12 Top Places to Snorkel in Cuba

Snorkeling is one of my favourite activities – especially if it’s possible to walk straight into the water from the beach.  And that’s the case in a lot of places in Cuba – snorkeling straight from the beach.  Cuba is a great place for first-time snorkelers – although I do recommend planning and bringing your own mask and snorkel set if you plan to snorkel in Cuba.  Many of the snorkel trips that you can take in Cuba will provide snorkeling equipment, but there’s nothing better than having your gear.  Here’s our guide to the 12 of the best places to snorkel in Cuba.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS. MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

Whether it’s marine life, corals, or the clear waters that you’re looking for, Cuba has some superb snorkeling opportunities.  Many of the snorkel sites in Cuba are direct from the beach, but for some of the better coral, more interesting reefs, you’ll want to take a boat trip.  I’ll cover each of the locations with details of whether you can just walk in or whether you’ll need a boat.

The 12 Best Places to Snorkel in Cuba

Cuba has more than 4,000 islands, which means that there’s a heck of a lot of coastline and cayos (keys) where you can snorkel from.  It’s the largest island in the Caribbean, and many of the snorkeling spots are in protected marine parks.  I’ve included the best places to snorkel in Cuba, and where you can access them from.  Most of all, the snorkeling you can do in Cuba is shore-based; there are some exceptions, and sometimes you’ll need to take a boat to get to the reef.

TOP PRODUCT PICK

U.S. Divers Adult Cozumel Mask, Seabreeze II Snorkel, ProFlex Fins, Gear Bag Set

Best Snorkel Set for Cuba

You’ll want to take your own snorkel gear to Cuba. While you might be able to rent it, it’s likely to be old. So take your own. Gift it to a local at the end of the trip.

Check Price & Buy on Amazon

1. Snorkeling Playa Coral (Varadero)

This location, about halfway between Matanzas and Varadero, is one of the best places for snorkeling in Cuba.  It’s really quite accessible.  If you have your own transport, you’ll find it on a map, or you can take an easy day trip from Varadero.  The main reef is shallow and not far from shore.  You can enter the water and find the reef from the beach, but it’s easier to enter the water from the Flora y Fauna Reserve (open from 08:00 until 17:00), which is 400 meters to the east of the reef. 

Playa Coral’s reef is about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) long and, as I said, it’s pretty shallow here.  The reef here is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long, and the water is relatively shallow.  If you prefer to take transport from Varadero, then this trip includes transport, snorkeling, and a trip to Saturn Cave.

2. Snorkeling at Playa Jibacoa

On the coast between Havana and Matanzas, Jibacoa Beach and Bay have great snorkeling options.  The water is shallow here, and the small reef is close to the beach.   Snorkeling here is shore-based, and the water tends to be clear.

3. Snorkeling the Bay of Pigs

There are two towns here where you can base yourself to snorkel the historic Bay of Pigs.  Playa Giron and Playa Larga.   The Bay itself is on the southern coast in the Gulf of Cazones, and there’s a reef about 100 meters from shore, with specific snorkeling points.  You can also snorkel directly from the beach in either Playa Larga or Playa Giron (but it’s not great; you’re best going to specific sites).

Of course, one of the reasons for snorkeling here is that it’s also a historic location – the site of the ill-fated 1961 invasion by 1,400 Cuban Exiles, supplied, supported, and armed by the US CIA.  (My guide to diving the Bay of Pigs is here – and you can join the dive bus as a snorkeler for a much reduced rate.).

All of the snorkeling here is shore-based; the dive bus just takes you to spots where you walk into the water.  The two main sites for snorkeling the Bay of Pigs are Punta Perdiz and Caleta Buena.  There are also cenotes that you can snorkel (or dive) here.  The limestone sinkholes can be accessed by a tour, which you can arrange with your casa particular or the dive shops in either Playa Giron or Playa Larga.

Snorkeling Punta Perdiz:   Snorkel from the beach here; the water is shallow, and you’ll be able to spot angelfish, sea urchins, sea whips, and wrasses.

4. Snorkeling Cayo Levisa (from Vinales)

Part of the Colorados Archipelago Reef, the island of Cayo Levisa is perfect for snorkeling.   The island is only accessible by boat (it takes about 30 minutes) from Palma Rubia, and the closest place you’ll likely visit from is Vinales.  Day trips from Vinales are an option.   There was a hotel on the island, but it never reopened post-pandemic. However, there’s still a dive shop here and also a restaurant and the usual beach facilities (sunbeds, umbrellas, cold beers)

Come to Cayo Levisa for black coral and few visitors, although one of the more famous ones in the past was Ernest Hemingway.  You can read my guide to Hemingway’s Cuba here.

You can rent snorkeling gear from the dive shop on the island, but as ever, it’s best to bring your own. My guide to Cayo Levisa is here.

5. Snorkeling Cayo Santa Maria

Located off the north coast of central Cuba, Cayo Santa Maria is connected by a causeway from the town of Caibarién.  All the accommodation here is hotels – the closest casa particulars are on the mainland.  If you’re not staying in one of the hotels, then it’s likely that you’ll visit on a day trip from Santa Clara (which gives you 5 hours of free time enjoying the water and beaches).

All the accessible water here is on the north coast, as the south of the 7-mile square (18 kilometers square) island is both forest and mangrove.  You can snorkel from any of the beaches here (there are 8 miles of them!), but the best snorkeling is at Punta Madruguilla – near the Melia Buenavista Hotel.  There’s a small coral outcrop about 200 meters from the beach, and while the coral isn’t brilliant, you can see marine life.  Wear fins to come out this far, though, as the current can be strong.

My guide to Cayo Santa Maria is here.

For better snorkeling, you’re going to want to take a boat trip.  You’ll find boats at Marina Gaviota (on the neighboring island of Cayo las Brujas) arrange snorkel trips through your hotel, or combine a catamaran sailing and snorkeling trip.   This trip includes return pick up from your hotel on Cayo Santa Maria and sails to the Dolphinarium, Cayo Frances, and includes snorkeling stops.   Snorkeling gear, an open bar, and lunch are included in the trip.   There’s more here.

6. Snorkeling Cayo Coco

Picture-perfect beaches and named after the coconut trees that line the beaches, Cayo Coco is part of the Jardines del Rey Archipelago of islands.   You can easily reach the reefs from shore or by boat.  Snorkeling from shore is best from the front of the Melia Cayo Coco Resort.

Heading to Cayo Coco? My guide is here.

You can expect to see rays, angelfish, and parrotfish here at Cayo Coco, plus every resort will have an option for you to explore more distant reefs.   If you prefer to prebook and prepay your snorkeling at Cayo Coco, then this full-day trip includes hotel pickup from Cayo Coco or Cayo Guillermo and several snorkeling stops from the luxury catamaran.

7. Snorkeling Playa Santa Lucia

You’ll most likely reach Playa Santa Lucia from the UNESCO World Heritage city of Camagüey, and I’m including it in case you’re visiting there and looking for a little head-in-the-water time.  However, as this part of the island tends to get quite a bit of wind, it’s not the best option for beginners. 

The best shore-based snorkeling at Playa Santa Lucia is in the inner lagoon; however, you’re not far from the reef, and there are some super options if you don’t mind paying to take a boat.  On the reef, you’ll find trevally, butterflyfish, seagrass, snapper, soft and hard corals, and sergeant major.  Book a boat trip at your casa particular, hotel, or prebook and prepay here at Civitatis.

8. Snorkeling Playa Rancho Luna

If you’re visiting the glorious Cienfuegos, then you have the chance to snorkel Playa Rancho Luna.   You won’t see many other tourists here, which means that the reef is well preserved (and no doubt the marine life is shocked to see you underwater!).

Take a colectivo or book a taxi from your casa particular in Cienfuegos and head here.  You’ll find some great shore-based snorkeling, as there are rare gorgonians and elkhorn corals here.  Fish include bigeye trevally, blue tang, trumpetfish, and angelfish.  Watch out for sea urchins on the sandy and rocky bottom.

9. Snorkeling Playa Esmeralda

You can easily reach Playa Esmeralda from the city of Holguin, and although the beach is rocky (wear watershoes), there is a reef close to the shore in shallow water.   Expect to see tropical fish and potentially squid here.

10.  Snorkeling Guardalavaca

Further on from Playa Esmeralda and again within easy reach of the city of Holguin is the beach town of Guardalavaca.  The water here is shallow, and there are coral heads close to the shore.  The main reef is a little further away, about 150 meters. It’s best to wear fins if you’re heading to the reef.  There’s no shortage of hotels or Casa Particulars here, making it a great place to stay for a snorkeling-based trip.

At the reef, you’re likely to find Spanish hogfish, bluehead wrasse, blue tang butterflyfish, and porcupine fish.

11.  Snorkeling Maria la Gorda

Maria La Gorda is just about as far west as you can get in Cuba.  It’s on the protected biosphere reserve of the Guanahacabibes Peninsula and is one of the best diving spots in Cuba, but there are also shallow reefs here which make for great snorkeling.  Add to its remoteness and you get some great options for snorkeling.

You’re likely to see sharks, black corals, sponge gardens, and large schools of tropical fish likely as curious about you as you are about them.  There’s a hotel here, the Hotel María La Gorda Beach, which caters primarily to divers. 

12.  Snorkeling Jardines de la Reina

I can’t NOT include the Jardines de La Reina, as this marine park covers more than 2,000 square kilometres (772 square miles).  Most of the access here is via a liveaboard boat, primarily for divers.  This is a protected area and visitor numbers are restricted here, but the reef is incredibly healthy and the marine life abundant.  The corals here are fabulous, and you’ll find healthy soft corals, sponges, and sea fans.

The Best Snorkeling Resorts in Cuba

If you’re planning a resort vacation in Cuba and you’re looking for those which have the best snorkeling, then I’ve got you covered. Here are Cuba’s best snorkeling resorts.

1. The Melia Buenavista on Cayo Santa Maria

This resort is spectacular for snorkeling. There are 3 private beaches and this is an adult only resort. It’s a mix of coral patch reefs and rock reef. The central beach is the best for snorkeling, and you can expect to see parrot fish, squid, wrasses, squirrel fish, squid, porgies, jacks, nurse sharks, porcupine fish, flounder, rays, groupers, barracuda, octopus and grunts too.

2. Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro Resort & Spa, Guardalavaca

If you’re a more advanced snorkeler, then head to the drop off on the outside of the Bahia Naranja. There are reasonably strong currents here and you’ll need to swim around 15 minutes to get to the drop off – its easy to stop as its where the dive boats anchor off. There are fabulous coral gardens here and lots of coral structures and reef fish. At the drop off you’ll see kingfish, barracuda and sometimes whitetipped sharks.

3. Memories Jibacoa

There’s a great reef here, and its easy to snorkel too.

The Best Time to go Snorkeling in Cuba

Cuba has both a wet and a dry season.  Experienced snorkelers will know that snorkeling in the wet season isn’t the best for visibility, so you’ll want to try and visit Cuba in the dry season (for a lot of reasons – read my guide to the best time to visit Cuba here).

The best time to go Snorkeling in Cuba is between November and April – during the dry season.  You’ll find that the water temperature ranges from 75°F to 84°F ( 24°C to 29°C), but calmer seas and better visibility during the dry season make for better snorkeling conditions.

What to see when Snorkeling in Cuba

Depending on the time of year that you snorkel in Cuba and your location, you can expect a variety of coral and marine life, which includes:

• Sea turtles
• Sponges
• Sea Fans
• Coral Reefs (brain coral, elkhorn coral, black coral (Cayo Levisa)
• Lobsters
• Crabs
• Wrasses, Butterflyfish, Blue Tangs
• Moray eels
• Reef Sharks and Rays

Tips for Snorkeling In Cuba

• Ensure that your travel and medical insurance covers you for snorkeling in Cuba.  (My guide to insurance for Cuba is here)
• Bring your own snorkeling gear to Cuba.  All snorkeling trips (and some resort hotels) offer rentals, but you’ll get a better fit by bringing your own gear.
• Go snorkeling in Cuba with a guide, especially if you’re looking at trying to find specific marine species.
• Wear a rashguard and reef-safe sunscreen.  The sun is super strong here.
• Don’t touch the coral, don’t chase the marine life.

Final Words on the 12 Best Places to Go Snorkeling in Cuba

Snorkeling will rarely be the main reason for your visit to Cuba, but it’s a super activity to undertake while you’re here.  Whether you choose shore base snorkeling or take a boat trip to get your head underwater, there are some great options – and I’ve included locations throughout the country, so wherever your Cuban itinerary takes you, you’ll get to see the best snorkel spots in Cuba.

Cuba’s Best is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.