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Family travel in Cuba guide

This Cuba family vacations travel guide gives an insight into visiting Cuba with kids. Whether traveling with tots or tempting teenagers onto a last family trip, this unique Caribbean island is always ready to welcome families. Beautiful beaches, lush forests and heaps of outdoor activities will keep all generations busy, while the island’s political history and unique culture informs daily life, in ways both fascinating and frustrating. Read on for what to expect, things to do and the best time to go.

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Family travel in Cuba guide

Traveling in Cuba with kids is easier than you might imagine. Self-drive vacations are popular and suit family travel – just sling the luggage in the boot, pop the kids in the back and go. A two-week visit reveals historic cities, iconic 1950s cars, giant caves and lush forests with tempting river pools. There is music everywhere, birds and butterflies, and gorgeous, Caribbean beaches lapped by warm seas. All this intertwined with Cuba’s fascinating culture and past, from Che to Castro, salsa to cigars. And forget plodding through museums, children can absorb Cuban life organically, by joining dance classes, playing with local kids and staying in casas particulares.

As your kids grow, so do your family travel ambitions. Ready for somewhere adventurous and exotic, where culture meets kid-friendly activities? Try Cuba!

This is a poor country with a rich history. Its people are educated and welcoming, and love children. The infrastructure is shaky, the shops run out of provisions and there isn’t much WiFi, but what Cuba lacks in material wealth it makes up for in spirit and beauty. Your kids will get a vacation and an education. Worth a plane ride, surely?

Read on to discover more in our family vacations in Cuba travel guide.

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Best time to go

With temperatures hovering between 20°C and 35°C and the sea bathtub warm all year, Cuba has a classic Caribbean climate.

Spring is the best time to visit Cuba, in time for the Easter school vacations. Mar-mid Apr is most pleasant: warm and sunny without summer’s humidity or storms. A Christmas getaway is good, too, with highs of 27°C (18°C at night), and only six or so days of rain. Prices drop in Jan-Feb, when it’s fractionally cooler, too. Be prepared for very high temperatures during the school summer hols. Jun-Aug are hot and humid (32°C on average), with tropical rains. Latin, African and Caribbean cultures combine to ensure festivals happen throughout the year; whenever you come there will be music and dance.

Call us for the best time to go on a Cuba family Vacation

Havana Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

110

JUN

200

JUL

140

AUG

150

SEP

190

OCT

180

NOV

DEC

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Things to do on a family vacation in Cuba...

A well planned itinerary will help you see the best of Cuba, but once here, be prepared to go with the flow. Let Cuba’s relaxed, sociable vibe dictate your pace and try to shrug off any small hiccups or details that don’t quite go to plan – Cuba’s infrastructure is not advanced to Western standards. Cuba has a fascinating history, but march the kids down too many cobbled streets or Revolution museums and you’re touting for a tantrum. Balance culture with nature, exploration with relaxation. Luckily, in Cuba, that’s not hard. Cave visits, ziplines, beaches, snorkelling and wild waterfalls offset cultural visits to cigar workshops or coffee plantations, and the right tour leader can give even a tour of Havana’s Old City a kiddie-pleasing twist, stopping at the best ice cream places and shady piazzas. Traveling by car makes a family trip easier – no hanging around at bus stops or heaving luggage about, plus you can pull over whenever you see a great beach or fancy a snack break – so consider a self-drive vacation. Cuba’s roads may have the odd giant pothole and can be poorly signposted, but they’re never busy and the driving here is, on the whole, straightforward.

Things not to do...

Don't stay in a sleek, characterless all inclusive resort if you want an authentic taste of Cuban life. Instead, book into the small, family run casas particulares that are everywhere. Your vacation company can even book casas with families that have children, too, so your kids have in house Cuban buddies. Bring your Spanish phrasebook and don’t be shy. Cubans are friendly and enjoy a chat. While jineteros hassle tourists for money, particularly on the streets of Havana, the vast majority of Cubans just want to say hello. If you’re staying in a casa particular, a bit of Spanish goes a long way, as owners often don’t speak English. Taking a ride in a classic American car is a Cuba must do, but don’t opt for a long trip. Beautiful as they may look, these cars are six decades old, don’t have air con and lack seatbelts. Booking one for a short city tour is the best bet. If you have space in your suitcase, don’t forget to bring items to pass on to local people. The US trade embargo still exists, and Cuba suffers from a lack of basic supplies. Pencils, toiletries, clothes, shoes, over-the-counter medicine, sticking plasters and feminine hygiene products will all be gratefully received.

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Written by Joanna Simmons

Family travel in Cuba guide

Family travel in Cuba guide