Weather
February typically boasts the island's most agreeable temperatures, and minimal rain. High temperatures in Havana average 78°F (25°C), with most days being sunny. February is also the month of least rain in Santiago de Cuba, where temperatures will be a couple of degrees warmer than in Havana, as they will be in Cienfuegos, Trinidad and the inland cities of Central Cuba.
However, occasional cold snaps can hit Western Cuba, when the mercury can drop into the fifties Fahrenheit, often associated with winter rainstorms sweeping in from the north. So be sure to pack raingear and a fleece jacket with your shorts and T-shirts.
Crowds & Costs
This is still Cuba’s tourist high season, and prices remain higher than spring and summer months, but lower than the peak-season prices of mid-December to mid-January. If you're planning a February visit, book your accommodation and any car rental a few months in advance. Cuba’s three most popular venues—Havana, Viñales and, Trinidad—will still be crowded. But while there’ll still also be plenty of visitors in Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, and Baracoa, they shouldn’t feel crowded, and further afield you can still find plenty of relative solitude.
Where to Go
If you’re interested in art, architecture, and museums, virtually any city in the country has something to offer, but Havana is a treasure trove of possibility—give yourself a few days to explore the capital city. Then head south for the Bay of Pigs, and Cienfuegos to explore this uniquely French-inspired bayside Caribbean city.
A circular road trip should include El Nicho waterfalls in the Sierra Escambray, plus two or three days in Trinidad, then Santa Clara and the UNESCO World Heritage City of Remedios. Non-U.S. citizens can add the north coast beach resorts of Cayo Santa María and/or Varadero for sunning and swimming.
This is the driest time of the year in Baracoa, surrounded by rainforest-clad mountains. There’s no better time to visit, as temperatures are also at their coolest—perfect for hiking to the summit of El Yunque. Combine it with cultural immersion in Guantánamo, with its Haitian music and dance traditions; Santiago de Cuba, not least for its venues associated with the Revolution; plus, off-beat Bayamo and even off-the-beaten-track Manzanillo, Niquero, and Cabo Cruz.
What to Do
February is a perfect time to take to two wheels and explore the island alongside the Cubans themselves. Join an organized group bicycle tour, rent a bike in Havana, or bring your own wheels. Great routes include west from Havana to Las Terrazas and Viñales; Trinidad and the provinces of Sancti Spíritus and Santa Clara; and a circular loop from Santiago de Cuba around the Sierra Maestra via Bayamo, Manzanillo and Marea del Portillo.
Cuba is synonymous with music and dance, and you can fill an entire vacation with its sensual sounds. Santiago de Cuba is ground zero for traditional trova and son, Matanzas is an epicenter of Afro-Cuban music, while options in Havana run the gamut from jazz cafés to sizzling salsa clubs. Take some private dance classes before hitting the nightclubs.
February Events
Fería Internacional de Libro (International Book Fair). Cubans are avid readers and flock to Havana’s Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña for this popular annual fair, which includes lectures, readings, and—this being Cuba—music and dance. The event also occurs on a smaller scale in other major cities.
Festival del Habano. Havana hosts Cuba's most important festival for cigars, attracting aficionados eager to smoke Cuba's most famous brands. It ends with a spectacular one-of-a-kind- gala at the Tropicana cabaret.
Traveling to Cuba in February? Check out these great itineraries
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.
Western Cuba Journey – 6 Days. Pair up the colorful culture of Havana and the outdoor adventure of the Viñales Valley for an epic tour of western Cuba.