AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Playa La Chivita is a tiny, little-known beach tucked along Cuba's north coast in Mayabeque province, between the town of Santa Cruz del Norte and the resort strip at Jibacoa. Measuring just a few hundred metres at most, it sits at the same stretch of coast as its neighbor Playa Rotilla and shares that spot's intimate, rock-fringed character: clear shallow water, a soft onshore breeze, and a sense of seclusion that sets it apart from the island's famous long white-sand beaches.↗↗
For travelers exploring the coastal corridor east of Havana, La Chivita offers a quiet, low-key alternative to the all-inclusive resorts of Jibacoa and Varadero. It's the kind of place where local families have long come to swim, rock-hop, and enjoy the sea without crowds or commercial infrastructure.↗
A Small Beach on a Storied Coast
La Chivita belongs to a stretch of the Mayabeque north shore that has been enjoyed by Cubans for decades. The adjacent Playa Rotilla has been welcoming families since at least the 1940s, when it had modest changing huts, freshwater showers, and a small café. Today the area remains unpretentious — a handful of small rocky coves and sandy patches sheltered between coastal outcrops, with water so clear you can watch fish darting over the bottom.↗
The beach faces north onto the Straits of Florida, where sea temperatures hover around 29–30 °C through the autumn months, making for a warm, gentle swim virtually any day of the year. The surrounding landscape is flat and green, with low scrub and the occasional palm marking the transition between the coastal shelf and the agricultural land behind it.↗↗
Getting There and Around
La Chivita lies roughly 2.5 km east of the small town of Santa Cruz del Norte along the Vía Blanca, the main highway linking Havana to Matanzas and Varadero. The drive from Havana takes about an hour; from the Jibacoa resort cluster it is only a five-minute hop westward. Public transport along the corridor is infrequent, so a rental car or taxi from either Santa Cruz del Norte or Jibacoa is the most practical way to reach it.↗↗
Because the beach is so compact and lacks signage, look for the small coastal indent just east of where the road passes through Santa Cruz del Norte. Local residents will know it by the name Rotilla or simply "la playita" — the tiny beach.↗↗
What to Expect
This is not a beach with loungers, bars, or a rental kiosk. Visitors should bring their own towel, water, sunscreen, and anything else they might need. The rock formations at either side of the sandy patch provide a natural breakwater, keeping the water calm and clear, and creating small pools at low tide that are fun to explore for snails, crabs, and juvenile fish.↗↗
The beach's appeal is its stillness. Birdsong mingles with the wash of waves, the breeze is steady but mild, and you are unlikely to encounter more than a handful of people on any given day. For photographers, birdwatchers, or anyone looking to simply read in a hammock strung between two palms, the spot is ideal.↗
Nearby Anchors
If you want to pair this quiet stop with a fuller beach day, the resort village of Jibacoa is just five kilometres to the east, offering hotel beaches with amenities, water-sports rentals, and snorkelling trips. To the west, the beaches of the eastern Havana coast — Guanabo, Santa María del Mar — are about twenty minutes further by car and bring a livelier, more social atmosphere.↗↗
The historic town of Matanzas, with its Teatro Sauto and Cuevas de Bellamar caves, lies about 30 km to the east and is an easy add-on for a cultural excursion.↗
Best Time to Visit
The dry season (November through April) offers the clearest skies, lower humidity, and comfortable 28–31 °C daytime temperatures. Summer months bring afternoon rain showers but also the warmest sea (around 30 °C) and the fewest visitors, meaning you may have the tiny beach entirely to yourself.↗↗↗
What makes it special
A little planning goes a long way
- Bring your own supplies — there are no facilities, shops, or lifeguards on this beach.
- The beach is extremely small (under 100 metres); arrive early in the day if you want space during peak family-visit times on weekends.↗
- Water shoes are useful — the rocky edges are home to barnacles and small sea creatures best admired without barefoot contact.↗
- GPS coordinates 23.15°N, 81.90°W can help locate the spot, as there is minimal signage.↗
About this guide
Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.
