Santa Maria Del Mar(Mar Azul, Playa del este)

Located to the east of Havana’s city center, Santa Maria del Mar – also called Playa Santa Maria del Mar, Santa Maria del Mar Beach, and Beach Santa Maria del Mar – is a popular beach with light brown sand.  This beach is a part of a group of beaches around eastern Havana called Playas del Este – other beaches that are part of Playas del Este include Playa Megano, Playa Marazul, and Playa Guanabo.  Lonely Planet featured this beach in its article “Havana's 6 best beaches are closer to the city center than you think.”

Although Santa Maria del Mar Cuba has a lifeguard tower, lifeguards may not be available here throughout the year.  In addition to lifeguards, the beach and the area around it have rental facilities for water sports equipment and sun loungers.  Please note that there are no public restrooms here – if you are eating at one of the local restaurants, you may be able to use their restrooms.

Santa Maria del Mar offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, picnicking, swimming, fishing, paddleboarding, boating, jet-skiing, surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife watching. 

This beach is ideal for beginner swimmers because the clear water here is known to have manageable waves.  In addition, slightly expert surfers also visit this beach in winter because the beach sometimes offers larger surfing waves during that time of the year.  

If you are planning to swim, kayak, or canoe here, we recommend being careful because the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents.  In addition, the seabed here is also known to have a considerable amount of trash, which can make water activities difficult.  Jellyfish are also known to live near the beach and these animals can cause painful stings if disturbed. 

If you like taking pictures with excellent views, Santa Maria del Mar offers amazing views of the western Cuban shoreline and the Caribbean Sea.

Santa Maria del Mar does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Santa Maria del Mar is easy – from Havana’s city center, you need to drive east on a highway named Via Blanca.  From Via Blanca, you need to turn towards Avenida Amanecer and this road will lead you to Avenida Aventura.  Avenida Aventura is located along the beach and there are a few free street parking spaces nearby – you can easily walk to the beach after parking here. 

We recommend visiting this beach early between May and October because this beach can get significantly crowded during this time. 

In addition to light brown sand, Santa Maria del Mar also has a very small amount of pink-colored sand grains – these sand grains are actually the crushed remains of a single-cell organisms called foraminifera.  In addition, this beach also sometimes hosts fun beach parties.

There are many great attractions near Santa Maria del Mar in the “Old Havana” area within a 25-minute drive.  Castillo de los Tres Reyes Del Morro – also called Castle of the Three Kings of Morro – is a castle that was constructed between 1589 and 1640.  It was designed by Italian architect Giovanni Battista Antonelli and it has a museum and a lighthouse – it also offers amazing views of the Caribbean Sea.  Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana – also called  La Cabana – is a fortress complex that was built in the late 18th century – it has many interesting historical exhibits, restaurants, and souvenir shops and it also hosts interesting historical re-enactments and guided tours.  Havana Cathedral – also called Catedral de San Cristobal - is a Baroque-style cathedral built between 1748 and 1777 that has many interesting artworks and sculptures – there is a plaza near this cathedral named Plaza de la Catedral that offers interesting restaurants and museums.  Parque Central – also called the Central Park of Havana – is a recreational area that has the statue of Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti and it also has 28 palm trees – Parque Central has a relaxing and hip ambiance.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, Plaza Vieja – also called Old Square – is a plaza that has many beautiful nearby buildings in a variety of architectural styles including Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Modernist – it also has a wide variety of bars, restaurants, and nearby art galleries and cultural centers.  You can explore this plaza through walking tours.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Santa Maria del Mar.  Ranchon Don Pepe offers excellent local seafood and it also offers live music.  Cafe del Oriente is a restaurant that is a 25-minute drive away and has an elegant decor – it offers a variety of outstanding locally-inspired gourmet dishes and refreshing cocktails and wines.  Restaurante El Bacura has a rustic decor and serves various local Cuban and International dishes.  Chicken Little is known for serving a variety of amazing chicken and it also offers other dishes including seafood and barbecued meats.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Ajiaco Cafe has a homely ambiance and a garden – the restaurant offers many excellent local and Latin American regional dishes including seafood, stewed beef, grilled meat, and rice and beans. 

If you are looking for nearby hotels in Santa Maria del Mar Cuba, there are many great nearby options within a 25-minute-drive.  The 4-Star Blau Arenal Habana Beach Hotel offers many amenities including a pool, a sun terrace, a wellness center, tennis courts, multiple bars and restaurants, a gym, and a sundeck.  Another great upscale hotel is Gran Caribe’s Hotel Plaza that has Art Nouveau-style architecture and offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a bar, a tourist bureau, and currency exchange services.  The Hotel Ambos Mundos is another great hotel that offers multiple restaurants – the hotel also has a small museum dedicated to Ernest Hemingway and it is also located close to Havana’s major landmarks.  A more affordable hotel is the Hotel Beltran de Santa Cruz that is set in a beautiful 18th century villa and it also has a guest-use computer and common sitting areas.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Santa Maria del Mar, Hotel Los Frailes has a design resembling a Franciscan Monastery and it offers a patio, a lobby bar, and a complimentary wine-tasting session.  Another great hotel near the beach is the MarAzul Hotel which has a pool and a bar.