Cuba with Kids: 15 Fun Things to Do
Cuba island is a country located in the Caribbean. The island boasts a wide range of South American cultures you should experience once you visit the Caribbean.
From the cool exotic atmosphere to centuries-old strongholds and decadent chocolate, you’ll find a place and something for the kinds. Whether to explore, sit and relax or the great foods to enjoy, there’s always something for everyone to enjoy.
A trip to the south with the kids to explore Cuba will be worth your time and resources.
- Morro Castle — Havana
The castle is a fortress that was used to guard Havana harbor. The other name for the castle is Castillo de Los Tres Reyes del Morro, in Spanish. The name comes from the three Biblical Magi.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The castle has a rich history of hundreds of years. Built-in the sixteen century (precisely 1589), the castle provides a view of the bay.
Being a fort having survived the naval raids of the 7-year war, it houses many war artifacts. These include barracks and cannons with the castle doors open for the public viewership.
Regardless of its past as a military fort, the castle offers a view of the beautiful Havana Bay. This exciting scenery plus the castle, a monument itself, is enough reason to take a trip to Morro Castle.
Recommended Ages
The castle is a friendly spot for the whole family. Bring your kids to bask in the glory of this historic castle.
- Finca Agroecologica El Paraiso — Viñales
Finca Agroecological El Paraiso is a Cuban restaurant located a short distance from the center of Viñales town.
Built on a hill, it provides a beautiful sight of the mountains.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This local restaurant serves delicious dishes that are prepared naturally. To add to the beauty, all the foods are also naturally grown, providing an organic yet refreshing dining experience.
The view of the Valle del Silencio from the restaurant also adds to the sophistication of this place. The whole family gets to enjoy healthy foods at affordable prices, and if you are lucky enough, you might also enjoy a view of the sunset.
Recommended Ages
The organic foods served at Paradise Farm and the amazing views are a good experience for the whole family, including your kids.
3.Salsa Classes — Viñales
The town of Vinales offers great salsa classes. When visiting this place, don’t just settle for the exotic views but also take the chance to learn the dance moves just like the residents.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Learning to dance is fun; you learn the moves from the locals. The classes are taught at the old town hall.
The guide directs you to a rhythmic movement of your steps and hips to the music. This one-hour class is perfect for the kids and also perfect for family fun.
Recommended Ages
Salsa beginner classes are perfect for everyone, including the children. They are an excellent way to have fun while exercising. All that is needed is to ensure your kid can manage the one-hour class.
- Discover Viñales Tour — Viñales
Cultural heritage is a perfect spot to visit and enjoy sight viewing. Having been declared a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, Vinales Valley is an excellent place to tour and enjoy this town.
Why We Recommend This Activity
While touring the Vinales Valley, Discover Vinales Tour provides a fantastic experience, and you can ride horseback, take carriage tours, eat fresh farm food, and much more. Get to view all the amazing sights in the valley with the Discover Vinales Tour. This helps you to spend your day entirely through the area without the stressful planning involved as everything is planned for you.
Recommended Ages
All ages, from adults to teens, can enjoy the sightseeing at the valley offered by the Discover Vinales Tour. In addition, the family gets to enjoy a relaxing tour of the Vinales Valley town.
- Horse Riding in the Valley — Viñales
Riding a horse is a fancy thing to do, especially for recreation. This is the main reason why once you are in Vinales, you should take a horse ride.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Letting the kids ride on horseback once you are in Cuba towns is a great experience they won’t forget. This is because such an activity is rare, especially in the city.
Exploring the valley can be tiresome but enjoying the view while riding on a horse is breathtaking. In addition, the tour will take you only five or six hours.
Recommended Ages
Horse riding is recommended for children from 4 years and above. But, of course, adults too can take part in horse riding.
- Museo del Chocolate — Havana
A chocolate treat is almost every kid’s favorite thing. Museo del Chocolate offers an amazing chocolate treat that will leave the kids yearning for more.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The museum holds a few souvenirs from the country’s chocolate history, but what makes the place great is its yummy chocolate treats.
Your kids will love the place. From the cold-ice cocoa to the mouth-watering hot chocolate with random choco snacks.
Take the Cuban chocolate experience home by buying artisanal chocolate boxes from the museum.
Recommended Ages
All chocolate fans will fall in love with this place.
Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás — Viñales
Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas is a cave in Vinales town, and it’s the biggest in Cuba and second in the American continent after the Mammoth Cave.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The cave covers an extensive 46km. This is breathtaking scenery with incredible rock patterns, stalagmites, and stalactites.
Gran Caverna de Santo Tomas provides an adventurous tour as you climb and tour the cave.
You only take around 1 hour and 30minuteswith a guide to tour 1km of the cave.
Recommended Ages
Due to the climbing involved, this activity is recommended for kids above seven. Small kids and the elderly are discouraged from the activity. Also, if you quickly get tired, you can’t handle vigorous cave climbing.
- Fusterlandia — Havana
Fusterlandia is a relatively small seaside town found in Havana.
The town boasts a creative playground for over four decades of Cuban artists.
It is free to tour and enjoy the beauty of this seaside town.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This town in downtown Havana is a hidden gem that will offer you a cool atmosphere with mosaic-covered houses and streets.
The kids will love the unique works and bright colors that give it an exquisite touch. You should take many pictures of this place and enjoy the town’s rich background.
Another fantastic thing is that it’s cheap yet a fun experience in the town.
Recommended Ages
No restrictions are placed on who should or should not visit. The town is open to the public.
- Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña — Havana
In the 1700s, this great fortress was built to protect the weakest spot in Havana. Standing over decades makes it an incredible sight to explore.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This gorgeous fortress is over 700-meters wide. This makes it the largest in the whole of America.
The fortress served to keep invaders off Havana for such a long time. Visiting this incredible place, you will learn its history, especially how it served as the headquarters of El Che’s and the strip Cubanpatriots’ execution.
Appreciate the fortress’ rich history as you enjoy the outstanding sights.
Recommended Ages
The fortress is open to people of all ages.
- Playa Ancon — Trinidad
Found near Trinidad in Sancti Spiritus, Playa Ancon is a beach full of turquoise waters and white sand.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This fantastic Caribbean shoreline offers a great beach to bask in and waters to dive into. The sea-lovers will cherish spending time in this breathtaking beauty and serenity.
You can set a day off from the daily routine and relax your day away.
Recommended Ages
Playa Ancon has no age restrictions, but the guardians should accompany the kids for their safety.
- Old Square — Havana
Also known as the Plaza Vieja, or simply Old Square, this place goes back to the 16th century.
Get to enjoy Latin America’s culture. Bring your kids along and let them bask in the old glory of this location.
Why We Recommend This Activity
The Old Square’s sight is just great to look at. You can take pictures of your kids and yourself on the colorful cobblestone paths and the Spanish-style buildings.
The Old Square will sometimes come back to life with open-air markets and other fun activities great for the kids.
The location also includes numerous small art galleries and museums that you can take a look at.
Recommended Ages
There are no age restrictions in this exotic place. Therefore, the whole family can get to enjoy the sight.
- Playa Varadero — Matanzas
Found in Matanzas, Playa Varadero is among the biggest resorts in Cuba and the Caribbean.
Why We Recommend This Activity
Playa Varadero is also known as the Blue Beach. This is due to the cerulean waters that make it such a beauty.
The tall palm trees and the white sand adds to Playa Varadero’s beautiful complexity.
There are many water sports in this place, including kayaking.
Recommended Ages
All ages are accepted. Being a beach lover is an added advantage to enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches.
- Plaza de la Catedral — Havana
Havana’s old town boasts many exotic buildings, with the Cathedral Square being one of the main squares. It was built in the 1700s and got its name from the Cathedral building.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This place provides you with a sense of touch with the past. The stone paths and the buildings’ architecture all add to this effect.
You can take pictures with the 18th-century buildings as your background or, better still, with the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus.
The colonial art museum in the vicinity is yet another addition to complement this sight.
Recommended Ages
From the kids to adults, Plaza de la Catedral is a perfect spot for everyone.
- Las Terrazas — Artemisa
Las Terrazas is a nature reserve located up in the mountains of Sierra del Rosario.
In 1984, UNESCO designated it as a Biosphere Reserve.
Why We Recommend This Activity
If you are a countryside lover, this is the perfect place. Get to discover different flora and fauna as you enjoy the cool nature.
There are trails and footpaths that you can follow, leading you to rivers, waterfalls, and lakes. If you are brave enough, ziplining through the forest is a fantastic experience.
Recommended Ages
This nature reserve is perfect for the whole family. However, risky activities like ziplining are not recommended for children under eight.
- Sierra de Escambray — Trinidad
Sierra de Escambray is a mountain range with caves and deep valleys. These mountains are found in Central Cuba.
Why We Recommend This Activity
This location offers you unlimited adventure. Sierra de Escambray is a great place to get your adventurous spirit rolling when you go through the cold waters to explore the caves and discover the waterfalls.
Recommended Ages
The mountains can be trouble for youngsters, but it’s perfect for teenagers and adults.
