Varadero Beach (Cuba) is known far beyond Liberty Island. We can say that this is resort number one. It is here, to the resort of Varadero, tours from all over the world go. What makes it so attractive? We will talk about this in our article. We will describe the leisure infrastructure at this resort, its climate, attractions, in a word, that's all. The information we gathered was by no means from advertising brochures, but from the reviews of those lucky ones who had already visited Varadero. By the way, it is photographs of the local beach that adorn Cuba travel guides. Sand white as snow, calm turquoise surface (from the side of the ocean, Varadero is reliably protected by a coral reef), slender palms bending over the water ... This is not a photoshop, such places really exist. To make sure of this, it is enough to come to the beach of Varadero.
Resort specifics
The tourist mecca of the whole of Cuba is, in fact, a peninsula, a sandy scythe stretching into the sea. Its length is twenty-five kilometers, and its width is on average 2 km. Accordingly, one can distinguish the resorts of Varadero regarding their remoteness from the mainland. At the very beginning of the spit there are streets, a market, a post office. In a word, the old Varadero is a town where the local population lives. Starting from the Melia Las Americas Hotel and ending with the Iberostar Tainos Hotel, the resort of Varadero just stretches. There is a zone of continuous rest. In the center of the spit are entertainment venues and the only golf club in all of Cuba.
All hotels here are front page. They lined up along the left side of the braid. The right bank of the peninsula is a cluster of coral debris. This beach is called "shark teeth." The edge of the braid is the new Varadero. Entrance to the peninsula is paid. A poster informing that the funds levied from tourists will be used to improve the Cuban population is modestly silent about the fact that these very people are not allowed into the famous resort.
Weather Varadero
This is truly a timeless resort in Cuba. Varadero takes vacationers all year round. Regardless of any seasons, the thermometer stubbornly holds at thirty degrees. Only in January can the air temperature drop to +25 ° C. And the hottest month of the year in Varadero is September. Water in the lagoon warms up best in August - plus twenty-eight. But even at other times, its temperature does not fall below +24.
Varadero's weather is mostly clear. Even when Cuba is flooded with the rainy season, torrential showers can rain and the equatorial sun peeks out again. Therefore, Varadero is always crowded with tourists. The resort of Cuba No. 1 enjoys the fame of a town that never sleeps. During the day, tourists sunbathe on the beaches, and with the sunset, they dance at discos and drink rum in local bars.
Practical tips for tourists
Time in Cuba, despite the country's almost equatorial situation, is changing to summer time. In winter, Liberty Island is located in the UTC – 5 time zone, and from March to November - in UTC – 4. Moscow is located at UTC + 3. In summer, Cuban time lags behind West Russian by six hours, and in winter by seven.
Most tourists arrive on the island through Havana Airport. You can get from the country's capital to the resort of Varadero by two bus companies: Astro or Viazul. The fare will cost ten cookies, and the travel time is about two hours.
But Varadero also has its own international airport, which accepts mainly charter flights. It is located twenty kilometers from the city. Three official bus routes ply the resort itself: nos. 47, 48 and 220 (the last to the tip of the spit). But besides them, a lot of minibuses without numbers and a taxi will warp. Travelers recommend calling the Coco-taxis service - it's cheaper. A free shuttle bus runs between the three Melia hotels. Five cookies costs a day ticket to the Varadero Beach Tour. This double-decker open-top bus travels around the peninsula and makes forty-five stops.
Hotels in Varadero
This resort cannot be called cheap. But all the hotels with a few exceptions go to the incomparable beach of Varadero, and some of them even have their own coral reef. Probably all Spanish hotel chains are represented at the resort. Moreover, each of them has several hotels on the peninsula. So it is easy for an unprepared traveler to get confused in all of these Barcelos, Sol Melia and Iberostar. Varadero hotels have a clear focus. Some take small children and offer big discounts on their placement. Others set an age limit, for example, at least twelve years old. Some hotels specializing in honeymooners only accept people over eighteen. For lovers of a luxurious relaxing holiday, the Paradisus Varadero 5 * is suitable. It practices the Ultra All Inclusive system. This hotel is located near the end of the peninsula. From affordable hotels you can recommend the Quartet: Iberostar Tainos, Salt Palmeras and Salt Sirenas Coral.
The best beaches of Varadero
As such, attractions in the resort are few. They go to Varadero because of the peerless beach. The entire coastal strip of the peninsula is perfect. There is white sand, invariably calm sea with turquoise water and a gently sloping bottom, which cannot but please the parents of small children. Cuban beaches - Playa Pilar on the island of Cayo Guillermo, Santa Lucia, Ancon (near the city of Trinidad), the shores of the uninhabited islands of Blanco de Casilda and Macho de Afuera, Cayo Largo and others - are considered the best in the world. But Varadero left them far behind. Not for nothing that UNESCO in 1992 called this 22-kilometer beach the cleanest and most beautiful on the whole planet. Every night a tractor with a harrow plows a strip of sand. And the workers who go next pick small garbage. Free sun beds with umbrellas are installed on the beach, there are bars, restaurants and other infrastructure. If you ask yourself which recreation area is better, then the hotel "Barcelo Marina Palace 5 *" leads in Varadero. It is located at the end of the spit and has its own beach complex.
Diving on Varadero
The absence of waves and strong currents, the exceptional transparency of the water make this place a must for lovers of scuba diving, or at least a mask and snorkel. In the vicinity of the resort there are a number of wrecks of interest to divers. You don’t have to go far to the coral reef that protects the beach of Varadero from storms. In the few rocky areas inhabited by the same number of colorful tropical fish. Many hotels have created their own coral reefs offshore. Those who don’t know how to swim can look at the entire diversity of the Caribbean during an excursion on a glass bottom boat.
Things to do in Varadero
The resort is famous for its vibrant evening life. Most entertainment centers are located at hotels. At some discos, such as Rio Las Morlas, admission is free. But sometimes Varadero beach itself becomes a dance floor. Foam discos, salsa parties and the like are held in the resort's restaurants and folk bars.
Food lovers on Varadero will be just happy. Here you can try the delights of Creole cuisine (El Bodgon Criollo restaurant), Spanish (Majorca), Italian (Dante), Thai (Lai Lai Ave) and even German culinary traditions (Taberna Dortmunder and " La Fondue "). Excellent dishes of fish and seafood is famous for "Albacore."
Attractions Varadero
Time in Cuba flows unnoticed. But still, lying all day on the beach is also not worth it. Be sure to get to the capital of the country. To do this, you just need to book a tour bus seat at the front desk of your hotel. Be sure to indicate that you just need a transfer. Then such a trip will cost you thirty-five cookies in both directions. A tourist bus collects its passengers directly from the hotels. The resort itself has the Al Capone House Museum . In the vicinity of Varadero you can visit the Ambrosio Cave. In it, scientists found cave paintings of the ancient Indians.