Is Cancun Visible From Cuba? (The Answer May Surprise You!)

Both Cancun and Cuba are very popular tourist destinations. Many people flock to both of these places in the summer months and this is because they are both great places to visit. 

You might have heard stories about people being able to see the lights of Cancun from the shoreline of Cuba. But can you actually see Cancun from Cuba?

Is Cancun Visible From Cuba

How Far away from each other are these two places? Read on to find out! 

Where Is Cuba? 

Cuba is the biggest island in the Caribbean. It is located about 90 miles south of Florida and it is just outside of the Gulf of Mexico.

Other Countries that are close by include, Cancun to the west, Jamaica to the south, and the Dominican Republic to the east. 

Cuba is also located at the meeting point of three different bodies of water meet: the Caribean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Where Is Cancun? 

Cancun is a city in Mexico that is located on the east coast. It is a part of the Quintana Roo state and can be found on the Yucatán Peninsula.

It is part of the very bottom of the Gulf of Mexico and nearby countries include Cuba to the immediate east, Honduras to the south, and the United States to the North. It borders the Caribbean Sea. 

Is Cancun Visible From Cuba? 

Because Cancun and Cuba are so close to each other, you’re probably assuming that these two places can be seen from their coastlines. But you’ll actually be surprised to learn that you can’t see Cancun from Cuba. 

Though they look like they are really close to each other on a map, the distance between the two is a lot further than you might think.

There is a huge 230+ km difference in space located between Cancun and Cuba, which means it would be impossible to see from one to the other with the naked eye.

On top of this, there is another reason you can’t see Cancun from Cuba and vice versa. The earth actually curves right between these two locations and that pushes the visibility back even further.

This makes it extremely impossible to see Cancun from Cuba and viseversa. 

So even though they are really close together, the curve of the earth actually stops it from being a possibility. 

Is Cancun A Good Place To Visit?

Cancun is already a popular tourist destination and it’s no surprise why. If you love bars, restaurants, and beaches, then this is the perfect place for you to visit.

Its weather is consistently good practically all year round as well, which is another reason it’s such an inviting place for tourists. 

It is also home to lots of All-Inclusive hotels, so you’ll have no problem finding a place to stay while you enjoy the activities that Cancun has to offer. 

Cancun is also home to lots of watersports, such as snorkeling, surfing, flyboarding, jungle boat tours, scuba diving, and even swimming with whales!

If you enjoy spending time in clear blue waters, Cancun is definitely a place you want to visit. 

It also helps that getting to Cancun can be relatively cheap to fly, which only adds to the appeal.

Is Cuba A Good Place To Visit?

If you love warm places that are absolutely filled with culture and history, then yes, Cuba is a wonderful place to visit. 

Not only is it covered in historical places and things, but it is also extremely beautiful and has one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.

From forests and mountains to coastlines and plains, Cuba is home to some of the most wonderful flora and fauna in the world. 

If you ever find yourself in Old Havana, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of what Cuba looked like over 200 years ago.

Most of the buildings and architecture in that area have been renovated and still look like how they did over 2 centuries ago. 

There is so much history and beauty in this island nation, and it’s extremely worth the trip if you get the chance! 

How Long Does It Take To Get From Cancun To Cuba? 

Getting from Cancun to Cuba and vice versa won’t take you too much time at all! The fastest flight from Cancun to Cuba takes about an hour and ten minutes in total. 

If you’d prefer to travel by boat, then you can, but it isn’t exactly the safest option. It’s a lot longer to get from Cancun to Cuba by boat.

The boats require more than one tank of gas for the one-way trip, so this means that ferries aren’t an option for you. 

Most of the boats that travel between the two places are usually illegal, as they are usually smuggling things between the two locations. 

Your best bet is to travel by plane rather than a boat.

It’s actually cheaper to travel from Mexico to Cuba than it is to travel from the US to Cuba, and because it’s such a fast flight, it’s definitely the best and safest way to get there. 

Is Cancun Visible From Cuba

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Cuba?

If you’re considering taking a trip to Cuba, you should definitely know that there are some months to go that are a lot better than others. 

Cuba has a tropical climate overall, but the best time to visit is between November and mid-April.

This time of year is when you’ll have the best overall weather because it will still be warm, but it won’t be overbearing. 

If you want to try and save a bit of money, the best time to go would be July and August. It will still be very warm, but the hot summer is gradually cooling down and the rain season is right around the corner. 

You do have to bear in mind though, that because Cuba has a tropical climate, storms, and hurricanes. So you’ll want to keep up to date with weather warnings while you’re there. 

Which Is To Better To Visit? Cancun or Cuba?

If you’re trying to decide which one would be better to visit, then it does purely depend on what you’re looking to get out of your holiday. 

Cancun is all about resorts, hotels, and beaches. It’s a lot cheaper than Cuba. But if you’re looking for a place that is diverse in culture and rich in history, then you’ll want to check out Cuba over Cancun. 

Cancun is worth visiting, but it can be quite limited in experiences over Cuba, so it’s really up to you to decide which you’d consider is better to visit. 

Conclusion

Even though these two places are really close to each other, because the earth curves right in between, you actually can’t see Cancun from Cuba. 

Though this might surprise you, when you start to think about it properly, it actually makes a whole load of sense. 

And if you’re trying to decide which of the two to visit, then it really depends on what sort of vacation you’re after. Do you want a resort vacation or a vacation that’s rich in culture and history? 

If you ever get the opportunity to visit both though, you should definitely consider that option! 

Jim Stanton
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