Varadero, located on the Ikakos Peninsula, is the most famous resort of modern Cuba. Stunningly beautiful landscapes teeming with lush tropical vegetation, always beautiful weather, warm and clear waters of the blue sea, fantastic beaches covered with white sand - all this helps to make your vacation in Varadero unforgettable.
Tourists discovered this place in the 1870s, after which it continued to remain an elite resort for many years. In 1887, Varadero became a city in which approximately ten families settled for
permanent residence . In 1910, a rowing regatta started here, and five years later the first Varadero hotel was built, soon after it the Club Nautico. Both of these places offered extremely luxurious relaxation.
Varadero as a major tourist center began to develop around the 1930s. Nowadays, being the main resort of Cuba, it has an excellently developed infrastructure: hotels, restaurants, night clubs, casinos, discos and bars, the best golf courses in the Caribbean. In addition to its most valuable resource - the beach recognized by UNESCO as one of the cleanest beaches in the world - the area is rich in natural attractions such as Josone Park, Bellamar Caves, National Park of the Zapata Peninsula, and the healing water resort of San Miguel de los Banos . Famous historical and cultural landmarks of Cuba are located nearby - the Punta de Icacos Nature Reserve, the cities of Matanzas and Cardenas. Of course, all this together also contributes to the fact that so many foreign travelers choose a vacation in Varadero. At least one million tourists come here every year, primarily from European countries and Canada.
A wide twenty-kilometer strip of fine white sand beaches washed by the crystal clear water of the warm sea and framed by tall palm trees stretches along the Ikakos Peninsula. Along the coast there are a huge number of hotels of a wide range - from modest guesthouses to hotels of well-known international hotel chains. When Cubans themselves come to rest in Varadero, they prefer to stay in inexpensive establishments of local hotel brands Islazul or Horizontes, which can even be called Spartan in terms of amenities and services.
A large number of hotels are complex resorts operating on the All-Inclusive system. In 1998, the Cuban government, seeking to regulate the hotel business in the country, outlawed private housing, which was offered for rent for vacationers. The ban is still in effect. But, nevertheless, there is an opportunity for those who prefer a more secluded holiday in Varadero, to rent a room (breakfast, as a rule, is included in the stay) in a private house, located in a quiet place. How to do this, you can ask a guide or a taxi driver. In addition, settling in the private sector will simply purchase a “day pass” to the comprehensive resort, allowing you to access all its amenities and entertainment, including food and drinks.
Varadero offers ideal conditions for water sports, such as deep sea fishing, sailing. It is a kind of Mecca for fans of diving and snorkeling. Marine life abounds with many species of coral, fish, turtles, lobsters, crabs, shrimps, shellfish. There are amazing places to dive. Among them, Oyo Asul Ojo del Megano is a large cave with a diameter of 70 meters.
Not far from Varadero is the only marine park of its kind in Cayo Piedras del Norte. In the park area, covering an area of about two square nautical miles, at a depth of 15 to 30 meters at the end of the 1990s, a yacht, a frigate, a tugboat, a gunboat, and a passenger plane were specially flooded.
Holidays in Varadero are available all year round. Thanks to the subtropical climate, it is always summer here. The average daily temperature usually ranges from 22 to 30 degrees. There are two seasons: dry - from November to April, and the rainy season - from May to October (but rains during this period fall for a short time, they do not last all day).