Regla & Guanabacoa — Afro-Cuban Tradition

For a deeper insight into Afro-Cuban culture, a trip to Regla and Guanabacoa — two suburbs on the eastern shore of Havana Bay — is worthwhile.

Regla

Accessible by ferry from the harbor in 5 minutes (almost free!). Regla is the center of Santería — the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Regla is simultaneously dedicated to Yemayá (sea goddess of the Yoruba religion). Large processions take place here on September 7. The atmosphere is completely different from Habana Vieja — rougher, more authentic, more spiritual.

Guanabacoa

A few kilometers further: a sleepy town with the Museo Municipal de Guanabacoa, which explains the Afro-Cuban religions (Santería, Palo Monte, Abakuá) — with altars, drums, ritual objects, and an excellent introduction to a world of beliefs that is everyday life for many Cubans.