Bahía de Cochinos
Getting there from Havana: Bahía de Cochinos is best reached by car. Approximately 3.5 hours drive by bus or 2.5 hours by car.
If the name rings a bell, it’s no mistake. Bahía de Cochinos—or Bay of Pigs—plays a vital role in many history books as the site of a failed CIA-sponsored invasion of Cuba. While Bahía de Cochinos does have a museum documenting its role as a Cold War hotspot, the real reason to visit this coastal paradise is the world-renowned beaches and scuba diving. On the southern coast in the Zapata Peninsula, Bahía de Cochinos has outdoor wonders galore, including 17 types of flat coral. In between popular beaches Playa Girón and Playa Larga, you’ll find Ceuva de los Peces—a cenote popular for swimming and cave diving. Or, head to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ciénaga de Zapata National Park by Playa Larga for hiking trails and birdwatching—you can even find the world’s smallest bird here, the Cuban Bee Hummingbird.
