Weather
With la seca (the dry season) extending through April, expect mostly bright sunny weather and warm to hot days. High temperatures in Havana average a toasty 84°F (29°C) this month, with some days possibly quite a bit hotter, especially in Central and Eastern Cuba.
There’s typically little rain—five days on average in Havana—and while humidity is increasing, it’s generally still low enough that your clothes won’t feel like a sponge. Pack light raingear just in case, but for the most part April is a month for shorts, swimwear and lightweight clothing.
Crowds & Costs
April is shoulder-season and the cost of airfares, hotels, and even car rentals are lower than in high season. The exception is Easter Week, which sees a sudden spike in rates. The masses of travelers, including tour groups, swarming Havana’s colonial plazas, plus Trinidad, thin significantly by April.
Travelers opting to stay at all-inclusive beach resorts will find relatively few other guests, and these hotels—which are divorced from all sense of Cuban reality—can feel desultory at this time of year. Again, Easter Week is an exception, when a short-lived influx of Canadians and European vacationers arrive.
Where to Go
Trinidad makes a great April destination. Unlike most Cuban cities, this colonial charmer has an active Catholic culture, and Good Friday’s nocturnal Way of the Cross Procession is one of the most important and colorful annual events in the city. Wed your visit with overnights in the nearby towns of Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Santa Clara—each is distinct—plus the Valle de los Ingenios, the Sierra Escambray (good for hiking and birding), and the Zapata Peninsula.
Of course, when the Biennale occurs (every three years), you’ll want to linger in Havana to make the most of the many art venues hosting exhibitions and events. Begin in the Museo de Bellas Artes. Then walk the Malecón to admire the temporary art installations lining the Atlantic seaboard. And check out Fábrica de Arte Cubano and other cool venues hosting soirées that are a hallmark of Havana’s farándula (bohemian in-crowd) lifestyle in April.
What to Do
Tap into your inner Ernest Hemingway and bend a rod at sea, as April offers prime sportfishing in the flats off the northern cays. The period from April to June offers the best conditions of the year for hooking feisty tarpon, bonefish, and permit. The Cayos de Villa Clara, plus Cayo Coco and Guardalavaca are also great venues for billfish: Head to the south coast to catch the white marlin migration that begins this month off the Jardines de la Reina and Cayo Largo.
Cuba’s ocean waters abound with sea-life and boast some of the world’s most pristine coral reefs. For a first-hand look, don scuba gear and take the plunge. Cayo Largo, María La Gorda, Playa Girón, the Jardines de la Reina, and especially the waters off the south coast of Isla de la Juventud, offer the most sensational experiences. And in April, ocean temperatures are perfect.
April Events
Biennial. The Havana Biennial is one of Latin America's foremost art festivals, displaying works—including performance art—by hundreds of contemporary artists from around the globe at galleries, museums, and public spaces throughout the city. The next Biennal is in 2022.
El Callejero. Havana’s colonial plazas explode with cultural activity for the annual “City in Movement” event, featuring performances by national and international dance troupes.
International Cuban Dance Festival. Another Havana-hosted event, this one features performances and classes by a cross-spectrum of Cuban and international companies and genres.
Semana Santa. Easter Week is a big thing in Trinidad, and the Way of the Cross Procession on Good Friday evening is a spectacle not to miss as a cross is borne through the cobbled streets.
Traveling to Cuba in April? Check out these great itineraries
Havana in a Heartbeat – 4 Days. Just a few days to spare? Then this quick take on the capital city provides an immersion that connects you to Cuba’s creative culture and lifestyle.
Adventurous Cuba – 8 Days. The perfect combination of nature and culture, this trip will take you to Havana, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, plus the wildlife-rich Zapata Peninsula.