In a nutshell
- Varadero is one of the most popular travel destinations in Cuba — and for good reason. The roughly 20-kilometer-long Caribbean beach is genuinely stunning.
- For a beach vacation, Varadero is hard to beat — you’ll find a huge selection of beachfront hotels and crystal-clear turquoise water perfect for swimming.
- In this guide, we share our honest tips for things to do in Varadero, the best hotels, what’s worth seeing beyond the beach, and when to go.
Is Varadero Worth It?
Yes, but only for the beach. The beach at Varadero is a true Caribbean paradise and a top attraction in Cuba. Turquoise water as far as the eye can see. For a pure beach vacation in Cuba, Varadero is honestly hard to beat.
That said, Varadero is built entirely around tourism — especially resort travelers. As a result, you’ll find nothing but large hotel complexes lining the beach.
So you won’t get to experience the real Cuba here, and besides the beach, there’s not much to see.
If you’re doing a road trip through Cuba, your best bet is to use Varadero as a beach stop along the way.
Map of Varadero
Varadero sits on a peninsula in northern Cuba. The beach runs along the western side of the peninsula almost all the way to its tip.
The center of Varadero sits at the base of the peninsula. From there, a main road leads all the way to the tip.
The Beach at Varadero
The beach at Varadero is by far the most famous beach in Cuba — and it’s earned that reputation. The beach stretches roughly 20 kilometers in total and the water is turquoise blue — seriously stunning!
Even though it’s very touristy, you can always find a quiet spot, and it’s open to the public. Keep in mind, though, that most stretches of beach are lined with hotels.
If you’re staying at a beachfront hotel in Varadero, you’ll always have direct beach access through your hotel.
The water is ideal for swimming — the sea floor drops off gradually, and the water is calm and crystal clear. The beach is made up of fine white sand. Pure Caribbean vibes!
Downtown Varadero
Downtown Varadero is located at the front of the peninsula. There’s not a ton to see, but this is where you’ll find the best selection of bars, nightclubs, and small shops in Varadero.
With the Parque de las 8000 Taquillas and Parque Josone, the center has two green spaces — touristy as they may be.
Downtown is also where you’ll find mostly small, private accommodations, which are more affordable than the big resorts. From the center, you can walk to the beach in just a few minutes.
Activities and Attractions in Varadero
Beyond the beach, things to do in Varadero are fairly limited. But we did find a few standout spots on the peninsula worth checking out. Here’s what we recommend.
#1 Cueva de Ambrosio
After the beach, the Cueva de Ambrosio is the top attraction in Varadero. The cave is located near the end of the peninsula, right along the main road.
You’ll need to pay a small entrance fee at the gate — but it’s totally worth it! Inside, you can discover cave paintings and, if you’re lucky, spot bats and other wildlife.
The highlight is a cave chamber with a hole in the ceiling that creates stunning light effects inside — really atmospheric.
#2 Reserva Ecológica Varahicacos
Not far from the Cueva de Ambrosio, you’ll find the Varahicacos Nature Reserve. There’s also a small admission fee here.
Once inside, you follow a well-marked trail through nature, passing various plants and caves. You can even walk into many of the caves — it’s really cool!
The whole loop takes about an hour, give or take depending on your pace.
#3 Diving in Varadero
Varadero is a great spot for diving. Several operators offer scuba diving and snorkeling. Your best bet is to ask your hotel to recommend a provider or dive school.
#4 Cueva de Saturno
This cave isn’t in Varadero itself — it’s located near the airport, about 20 kilometers from the peninsula.
It’s filled with water and works like a cenote — a phenomenon you might know from Mexico. You’re even allowed to swim in the Cueva de Saturno.
There’s a small entry fee for this one too.
The Best Hotels in Varadero
In Varadero, you have a huge selection of beachfront hotels. Here are our top picks for visiting Varadero, Cuba.
Iberostar Selection Varadero: A great, luxurious 5-star all-inclusive resort.
Blau Varadero Adults Only: An all-inclusive hotel with excellent value for money.
Melia Internacional Varadero: A beautiful all-inclusive luxury hotel.
One important heads-up: Cuban hotel standards differ from what you may be used to back home. Don’t set your expectations too high for food and Wi-Fi at most properties.
Also check out our travel tips for Cuba
Also check out our tips on internet access in Cuba
If you’d rather stay in a smaller place than a resort, we recommend checking out Airbnb. Downtown Varadero has a solid selection there.
Note that you can only use Airbnb properly in Cuba if you download a VPN.
Getting to Varadero
Varadero has its own airport, with direct international flights available from a number of European cities.
Book flights to Cuba on Skyscanner
Read our tips on entering Cuba as well:
Varadero’s Airport
The Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport Varadero is located about 25 kilometers from the peninsula. Most hotels offer an airport transfer. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi at the airport to your hotel.
There are also a handful of daily connections via public buses operated by Viazul. These will only take you as far as the terminal in downtown Varadero, though.
Getting to Varadero If You’re Already in Cuba
You can easily combine your time in Varadero with sightseeing in Havana. From Cuba’s capital, it’s just over two hours by car to Varadero. You can book a taxi or private transfer in Havana, or save some money by taking the public Viazul buses.
If you’re doing a road trip through Cuba, we recommend saving your beach time in Varadero for the end of your trip. Before that, you can explore the cities and landscapes of Trinidad, Santa Clara, and Viñales.
From there, you can easily reach Varadero by rental car or Viazul bus.
The Best Time to Visit Varadero
The best time to visit Varadero is during the dry season from November through April. This is also generally the best time to visit Cuba overall.
For the absolute best beach weather, aim for February through April — it almost never rains, and you get the most sunshine hours.
You can also visit Varadero during the rainy season from May through October. It rarely rains all day, and the sun shines more often than you might expect.
Keep in mind, though, that Cuba’s official hurricane season runs from June through November.
