Destination

Varadero

Discover the best hotels in Varadero

If you are planning a holiday in Cuba, we invite you to visit Iberostar’s hotels in Varadero: 4 and 5-star beach resorts with all the amenities you need, located in one of the most paradisiacal corners of the Caribbean. Prepare to live a unique experience in a destination that has it all, where you will undoubtedly want to return.

Located in the municipality of Cárdenas, in the province of Matanzas and in the Hicacos peninsula, this town of 27,100 inhabitants unfolds in front of the Straits of Florida and only 18 km from some of the most spectacular Cuban beaches. All this without forgetting its proximity to the capital of the country, Havana, which is just 130 km away. Therefore, it is very easy to get to Varadero from the José Martí International Airport.

Boasting a pleasant tropical climate throughout the year, with an average temperature around 25° C (77° F), this destination combines colonial architecture, nature in abundance, affable and hospitable people, the exquisite Cuban cuisine and the contagious joy of a whole town to perfection, which can be reflected through music and the local way of understanding life.

All these attractions have made Varadero the main tourist destination in Cuba. Have you started packing yet?

What to see in Varadero

Although this may come as a surprise, Varadero is much more than a coastal town. In fact, it is a place in which art and culture acquire a growing role.

Walking the streets of this city founded in the 1880s as a settlement, you can enjoy magnificent museums, libraries, art galleries and movie theaters. We must also mention the Ediciones Vigía workshop, a curious publishing house that, in the 21st century and for more than three decades, continues to produce books in an artisan way, illustrating them and numbering them by hand. In addition, it also organizes interesting exhibitions related to the literary universe. Take advantage of your stay at your Varadero hotel to visit them!

Another place that deserves the traveler’s attention is the Fondo de Bienes Culturales, which permanently exhibits the work of prestigious regional artists, as well as other Cuban painters: for example, Flora Fong, Roberto Fabelo, Raúl Mendive or Zaida del Río, among others. Don’t let others explain it to you!

a person standing in front of a table

What to do in Varadero

Without underestimating its cultural offer, the flagship of the area are the magnificent beaches of Varadero, made of fine white sand and bathed by permanently warm waters. Moreover, as they are generally quite shallow, they are an ideal option for all those people who would like to travel to Cuba with children. However, whatever your choice, we assure you that its magnificent landscapes will leave you speechless. Relax in any of these magical corners and discover in situ why Varadero is popularly known as the blue beach of Cuba.

Do you need more reasons to be seduced by this strip of the Cuban coast? Here is an important one: in 2018, the Travelers' Choice awards chose it as the third best beach in the world. It is quite understandable, as it deploys more than 20 km of paradisiacal beaches, fully equipped with hammocks, umbrellas or palapas, so that the days in the sun become unbeatable.

Do you like water sports? In that case, this destination will not disappoint you. The local sports offer is very broad, with a multitude of disciplines adapted to your tastes and needs. One of the most popular activities is diving in Varadero. In fact, this town has 23 areas suitable for practicing this sport and to observe all kinds of fish and marine fauna.

However, the sports options do not end here, as it is also possible to go horse riding, enjoy cycling, surfing, water skiing, parachuting, tennis or golf in a 63-hectare golf course.

And if you have an adventurous spirit: why not travel around the Caribbean coast on a sailboat or catamaran? In Varadero, you will find a dock that is perfectly prepared for navigation.

In terms of leisure opportunities, Varadero has everything you need. The restaurants and bars of the area organize live music performances, and the nightclubs of Varadero are open daily. There, salsa beats, and the best Latin rhythms await, so you can dance until your body tells you to stop.

Book your hotel in Varadero

Do you want to live this experience firsthand? If so, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts offers

 a wide range of 4- and 5-star hotels at your disposal which are located on the beachfront. In them, you can stay in Varadero on an All-Inclusive regime, in suites and luxury rooms, restaurants with gourmet cuisine and much more.

At Iberostar Selection Varadero, we offer you a hotel for families with playgrounds, a shopping area, a gym, a golf course just 7 km away and live entertainment shows. If you want to pamper yourself during your holiday in the Caribbean, do not forget that this hotel has a  spa, beauty salon and fitness room.

Another excellent option for a holiday with children is the Iberostar Origin Bella Vista Varadero, a 5-star hotel with a VIP area for adults only and a la carte restaurants, where you can taste the delicacies of Creole, Italian and Japanese cuisine.

We should also mention Iberostar Origin Laguna Azul, where you can explore the seabed with our diving school’s instructors; the Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda, apartments in Varadero with a disco, sports facilities and many other services, and Iberostar Taínos, a 4-star hotel with a market, shopping area, gym and bungalows.

No need to think twice: the best kept secret in Cuba is hidden in this chest that we put in your hands. Check our offers for hotels in Varadero, book your room and start preparing a Caribbean getaway that you will always remember.

a person in a pool of water

La playa de Varadero

Varadero is a beach resort on the Hicacos peninsula, between the Bay of Cárdenas and the Straits of Florida on the northern part of Cuba. The fine-white-sand beach covers 22km – a unique place to unwind or go diving. The calm, lukewarm, shallow waters and the full range of services available make Varadero the best resort for a family holiday with kids, to the rhythm of Cuban son.

Main beaches in Varadero

  • Varadero beach: Locally known as ‘Playa Azul’, this beach is really special: turquoise blue water and bright white sand for kilometres on end, drawing the shape of the Hicacos peninsula and an idyllic setting to enjoy all kinds of amenities by the sea. Varadero is also one of the best beaches to go diving in Cuba, boasting as many as 23 underwater areas of interest.
  • Larga beach: Located on Cárdenas bay, in the south of Varadero, Playa Larga is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Cuban province of Matanzas. Wrapped in a lively local atmosphere, it is unspoilt land, sheltered by lavish vegetation. The water is shallow and calm, its temperature perfectly warm to take a splash at any time of the year.
  • Camacho beach: Camacho is the first beach to the north after Varadero and Hicacos, a pebble’s throw from Laguna de Paso Malo and the quaint village of La Conchita. It boasts the same calm, blue-shaded water and fine sand as Varadero, only in a reduced-scale scenario.
  • El Muerto beach: Skirting the coast in the direction of Havana, next to Camacho beach lies the stunning Playa del Muerto. Farther away from Varadero’s touristy areas, where the big hotels are located, it has fine sand in all shades of brown and rocky ends, a landscape that draws lots of divers.
  • El Cayuelo beach: This little fine, white-sand beach to the north of El Muerto, stands on an inlet bathed by the Gulf of Mexico. It is connected to Varadero by the Vía Blanca road. Its calm waters welcome lots of residents in the area.
a person riding a wave on a surfboard in the water

Actividades en Varadero

Activities in Varadero reveal the Cuban charm beyond the world-famous, idyllic beaches. Hicacos and the coast of Varadero have cultural centres and sights that are a must if you want to grasp the essence of Cuba: the welcoming Josone Park, the Vigía publishing house and the majestic Mansión Xanadú, a gem of local architecture and an icon of recent history.

What to do and what to see in Varadero

  • Josone Park: This 9ha park was built in 1940 around Laguna de la Paz and is Varadero’s green lung. Financed by the owner of one of Cuba’s most important rum makers, it was developed as private property. The mansion is in the middle of the park, housing an elegant restaurant.
  • Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets: One of the marks left by Varadero’s glorious years for culture is this arts centre, housing works by the most prestigious Cuban artists and a regional art collection.
  • Bellamar Caves: This natural wonder is among the most popular tourist attractions in Cuba. The 2km complex comprises several caves of various sizes – El Jarrito, Bellamar and Jíbaro, for instance –, discover by a slave in the nineteenth century. There are curious rock formations and pools inside the caves.
  • Mansión Xanadú: Now part of the Varadero Golf Club, this mansion is a must to understand the architectural styles in vogue in the 1930s, when a renowned American tycoon had it built. The atmosphere inside is warm and cosy. The house is located in Peña de San Bernardino, its balconies overlooking the sea.
  • Bird Watching Centre: On Playa Larga, to the south of Varadero, this centre offers bird lovers the unique chance of watching more than 170 species in their natural habitat. The centre’s trails afford views for spectacular pictures.
  • Bacunayagua Bridge: One of the most representative Cuban bridges in terms of both size and beauty, this bridge has a nice viewpoint affording wonderful views of the Yumurí valley, one of the wildest natural areas in Matanzas.
  • Ediciones Vigía publishing house: On Playa de la Vigía, in the heart of Matanzas, this traditional publishing house is the only one of its kind in the world: all tasks are manual here. Books in various fields are completely made by hand.
a person posing for a picture

Experiencias en Varadero

Experiences in Varadero will help you enjoy nature and the relaxed atmosphere of this sunny heaven in Cuba. In Varadero you can spend long evening hours on the beach listening to good music, enjoy the flavours of traditional restaurants, swim with dolphins, dive into amazing underwater caves, visit the largest crocodile farm in the Caribbean or sip a cocktail as you watch the sun go down.

Experiences in Varadero: What to do

  • Swimming with dolphins: Varadero’s dolphinarium is one of the funniest places you can visit with your family for unforgettable memories. You can spend the day swimming with the dolphins and play in the open air. One of the most popular centres of this kind in Cuba, the dolphinarium has a gift shop selling traditional stuff.
  • Diving in Cuevas de los Peces: They say it is one of the world’s best places for cave diving. A real adventure for sea lovers: the largest underwater caves on the island, hiding curious shapes and a great marine life diversity.
  • Sunset on Playa Larga: The marshland in this part of Cárdenas bay invites relaxation in contact with nature for the whole family. Several forest trails near the beach afford encounters with all sorts of native animals, especially birds. Besides, the views of the sunset in the horizon are memorable.
  • A contact with Cuban crocodiles: Ciénaga de Zapata Nature Park is a typically Cuban marshy land where you can find one of the most amazing things on the island. The 300,000ha marshland is home to one of the world’s largest crocodile farms.
  • Eco-trip to Varahicacos Reserve: Spare one of your days in Varadero to visit the largest protected natural area in this Caribbean peninsula. The reserve has several routes to follow, including three 60-minute visitor routes to discover a tropical ecosystem, the ruins of an old saltmarsh and the popular cave of Punta del Este.
  • An evening at the Tropicana cabaret: Tropicana is Cuba’s most famous cabaret, lying just next to the centre of Varadero. The place breathes with Cuban air, beating to the sounds of son, salsa, mambo and cumbia. There is an outdoor terrace for an unforgettable evening under the stars.
  • Shopping spree in Matanzas: The capital of the province of Matanzas is a few kilometres away from Varadero. Known as ‘Little Venice’ in Cuba because of its beautiful bridges, it has a historic district where you will discover the most genuine Cuban essence: quiet streets, colourful houses, joyful people. Spend a morning at the market and visit the little shops scattered across town.
a man and woman riding on the back of a car

Los eventos y fiestas populares en Varadero

Popular celebrations and events in Varadero reveal the essence of Cuban joy: music on the beach, rum, traditional food, merrymaking and son until the early hours… The capital of Cuban tourism is a moveable feast where tradition, religious feeling and recreation are intertwined. There are events all year round. Nightclubs are world-famous: Mambo Club, La Bamba, Tropicana…

Major events in Varadero

  • January – Varadero International Carnival: First held in the 1980s, during the boom of culture and tourism, this event celebrating the purest Cuban essence includes lots of activities and parades. In the early years, fun went on until late February.
  • April: Ciénaga de Zapata Cultural Week: A full week of cultural activities in this part of Matanzas province, a 60-minute drive from Varadero. Art, theatre, music, dance… A programme aimed at capturing and disseminating Cuba’s artistic heritage.
  • May – Cuban Tourism Show: The largest trade show for the tourism industry in Cuba focuses on the island’s main tourist attractions, travel destinations and sector trends. In addition, there is a guest country that changes every year.
  • June – Atenas National Rock Festival: Held every year in the first half of June, this is one of the largest rock music events in Cuba. Professional bands and amateur musicians get together to enjoy the best of rock & roll.
  • Second half of June – Varadero Gourmet Festival: Wine tasting, culinary innovation, traditional cooking techniques, fusion cuisine and world cocktails are some of the things you can treat yourself to in this feast for the senses, one of the most popular culinary events in Varadero.
  • August – Matanzas Carnival: A favourite with kids in Varadero and Matanzas, this grand carnival is preceded by a counterpart for children a few days before. Troupes and traditional trochas fill the streets with colour, rhythm and smiles in this part of northern Cuba.
  • October – Varadero Golf Tournament: This iconic golf event is also held in June, drawing the world’s leading golfers at the spectacular setting of Varadero Golf Club. There are side activities for children and adults.
  • December – Varadero Festival: From 7 to 24 December, the city and the beaches of Varadero get livelier than ever for their grand festival, the most important event on the local festive calendar. Rum, music, dance and all kinds of children’s activities make a programme in which troupes and parades play a leading role.