Gibara Coast is located to the east of Puerto Padre and north of Holguin on the northeast coast of Cuba. This area is pretty off the beaten path, which means that there aren’t many surfers who have checked it out. If you make it here, you can consider yourself among the few. Expect to find some small right-hand waves that break along a rocky shore, primarily at Playa Caletones.

The surf here can handle swells from 3 to 7 feet (about 1 to 2.1 meters) coming from directions like North, North-Northwest, and Northeast. You can catch some fast and hollow lefts on a shallow rock shelf just west of Gibara, but these require a solid swell to really get going. The bottom is mostly made up of sharp lava reef, so be mindful of that. Paddling is generally easy, making it accessible to surfers of different skill levels—beginners, intermediates, and experts can all find something here. The best times to catch waves are during the fall through to spring.

Accessing the spot is straightforward; just take the dirt road heading east out of Puerto Padre and park nearby. Expect a unique experience as you might not run into many other surfers—definitely bring your own crew if you want some company in the water. The local vibe is pretty much non-existent, so you can enjoy the nice Caribbean waters in peace. Enjoy your ride, but keep an eye out for that sharp lava reef!