Cuba is a hot-spot destination for Canadians looking to spend their days soaking up the sun on a soft-sand beach and wading in crystal-clear waters. While renowned Varadero Beach is popular among travellers and picturesque under any light, Cuba is also home to plenty of white sands found off the beaten path that are ideal for travellers seeking some solitude away from the crowds.

Here are three hidden gems, suggested by Sunwing, which offers weekly flights from multiple gateways across Canada to Cuba:

Playa las Tumbas:  A journey worth taking

A half-day trip from Havana, explorers can see the Cuban countryside and stunning coast on their way to the untouched sands of Cuba’s most secluded beach, Playa las Tumbas. A dream for travellers interested in seeing the many corners of their chosen destination, this beach borders the Yucatán channel on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula along the north-western shore and was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This dedication to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources ensures las Tumbas’ beauty of strong palms and piercing white sands remains unadulterated and offers utmost privacy for small families or couples.

Cayo Saetía: Cuba’s private safari

Cayo Saetía is an island paradise and a world all its own. Situated on the edge of Nipe Bay, Cuba’s largest bay set on Holguin’s northern coast, Cayo Saetia features the same white sands and turquoise waters Cuba is beloved for, but with an exotic twist. Only five minutes from the beach, travellers can witness many of the animals native to Cuban fauna roam free in the untouched valleys they have long called home, like zebras, ostriches, antelope and more. After spending some time under the sun, vacationers can catch a glimpse of these incredible creatures while exploring the bay by catamaran cruise – a memory travellers of all kinds will cherish for years to come.

Playa Larga: More local flavour

Just a few hours outside Havana, Playa Larga is nestled within a quaint fishing village and a vision made for a postcard. Beyond its glistening sands and swaying palms, its blue waters are idyllic for underwater exploration, with a spectacular 300-metre coral reef that surrounds the bay and majestic marine life like whale sharks that call these waters home. Playa Larga is one of the few locations in Cuba where visitors can rent a private guesthouse right on the beach, perfect for romantic retreats, plus many locals have also converted their homes into guest accommodations and terraces into bars in which visitors can really immerse themselves in the Cuban experience. If the all-inclusive resort life is more their style, travellers have easy access to several resorts of varying price points in Havana nearby.