Cuba in April 2026 – is it worth going on vacation? Weather and reviews, water and air temperature in Varadero and Cayo Coco, is it possible to swim, prices for tours. What to do and what to see in Cuba in mid-spring, what is worth knowing – says Eurotraveler.
Cuba is an exotic piece of land in the Caribbean that makes it especially attractive for European and North American tourists. A place that attracts with its warm climate, as well as original attractions. But, however, not always equally good in terms of beach holidays.
After all, like everywhere else in the tropics, Cuba has its own “rainy season.” It is difficult to accurately define its boundaries – they shift from year to year – but most potential holidaymakers adhere to established concepts, just in case.
Somehow:
- It is better to vacation in Cuba in February or March
- You shouldn’t go to “Liberty Island” in the summer, although in June it seems you can still
- August and September in Cuba are the most hurricane months
- October is drier and limitedly suitable for visiting for tourism purposes.
- But in November in Cuba it is hot, dry and sunny
- And on the New Year and a little later… – this is the most real high season
If you noticed, there are simply no mentions of some months of the year in the list. Is this justified? We decided to figure it out!
And we started by studying the following question: is it possible to go to Cuba in April?
Is this month a pleasant ending dry season, or, on the contrary, is it borderline in every sense? Someone who doesn’t know what he wants and therefore suffers from unpredictable changes in temperature and pressure?
Weather in Cuba in April
It is distinguished by quite good and even very sunny character. Some will say that it is too sunny. But such skeptics usually don’t go to the Caribbean islands.
It rains infrequently, and the degree of intensity of the atmosphere sometimes makes you regret a cooler February. However, if you can easily tolerate +30 and above degrees Celsius against the backdrop of a clear sky and generally not excessive humidity, you will be satisfied.
It is worth knowing that the air temperature in Cuba at the beginning of April is looking at the transition to qualitatively different level. Compared to the first month of spring, of course.
If in March the thermometer in most places on the coast: both in Havana and Holguin is content with the range of +26-28 ° C and does not often attempt more, then with the arrival of April it seems to receive a portion of doping.
And literally immediately moves to where hotter interval: +30-36 °C
In the eastern part of the island (Holguin), as well as in the south (Cayo Largo) usually hottest. Those who vacation in Varadero or Havana are saved from the sweltering heat increasing sea winds.
However, there, in principle, it is tolerable even without them: in most cases, the temperature stays in the range from +28 to 32 °C. In the archipelagos north of Cuba: Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo in April are even more comfortable – usually no more than +28 °C.
The nights are colder. Moreover, it is quite noticeable: it can be either +24 or even +20-22 °C.
Of course, the overwhelming majority of holidaymakers will consider such a forecast as an instruction not to take any warm clothes with them at all. But people who are cautious and prone to freezing will, of course, take them with them on vacation blouses and jackets. At the very least – sweatshirts.
The times of sunrises and sunsets shift slightly throughout the month – Cuba is not too far from the equator. But, albeit not by much, the duration of daylight hours is gradually increasing.
By May reaching almost 13 hours!
Speaking of
in the winds
It is not without reason that reviews write about their intensification in Cuba exactly in April. Moreover, to values that not only drive waves, but also directly exclude bathing.
Tourists, however, don’t even think of being indignant at the stern shouts of the rescuers driving everyone out of the water. On the contrary, from the shore they look at rampant sea elements.
Lazyly – in the heat it’s hard to think differently – wondering exactly what size waves are raging here during hurricane season. Or – such thoughts are even more pleasant – how much rum can be taken out of Cuba? And shouldn’t we risk exceeding the permitted norm?
Many, however, are not inclined to waste time on such nonsense. And they honestly admit in photo reports that whenever possible they go waste money on excursions.
Which in Cuba – let’s get ahead of ourselves – are frankly expensive.
Water temperature
Lives not only in an acceptable range, but also in a range approved by the absolute majority of holidaymakers +27-29 degrees Celsius. Only a very small cohort of holidaymakers will find this temperature of the water area unpleasant – they say, “not refreshing enough.”
Swimming from dawn to dusk in Cuba at the beginning and end of April may be difficult except big waves. Because, as already mentioned, during this period the winds gain strength.
It is difficult to get around this obstacle, due to the Russian habit of not paying attention to the problem – on another day waves from the Caribbean Sea literally knock you off your feet. Therefore, it’s better to flounder near the shore, treat a chronic runny nose…
Sometimes rains also put a spoke in the wheels – a natural phenomenon, however, not at all typical for this time of year. You can read more about such an opportunity in a very informative review from 2018, describing a vacation in Varadero – otzovik.com/review_6369668.html.
Prices 2026
Now – about the current prices. And they are tall!
The cost of a holiday lasting 5-7 days in the first half of April in Varadero or Cayo Coco starts from approximately 250 thousand rubles for two. This is not a minimum (there are cheaper tours), but a reasonable level, implying good hotel and all inclusive.
If you choose a 5-star hotel with a good rating, the cost of the tour easily costs 300-350 thousand.
Independent travelers can try to save money.
Since air tickets from Moscow to Cuba and back can be purchased for the amount about 100 thousand rubles. And finding a room in an inexpensive but very good guest house in Cuba (often with breakfast) will cost $40-60 for two people per night.
Things to do
So what can you theoretically do on Cayo Coco or the Cayo Guillermo Bridge connected to it? Of course, in addition to languidly reclining on a beach lounger in the company of a plate of battered shrimp and a healthy glass of pina colada?
Which, by the way, may be praised by travelers, but in hotels it is sometimes made using technology that is far from original: from “noname” rum and syrup of unknown nature…
The list of available entertainment is small, but quite sufficient.
For example, you can always go diving. Or, if this is not your first experience, strengthen your diving skills.
Finally, you can rent a car and drive around the islands at your leisure.
A little? But it’s very relaxing. In recent reviews from tourists who have visited Cuba, you will not find any negativity regarding a small range of entertainment. As well as comments about the tedium of such a pastime!
However, it is quite natural that many tourists strive for more.
For example, they go to “get soaked” atmosphere of Havana and look at the Capitol there. Ride around the Cuban capital in an Oldtimer, drink a mojito on the Malecon embankment and go to Hemingway’s favorite bar.
The most active travelers will probably take a real tour of “Liberty Island”.
They will see, for example, tobacco plantations and caves in Vinales Valley. You will visit the incredibly colorful city of Trinidad or the French-style Cienfuegos, which has preserved a lot of buildings from the colonial period.
You can also take an excursion from Varadero or Holguin in Cayo Largo. If you have “extra” money and there is a desire to carefully save 250-300 euros…
For memory
And once upon a time it was like this…
More recently, during the coronavirus epidemic, a trip to Cuba was a kind of an expensive quest with an unknown result. After all, you not only had to choose where it would be better, Cayo Coco or Varadero, but also documentally prepare for the trip by obtaining certificates and tests
In particular, even in 2022, only tourists who have the vaccination certificate. Or by providing at customs control a negative PCR test for coronavirus no older than 72 hours.
And it must be in English, in paper form and with the original seal of the medical organization that made it!
Children 0-11 years old were exempt from providing the specified documents. But all members of the traveling family had to fill out the DViajeros online form.
Where were they allowed?
Due to the coronavirus epidemic and the restrictions adopted, tourists could go on vacation only to Cayo Coco island north of Cuba proper and on Varadero resort. On an all inclusive basis, that is, “all inclusive”, but in fact in a real reservation.
Eat and drink, sunbathe, swim, but never set foot outside the designated areas. And the conditions of admission are not exactly kind to the feelings of vacationers.
By the way, keep in mind that according to the rules in the cabin of the plane, you had to wear a mask during the entire flight. At the same time, constantly changing them – at least once every 3 hours.
The worries of those arriving to relax in the coronavirus era did not end at passport control. Since the Cuban hotel ordered them to surrender another rapid test for covid.
And only if this analysis showed a negative result, rest could begin.
If the result was positive, the main “fun” began.
Then (at the expense of the receiving party) a repeat was done, but already PCR test. And if it was positive, the coronavirus insurance money came into play, and the traveler himself moved from the hotel to the Cuban Observatory.
Citizens traveling with a PCR test, even if the test result was negative, were initially placed in 5-day isolation in their room.
Outside the hotels everyone was moving around only wearing masks. And they didn’t try to find ways to get to the “Mainland” – for example, to go to Havana.
That is, the majority did not try. Minority with the help of local travel agencies invented ways and means. And sometimes they managed to bypass the cordons…
- Is it possible to fly to Cuba on vacation in June?
- Best time for a beach holiday in Cuba
© Eurotraveler
