more realistic perspective of the island and answered a ton of our questions about their day-to-day in Cuba.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Cuba

Cuba remains one of those places that will stick out in your mind. You can choose to ignore the realities and go take your vintage taxi ride, drink mojitos at Hemmingway’s bars and never think twice about what life is like there. Or if you decide to travel you can do it more consciously and try to turn your head to the sad realities of this place.

Rather than simply admiring the buildings of Plaza Vieja and Obispo Street, walk a little further out and look at the buildings that are falling apart. Instead of just taking a picture in that amazing vintage taxi, notice the locals fixing the cars in the alleys with little parts they have and barely afford. While splurging on a meal at La Guardia, don’t forget to notice the ration lines at the regular stores.

I don’t think boycotting Cuba travel is the answer and I also don’t think our money there will make too big of a difference either. The only thing we can do is respect the locals, have meaningful conversations, try to spend our money on more local businesses, and simply be aware of the realities of Cuba.

Havana Itinerary: FREE Downloadable Guides for your Havana Tour

Three full days is a good chunk of time to see the highlights of this amazing city. My three-day Havana plan is full of adventure and on the third day, you will head over to Viñales Valley to see a more rural part of this country. The Valley is nothing like you’ve ever seen and I promise you’ll have a good time there either riding a horse, exploring a farm or simply enjoying the views.

Map for your Havana stay

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