Playa Guardalavaca
A 1500m-long stretch of sugar-white sand dappled with light streaming through abundant foliage, Playa Guardalavaca is a delight. A shady boulevard of palms, tamarind and sea grape trees runs along the centre of the beach. One of the most refreshing aspects of Playa Guardalavaca is that the beach is well used by Cubans as well as tourists, giving it a certain vitality with a lack of hustle. Midway along, a restaurant serves fried fish and lobster meals along with drinks, and there are stands renting out snorkelling equipment so you can explore the coral reef offshore.
Top image: Cuba, Holguin: Beach Guardalavaca - Middle Caribbean Sea and Coast © Anna ART/Shutterstock