Self-Guided Walking Tour in Havana

Twelve stops over 5.9 km, from the Malecón seawall east into Habana Vieja, through four colonial plazas, down Calle Obispo, and finishing at the Capitolio. This page gives you the full map, the walking time for every leg, real USD prices and current opening hours for each interior, plus shorter versions.

12 Stops5.9 km~3 hours walkinghalf a day with stops
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Havana Walking Tour at a Glance

This route is built for a traveller who wants to see the full sweep of colonial Havana on foot without booking a group. Every interior on the way, the two museums, the fortress, the theatre tour, the Capitolio, is optional: the outdoor walk stands on its own and costs nothing. You set the pace, linger in whichever plaza you like, and pay for exactly the ticket stops you care about.

StartMalecón (Malecón habanero)
FinishEl Capitolio (Capitolio Nacional de Cuba)
Route typeRoughly point to point with a shallow arc: you start on the waterfront, push east into Habana Vieja to the museums, curl south through the four plazas, then swing back west along Calle Obispo to finish at the Capitolio. Very little true backtracking.
Realistic timeAbout 3 hours of walking on its own, but a half day is realistic once you factor in museum stops, a daiquiri break at El Floridita, and time browsing the book stalls on Plaza de Armas.
DifficultyEasy and flat. The 5.9 km is nearly all level ground, though the plazas and side streets are cobblestoned, so wear sturdy shoes. The real challenge is the heat, not the terrain: shade is patchy and midday sun is fierce.
Cost to followThe walk itself, the seawall, all four plazas, and Calle Obispo, is completely free. Paid interiors are Museo de la Revolución (USD 8), Bellas Artes (USD 5 per building), Castillo de la Real Fuerza (USD 5), the Gran Teatro tour (USD 5), and the Capitolio (USD 10).
Best for:

First-time visitors who want the essential Old Havana loop, the waterfront, the plazas, Hemingway's bar, and the Capitolio, in one self-paced morning, choosing their own interiors instead of a fixed group itinerary.

The Route

Free Walking Tour Map of Havana

12 stops5.9 kmabout 3 hours
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The 12 stops along this route

  1. Malecón (Malecón habanero) in Havana, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Malecón (Malecón habanero)
  2. Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución) in Havana, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución)
  3. National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba) in Havana, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba)
  4. Plaza de la Catedral in Havana, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Plaza de la Catedral
  5. Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castillo de la Real Fuerza de La Habana) in Havana, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castillo de la Real Fuerza de La Habana)
  6. Plaza de Armas, Havana (Plaza de armas) in Havana, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Plaza de Armas, Havana (Plaza de armas)
  7. Plaza de San Francisco (Plaza de San Francisco de Asís) in Havana, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour
    7Plaza de San Francisco (Plaza de San Francisco de Asís)
  8. Plaza Vieja (Plaza Vieja de La Habana) in Havana, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour
    8Plaza Vieja (Plaza Vieja de La Habana)
  9. Bishop Street (Calle Obispo) in Havana, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour
    9Bishop Street (Calle Obispo)
  10. Floridita in Havana, stop 10 on the self-guided walking tour
    10Floridita
  11. Gran Teatro de La Habana in Havana, stop 11 on the self-guided walking tour
    11Gran Teatro de La Habana
  12. El Capitolio (Capitolio Nacional de Cuba) in Havana, stop 12 on the self-guided walking tour
    12El Capitolio (Capitolio Nacional de Cuba)
  13. That's the complete route.

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Your Havana Walking Tour, Stop by Stop

  1. 1

    Malecón (Malecón habanero)

    Malecón (Malecón habanero) in Havana, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour

    Havana's iconic 8-kilometer seawall stretches from the harbor entrance all the way west to Vedado, and locals call it "the world's longest sofa" for good reason. By late afternoon, hundreds of habaneros gather here to fish, flirt, play music, and watch the sunset. In the morning, when you arrive, it is quieter and the light is perfect for photos of the crumbling waterfront buildings. The seawall was built in 1901 to protect the city from storm surges, and during winter northers, waves still crash dramatically over the top, soaking pedestrians and cars alike. Walk east along the seawall toward Old Havana. The stretch near Calle Galiano offers the best views of the colonial skyline. Street vendors sell coconut water and peanut cones for a few pesos. There is no entrance fee and no set hours. The Malecon is simply always there, always open.

    Price
    Free
  2. 2

    Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución)

    Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución) in Havana, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour

    The Museum of the Revolution occupies the former Presidential Palace, a lavish neoclassical building where Cuban presidents governed until 1959. Inside, the Hall of Mirrors was designed as a deliberate replica of the one at Versailles, and its Tiffany-decorated interiors still gleam despite decades of tropical humidity. The exhibits trace Cuba's revolutionary history with uniforms, weapons, photographs, and propaganda posters. Behind the building, a glass-enclosed pavilion shelters the 13-meter yacht Granma, which carried Fidel Castro and 81 fighters from Mexico to Cuba in 1956. The exhibition is unapologetically one-sided, which makes it fascinating as a cultural artifact in itself. Check current prices at the entrance, as admission fees for foreigners have changed multiple times in recent years. Allow 45 minutes to an hour inside. The air conditioning is unreliable, so the ground floor courtyard offers a welcome breeze between gallery rooms.

    Price
    USD 8
  3. 3

    National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba)

    National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba) in Havana, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour

    Havana's fine arts museum is split across two separate buildings. The Cuban Art collection, housed in a 1954 rationalist building, is the highlight: five floors covering 500 years of Cuban painting and sculpture, including a dedicated gallery of 1970s revolutionary art that you will not find reproduced anywhere else. The international collection occupies the ornate Palacio del Centro Asturiano across the street, with Roman mosaics dating to 500 BC, Spanish old masters, and a surprisingly strong Latin American modernism section. Open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday. Check current prices at the entrance. A combined ticket for both buildings is usually available. The Cuban building alone is worth at least an hour. If you are short on time, skip the international wing and head straight to the third-floor Cuban galleries.

    Hours
    Mon-Tue: Closed | Wed-Sat: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sun: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Price
    USD 5 (per building)
  4. 4

    Plaza de la Catedral

    Plaza de la Catedral in Havana, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour

    The most photogenic square in Havana is anchored by the Cathedral of San Cristobal, completed in 1777 from blocks of coral rock with visible fossilized shells embedded in the facade. Look closely at the two bell towers: they are intentionally asymmetrical, with the narrower one built that way so rainwater could drain down the adjacent street. The square fills with art vendors and musicians during the day, but arrive before 10 AM and you might have it nearly to yourself. The surrounding colonial mansions now house restaurants, galleries, and the Museo de Arte Colonial. Grab a coffee at the cafe on the northwest corner for a table with a direct cathedral view. The plaza is open 24 hours and free to enter. The cathedral itself is free, though a small donation is appreciated. This is one of the most heavily photographed spots in Cuba, so if you want a clean shot without crowds, come early.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  5. 5

    Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castillo de la Real Fuerza de La Habana)

    Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castillo de la Real Fuerza de La Habana) in Havana, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour

    Completed in 1577, this is the oldest stone fortress still standing in the Americas. Its squat, moated walls were designed to repel pirate attacks, though it was actually too far inside the harbor to be militarily useful, a fact the Spanish realized too late. The tower is topped by La Giraldilla, a small bronze weathervane depicting a woman scanning the horizon. Cast in 1632, she has become the official symbol of Havana and appears on every bottle of Havana Club rum. Inside, the fortress houses a maritime museum with model ships, navigational instruments, and ceramics recovered from shipwrecks. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Mondays. Check current prices at the entrance. The rooftop terrace offers one of the best elevated views of the harbor and the Plaza de Armas below. Budget 30 minutes for the museum and rooftop combined.

    Hours
    Mon: Closed | Tue-Sun: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
    Price
    USD 5
  6. 6

    Plaza de Armas, Havana (Plaza de armas)

    Plaza de Armas, Havana (Plaza de armas) in Havana, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour

    Havana's oldest square marks the exact spot where the city was founded in 1519, and it still feels like the gravitational center of Old Havana. The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales dominates the western side, and the street in front of it is paved with wooden blocks instead of stone, installed centuries ago to muffle the sound of horse carriages so they would not disturb the governor. On most days, secondhand booksellers set up stalls under the ceiba trees, selling old copies of Granma newspaper, Che Guevara biographies, and vintage Cuban postcards. Bargain gently: prices start at 1-5 USD for most items. The square is open 24 hours and free to walk through. The Palacio houses the City Museum, which is worth a quick look for its ornate colonial rooms. Across the square, the neoclassical El Templete marks the precise founding site with a small chapel and a ceiba tree.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  7. 7

    Plaza de San Francisco (Plaza de San Francisco de Asís)

    Plaza de San Francisco (Plaza de San Francisco de Asís) in Havana, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour

    This cobblestoned 16th-century square sits directly beside the old harbor, and its role as Havana's commercial heart is still visible in the grand merchant buildings lining its edges. The Basilica Menor de San Francisco de Asis, completed in 1738, dominates the south side with its 42-meter bell tower. The church was deconsecrated in the 1800s and now serves as a concert hall with excellent acoustics; check the posted schedule near the entrance for chamber music performances, which are often held on weekend mornings. The Fuente de los Leones, a marble fountain from 1836, anchors the center of the square. The cruise terminal is just steps away, so this plaza can fill up suddenly when ships dock. If you see a crowd forming, it usually clears within an hour. On the east side, the Lonja del Comercio building has been restored with a rooftop dome worth admiring from below.

  8. 8

    Plaza Vieja (Plaza Vieja de La Habana)

    Plaza Vieja (Plaza Vieja de La Habana) in Havana, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour

    Established in 1559, Plaza Vieja is the only main square in Old Havana built without a church, because it was designed purely for commerce and daily life. Today it is the most successfully restored of the four plazas, with candy-colored colonial buildings housing cafes, galleries, and a microbrewery. The Edificio Gomez Vila on the southeast corner has a 35-meter tower with a camera obscura at the top that projects a live panoramic image of the city onto a concave screen. The plaza is open 24 hours and free to enter. Check current prices at the camera obscura entrance. The Cerveceria Plaza Vieja, in the southwest corner, brews its own lager and dark beer and is the best spot on the square for a cold drink (2-4 USD per beer). Sit on the upper terrace for a full view of the plaza. The restored fountain in the center is a 2000s replica of the 18th-century original.

    Hours
    Open 24/7
    Price
    Free
  9. 9

    Bishop Street (Calle Obispo)

    Bishop Street (Calle Obispo) in Havana, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour

    Havana's most famous pedestrian street runs roughly 1.5 km from Plaza de Armas to the Parque Central area, and it functions as the main artery of daily life in Old Havana. The street was deliberately designed with tall buildings on both sides to keep it shaded throughout the day, a colonial-era form of passive cooling that still works. You will pass bookshops, pharmacies with original tile interiors, currency exchange offices, souvenir stalls, and some of the best paladares in Old Havana. The street has officially held 47 different names since its founding. Live music spills out of doorways, especially in the afternoon. Look for the Farmacia Taquechel at Obispo 155, a beautifully preserved 19th-century pharmacy with original porcelain jars on wooden shelves. Obispo is free to walk, open always, and best experienced slowly. Watch your belongings in the densest stretches near the midpoint.

    Price
    Free
  10. 10

    Floridita

    Floridita in Havana, stop 10 on the self-guided walking tour

    Open since 1817, El Floridita is where head bartender Constantino Ribalaigua invented the frozen daiquiri in the early 20th century, and it has traded on that legacy ever since. A life-sized bronze statue of Ernest Hemingway leans against his favorite spot at the far end of the bar, and tourists line up to photograph themselves beside it. The frozen daiquiri here costs around 7-10 USD, which is expensive by Cuban standards but reasonable by international cocktail bar standards. The interior is red velvet, dark wood, and low lighting, a glamorous contrast to the bright street outside. Open daily from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Come early afternoon to avoid the densest crowds. A live band usually plays from mid-afternoon onward. You do not need to eat here; one daiquiri at the bar is enough to soak up the atmosphere. Hemingway reportedly drank 12-16 of these per sitting. One will suffice.

    Hours
    Daily: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
    Price
    $$
  11. 11

    Gran Teatro de La Habana

    Gran Teatro de La Habana in Havana, stop 11 on the self-guided walking tour

    Opened in 1838 as the Teatro Tacon, this neo-baroque theater is the oldest continuously active theater in the Western Hemisphere and home to the Cuban National Ballet. The exterior is dramatic: four white marble sculptures by Giuseppe Moretti representing allegories of charity, education, music, and theater crown the corner towers. The facade is best photographed from the Parque Central across the street in the late afternoon, when the light hits the stonework. Inside, the main auditorium seats over 1,500 and features ornate balconies and a painted ceiling. Check current prices at the entrance for guided tours, which run on most days when there are no rehearsals. If you can catch an evening ballet or opera performance, tickets for foreigners typically range from 10-30 USD, a fraction of what you would pay for comparable quality in any European capital. Check the schedule posted at the box office.

    Hours
    Mon: 8:30 – 10:00 PM | Tue-Sat: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Sun: Open 24 hours
    Price
    USD 5 (tour)
  12. 12

    El Capitolio (Capitolio Nacional de Cuba)

    El Capitolio (Capitolio Nacional de Cuba) in Havana, stop 12 on the self-guided walking tour

    Havana's Capitolio was completed in 1929 at a cost of 17 million dollars and modeled after the Pantheon in Paris and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, though Cubans will point out that their dome, at 91.73 meters, is actually slightly taller than its American counterpart. The building served as Cuba's seat of government until 1959 and, after decades of restoration, now houses the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the National Library of Science and Technology. The central hall contains a 24-karat gold replica of a diamond that marks kilometer zero for all road distances in Cuba. The exterior staircase and colonnade are monumental in scale and make for a powerful final image of the walk. Check current prices at the entrance for interior visits. The steps out front are a popular gathering spot for locals and offer a straight-line view down the Prado promenade. From here, you are steps from the Parque Central and within easy reach of taxis, bicitaxis, and classic car rides back to your accommodation.

    Price
    USD 10

How Long Does This Walking Tour Really Take?

Plan on roughly 3 hours if you keep moving and only see the plazas from the outside. Add outdoor lingering and a daiquiri stop and you land at a comfortable half day. Enter both wings of the Bellas Artes museum and you add close to an hour on top; starting by 9:00 AM is ideal, since the plazas are emptier and you finish before the worst midday heat.

Plan 3 hours for the walk itself, but a full morning or afternoon is realistic once you factor in museum stops, a daiquiri break at El Floridita, and time spent browsing the book stalls at Plaza de Armas. If you enter both buildings of the Bellas Artes museum, add another hour. Starting by 9:00 AM is ideal: the plazas are emptier, the temperature is more bearable, and you finish before the worst midday heat. By early afternoon, the shade on Calle Obispo and the air conditioning at El Floridita will feel earned.

Full Route, Shorter Walk or Two-Day Version?

The full 12-stop route is the default, but the long opening leg along the Malecón and the number of ticketed interiors make it easy to trim. Here are three ways to walk it depending on your time and your appetite for the heat.

Complete route

All 12 stops, Malecón to Capitolio

Stops 1 to 12, about 5.9 km, roughly 3 hours walking or a half day with interiors

The whole arc: the Malecón seawall, both museums, all four colonial plazas, Calle Obispo, El Floridita, the Gran Teatro, and the Capitolio. Best done from a 9:00 AM start so the long waterfront leg happens before the heat peaks.

Short version

Plazas core, skip the waterfront opener

Start at stop 4 (Plaza de la Catedral) and walk stops 4 to 12, about 3 km, roughly 2 hours

Cuts the 1.3 km Malecón-to-museum leg, the single longest stretch of the day, and drops the two big museums. You keep all four plazas, Calle Obispo, El Floridita, the Gran Teatro, and the Capitolio, the densest and most photogenic part of Habana Vieja, in half the walking.

Two-day split

Waterfront and museums, then the plazas and Prado

Day one: stops 1 to 8, Malecón through Plaza Vieja. Day two: stops 8 to 12, Plaza Vieja to the Capitolio

Splits at Plaza Vieja, the natural midpoint. Day one is the waterfront, the two museums, and the four plazas at an unhurried pace with time inside each interior. Day two is the shorter home stretch: Calle Obispo, El Floridita, the Gran Teatro, and the Capitolio. Ideal if the heat makes a full day too much.

You can walk it backwards from the Capitolio to the Malecón, but the given direction is recommended. Starting on the seawall means the long, exposed 1.3 km opening leg is done early while it is still cool, and you finish at the Capitolio, which sits by the Parque Central within easy reach of taxis and classic-car rides back to your accommodation.

Is This Havana Walking Tour Right for You?

This is a flat, dense, sight-packed walk through a compact historic centre. It suits some travellers perfectly and works less well for others; here is how to tell, and how to bend it to fit.

A good fit if you…

  • First-time visitors who want the essential Old Havana sights, waterfront, plazas, and landmarks, in one self-guided loop
  • Anyone happy on flat cobblestones for around 6 km at their own pace across a morning
  • Travellers who want to choose their own interiors and pay only for the museums, fortress, or theatre tour that interest them
  • Photographers, since the four plazas and the pastel facades of Habana Vieja are best shot early before the crowds and the midday glare

Adapt the route if you…

  • You are sensitive to heat: start by 8 to 9 AM, carry at least a litre of bottled water, and use the two-day split rather than pushing through midday
  • You have limited time: take the short version from Plaza de la Catedral and skip the long Malecón opener and the two museums
  • You want fewer paid stops: the outdoor route is free, so treat every museum, the fortress, the Gran Teatro tour, and the Capitolio interior as optional
  • Cobblestones are hard on your feet or you use a wheelchair: the plazas and older streets are uneven, so plan extra time and rest stops along the way

Tickets & Skip-the-Line in Havana

Most of this walk is free open space, but a handful of stops charge admission or keep specific hours. Havana's interiors rarely need advance booking; the useful thing is knowing the price in USD cash and the days each place is open, so you do not arrive to a closed door. Pay in small-denomination USD bills wherever you can.

Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución)USD 8 for foreigners, paid in cash at the entrance. No advance booking; just walk up. Allow 45 minutes to an hour inside for the exhibits and the Granma yacht pavilion behind the building.
National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba)USD 5 per building, and a combined ticket for both wings is usually available. Open Wednesday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday. The Cuban-art building alone is worth an hour. official ticket site ↗
Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castillo de la Real Fuerza de La Habana)USD 5 in cash at the gate, no booking needed. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Mondays. Budget about 30 minutes for the maritime museum and the rooftop terrace.
FloriditaNo entry fee, but the house frozen daiquiri runs around USD 7 to 10, expensive by Cuban standards. Open daily 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM; come early afternoon to beat the densest crowds at the Hemingway statue. official ticket site ↗
Gran Teatro de La HabanaUSD 5 for a guided tour of the interior, run on most days when there are no rehearsals. Tour hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Monday evenings 8:30 to 10:00 PM). Evening ballet or opera tickets for foreigners typically run USD 10 to 30. official ticket site ↗
El Capitolio (Capitolio Nacional de Cuba)USD 10 for the interior visit, paid in cash at the entrance, no advance booking. Inside, the central hall holds the gold replica of a diamond marking kilometre zero for all Cuban road distances.
Everything elseThe Malecón, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, Plaza Vieja, and Calle Obispo are all free open public spaces, open around the clock with no ticket needed.
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Tips for Walking in Havana

  • Carry USD in small bills (1s, 5s, 10s). Many places cannot break a 50, and credit cards issued by U.S. banks do not work in Cuba. Euros are accepted at some tourist spots but at a worse rate.
  • Buy bottled water at the start of the walk and carry at least a liter. Havana's tap water is not safe to drink, refill options are scarce, and dehydration hits fast in the tropical heat, especially between 11 AM and 3 PM.
  • For lunch, skip the tourist restaurants on the plazas and try Dona Eutimia on Callejon del Chorro, just off Plaza de la Catedral. Their ropa vieja is one of the best in Havana, and portions are generous (mains 8-15 USD). Arrive before noon or expect a wait.
  • Public Wi-Fi only works at ETECSA hotspots (look for clusters of people staring at phones in parks). Buy a Wi-Fi card at an ETECSA office for 1-2 USD per hour. Download offline maps (Maps.me or Google Maps offline) before leaving your hotel.
  • The best photo spot on this entire route is the Malecon at sunset, so consider returning in the evening even if you walk the tour in the morning. From the seawall near Calle Crespo, the golden light on the crumbling waterfront buildings is unbeatable.

Why Walk This Route?

This self-guided walking tour covers 12 stops across 5.9 km through the heart of Old Havana and along the waterfront, taking roughly 3 hours at a comfortable pace. You will walk the full sweep of colonial Havana: from the salt-sprayed Malecon seawall through four historic plazas, down the city's most famous pedestrian street, into Hemingway's favorite bar, and past the monumental Capitolio. The route threads through UNESCO-listed Habana Vieja, where crumbling pastel facades sit next to freshly restored palaces. Bring plenty of water (bottled water is sold at most tourist stops for 1-2 USD), wear a hat, and carry small-denomination USD bills. Cuba's currency situation is genuinely confusing: tourists pay almost everything in USD cash, but you may encounter prices quoted in CUP (Cuban pesos) or MLC (a digital currency locals use). When in doubt, ask "dolares?" before paying. Public Wi-Fi exists only at designated ETECSA hotspots, so download offline maps before you start.

Common Questions

Is Old Havana safe to walk through?

Yes. Old Havana is one of the safest historic centers in Latin America for tourists. Petty theft (phone snatching, pickpocketing) can happen on crowded stretches of Calle Obispo and around the plazas, so keep valuables in a front pocket or crossbody bag. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. Walking this route during daylight hours, you will see police at nearly every major intersection.

What currency should I bring to Cuba?

Bring USD cash in small denominations. Cuba's currency situation is complicated: the local peso (CUP) exists, and a digital currency called MLC is used by locals at certain shops, but tourists pay for nearly everything in USD. ATMs are unreliable and rarely dispense foreign currency. Credit cards from U.S. banks are blocked entirely. European Visa and Mastercard sometimes work at upscale hotels, but do not count on it. Cash is king.

When is the best time of year to walk this tour?

November through March offers the most comfortable temperatures (24-28 C) and the lowest humidity. June through October is hurricane season, with frequent afternoon downpours and oppressive heat above 35 C. If you visit in summer, start this walk by 8 AM and plan to be indoors by noon. The route works year-round, but the heat makes a real difference in how much you enjoy it.

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