Varadero

Varadero is the biggest national summer resort in Cuba. It is located 42 km away from Matanzas и на 140 km away from Havanа on the peninsula of Ikasos. Varadero is only 1,5 km wide in its widest part and it is practically separated from Cuba. The north part of the resort hosts most of the hotels and is covered in fine sand, while the rest of the peninsula is rather rocky and boggy. The long Ikasos peninsula scythe encircles the Bay of Cardenas to the north, which makes the city of Varadero convenient for sugar export through its harbour. The city also has a shipbuilding factory.

History

The city of Varadero was founded on the 15th of December 1887. During the 40s of the last century, the city evokes great interest among the American aristocracy. Many people such as the billionaires DuPont and Al Capone have their private real estate there. Before the Revolution Varadero is visited mostly by Americans and the local high life, whereas now there are mostly Canadians, Havanians, and immigrants from Mayami and Florida living in the resort.

Varadero is a bit on the decline, although with the beginning of Covid19 they started building hotels. Some elderly Cubans have told me that before 1959 Afro-American people were denied access to Varadero. There used to be a barrier so that only the rich white owners of property were let in.

What to see in Varadero?

  • The beaches. In the northeast part of the island, you may visit woods and beaches untouched by humans. How about a 20 km coastline of sand and turquoise blue sea? This area is also known as the Varahicacos Ecological Reservation. Literally, the whole north coastline of Varadero s covered in sand, but the widest beach is located just opposite the Meliá Internacional Varadero. Check out our ranking of the top 10 Cuban beaches here and also of the most beautiful beaches of Cuba here

Плажове Варадеро

  • The Dolphinarium. You can swim with dolphins in the Dolphinarium, although I wouldn’t really recommend the experience since the dolphins’ water is quite dirty. The pleasure will cost you 50 – 80 EUR. You may pay in the local currency  Peso Cubano.

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  • Cayo Blanco. I highly recommend a trip to Cayo Blanco, which you can book at any hotel reception. The trip is always a morning one on a catamaran and it costs 60-70 EUR. The price includes some snacks, use of flippers and goggles. I recommend doing the trip in quiet waters. sunbathing on the beach. The island is situated close to Varadero, but its sand is whiter than the one in Varaderо the only disadvantage from my point of view are the many tourists visiting Cayo Blanco.

Кайо Бланко Варадеро

  • Varadero City. The city of Varadero will be welcoming you at the beginning of the peninsula. There you will find one main street and a couple of bars. A lot of people imagine Varadero will be full of tourist crowds, but they are wrong. One of the bars is called Beatles, and there are a lot of souvenir shops that are more expensive even than the ones in Havanа.
  • Варадеро 
  • Varaderо Harbour. You can visit the Yacht Harbouse towards the end of Varaderо. In contrast to everything in Cuba, the place is quite luxurious. There you will find a shopping zone and two five-star hotels.

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  • Snorkeling/diving.  You can practice snorkeling and diving on the nearby coral beach Playa Coral, where you will literally dive into the colourful coral world. 
  • DuPont’s House. DuPont’s mansion has been nationalized after the Revolution and is located next to a golf pitch. The house balcony will reveal a wonderful view of the peninsula. The house has been turned into a museum and a hotel and it also hosts a winery.
  • The Great Cactus. Towards the end of the peninsula, you can see the huge 500-year old cactus resembling a tree. 
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  • San Ambrosio Cave is almost 300 m deep with around 45 American Indian drawings and it is home to more than 31 kinds of birds and 24 kinds of reptiles. 

Пещерата Варадеро

The best hotels in Varadero

 Keep in mind that 5-star hotels in Cuba usually measure up to 4-star hotels and sometimes less. In the past few years, they have built some really good hotels that correspond to 5 stars. By the way, the Cuban “all-inclusive” includes liquor.

Five-star hotels in Varadero amount up to 80 – 400 EUR for a double room depending on the season. 

1. Melia Internacional Varadero.

 It is not the most luxurious hotel but it is one of the newest in Varadero, and after we compared the prices and the quality of service it took the first place in our ranking. It is located on the most beautiful beach in Varaderо, a part of the top 10 of our raking for the most beautiful beaches in Cuba. It is build over the legendary Internacional Hotel, the first big hotel in the resort. The contemporary hotel рhas ten wings and a total of 964, 7 restaurants, and 3 bars. It is the biggest hotel in Varadero.  Click here for reservations.

 2. Iberostar Selección Hotel, Varadero.

This hotel is a bit older but it has more space and more swimming pools, as well as different categories of rooms. The hotel Chill Bar on the beach is an especially pleasurable place with its hanging chairs and rich choice of cocktails. A room per night costs more than Meliá Internacional Varadero, I would say that it is the most expensive hotel in Varaderо.

3. Royalton Hicacos Hotel, Varadero

Also a quite expensive hotel in Varaderо because of its special package for adults without children. 

It is situated right next to Iberostar Selección Varadero.

4. Blau Varadero. It resembles Melia Internacional but it is quite older.

The hotel is huge with a lot of rooms and big spaces. The food, however, is of lower quality compared to the first three hotels, but often with great nargains. 

5. Melia Marina Varadero. A five-star hotel with rooms and apartments. 

Modern alleys, catamarans, luxurious stores – this is what awaits in Melia Marina. Here you will be paying only by card or in dollar cash. The hotel has spacious rooms and maybe offers the best prices in Varadero. The drawback here is that the beach can be reached only through a bridge since the hotel is located on a newly-built harbour at the end of the peninsula. However, if you show somebody a photo of you in front of the hotel and in the harbour no one would believe you are in Cuba.

5. Hotel Ocean Vista Azul 5 *, Varadero. The hotel has a relatively good service and it is located on the very beach. 

There you will get to see a variety show, visit several different restaurants, and a 24-hour liquor bar. Ocen Vista Azul can be found in Varaderoо, the most popular resort in Cuba. An all-inclusive room per night costs around 100 USD. The drawback here is that most of the rooms are poorly maintained and therefore smell of mould.

 

Four-star hotels in Varadero – from 60 to 120 EUR per room

 

  1. Hotel Barceló Solymar, Occidental Arenas Blancas. It gives the best correlation between price and quality for a 4-star hotel in Varaderо.
  2. Tuscan Hotel. 
  3.  Хотел Hotel Meliá Las Antillas
  4. Grand Memories Varadero. Also a good hotel. However, we have had complaints about the first-floor rooms. 
  5. Brisas del Mar. A cheap hotel that consists of two parts – one on the beach and one on the streets. I don’t reccomment booking a room in the street part. The food isn’t something special. You had better avoid this hotel.  
  6. Allegro Palma Real. DON’T BOOK THIS HOTEL!!! You would stumble upon dirty sheets, bad food, and awful service.

Three-star hotels in Varadero – from 20 to 80 EUR per room

  1. Kawana Hotel. It will give you the best correlation between prices and quality for a three-star hotel. It could also well compete with the four-star hotels. It is located at the beginning of Varaderо between the resort drain and the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel offers good, clean rooms for your perfect vacation. 
  2. Tropical Hotel. It is located at the beginning of Varadero. It would be a compromise decision for your vacation.