The whimsical sculptures, mosaics and all manner of street art creations by artist José Fuster in Jaimanitas make for an entertaining excursion from Havana proper. The artist's own home is the centerpiece, decorated in his characteristically surreal style from top to bottom. The so-called "Fusterlandia" is now about two decades in the making, and continues to grow to-date.

Under the shelter of lush rainforest, the archeological site of Kohunlich is an outstanding example of Maya architecture. Palaces, citadels, temples, such as the top attraction Temple of the Masks, and other elaborate structures are scattered over an area of more than 20 acres, with most landmarks dating back to as early as 250 to 600 AD. Chetumal is a common starting point to visit Kohunlich, but tours are available at the Costa Maya Cruise Port as well. If you are in the area, don't miss out on the opportunity to visit Dzibanche, another outstanding Maya landmark around 20 miles away from Kohunlich.

On Corso Manthoné lies the house where the controversial poet Gabriele D’Annunzio was born on 12 March 1863. It is now a museum with a collection of his letters and documents. A follower of Mussolini, D’Annunzio helped shape the dictator’s philosophy and wrote poetry inspired by the Abruzzo region.