Varadero, Cuba

Q: What are the best places to see in Varadero?

One place you can't miss is the spectacular beaches of fine sand and crystal clear waters. Playa de Varadero ( Varadero Beach ), at 20 km long, is not only considered one of the best beaches in Cuba but in the whole world. It is the ideal destination for you to relax and disconnect while you sunbathe and have some incredible cocktails. On the beach, you can enjoy spectacular buildings such as the Mansión Xanadú ( Xanadu Mansion ), a well cared for house with a lot of history on its walls. Today it has a panoramic viewpoint , a restaurant and a hotel . Another of Varadero's attractions is the golf tournament held at the Casa Club Campo de Gol f ( Golf Country Club ). Players from all over the world come to this sporting event. If you want to surround yourself with a more cultural atmosphere, apart from the Museo Municipal ( Municipal Museum ), you can't miss the Fondo de Bienes Culturales ( Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets ), where the best artists from the province of Matanzas and from all over Cuba are exhibited, such as Roberto Fabelo and Zaida del Río .

Q: What are the best beaches in Varadero?

Varadero i s synonymous with spectacular and beautiful beaches . Varadero appears in all the international rankings of the best beaches. Playa de Varadero ( Varadero Beach ), although it is actually made up of other smaller beaches, is also known as “ Playa Azul ” ( “ blue Beach ” ) because of the colour of its warm waters. It will make you forget all your worries while you enjoy its 20 km of fine sand and its seabed full of exotic fish. Varadero is an ideal destination to enjoy countless activities at sea such as surfing or water skiing . In addition, you can enjoy boat trips with the whole family or watch the friendly starfish. Other nearby beaches that you can visit are Playa Coral , which is named after the large number of corals that inhabit its seabed and make it an ideal destination for diving ; Playa de Matanzas , Playa la Caleta and Playa Calaveras .

Q: Where to stay in Varadero?

In addition to the beauty of this beach, what makes Varadero one of the world's favourite tourist destinations is the wide range of hotels in the area, with more than 50 resorts , all of them 4 or 5 stars , which put all their efforts into pampering their guests and offering them any kind of service they may desire. Some of these all-inclusive hotels are: Hotel Meliá las Antillas , Hotel Iberostar Bella Costa , Hotel Meliá las Américas , Blau Varadero Hotel Cuba , Meliá Internacional Varadero , Starfish Cuatro Palmas or Hotel Roc Arenas Doradas . At these hotels you will enjoy their incredible swimming pools, restaurants of all kinds, entertainment for all audiences and spa areas. However, if you want to enjoy a more Cuban experience , you can stay at one of the local's Casas particulares ( private accommodations or homes ). This way you will not only be able to discover the Cuban way of life, but it is also a more economical option.

Q: How to get to Varadero, Cuba?

There are several options to go to Varadero. The most common is to fly to Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí de La Habana ( José Martí International Airport in Havana ), from where you can take either a private transfer or a collective transfer, that is, a bus to Varadero. Since you fly to Havana it is advisable to spend two or three days to know the city and the surroundings, La Habana vieja ( Old Havana ), its historical centre or even the Parque Nacional de Viñales . The second option is to fly directly to Aeropuerto Juan Gualberto Gómez , ( Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport ), which is about 10 km from Varadero . However, despite the fact that it is an international airport, it is not easy to find as many connections as the airport in Havana.

Q: Travel Packages to Varadero

Varadero is one of the destinations you can't miss during your trip to Cuba . Its spectacular beaches , the interesting caves or the multitude of activities for everyone are more than enough reasons to add it to your list of things to do in Cuba. If you are looking to make your trip a unique experience allow us to help you with our tailor-made travel packages .

Visit Varadero on your way through Cuba and enjoy an unforgettable vacation in this small paradise

Varadero, Cuba
© Laraslk

Varadero is a territory of the peninsula de Hicacos (Hicacos peninsula), in the Cuban province of Matanzas. Although it began as a small town on the coast, today it is the world's top tourist destination. Thousands of tourists come every year to enjoy their holidays in Varadero because everything is designed to make your visit an unforgettable memory.

The Hicacos peninsula covers an area of 16 km2 and is 22 km long, making it a narrow territory with a long coastline. This is where you will find the area's greatest attraction, Playa de Varadero. Although there are actually six beaches, it is known as a strip of fine white sand surrounded by the most turquoise waters you have ever seen, reaching a total length of almost 20 km. Many of those who know this beach claim that it is “the most beautiful they have ever seen”, so it's not surprising how popular it is.

Index:

What are the best plans to make in Varadero, Cuba?
What are the best places to see in Varadero?
What are the best beaches in Varadero?
Where to stay in Varadero?
What are the best excursions from Varadero?
How to get to Varadero, Cuba?
Travel Packages to Varadero

What are the best plans to make in Varadero, Cuba?

Varadero
© simonovstas

As you might expect Varadero has a wide range of water activities such as scuba diving or snorkelling, which are very popular due to the great variety of exotic species found on the seabed in the area.

But not everything is limited to the beach and the hotel, you also have the possibility of getting a little closer to the history and culture of the city in the urban centre. Here you can visit the Museo Municipal de Varadero (Municipal Museum of Varadero) or take a walk in the Parque Josone (Josone Park), a truly beautiful garden.

Cueva de Ambrosio
© Minikhan

If you are a nature lover, the best thing is to go to the Reserva Ecológica Varahicacos (Varahicacos Ecological Reserve) at the end of the peninsula where you will marvel at the wild and exotic nature. This natural haven, known as “the other Varadero”, you can enjoy an experience different from a tourist resort, it will bring out your adventurous side, where the local species play the leading role.
And if you are interested in archaeology, you can visit findings such as those in the Cueva de Ambrosio (Ambrosio Cave), which has many cave paintings made by Cuban natives before colonization.

A nearby area not to be missed is the Península de Zapata (Zapata Peninsula), a swampy nature reserve. Here you can find Boca de Guamá and its aldea Taína (village Taína), a sample of the pre-colonial life in Cuba. They also have a Criadero de Cocodrilos (crocodile nursery) with more than 4000 specimens

What are the best places to see in Varadero?

Mansión Xanadú, Varadero
© Varadero Golf Club

One place you can't miss is the spectacular beaches of fine sand and crystal clear waters. Playa de Varadero (Varadero Beach), at 20 km long, is not only considered one of the best beaches in Cuba but in the whole world. It is the ideal destination for you to relax and disconnect while you sunbathe and have some incredible cocktails.

On the beach, you can enjoy spectacular buildings such as the Mansión Xanadú (Xanadu Mansion), a well cared for house with a lot of history on its walls. Today it has a panoramic viewpoint, a restaurant and a hotel.

Another of Varadero's attractions is the golf tournament held at the Casa Club Campo de Golf (Golf Country Club). Players from all over the world come to this sporting event.

If you want to surround yourself with a more cultural atmosphere, apart from the Museo Municipal (Municipal Museum), you can't miss the Fondo de Bienes Culturales (Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets), where the best artists from the province of Matanzas and from all over Cuba are exhibited, such as Roberto Fabelo and Zaida del Río.

What are the best beaches in Varadero?

Playa de Varadero
© Nodff

Varadero is synonymous with spectacular and beautiful beaches. Varadero appears in all the international rankings of the best beaches.

Playa de Varadero (Varadero Beach), although it is actually made up of other smaller beaches, is also known as “Playa Azul” (“blue Beach”) because of the colour of its warm waters. It will make you forget all your worries while you enjoy its 20 km of fine sand and its seabed full of exotic fish.

Varadero is an ideal destination to enjoy countless activities at sea such as surfing or water skiing. In addition, you can enjoy boat trips with the whole family or watch the friendly starfish.

Other nearby beaches that you can visit are Playa Coral, which is named after the large number of corals that inhabit its seabed and make it an ideal destination for diving; Playa de Matanzas, Playa la Caleta and Playa Calaveras.

Where to stay in Varadero?

In addition to the beauty of this beach, what makes Varadero one of the world's favourite tourist destinations is the wide range of hotels in the area, with more than 50 resorts, all of them 4 or 5 stars, which put all their efforts into pampering their guests and offering them any kind of service they may desire.

Hotel Meliá Internacional Varadero
© Hotel Meliá Internacional Varadero

Some of these all-inclusive hotels are: Hotel Meliá las Antillas, Hotel Iberostar Bella Costa, Hotel Meliá las Américas, Blau Varadero Hotel Cuba, Meliá Internacional Varadero, Starfish Cuatro Palmas or Hotel Roc Arenas Doradas. At these hotels you will enjoy their incredible swimming pools, restaurants of all kinds, entertainment for all audiences and spa areas.

However, if you want to enjoy a more Cuban experience, you can stay at one of the local's Casas particulares (private accommodations or homes). This way you will not only be able to discover the Cuban way of life, but it is also a more economical option.

What are the best excursions from Varadero?

Excursions in Varadero
© Mmarcinek83

Thanks to its excellent location, Varadero also provides the possibility of different excursions to spend the day with the family.

Cayo Blanco
© Patrick Nouhailler

Cayo Blanco, a paradisiacal cayo (key) with practically virgin beaches of crystal-clear water where you can enjoy an idyllic natural environment without crowds, as it is not urbanized and the only way to get there is by catamaran. Halfway through the catamaran trip, there is a break for diving on the coral reef.

There are also excursions to Cayo Largo, a paradise surrounded by dolphins and starfish, where its turquoise waters will make you feel terrific. To get there you will have to go by plane, although don't worry, as it is included in the excursion.

Another of the most recommended excursions is the Cuevas Bellamar (Bellamar Caves), one of the most interesting and surprising cave complexes in Cuba.

Ciénaga de Zapata
© Gary Paakkonen

The famous Ciénaga de Zapata, with the set formed by Boca de Guamá, the Laguna del Tesoro and its aldea taína (Taino village), make up another of the most interesting excursions to enjoy a unique day. In addition, the place also has the Criadero de Cocodrilos de Guamá (Crocodile Nursery of Guamá), which makes it interesting for travelling with children.

Another excursion that gives you the chance to know the traditional way of life in Cuba, but also includes the wonders that the Caribbean Sea has to offer is Guamá - Playa Larga. The crocodiles and the Taino village will be the first stop to your destination, the Caribbean waters of the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs).

If you are looking for excursions to discover other cities the best options are Havana + Fábrica de Tabaco (Tobacco Factory), you will visit La Habana vieja (Old Havana), its historical centre, and the well-known tobacco and rum factories.

With Tour Nicho-Trinidad and Tour Nicho-Cienfuegos, you will be able to admire two cities with an authentic Cuban flavour, Trinidad, known as the city museum, and Cienfuegos, known as the Pearl of Southern Cuba.

Finally, on the tour of the three cities, you will discover the great mausoleum dedicated to Che Guevara in Santa Clara and the already mentioned cities of Trinidad and Cienfuegos. A great opportunity to discover at once three of the most impressive cities in Cuba.

How to get to Varadero, Cuba?

There are several options to go to Varadero. The most common is to fly to Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí de La Habana (José Martí International Airport in Havana), from where you can take either a private transfer or a collective transfer, that is, a bus to Varadero.
Since you fly to Havana it is advisable to spend two or three days to know the city and the surroundings, La Habana vieja (Old Havana), its historical centre or even the Parque Nacional de Viñales.

The second option is to fly directly to Aeropuerto Juan Gualberto Gómez, (Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport), which is about 10 km from Varadero. However, despite the fact that it is an international airport, it is not easy to find as many connections as the airport in Havana.

Travel Packages to Varadero

Varadero is one of the destinations you can't miss during your trip to Cuba. Its spectacular beaches, the interesting caves or the multitude of activities for everyone are more than enough reasons to add it to your list of things to do in Cuba.

If you are looking to make your trip a unique experience allow us to help you with our tailor-made travel packages.

Interactive map:

Varadero

What to see:

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Museo Municipal de Varadero

Cardenas

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Catedral de la Purísima Concepción de Cárdenas

Museums:

Península de Zapata

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Beaches:

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Other nearby destinations:

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