stay cool!

Staying cool in Cuban heat 🥵

It’s been hotter than usual lately, definitely hotter than this time last year and staying cool while walking the mean streets of la habana vieja can be challenging. Here are some of my tips to beat the heat. 

1. Head to the beach! But make sure you get either an umbrella or some shade from a palm tree; no one wants to be a lobster. There is a beach bus that picks up from Parque Central every 40ish minutes starting at 9am and ending at 6pm. It’s 5cuc and it’s a hop on hop off kind of deal. It’s about 40 minutes to the beach so sit back and enjoy the AC on the bus! 
   
2. Find a pool! Most hotels only allow guests in there pools but there are a few that make exceptions. The Sevilla hotel charges 20cuc and you have access to the pool and gym from 10am until 6pm. You can also consume 15cuc of that 20 with food or drink. 
   
3. Heladerías! There are quite a few ice cream shops in Havana and they all offer a great cold treat. My favourites are Heladería Las Marines right across from the lancha terminal, Heled’oro by parque San Juan de Dios and Mango in plaza vieja. 
   
4. Pop into a hotel for some wifi and a cool down! Most hotels won’t questions tourists walking in. If you want to use their wifi most charge a higher price. Iberostar Parque Central chargers 5cuc per hour and you get a drink with that 5cuc. It’s high but you do get AC, a drink and relatively fast wifi (for Cuba)