Cuba in November: Travel Tips and Weather

The weather in Cuba in November is moderately hot, with temperatures in Havana reaching an average high of 27.7℃. Even the low temperature in the capital is a balmy 21.3℃. This is the last month of the rainy season and you can expect around six days of rainfall during November.

Days, however, are shorter, at eleven hours, with an average of seven hours of sunlight on the days without rain. Average humidity hovers at around 77 percent and sea temperatures are still a tropical 26.9℃. However, the Baracoa region, on the extreme southeastern tip of Cuba, receives its highest rainfall in November. Temperatures in this region are also warm, between 21.5 ℃ and 29.2℃, while the humidity is also higher.

For a seasonal overview, check out our travel guide on the best time to visit Cuba.

November is a great month to set off on a road trip around Cuba. You have the option of either hiring your own transport or making use of the country’s Víazul bus network for this purpose. However, there are other perks of traveling to Cuba in November. We have listed a few of them below.

• Havana tours: With few tourists in town, Havana’s streets are uncrowded and relaxed at this time of year. Enjoy a guided tour of the city in classic convertible cars or jump on a bus instead. Highlights include Plaza de la Revolución, Castillo Los Tres Reyes del Morro and the colonial plazas of Old Havana. Stop for refreshments at Factória de Plaza Vieja brewery, grab street snacks from an alleyway joint and finish the day with a cigar and a mojito at Hotel Nacional.
• Explore Santiago de Cuba: Founded in 1514 and steeped in Afro-Cuban history, Cuba’s second-largest city is also its cultural capital. The city’s Caso Histórico district includes the hallowed Cementerio Santa Ifigenia, where Fidel Castro, modern Cuba’s revolutionary founder, is buried. Cool November evenings bring locals to Parque Cespedes in the heart of the city for impromptu concerts, hot drinks, and political discussions.
• Head inland: The mountainous hinterland west of Havana is Cuba’s premier coffee-growing region. You can sample local brews in authentic joints such as Café Maria in Las Terrazas and go bird-watching in the nearby Parc Nacional La Güira. As the monsoon season comes to an end, rivers and lakes are full, wildlife is plentiful and there are plenty of hiking opportunities that will take you to secluded waterfalls, hidden caverns, and rivers perfect for a cooling dip.
• Head offshore: Cayos de Villa Clara is one of several small islands linked to the mainland by a causeway. This is a popular vacation destination for locals during Cuba’s school holidays. However, come November and this area is almost deserted. The islands are part of a larger Unesco-recognised biosphere reserve and feature long stretches of white, sandy beaches, pristine coral reefs, and flocks of flamingos.

Cuba’s colorful towns and cities live in a time warp where the styles of the 1950s are still popular. Discover the backstreets and local squares of Havana and experience salsa dancing, street music as well as the laid-back coffee and cigar culture that Cuba is famous for.

Despite its high rainfall, a trip to the Baracoa region is still excellent in November. The waterfalls of Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt include the 305-meter-high Salto Fino Waterfall (the highest waterfall in the Caribbean and 20th highest in the world). This region of Cuba sees few tourists, so you can expect to discover a more authentic version of local life than elsewhere in the country.

Events in Cuba in November include Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, which brings movie lovers from across Latin America to Havana, and Festival Internacional de Música Benny, a wild celebration of Cuban music.

A visit to Cuba in November will allow you to experience this vibrant country in its most relaxed state, before the arrival of the masses.

Cuba in October
Cuba in December