The 10 best beaches in Cuba

Cayo Santa María is a small islet in the Jardines del Rey archipelago, attached to the mainland by a spectacular pedraplén (causeway) that winds across the water, and home to 6 miles of the best beaches in Cuba. You can really go off the beaten track here, hiking to beauty spots like Perla Blanca, where the island vegetation gives way to snow-like sand and turquoise shallows. The main beach, Santa María, is an equally beautiful, miles-long stretch with loungers and shade, as well as sailing, catamarans, kayaking and snorkelling.

Playa Paraíso offers the quintessential combination of cream-coloured sand, turquoise seas, palm trees and little else. The atmosphere is tranquil, and the beach is known for having some of the calmest waters on the island. High-octane travellers might want to head up the road to Playa Sirena, but peace-seekers will be right at home here. All you'll find is a simple beach bar, some loungers and shade. You might even see some beautiful birds drop in for a visit if you're here early or as the sun sets.

Playa Varadero is one of Cuba's poster child beaches, and certainly one of the most popular. The huge expanse of white sand stretches for more than 12 miles along the entire length of the Varadero peninsula, giving way to an aquamarine sea ideal for swimming and watersports. Its truly epic proportions mean that, despite its popularity, you won't find yourself in a crowd here. It's more of a tourist hotspot than a locals' haunt, with access to over thirty dive sites as well as sailing, snorkelling and glass-bottomed boats.

Also known as Playa Coco, Playa Los Flamencos is a glamorous strip of white sand backed by all-inclusive hotels and resorts. You'll find lifeguards on duty and plenty of loungers and shade, as well as beautiful turquoise shallows sheltered by offshore reefs, making them perfectly calm for floating around in. You can book snorkelling and diving excursions, play beach volleyball or walk to your heart's content: try exploring the wilder, undeveloped ends of the beach, where hundreds of species of birds and sea creatures can be found in the shallows.

Cayo Guillermo is a tiny islet west of Cayo Coco, connected via the Hemingway Bridge. Just beyond the entrance to the island you'll find the flamingo lagoon, home to the islet's popular pink inhabitants. A series of boardwalks lead through the lush vegetation, revealing the snow-white shore of Playa El Pilar. You can rent loungers and shade or hire small boats and catamarans. You'll want to pack your goggles and snorkel or book a diving trip with the Coco Diving Centre to make the most of the spectacular coral reefs here. There's good fishing and deep-sea diving too.

Guardalavaca is a popular beach resort on Cuba's southeast coast. Backed by lush island greenery, the rolling white-sand beach is a postcard-perfect dream, with white-trunked trees dotting the shoreline. It's a spacious stretch with a shallow sea that's often glassy – perfect for swimming, snorkelling, pedalos and kayaking. You can either rent shade and a lounger or thrown down your towel in a secluded spot and enjoy the serenity. Just along the coast, you can explore pretty Playa Bani, or book into the nearby kitesurfing or diving centres.

Cayo Sabinal is one of the greenest, most untouched cays in Cuba, so carefully preserved that you can't stay the night here. However, you can take a boat trip around the coast or drive across the island, following signs down dirt tracks to nearly deserted, windswept beaches. A snorkel is pretty much essential since the marine life is so abundant, and you'll find plenty of birds, butterflies, wild boar and even deer roaming the forests. The most popular beach is Los Pinos, a remote stretch backed by tufty dunes with coral reefs begging to be explored.

If you fancy a beach break from exploring the pastel-coloured streets of pretty Trinidad, make a beeline for the spectacular Playa Ancón. It's Cuban perfection: custard-coloured sand with a lush line of trees on one side and an aquamarine sea on the other, plus great swimming shallows. The shore is speckled with reed umbrellas and loungers and there are nearby spots for food and refreshment, as well as places to book watersports, excursions and diving. It's a guaranteed antidote to the bustle of the city.

Around two and a half hours west of Havana lies Palma Rubia, the only island port catering to under-the-radar Cayo Levisa. This pint-sized isle remains pleasantly underdeveloped since there are only two ferries per day, but the coast boasts some of the best beaches in Cuba. Expect long stretches dotted with palms and greenery concealing secluded white-sand coves featuring sculptural driftwood. Underwater lurks a cornucopia of wildlife including starfish and colourful coral. You'll find some facilities on the beach, like shade and loungers, but it's by no means busy.

As the name suggests, Playa Coral is popular with tourists for its rainbow of coral. It's one of the best beaches in Cuba for snorkelling, no matter your ability, home to a nature reserve with eco-tour guides and equipment rental. Visitors can spot hundreds of species of fish and innumerable bright corals here, while inquisitive seabirds frequent the shore. The beach itself isn't one of the dreamy, sugar-soft bays you'll find elsewhere, with only a few loungers and a rocky slope into the water. Nonetheless, this is definitely one of the finest beaches in Cuba for sub-aqua adventures.