Cuba's Isle of Youth. Explore 2 attractions across the island.
Isla de la Juventud is one of those places that rewards the traveler willing to deal with Cuba's logistical quirks. Start in Nueva Gerona, the island's only real town, where the Parque Central anchors daily life and the Museo Municipal on Calle 30 gives a compressed overview of the island's pirate-to-prison history. The must-see attraction is Presidio Modelo, about four kilometers east of town - Fidel Castro's former prison is a haunting, photogenic complex of four circular panopticon buildings that you can walk through freely. The hospital ward where Castro was held in isolation still has his bookshelf and bed frame, and the silence of the place is genuinely unsettling.
From Nueva Gerona, arrange a day trip south to Punta del Este, where a series of caves contain over 200 pre-Columbian pictographs painted by the Ciboney people - concentric circles, arrows, and abstract forms in red and black pigment that some researchers have linked to astronomical calendars. You will need a guide and a vehicle with decent clearance, as the road deteriorates significantly in the final stretch.
The diving at Punta Francés on the island's southwestern tip is the real draw for many visitors - the marine reserve here features wall dives dropping to 40 meters with black coral, sponge gardens, and visibility that routinely exceeds 30 meters. The International Diving Center at the Hotel Colony organizes trips and rents equipment, though bringing your own regulators is wise given the age of some rental gear. Bibijagua Beach, famous for its dark sand created by marble deposits, sits about eight kilometers east of town and is a popular local hangout on weekends but often deserted midweek.
For a cultural detour, drive south to the tiny community of Cocodrilo on the southern coast - a settlement founded by Cayman Islanders in the early 1900s whose descendants still speak a Creole-inflected English alongside Spanish. The Finca El Abra, a former hacienda where José Martí was held under house arrest in 1870, sits in the foothills west of Nueva Gerona surrounded by citrus groves and offers a quiet, contemplative stop.
Walk through the abandoned panopticon prison where Fidel Castro was held from 1953 to 1955. The four circular cellblocks are architecturally striking, and the hospital wing where Castro read and organized his defense has been preserved as a small museum. Free entry, though a small tip for the caretaker is customary.
The western coast features 56 marked dive sites along a protected wall reef. Highlights include the Cathedral, a swim-through cavern at 25 meters, and the Pirate Coast, where coral-encrusted anchor chains hint at the island's buccaneering past. The International Diving Center at Hotel Colony runs daily boats.
Seven caves on the island's southeastern coast contain pre-Columbian Ciboney pictographs dating back over 1,000 years. The main cave has concentric circle designs that researchers believe represent a solar calendar. Access requires a guide and a vehicle, arranged through Ecotur in Nueva Gerona.
This unusual beach gets its dark sand from eroded marble deposits rather than volcanic rock. The water is calm and clear, and you will likely have much of the beach to yourself on a weekday. Located about eight kilometers east of Nueva Gerona, reachable by bicycle or taxi.
This small fishing village on the southern coast was founded by Cayman Islander settlers in the early 20th century. Descendants still maintain some English-speaking traditions alongside Cuban culture. The drive south passes through pine forests and farmland that feel nothing like the rest of Cuba.
This 19th-century hacienda west of Nueva Gerona is where Cuban national hero José Martí was confined at age 17 in 1870. The small museum displays period artifacts and letters. The surrounding citrus groves and rolling hills make the setting peaceful and worth lingering over.
On the island's southern coast, this white-sand beach lives up to its name with shallow turquoise water and scattered coral heads close to shore. Bring your own gear - there are no rental facilities at the beach itself.
Pinar del Cine is a nature attraction on Isla de la Juventud. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that Isla de la Juventud is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Finca Renacer is a nature attraction on Isla de la Juventud. This natural area showcases the lush tropical landscapes and diverse ecosystems that Isla de la Juventud is known for. Visitors can explore the local flora and fauna in a serene setting.
Find hotels, restaurants, and bookable experiences on our full island page.
