Varadero beach is the number one beach getaway spot in the country, and its fame within Cuba and around the world is well-deserved. If you’re thinking of that perfect white-sand Caribbean beach you’ve seen everywhere, you’re probably picturing Varadero Cuba.
This small but vibrant beach town is close enough to Havana for a day trip, but I recommend spending more time here if your trip planning allows. Here you’ll find something for everyone, at every price point.
We’ve been to Varadero countless times, and put together this ultimate Varadero travel guide to help you have your best possible trip to this beach paradise! Keep reading for everything in this massive guide, like where to stay in Varadero, things to do in Varadero (other than just visit the beach!), and our favorite Varadero restaurants.
Plus, our interactive Varadero Cuba map with all our favorite recommendations, how to get from Havana to Varadero and much more! Varadero Cuba is a special place for us and for many others – keep reading to see why.
Varadero Cuba
Varadero is a favorite spot in Cuba – and in the entire Caribbean – for the beautiful, spotless beaches and incredible scenery. Just two hours away from Havana, this small town has all the restaurants, bars, stores, resorts, and apartment rentals you could need to make for a perfect beach vacation.
Varadero is popular with Cubans and foreigners alike – José has so many memories of spending summer days here as a kid, and now we have our own memories here as well.
Varadero is situated on the Hicacos Peninsula – this long, skinny peninsula juts out from the northern coast of Cuba, creating a semi-protected extension of 18 kilometers of perfect beaches.
While the resorts in Varadero have their own private stretches of beach, there is more than enough public beach that it won’t be a challenge to find the perfect spot to enjoy. You’ll enjoy just as great a beach vacation renting an apartment a few blocks from the beach as you will at a resort.
This is the perfect place to disconnect, sit on the beach with friends and family, and enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery. But, if a typical beach vacation isn’t your thing, there is still plenty more to do here – jump ahead to see what we recommend doing in Varadero Cuba (scuba, snorkel, exploring caves, and more!) Plus, you’re so close to Havana and Trinidad that you can easily find enough to do close by for an exciting trip.
Varadero Weather
All of Cuba, including this beach paradise, generally enjoys warm or hot weather year-round, making this a perfect destination to enjoy the lovely beach here.
Generally, November through April are the cooler and drier months – though still expect high 70 degree temperatures (23-28°C), while May through October are hot and can get up around 90 degrees (32°C) daily. May through October are generally wetter and fall during hurricane season, though don’t expect full days of rain, just a scattered storm.
Varadero is popular year-round, filled mostly with foreign travelers in the cooler months, and local Cubans in the summer months. We’ve visited both in the dead of “winter” and in summer, and enjoyed Varadero in both seasons.
Varadero being a favorite location for Cubans and foreigners alike is a part of what makes Varadero so enjoyable – you’ll see all types of people here, and there are restaurants, bars, beaches, and more for travelers of all budgets.
Varadero Cuba Map
I created an interactive map with all of our favorite spots and recommended locations in Varadero – restaurants, hotels and resorts, the scuba shop we recommend below – plus some important locations in town you’ll need to know about.
It’s easy to see how simple Varadero travel is when seeing how it’s really just one long peninsula. Click away to get a feel for Varadero Cuba.
Varadero Beach
If you’re coming to Varadero you’re definitely coming to visit the beach. While I’ve seen a lot of beautiful beaches in the Caribbean and elsewhere, I’m always floored when I step over the dunes and onto the white sand in Varadero. It’s incredible – this is the white sand beach you’re dreaming of.
This is the picture-perfect Caribbean beach you’ve always seen in pictures. TripAdvisor agrees, and in 2019 Varadero was rated the second-best beach in the world. Wow! I definitely agree!
On the main beachfront road in Varadero – you can’t miss it – there are public beach access points every few blocks amidst restaurants, bars, and cafes that allow you to easily access the water and sand. These are perfect if you’re not planning on staying at a resort or private beach house, since it’s so easy and completely free to access the beach throughout the town.
From my experience, there aren’t any tricks to finding the best spot or any particularly special parts of the beach to visit. Some sections of beach have more neighboring restaurants and cafes. Other sections are lined with houses and apartments and are more relaxed. Either way you like it, you’ll find a great section of beach for your enjoyment.
Things to Do in Varadero Cuba
Varadero Resorts
One option available for beachgoers is taking advantage of the resort space and renting chairs, umbrellas, or even get a day rate with meals included at a resort if you want to use all their resources.
You can take advantage of this at almost any resort, just by walking up to the resort on the beach and inquiring. It’s a great, relatively inexpensive way to use a chair for the day and enjoy hotel resources. However, public beaches are just as beautiful and you can always find the perfect corner of the beach if that is what you’re looking for.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
In addition to just enjoying the beach and the incredible water, there are a variety of dive shops in town that will get you set up with tours for snorkeling or scuba diving. While Varadero beach is not Cuba’s most well-known dive spot – check out Jardines de la Reina for that! – there is a lot to see, and the crystal-clear water makes for perfect conditions for first-timers.
ScubaLibre is a reputable company, and they have a variety of excursion types, including a snorkeling excursion to the cave systems nearby that I’m adding to my list for things to see next time I’m in Varadero, too!
Swim With Dolphins
There are a variety of companies in Varadero that offer swimming with dolphin excursions for those interested in this fun activity! While you won’t probably see dolphins swimming from the beaches of Varadero, the locals know where to find them and there are a variety of excursions and activities built around this.
Some of the catamaran excursions in Varadero – keep reading for more information – also offer additional experience add-ons to swim with dolphins, so if you’re considering both experiences it may be best to combine them.
Ride in a Classic American Car
Riding in a classic, old American car is generally an activity that visitors will save for Havana, but it can be a beautiful way to see Varadero Cuba as well, and there are plenty of opportunities for it.
You’ll see old cars around in Varadero beach as you explore the town and probably will be asked if you want to ride – it isn’t something you’ll need to book in advance.
If you’re staying in a homestay or rental, or even in a hotel, they can help you arrange something more formal, though finding a driver on the street is fine, too.
Read More
Check out our next article, Guide to Using the Internet in Cuba for how to get wifi and use the internet in Cuba. Plus, The Best VPN (Virtual Private Network) for Travel to Cuba and why it’s a must for internet access in Cuba.
Visit Cayo Blanco on a Catamaran
Visiting Cayo Blanco, a nearby key just across the water with white sand beaches, is a favorite day trip outside of Varadero beach. There are several options you’ll find for catamaran trips to Cayo Blanco.
Catamaran trips to Cayo Blanco are also excellent ways to get out on the water and enjoy sailing. Excursions include stops for snorkeling along the way, which is a great way to incorporate some diving into your trip and enjoy the beautiful Varadero weather.
This is the Cayo Blanco catamaran excursion that we recommend as a fantastic option for a day excursion – check it out on Get Your Guide for more details. Make sure to check out add-on opportunities to swim with dolphins, too.
Varadero Cuba Restaurants
If you’re not staying in a resort and are looking for the best place to eat in Varadero, there are plenty of delicious options in the center of town. Most restaurants are located on the main road beach-side, meaning most of what you’ll be looking for is nearby and easy to access.
Recommended is, of course, the seafood – you’ll get some amazing bargains on lobster and fresh fish that pale in comparison to prices back home.
While the food in Varadero is generally going to be a bit more expensive than it might be in Havana (depending on the restaurants you choose) it can still be quite affordable when compared to prices you might find at home.
If you want to find something less expensive and more local, any of the side streets branching off from the beachside road will have small eateries scattered with options locals frequent, including some of those we recommend below.
I also recommend downloading the AlaMesa app before heading to Cuba as a way to search for restaurants, cafes, and bars during your trip. This app is like TripAdvisor but specific to eateries in Cuba. While it is most popular in Havana, with over 700 locations listed, there are a growing number of locations listed in Varadero.
Read More
Where to Stay in Varadero Cuba
Varadero has an abundance of places to stay, including a great selection of resorts and an even more extensive selection of rental properties. Prices vary significantly, from $30 or so per night in a basic room rental to hundreds of dollars at an all-inclusive resort.
Hotels in Varadero Cuba
Most of the hotels in Varadero Cuba are all-inclusive resorts, which can boast some incredible package deals for those looking to stay over the course of a few days or longer. This means that you’re not going to find many standard hotel options for staying in Varadero if you’re not interested in a Varadero all-inclusive option.
Most hotels in Varadero that are not all-inclusive are more like homestays or bed and breakfasts, sometimes with the owners living on location, sometimes with just several rooms for rent. Here is one of my favorite options in Varadero:
Villa Pla Homestay
Even if this type of hotel isn’t what you’re looking for, there really are infinite options for staying in Varadero. We recommend looking into renting a private house, apartment, or room – locals in Varadero have rented properties and rooms for years, and they’re the most popular option for visitors who don’t want a resort.
Plus, you will save a ton of money over a resort and have the freedom to get to know Varadero even better. Keep scrolling for my favorite options for rentals.
Varadero Cuba Resorts
Varadero resorts with all-inclusive packages are the name of the game here, and there are plenty of options to choose from. You can find some really great deals on rooms when looking at different packages offered at different times of the year.
A lot of the lowest-priced Varadero Cuba resort options are in desperate need of a renovation, but these two I detail below are more recently upgraded while still affordable.
Melia Internacional Varadero
Melia is a European hotel chain that has been in Cuba for years and has a variety of resorts across the island, some of the best in Cuba. The Melia International all-inclusive is one of the nicest Varadero all-inclusive resorts – the most well-appointed and luxurious you’ll find in town.
The pool area is huge, with outdoor bars and dining options, kid-friendly areas, and a massive beachfront on Varadero beach.
Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort & Spa
Airbnb in Varadero
Airbnb is one of the most popular rental platforms in Cuba since it has been available in the country for several years now, but many of the rentals available in Cuba list on multiple platforms.
I generally like to look for options on Booking.com and compare prices, because I’ve found that the prices can be less expensive on the same booking than they are on Airbnb. Keep reading for beach houses, apartments, and rooms for rent in Varadero – many of these are cross-listed on Airbnb!
Varadero Rentals
You will find Varadero rentals in all shapes and sizes, with everything from private houses right on the beach to inexpensive rooms for rent in a local’s home. I always recommend checking out Booking.com for the most listings, but here are some of our favorites:
Casa Independiente en Varadero
This Varadero house rental is a four-bedroom house in front of the beach – it’s extremely spacious and perfect for a getaway with the whole family. While simply decorated, the house is spotlessly clean and has huge common areas like a renovated kitchen, two terraces including a large back patio overlooking the ocean.
This house is located in the very center of Varadero, making it the perfect spot to enjoy all the town has to offer.
Spectacular Beach House
Located in a residential area of town, you’re just steps away from the best restaurants in Varadero but with enough privacy to feel like you’ve escaped.
El Balcon de Liberty
The location of this apartment speaks for itself – look at that ocean view! The view is nicer than you’ll find in any Varadero all-inclusive! Located directly on the beach, this simple but spacious apartment offers a kitchen and living room, bedroom, and bathroom, plus this oceanfront terrace.
Besides having a view to kill for, the apartment is located in the center of town close to the best things to do in Varadero Cuba, including the best restaurants, bars, and activities.
CityCentre
This rental includes a small apartment with simple decor, but at a good price and with plenty of amenities. The building features plenty of outdoor spaces to enjoy, including a pool, outdoor bar, covered patio dining room, and a giant rooftop terrace, making it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy between trips to the beach.
Located just outside of Varadero proper in Santa Marta – the nearest town only minutes away by taxi – this option is budget-friendly and will help you feel like you’re escaping the tourists.
Just a few minutes by taxi away from the beach, you’ll still have all the conveniences of shops and restaurants at your fingertips, with a more local feel.
CityCentre – Reviews & Availability
Varadero Travel
Havana to Varadero
Varadero is located about two hours to the east of Havana, making it a perfect day trip from Havana, but an even better overnight trip. The easiest option for transport from Havana to Varadero is by Viazul buses, which leave regularly from Havana to Varadero.
You can find buses directly to Varadero from the central bus terminal in Havana (Terminal de Omnibuses), near the Plaza de la Revolución.
You’ll find even more bus options to the city of Matanzas, the capital of the province where Varadero is located. From Matanzas you can get a short bus directly to Varadero.
Bus tickets from Havana to Varadero will cost about $10 in Cuban pesos for a one-way ticket. You can find the current bus schedule on the Viazul website, but buses are advertised to leave Havana at 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 5:00 PM.
If you’re not interested in taking a bus, there are plenty of private options available. Many taxi drivers will gladly take a day off their regularly scheduled itinerary to take people to Varadero, and there are private companies dedicated to private transport as well.
Especially from Havana, there are an infinite number of ways to get to Varadero easily. Ask your homestay host or staff at your hotel for private transportation recommendations – they’ll be able to find a reliable friend with a taxi or private car who can take you, or a tour company that would do so.
Both private cars and buses will be available from most major Cuban cities to Varadero without the need for prior reservations. When looking to get to Varadero by bus from other cities in Cuba, you’ll most likely need to look for a bus headed to Matanzas, and from Matanzas you can take a short bus ride to the beach.
Varadero to Havana
Buses leave directly from Varadero to Havana several times a day, at 1:00 PM, 2:40 PM, and 6:00 PM, and usually make a short stop in Matanzas to collect more passengers. You can also find buses from Varadero to Matanzas, where you’ll find even more transportation options to Havana if you’d like to travel outside of those three scheduled times.
Just as there are plenty of private transportation options from Havana to Varadero, you’ll find just as many returning to the city as well – including private transport that can be arranged with taxi drivers, or splitting the cost of a car with other travelers. We’ve had the best luck finding drivers that park outside of the bus stations and charge per seat for a shared ride back to Havana.
Varadero Airport
Varadero has its own international airport – Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport – thanks to Varadero’s popularity and the number of regular visitors.
Opened in 1989, the Varadero airport is the second busiest airport in Cuba, after Jose Martí International Airport in Havana. Most flights to the airport are from Canada, Mexico, and several major European cities.
Given United States-Cuba policy changes made during the Trump administration, no flights from the United States are currently allowed to enter any airport in Cuba other than the international airport in Havana.
Buses are available to take visitors from the Varadero airport to the center of town – buses cost about $10 and take about half an hour. There are also plenty of taxi options available at the airport – taxis cost the equivalent of $25-30 USD and will get you to the center of Varadero in around 20 minutes.
Havana vs. Varadero
Havana versus Varadero as travel destinations for a Cuba trip – this is an itinerary-planning debate I hear often. This is an impossible debate, in my book. There is no way to compare Havana and Varadero!
Havana is a beautiful and historic city and cultural hub, and one of the most unique and interesting cities in the world. Varadero is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.
The experiences you’ll have to either of these places are completely different, and recommending one over the other is impossible without knowing what you’re looking for.
If you’re having a hard time deciding what to do on a trip to Cuba, I recommend seeing if your schedule allows for time in both of these places, even if you spend a longer chunk of time in one city and just a day in another. Both Havana and Varadero beach are places you won’t want to miss when visiting Cuba.
However, Varadero is the best beach trip from Havana, in my opinion. While there are beaches that are closer to Havana, such as Playas del Este and Guanabo, Varadero is the nearest beach to Havana that is really nice – a typical Caribbean beach you’ll be picturing. Plus, the ease of transport you’ll find to Varadero from Havana and the number of restaurants, hotels, and home or apartment rentals make it much easier to navigate.
The Comments
Helena
Oh I wish I’d had time to visit Varadero on my Cuba trip, it looks and sounds incredible, especially those gorgeous beaches!
Jasmina
Oh, I wish I was able to travel to Cuba! I need to go as soon as possible!
Paula
WOW! The color of the water is incredible, and the food…OMG!!! I cannot wait to visit Cuba and I am saving this post for when I get to go, thanks for sharing great tips and information and for inspiring me.
Kriszti
Varadero is so beautiful, wish I could be on those sandy beaches now! Cuba is so high on my bucket list and you just made me wanna visit even more!
Megan
Looks like some incredible resorts in Varadero. And I’m a sucker for anywhere that you can swim with dolphins!
Maria
Love this guide! Cuba has been on my list for so long, I hope I get the chance to visit in the next years!
Jaime
Looks amazing!! What I would do for a beach holiday right now!
Nina
Such a great guide! I haven’t been to Cuba yet but it’s on my list. I love how colourful it is 🥰
Kelly
Omg I love this. I need to go to the beach right now and Cuba seems like the perfect place. Thanks for sharing.
Léa
Varadero isn’t famous for nothing!! Such a perfect beach getaway, clearly saving this post for later as Cuba is on my list!
Rachel-Jean Firchau
Wow, this looks absolutely pristine. Would love to visit Varadero someday!
Krista
Varadero look absolutely stunning to visit, a real life paradise. Thanks for all of the great tips!
Joanna
I loved Varadero so much. I spent 3 days there, at the end of my trip to Cuba, and stayed in a casa particular in the old village of Varadero. I got to enjoy the beach almost all to myself. It was amazing just to cross the road and step on the beach.
Kirsten Wendlandt
Ah this makes me want to visit Cuba so bad! I miss the hot weather and beaches. Plus that beach house looked amazing!
Val
How I miss Cuba after bumping into your blog!
Sharon
This looks lovely! We are actually hoping to visit Cuba some time next year. We always look for budget homestay style places and the ones you have recommended look great!!
Jamie Sharpe
I’m so curious about Cuba in general, and now I’m totally interested in Varadero.
clara
Makes me miss Varadero, the beaches are among some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.