The best time to travel to Cuba
It depends on what you want to do. The best time to travel to Cuba is not just a matter of weather. The multiple offerings in the happenings of the largest Caribbean island define an unforgettable experience.
The climate of Cuba
The weather is considered hotter from May to October with temperatures reaching 33°C - 38°C. However, this period is also the wettest, with typical hurricanes occurring every 1-2 years.
The dry season lasts from November to April with temperatures ranging from 27°C to 30°C during the day and 19°C - 21°C at night.
The island has an amazing tropical climate and experiences a long period of hot and bright days with little rainfall, especially in Havana and its coastline. The southern coastline has the best climate by comparison, protected by the northeast winds blowing into the ocean.
If you plan to visit Cuba in the dry season, early planning and reservations are essential at least 9 months in advance. If you're interested in the December to February period and the Easter season - the country's highest tourist season - it's best to plan your trip 12 months in advance to get what you want - and at better prices, of course.
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Happenings in Cuba
Many different events enrich your experience, some with an international flavour and others of a smaller scale. The main festivals and cultural events that attract the interest of the traveller are the following:
HABANOS FESTIVAL
http://www.habanos.com | 27 Feb-3 Mar 2017
Havana is preparing to host the XIX Habanos Festival, the largest cigar festival in the world, with over 1,500 participants from 50 countries. The famous cigar manufacturers Hoyo de Monterrey, Cohiba, Cuaba, H. Upmann, Quai D'Orsay, Montecristo, etc., present their new production range, new designs and vitolas (dimensions) that define future market trends.
HABANA FILM FESTIVAL
http://habanafilmfestival.com | Dec 2017
Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano
Unofficially known as the Habana Film Festival, it started in 1979 and shows in various cinemas of the city -every day, all day and for the whole week- top films of Latin American cinema. The focus of the festival is to highlight the new wave of emerging filmmakers and to attract film distributors and promoters. In addition to the competition, international entries are presented.
HABANA BIENNAL
Nov 2018
Recognised as one of Cuba's most important cultural events, the 13th Havana Biennial is scheduled for November 2017. It is a tradition that has been taking place every 2-3 years for the past 2 decades and despite its triennial nature, it has maintained its reputation as an internationally recognized event of high conception.
During the event, the Cuban metropolis is transformed into a living exhibition with the enthusiastic participation of Cuban and international artists, who display their works in urban spaces, galleries and cultural institutions. Founded in 1984, the Havana Biennial is considered the most important meeting point for artists from non-Western countries. It includes documentary screenings, workshops, master classes and works from more than 40 countries, while the latest editions have presented increasingly original and "strong" works by Cuban artists, making it one of the best "barometers" of Cuba's changing status.
HAVANA INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2017
http://jazzfestival2017.com | 11-19 Dec 2017
It is 38 years old and brings together the most amazing jazz and improvisation encounters in small venues in Vedado, such as La Zorra y Cuervo and Jazz Café, smothered in the aromas of cigar smoke and rum smoke.
The dates for this year are not yet confirmed.
FERIA INTERNACIONAL DEL LIBRO
http://www.filcuba.cult.cu | 25 Apr - 8 May 2017
The annual Havana International Book Fair attracts thousands of devotees during the two weeks of the event. Visitors can read, buy books and attend presentations and concerts. In terms of themes, all genres are represented -fiction, politics, children's literature, to cookbooks. This event is living proof of the Cubans' love for the world of books and each year it is dedicated to the literary works of a different country.
INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL OF HABANA
info | 6 Oct - 2 Nov 2018
One of the country's biggest and most beloved events, the Havana International Ballet Festival attracts top dancers from around the world who collaborate with the artists of the Cuban National Ballet. The first Havana International Ballet Festival was held in 1960 and has been held every two years since 1974. To date, it is the most prestigious ballet festival in Cuba and one of the most anticipated ballet festivals in the world.
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Alternative tents & activities
SKATEBOARDING
Skateboarding in Cuba has become "a revolutionary way of life for the young generation".
Since its emergence during the 1980s, growth has been both slow and "underground". Without the required recognition or support from the government, without building infrastructure, securing boards and equipment due to the embargo, the beloved youth sport has mostly relied on the ingenuity and energy of domestic skaters. Slowly, however, things are changing, the sport is increasingly supported by foreign athletes and organizations such as Amigo Skate, help the new and better boards to find their way to the local market...
SCUBA
It's no coincidence that Fidel Castro was an avid diver in his youth, as Cuba's 5,646 km coastline counts many dive sites. For example "The Island of Youth" (Isla de la Juventud) is a marine reserve with caves, drop-offs and wrecks that is protected from the prevailing southeast winds. Some of the most famous diving sites are located in the Jardines de la Reina archipelago, which you can reach by liveaboard, or in Jardines de la Reina, the "Queen's Gardens", an archipelago that stretches for 150 km. Specifically "The Gardens" emerged as a marine reserve in the 1990s and now operate as a national park with limited activities. Only a few hundred divers have access to their waters each year.
The best time for diving in Cuba unfolds between December and April - when the average water temperature is 25°C - although the prices are higher then. In January to March the water is cooler and reaches its maximum temperature between July and October. In the colder months you will need a 5mm thick suit, while a 3mm suit is sufficient for the summer. Note that the eastern coastline is subject to hurricanes from July to November, and in general Cuba experiences one hurricane every two years.
