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Cuba🇨🇺 | beachesPlaya BonitaCayo Sabinal crescent, catamaran access, casuarina shade, no services | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Playa Bonita
👌 Worth visitingbeach ranked #19
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Playa Bonita sits on Cayo Sabinal, a separate island cay, so it is not one of the Santa Lucía beach strip. It lies in the north of Cuba, on the Camagüey coast at the mouth of Nuevitas Bay. The sand is pale and clean, and the lack of crowds is the point. Skip it if you want bars and cheap eats. Stepping off the catamaran, I saw an empty crescent and heard only wind in the casuarinas. Bring your own food and water, and book the boat from Playa Santa Lucía.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #19 beach in CubaWhat sets this place apart

Playa Bonita is where backpackers go when Santa Lucía's resort strip feels too packaged. The boat from Playa Santa Lucía is the draw: you cross to Cayo Sabinal and land on a long, almost empty beach with no hotels on the sand. Water is shallow and calm, easy for lazy swimming and floating. Because it takes a boat to reach, the day has a built-in sense of escape. Most people come for a few hours, so you can claim a stretch of shore, read, snorkel near the shallows and still be back for dinner.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. The main beach crescent: Pale sand and clear, shallow turquoise water make this the reason to come. It stays quiet, with space to spread out and wade far from shore.
  2. The catamaran crossing from Playa Santa Lucía: The trip across to Cayo Sabinal is part of the experience, with open water, sea breeze and a first view of the cay's low green coast.
  3. Snorkeling in the shallows: The calm water near shore suits casual snorkeling, and you can float and look for small reef fish without any current to fight.
  4. Walking the shoreline: Long stretches of empty sand backed by coastal scrub invite a slow beach walk, with shells and driftwood to inspect.
  5. Shade under the casuarinas: Trees along the back of the beach give natural shade for a picnic and a nap, which is how most people spend the afternoon.
Playa Bonita … read more 👉
  1. The main beach crescent: Pale sand and clear, shallow turquoise water make this the reason to come. It stays quiet, with space to spread out and wade far from shore.
  2. The catamaran crossing from Playa Santa Lucía: The trip across to Cayo Sabinal is part of the experience, with open water, sea breeze and a first view of the cay's low green coast.
  3. Snorkeling in the shallows: The calm water near shore suits casual snorkeling, and you can float and look for small reef fish without any current to fight.
  4. Walking the shoreline: Long stretches of empty sand backed by coastal scrub invite a slow beach walk, with shells and driftwood to inspect.
  5. Shade under the casuarinas: Trees along the back of the beach give natural shade for a picnic and a nap, which is how most people spend the afternoon.
Playa Bonita is best started with the catamaran crossing, since it sets the mood and gets you onto the sand while it is still empty.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Dry Season (November to April): Best window, with 24 to 29°C (75 to 84°F) days, calm seas and little rain. Catamaran trips run most reliably and prices peak around December to February.
  • Shoulder (May and June): Warmer at 27 to 31°C (81 to 88°F), with fewer people and lower rates.
  • Wet Season (July to October): Hot, 29 to 33°C (84 to 91°F), with storms and hurricane risk, and boats may be canceled.
Book a weekday catamaran in February or March for calm water and a quieter sand strip.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: below average for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Cuba

Playa Santa Lucía is the place to sleep, because Playa Bonita on Cayo Sabinal has no accommodation and you reach it by catamaran from there. Santa Lucía is a long beachfront strip with a handful of resorts and a few casas particulares, so budget travelers usually look inland from the main road, where rooms cost about US$25 to 40 a night. Staying here puts you near the marina where the catamaran departs, plus beach bars where solo travelers swap plans easily. Nuevitas town, a short drive away, is cheaper and quieter, though it is less social and has little nightlife.
Best hostels in Cuba


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🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Playa Bonita is a calm, shallow, sheltered beach, and swimming is easy for most people since the reef offshore breaks the swell. Wear reef shoes if you wander the rocky edges, and watch for sea urchins. Shade is scarce, so bring a hat, water and reef-safe sunscreen, as midday sun is intense. Theft is uncommon, but keep valuables with the boat crew or leave them behind. Mosquitoes and sand flies appear near dusk, so carry repellent.
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FAQTraveler FAQ

Catamaran from Playa Santa Lucía is the usual way to reach Playa Bonita on Cayo Sabinal. The crossing takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, and day excursions often cost US$40 to 70 including lunch. The road along Cayo Sabinal is often closed at a checkpoint, so do not count on driving. Santa Lucía lies about 100 km from Camagüey city.
Playa Bonita is best for swimming and relaxing, since its shallow, clear, calm water suits most levels. Snorkeling is decent over nearby reef patches, and excursions usually bring masks. Surfing is not an option because there is little wave energy. Go between November and April for the clearest water.
Playa Bonita has no entrance fee, but reaching it costs money. Most visitors pay US$40 to 70 for a catamaran excursion from Playa Santa Lucía, which often covers lunch and drinks. Independent visits depend on the checkpoint at the Cayo Sabinal road, so bring cash for any extras. Facilities are minimal, so carry water and snacks.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Cuban beaches near Playa Bonita

Explore more nearby:

  • Playa Santa Lucía—Shark dive, barrier reef, Nuevitas road flamingos, fishing village| 10 km away
  • Playa La Boca—Puerto Padre bay mouth, windmills, Fuerte de la Loma, local families| 73 km away
  • Playa Caletones—Limestone coves, rock pools, picnic spots, Gibara evenings| 101 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Playa Bonita has almost no shade or services beyond what the boat trip provides, and first-timers often forget that. I would pack a hat, a cold lunch and plenty of water, then stay until the afternoon boat, when the cay turns quiet.

✈️ 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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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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