Cuba: Playa Gíron

A prerequisite from Dan for our trip to Cuba was a scuba diving trip so after Viñales we made our way to the Bay of Pigs. This area on the south coast is of course famous for the failed American invasion in April 1961, and unbeknownst to us the day we arrived was the 55th anniversary of the event. As we drove on the north-south road from Jaguey Grande to Playa Larga, school children were stood by monuments saluting as we drove past. When we arrived at our hosts' in Playa Gíron, we found out that evening there was to be a big town party, with food, drink and music in what is an otherwise sleepy town. What luck! That evening we wondered over to the town square and enjoyed the best piña coladas we tasted in all of Cuba (the secret is condensed milk), from the sweetest older gentleman at his drinks stand, and danced with all the locals late into the night.

The next day, we were collected by the free scuba bus which collects divers from all over town and drops off at the many scuba site along the Bay of Pigs coastline. The diving was very reasonably priced and started off with a refresher for those who haven't been for a while. As the photos show the waters were beautiful and crystal clear and whilst Dan was out at sea discovering shipwrecks and seeing the wildlife underwater, I did a little snorkelling and just taking in the scenery.

A place of invasions, we also arrived over the days that the crabs were invading the town. They were everywhere!! It happens once a year and the coastal roads were a crab massacre, and caused many a flat tyre for the cars making that journey.

The two afternoons we had in Playa Gíron were spent at Playa los Cocos, a small beach with a little refreshments hut where we sat under the palm trees enjoying a rum and coconut. More pictures on my Instagram! Following a relaxing couple of days on the coast, next stop: Cienfuegos...