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Cuba🇨🇺 | townsAlquízarFarm town, guarapo stands, tobacco fields, quiet streets | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Alquízar
👀 For curious travelerstown ranked #21
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 23, 2026

Alquízar sits in Artemisa Province, Cuba, about 40 kilometers southwest of Havana, and it is not a beach stop, whatever the map suggests. It is a farm town, so skip the idea of sights and come for quiet streets and tobacco country. I would pay US$1 for the guarapo (fresh sugarcane juice) at a corner stand and call that the main event. Hostels are absent, so meeting backpackers is rare. Best for slow travelers and photographers; skip it if you need nightlife.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #21 town in CubaThe unique appeal for travelers

Alquízar gives you a working Cuban farm town without the tour buses, and that is the whole case for it. You walk streets where horse carts still outnumber taxis, and the Parque Central fills each evening with locals on benches. Rooms are in private casas, so you end up chatting with the family hosting you. Most people spend one night or a long afternoon. Solo travelers and Spanish-speakers get the most out of it, while anyone chasing hostels or beaches will be happier elsewhere.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Alquízar

  1. Parque Central: the town’s living room, with shaded benches and the church on one side. Come after 5 PM when families and domino players gather. Free, 30 to 60 minutes.
  2. Iglesia Parroquial de San Agustín: the parish church on the square, simple and cool inside. Open mostly around services, so mornings are the safest bet. Free, 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Local farmers’ market: stalls of fruit, root vegetables and pork, and the best place to see what the surrounding fields produce. Go before 10 AM. Buying a snack costs US$1 to 3, 30 to 45 minutes.
  4. Casa de la Cultura: a small community venue where music and dance classes or shows happen on some evenings. Check the posted schedule. Entry is usually free or under US$2, 1 hour.
  5. Walk along the edge of town to the tobacco and vegetable fields: a flat stroll past
… read more 👉
  1. Parque Central: the town’s living room, with shaded benches and the church on one side. Come after 5 PM when families and domino players gather. Free, 30 to 60 minutes.
  2. Iglesia Parroquial de San Agustín: the parish church on the square, simple and cool inside. Open mostly around services, so mornings are the safest bet. Free, 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Local farmers’ market: stalls of fruit, root vegetables and pork, and the best place to see what the surrounding fields produce. Go before 10 AM. Buying a snack costs US$1 to 3, 30 to 45 minutes.
  4. Casa de la Cultura: a small community venue where music and dance classes or shows happen on some evenings. Check the posted schedule. Entry is usually free or under US$2, 1 hour.
  5. Walk along the edge of town to the tobacco and vegetable fields: a flat stroll past farmhouses and drying sheds, best in early morning. Free, 1 to 2 hours.
Alquízar works as a base for day trips to Playa Mayabeque’s coast, the Güira de Melena farmland, and Havana’s old center. Start with the market, since it is at its best early and sets up the rest of the day.
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🏘️ NeighborhoodsUnderstanding the local layout

Alquízar is small enough that you can cover it on foot in an afternoon, so spend your time where the town actually lives.
  • Parque Central and surroundings: The only part worth real time. Shaded benches, the church, a few state cafeterias and peso pizza windows, plus evening domino games and old men arguing. Flat and walkable.
  • Calle Real and the main streets: A short stroll past pastel colonial porches, bakeries and ration shops. Fine for a loop, nothing to linger over.
  • Outskirts and tobacco fields: Worth a bike ride or walk for red soil, farmhouses and palm-lined lanes. Go in the morning, since there is no shade.
  • Rio and edge neighborhoods: Residential, quiet, no sights. Skip them unless you are visiting a casa particular.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

8:00 AM, Parque Central: Start here while the square is quiet and the light is soft, then ask your host where the best breakfast coffee is.
9:00 AM, Farmers’ market: Walk five minutes and browse the produce stalls. Buy fruit for later and watch the vendors haggle.
10:30 AM, Iglesia Parroquial de San Agustín: Step inside the cool nave, then stroll the residential streets behind it.
12:30 PM, Lunch: Eat at a paladar or casa with pork, rice and beans.
3:00 PM, Edge-of-town fields: Walk out past the last houses to see farmers working tobacco and vegetables. This is rarely on any itinerary.
6:00 PM, Casa de la Cultura: Check for an evening show, then finish on a bench in the park.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

The dry season, November to April, is the comfortable window, with highs of 26 to 29°C (79 to 84°F) and little rain. May to October is hot and wet, 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F), with afternoon downpours and hurricane risk from August. Daylight runs about 10.5 hours in winter and 13.5 in summer. Alquízar sees few tourists, so crowds never matter, but Havana prices rise in December and January. Aim for February or March, and carry a rain jacket if you come in summer.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Stay in a casa particular near Parque Central, where rooms cost about US$15 to 30 a night. Alquízar has no hostels and dorm beds, so private rooms in family homes are the standard budget option, and most hosts cook breakfast and dinner for US$4 to 8. The center is quiet and feels safe after dark, with stray music from neighbors the main noise. Colectivos stop close by, so you won’t drag a pack far. Book ahead by phone or through a Havana host, because only a few rooms exist.
Best hostels in Cuba


Best quality hotels in Cuba

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

Alquízar has a railway station, and the bus or shared-taxi stop sits a few blocks from Parque Central, so you can walk to the center in under 10 minutes. The town is flat and compact, and traffic is light, mostly bicycles, horse carts and the occasional old car. Public transport to and from Havana is thin, so plan ahead.
  • Walking: Free, and the best way to see everything in town in a couple of hours.
  • Shared taxi (colectivo): The practical way from Havana, about 45 to 60 minutes and roughly US$3 to 6 per seat, leaving when full. Mornings are easiest.
  • Local bus: Cheap, under US$1, but irregular and slow. Not worth relying on if you have a schedule.
  • Bici-taxi and horse cart: US$1 to 2 for short hops. Useful in the heat and for reaching farm lanes.
  • Private taxi: A classic car from Havana costs around
… read more 👉
Alquízar has a railway station, and the bus or shared-taxi stop sits a few blocks from Parque Central, so you can walk to the center in under 10 minutes. The town is flat and compact, and traffic is light, mostly bicycles, horse carts and the occasional old car. Public transport to and from Havana is thin, so plan ahead.
  • Walking: Free, and the best way to see everything in town in a couple of hours.
  • Shared taxi (colectivo): The practical way from Havana, about 45 to 60 minutes and roughly US$3 to 6 per seat, leaving when full. Mornings are easiest.
  • Local bus: Cheap, under US$1, but irregular and slow. Not worth relying on if you have a schedule.
  • Bici-taxi and horse cart: US$1 to 2 for short hops. Useful in the heat and for reaching farm lanes.
  • Private taxi: A classic car from Havana costs around US$30 to 50 one way. Worth it only when splitting between several people.

👛 Costs (as of 23 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Alquízar costs about US$33 to 66 a day for a backpacker, using US$50 as a typical total with a high-season room.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$15 to 25No dorms exist, so a private casa room is the norm, with a US$20 room in high season.
MealsUS$10 to 18Home-cooked meals US$4 to 8, street pizza under US$1, so US$14 covers a day.
Local transportUS$3 to 8Shared taxis and bici-taxis, with US$5 as a typical day.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$0 to 5Walks and parks are free, with a small allowance for rides or a farm visit.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$5 to 10Water, snacks, tips and phone credit, about US$6.
Total Daily BudgetUS$33 to 66About US$50 for a typical day.
Eating breakfast and dinner at your casa is usually cheaper than restaurants. Carry small bills in cash, since cards rarely work.

source: cubatravel.cu
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsEasy escapes and nearby places

Alquízar sits about 45 minutes southwest of Havana by road, which makes it more a quiet base than a hub, and most trips need a colectivo or hired car.Artemisa: Provincial capital with a lively market, museums on the 1950s revolution and cheap pizza. Allow half a day, US$5 to 10 round trip by shared car, and go on a weekday morning. First-timers often arrive in the heat of midday when everything pauses.
👉 Explore ArtemisaPlaya Majana and Playa Baracoa: Beaches at Playa Majana and Playa Baracoa are the closest sand, an hour or so away. Budget US$10 to 20 by shared taxi plus lunch. May to October brings jellyfish and rain, so choose winter.
Havana: Old Havana is a full day, 1 to 1.5 hours each way, US$8 to 12 return in colectivos. Leave early, because the last cars back thin out by late afternoon.
👉 Explore Havana

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Alquízar

Alquízar is calm, and violent crime against visitors is rare. The usual annoyances are touts offering cigars, taxis or rooms at inflated prices in Havana before you even arrive, so agree fares before getting in. At night the center is quiet, but lighting is poor on side streets, so carry a flashlight and stick to main roads. Solo travelers do fine. Keep valuables out of sight, and expect occasional power cuts.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Alquízar

Alquízar is a short stop rather than a destination, best for travelers who want a quiet farming town without tourists. You get the colonial center around Parque Central, tobacco and vegetable fields, and casa rooms from US$15 to 30. Most people use it for a night or an afternoon on the way to Playa Baracoa or Artemisa.
One night and a day is plenty in Alquízar. The center takes two hours on foot, and a bike ride through the nearby fields adds a morning. Stay two nights only if you want to use it as a calm base for Artemisa or the coast, each under an hour away.
Yes, Alquízar works as a day trip from Havana, about 45 to 60 minutes each way by colectivo at US$3 to 6 a seat. Leave in the morning and aim to be back before late afternoon, when shared cars become scarce. A classic taxi round trip with waiting costs about US$50 to 80, which is reasonable if split between a few people.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Cuban towns near Alquízar

Explore more nearby:

  • San Antonio de los Baños—Humor museum, Ariguanabo swimming, film school, colectivo rides| 13 km away
  • Bauta—Baracoa River, evening square, old rail station, farmers' market| 20 km away
  • Bejucal—Colonial portals, Holy Week, domino slaps| 24 km away

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Alquízar

Alquízar is best on a late afternoon, when farmers head home and the square fills with neighbors and music. I would arrive by midday, skip any rush, and stay one night.

✈️ When did I visit Cuba?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Cuba for 6 weeks in February, March 2016, being extremely lucky that that coincided with the free concert of The Rolling Stones.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Cuba, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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