Discover Cuba, the vibrant Caribbean island where colonial architecture meets revolutionary history and pristine beaches. Experience colorful Havana's classic cars, salsa rhythms, and world-class cigars in this unique destination frozen in time.
Best photo spots
Iconic and lesser-known locations worth shooting.
Malecón at Sunset
Classic Havana shot of vintage cars, pastel colonial buildings, and locals along the 8km seafront promenade as the sun drops over the Gulf of Mexico
Best time: sunset
Plaza Vieja Balconies
Old Havana's most photogenic square with colorful colonial facades and iron balconies. Shoot from Café El Escorial's second-floor balcony for elevated square views
Best time: late afternoon
Callejón de Hamel
Explosion of Afro-Cuban murals covering every surface with vivid colors and Santería imagery. Sunday rumba dancers add extraordinary human elements to the existing art
Best time: morning or Sunday noon
Hotel Los Jazmines Viewpoint (Viñales)
The definitive Cuba landscape shot — mogote limestone formations rising from tobacco fields with palm trees and valley mist from the hotel terrace
Best time: sunrise
Trinidad Cobblestone Streets
Pastel-colored colonial houses, cobblestone Callejón Vedado, and old American cars create timeless images. Every corner is a composition
Best time: golden hour
Che Guevara Mural, Plaza de la Revolución
Cuba's most iconic image — the steel wire outline of Che's face on the Ministry of Interior building. Shoot from the plaza for full scale with 'Hasta la Victoria Siempre' slogan
Best time: morning
Fusterlandia (Jaimanitas neighborhood)
José Fuster's mosaic-covered neighborhood is one of the Caribbean's most extraordinary art environments — tiled surfaces, colorful sculptures, and the artist's own fantastical home
Best time: morning
By subject
Match your shooting interest to Cuba's strengths.
Sunrise photography
Viñales Valley from Hotel Los Jazmines or Hotel La Ermita — misty mogote formations at dawn create Cuba's most iconic landscape images
Sunset photography
Malecón seafront in Havana and Cienfuegos Palacio de Valle rooftop — west-facing locations with Caribbean Sea backdrops
Architecture photography
Old Havana's four historic plazas, Trinidad's colonial streets, and Havana's mix of Art Deco and Spanish colonial buildings
Street photography
Havana's Centro Habana and Old Havana streets with vintage cars, daily Cuban life, musicians, and crumbling beautiful buildings
Nature photography
Viñales Valley mogotes, Topes de Collantes waterfalls, and Baracoa's dramatic mountain and bay landscapes
Night photography
Malecón at night with car headlights on the seafront, Fábrica de Arte Cubano neon-lit facade, and Trinidad's colonial streets illuminated
Best times to shoot
Light, weather, and seasonal considerations.
- Sunrise
- 6:30 AM in summer (May-Oct) / 7:00 AM in winter (Nov-Apr) — Viñales Valley mist most dramatic in cool dry-season mornings
- Midday
- Best for indoor architecture — churches, museums, and covered plazas with diffused light through windows
- Sunset
- 7:30 PM in summer / 5:45 PM in winter — Malecón and west-facing areas are optimal for Caribbean sunset shots
- Blue Hour
- 30-45 minutes after sunset — Havana's illuminated colonial buildings and Malecón seafront take on magical twilight quality
Photography tips
Make your shots stand out.
Always ask permission before photographing individuals — Cubans are generally friendly but direct respectful requests earn better portraits than candid snaps
Classic car drivers on the Malecón will often pose for photos for $1-2 — negotiate a brief portrait session rather than just grabbing shots
Do not photograph military installations, police, or government buildings — it is illegal and gear may be confiscated
Bring extra memory cards and batteries — power outages make charging unpredictable and Cuban camera shops have limited supplies