Things to Do in Havana in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Havana
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak dry season comfort - February sits right in the sweet spot of Havana's winter, with daily highs around 78°F (26°C) and genuinely pleasant evenings that drop to 65°F (18°C). You'll actually want to sit outside at rooftop bars without melting, which is saying something for the Caribbean.
- Carnival season energy without the chaos - Late February typically brings pre-Lenten celebrations with comparsas (street dancing groups) rehearsing throughout neighborhoods, particularly in Centro Habana and Cayo Hueso. You get the festive atmosphere and spontaneous street parties without the full-blown tourist crush of actual Carnival week.
- Tobacco harvest season in Viñales - February is when the vegas (tobacco farms) are actively harvesting, which means you can actually watch the entire process from field to drying house. The countryside is at its greenest after January rains, and farmers are genuinely working rather than staging demonstrations for tour groups.
- Reasonable accommodation pricing - Unlike December-January when snowbirds lock up everything, February sees slightly softer demand. Casa particulares (licensed homestays) in Vedado still fill up but you're not competing with quite the same frenzy, and you can often negotiate rates for stays longer than 4-5 nights.
Considerations
- Cold fronts can surprise you - Havana gets occasional frentes fríos (cold fronts) in February, usually lasting 2-3 days, where temperatures can drop to 55°F (13°C) at night with strong winds off the Straits of Florida. Most casas don't have heating, and that 65°F (18°C) low feels considerably colder in un-insulated colonial buildings with tile floors.
- Beach conditions can be inconsistent - The north coast beaches (Playas del Este) get choppy with those same cold fronts, bringing cooler water temperatures around 75°F (24°C) and sometimes seaweed. If you're planning a beach-focused trip, you might be disappointed. The south coast (Playa Girón, Playa Larga) tends to be calmer but requires a 2-3 hour drive.
- Variable weather makes packing tricky - That 'variable conditions' descriptor is doing a lot of work here. You genuinely need both shorts and long pants, tank tops and a light sweater. The 10 rainy days listed are typically brief afternoon showers, but when cold fronts hit, you can get persistent drizzle that makes walking Old Havana's slippery cobblestones genuinely unpleasant.
Best Activities in February
Viñales Valley Tobacco Farm Tours
February is harvest time in Pinar del Río province, meaning the tobacco farms are actually working operations rather than museum pieces. You'll see farmers hand-picking leaves, sorting by quality, and threading them for curing in traditional secaderos (drying barns). The valley is brilliantly green after January rains, and morning temperatures around 70°F (21°C) make the 2-3 hour farm walks genuinely comfortable. The mogotes (limestone karsts) create dramatic backdrops for photography in the clear winter light.
Old Havana Walking Tours at Dawn
The 65-78°F (18-26°C) temperature range means early morning walks through Habana Vieja are actually pleasant rather than sweaty death marches. Between 7-9am, you'll catch street sweepers cleaning Plaza de la Catedral, bread delivery to paladares (private restaurants), and locals doing their morning routines before tourist crowds arrive around 10am. The humidity is lowest in early morning, and the light on those pastel colonial facades is spectacular. February's lower UV index early in the day means you can explore for 2-3 hours before needing serious sun protection.
Malecón Sunset Watching and Street Life
February evenings are perfect for the Malecón - that 8 km (5 mile) seawall that's Havana's living room. Temperatures drop to comfortable 70-72°F (21-22°C) by 6pm, and locals come out for evening strolls, fishing, dominoes, and impromptu rum sessions. Cold fronts create dramatic wave action that crashes over the seawall - locals call it 'el maleconazo' and it's genuinely exciting to watch (from a safe distance). The sunset around 6:15-6:30pm in February provides perfect timing for dinner afterward.
Live Music Venues and Jazz Clubs
February's comfortable evening temperatures mean both indoor venues and outdoor patios are pleasant, and you're hitting Havana's music scene at full strength. The jazz festival typically happens in January, but February sees many international musicians sticking around for club dates. Venues range from intimate jazz clubs to large salsa halls, with cover charges from 5-25 CUC depending on the venue and performer. The music usually starts late (10pm-midnight) and runs until 2-3am, which is much easier to handle when you're not dealing with summer heat.
Fusterlandia Mosaic Art Installation
José Fuster's neighborhood-spanning mosaic project in Jaimanitas is best visited in February's moderate temperatures - there's minimal shade and lots of walking through this outdoor art environment. The artist transformed his entire neighborhood with Gaudí-inspired tile work covering houses, bus stops, benches, and public spaces. February's clear skies provide excellent lighting for photography, and the 78°F (26°C) highs are manageable for the 1-2 hours you'll spend exploring. It's about 20 km (12.4 miles) west of central Havana.
Bay of Pigs Snorkeling Day Trips
The south coast at Playa Girón and Playa Larga offers Caribbean snorkeling without the north coast chop that February cold fronts create. Water temperature holds around 77-79°F (25-26°C), and visibility is typically excellent in the dry season. The coral walls and cenotes (freshwater sinkholes) are genuinely world-class, and February sees far fewer visitors than summer months. It's a long day trip at 3 hours each way from Havana, but the driving route through Matanzas province and the Zapata Peninsula is scenic.
February Events & Festivals
Habano Cigar Festival
This is THE event for cigar enthusiasts, typically running late February into early March. It includes factory tours, tastings, auctions, and gala dinners. Unless you're seriously into premium cigars and willing to pay premium prices (packages start around 2,000 CUC), you won't attend official events, but the city has heightened energy with international visitors and special cigar-related activities at hotels and shops.
Pre-Carnival Comparsa Rehearsals
While Havana's main Carnival happens in August, February sees neighborhood comparsas (traditional dance troupes) preparing for various local celebrations and competitions. You'll hear drumming and see street rehearsals, particularly in Centro Habana neighborhoods like Cayo Hueso. This is spontaneous street culture rather than organized tourist events - ask locals where and when groups practice, usually early evenings around 6-8pm.