Where to Stay for Diving in Cuba

Deciding where to stay for diving in Cuba is really deciding which reefs you want to reach each morning. Some of the best sites have only one hotel nearby, others are surrounded by private guesthouses, and Jardines de la Reina can only be dived from a boat. This page walks through the four main options, with the dive regions each one suits.

Dive-focused hotels near the reef

In the remote west and on Isla de la Juventud, the dive center and the hotel are effectively the same place. At María la Gorda, the hotel on the beach is the only accommodation for many kilometers, and the dive boats leave from its own pier. On Isla de la Juventud, the hotel on Siguanea Bay has long served as the base for trips to the Punta Francés marine park.

These hotels are simple rather than luxurious, and meals are usually included because there is nowhere else to eat. In return you get the shortest possible commute to some of Cuba's best walls. Book them as part of a dive package if you can, and remember that both are state-run, so US travelers should check the State Department's Cuba Restricted List and Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List before booking.

All-inclusive beach resorts

Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Largo and Guardalavaca are lined with large all-inclusive resorts. Most have a dive center on site or nearby, with daily boat trips to the local reefs and wrecks. This is the easiest way to combine diving with a beach holiday, especially if you are traveling with non-divers who want pools, restaurants and activities. Diving here is pleasant rather than spectacular, but conditions are gentle and well suited to beginners and refresher dives.

Casas particulares

A casa particular is a room in a private home licensed to host visitors, often with breakfast and sometimes dinner cooked by the family. Casas are the best way to stay at the Bay of Pigs, where Playa Larga and Playa Girón are full of them and the shore-dive entry points are a short taxi or bicycle ride away. They also make great overnight stops in Havana, Trinidad and Cienfuegos as you travel between dive regions.

Casas are usually cheaper than hotels, the money goes directly to Cuban families, and hosts are a priceless source of local advice. Many have backup power or water tanks to ride out outages. Look for a sign with a blue, anchor-like symbol on the door, which marks a licensed casa.

Liveaboards and the floating hotel

Jardines de la Reina has no hotels on its cays, so all diving there is done from liveaboards or from a floating hotel moored inside the park. Trips usually last a week, starting from the port of Júcaro on the south coast of Ciego de Ávila province, and include three or four dives a day plus meals. Space is limited by the park's permits, so these trips often sell out many months ahead.

Matching a base to your trip

Eating and practical tips

Food shortages affect Cuba, so a casa host who cooks or a hotel with meals included makes life much easier in remote dive areas. In towns, private restaurants called paladares are usually the best places to eat. Carry bottled water, snacks for the boat and any dietary basics you rely on, and pay in cash.

Next, check how to travel to Cuba and get between dive regions, and the best time to dive Cuba for your chosen base.