5 adventure tours in Havana. Pure adrenaline!

If you travel to Cuba, one of the most magnetic and vibrant colonial cities to visit is Havana.

The capital of the Caribbean island, declared as a Wonder City of the modern world in 2016, is a must for every traveler who lands in Cuba.
It treasures history and an incredible eclectic culture, which mixes the most deeply rooted Cuban tradition with the most modern international trends.

It boasts a colonial architecture worthy of being appreciated in a tour around old Havana; you will find rooftops and super cool restaurants where to enjoy the good vibes (and excellent cocktails) both day and night; Havana also has beautiful beaches just 30 minutes from the city center and, to top it all, Havana also offers adventure and adrenaline.

The adventure and adrenaline are two components that are found in the daily life of Havana: from riding a pedicab through the narrow and lively streets of downtown Havana, to enjoying a Sunday rumba in the crowded Hammel Alley, to the rhythm of drums and choirs in the Yoruba language.

But there is much more! Groups of intrepid and adventurous youngsters have created new experiences and private tours at Havana for the enjoyment of locals and travelers looking for more exciting and unusual sensations. This is our best selection:

1 SPORTS CLIMBING IN HAVANA

This adventure excursion in Havana is perfect if you are travelling with friends to Cuba. You will have the opportunity to enjoy rock climbing, in an area of beautiful landscapes next to Almendares river, just in the middle of the city.
This group of climbers, friends of CubaUnique, has almost 10 years of experience in sports climbing in Havana, so everything is under control. They will provide you with special shoes, liquid magnesium, ropes, helmets, etc.
If you are one of those who enjoy sports, nature, mental and physical challenges and, above all, fun, this is your adventure tour in Havana!

With a duration of approximately 3 hours you will know a brief history of climbing in Cuba. Then they will explain how to use the equipment correctly to guarantee your safety and then ... let's climb!

Do not worry because it is not necessary to be in full physical shape, you just need to trust, because you will always be protected by security equipment of the best international brands (certified by the International Union of Mountaineers Associations).

The climbing zone is equipped with chemicals –the best anchors that support 3500kg / 35kn– by the Cuban Association of Equippers.

The maximum height is 15 meters, so you will enjoy the wonderful sensation of the ascent to the top, from where you will see, as if you were birds, a beautiful and impressive view.

2 BY BOAT ON THE HAVANA COAST

Departing from Miramar, a district of Modern Havana, you can get on a private sailboat unique in Havana, and a friend of CubaUnique.
The sailboat is equipped with everything you need for your safety and fun: life jackets, masks, fishing rods, etc. Although it has a spacious cabin, basically everything you need is outside!
In this adventure excursion you will have the unique opportunity to contemplate the Havana Malecón from the sea, while fishing some local fish or taking a dip in the waters of the north coast of Havana.

On the way we will stop at one of our favorites paladares where you can eat excellent fresh seafood at a good price.

With good Cuban music on board, some refreshing drinks and with the best captain in all of Cuba, let the sails go up and enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Havana and its warm waters at full throttle!

3 KITE SURF IN HAVANA (PLAYAS DEL ESTE)

Since 2020, this adventure activity has been practiced in Cuba as a hobby for some Cubans: in Varadero, Caibarién, Cayo Santa María (in the latter two, only free style), Guardalavaca, Cayo Guillermo (the mecca of kite in Cuba) and on the eastern beaches, in Havana.

The eastern beaches are considered a paradise for kite surf, thanks to its good conditions, especially during the Cuban winter. So you can take advantage of the the best time of the year to travel to Cuba to live this exciting experience in Havana.

The best attraction that Cuba has as a destination is that its beaches are practically empty during the winter season which is the best time to practice this sport.

For example, in Tarifa, Spain, considered the mecca of kite surf globally, you can find yourself between 800 and 1000 kites in about 5km of beach. In Cuba, in 1km of beach you will not find more than 20 kites.
Following the guidelines established by the IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization) You can count on first-class equipment and instructors who will ensure your safety and correct practice of this hilarious outdoor excursion in Havana.

4 PARAGLIDING IN THE ABRA DE CANASÍ

A group of Cuban paratroopers instructed and trained in Spain, returned to Cuba to start a new sport: paragliding.
If we look up this word in the dictionary to understand what exactly the paragliding is, it reads like this: "a form of sports skydiving that consists of launching from a slope or being towed from a boat with a parachute deployed and making a controlled descent."
The most favorable places to "fly" in Cuba are in the Isla de la Juventud, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Villa Clara and Mayabeque. In this province we find Abra de Canasí, a natural paradise just 60km from Havana to live this adventure and adrenaline activity.
If you have never practiced this sport before, you can fly in tandem or two-seater paraglider with experienced pilots. After ascending, you will takeoff, and be able to live a unique experience that, according to paragliders, has not an equal on dry land.
The opportunity to be up in the air, in free flight and gliding with the large sails, which look like multicolored birds, will make you feel adrenaline through your body, while you experience a tremendous sense of peace and fullness when contemplating the Cuban landscape from the air.

5 DIVING OFF THE COAST OF HAVANA

Cuba has exceptional places to practice scuba diving all over the island. But this diving experience that we propose is for all those who dare to discover the wonders of the Cuban seabed at shallow depth and diving without leaving Havana.

In Havana, we also have other diving experiences near the city with sunken ships, but this adventure excursion we propose today is unique!
If you are not professional divers (that is, if you do not have a diving license) it does not matter, because before venturing into the depths you will receive training (briefing) about equipment, how to use it, and diving techniques. A dive master or diving instructor will accompany you.

The only thing you need to take with you is a towel and a swimsuit, as the experience includes all the equipment (suit, air bottle, mask, fins or frog legs, diving vest, regulator or booties, if necessary) .

Generally, if you go to the water for the first time, you will consume much more air and the experience will last 30 to 40 minutes. But it's worth every minute you spend underwater watching this impressive and colorful coral reef located a few meters from the coast, in a corner of the north of Havana.

In CubaUnique we enjoy organizing trips of sensations , and fueling emotions in the experiences we design throughout Cuba, authentic adventure cocktails where we include nature unique spots., moderate physical activity and, above all, a lot of enjoyment.

So, if you are thinking of organizing a trip to Cuba, whether to travel with your family, with your group of friends or with your classmates, with your couple or even in your honey moon, on your own or in one of our tailor made trips, don't miss any of our recommendations to travel to Cuba without complications and to know about the evolution of COVID-19 situation in Cuba.

We suggest some of our most popular organized tours and, adventure and nature activities in areas as interesting as western Cuba or in less exploited corners such as Baracoa.

, and, if it is not what you were looking for, we will design your personalized trip, and above all, we suggest that you follow our tips to live the authentic Cuban culture. Now you also know some adventure tours in Havana to get your adrenaline pumping!
Article written by Gabriela Rodríguez, independent Cuban guide.

Videos and pictures produced and edited by Javier Ernesto Hernández-López.

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