Not sure whether to include Varadero in your stay in Cuba? Let’s see together if it’s worth it.

Varadero is undoubtedly Cuba’s most popular beach destination. Its resorts receive tens of thousands of international visitors each year.
Varadero is prized for its beautiful beach and for being a relatively inexpensive destination, especially for clientele from North and Central America.

CLICHÉS TO BE DEBUNKED ABOUT VARADERO

Social media is teeming with opinions, advice and sententious statements about Varadero. Granted that all opinions are respectable and often the perception that emerges from individual experiences can be very different, there are in our opinion some clichés that are worth debunking:

1. “Varadero is a place only for foreigners, where Cubans cannot go“: not true. Varadero is a tourist destination, in the sense that people go there on vacation. Foreigners go there and Cubans who have the means to do so. And there are a lot of them. There are social events in Varadero (e.g., the ritual “Inicio del verano“) in which the hottest artists perform, attracting large numbers of young Cubans, especially from Havana’s farandula elite.

2. “Varadero is not the real Cuba“: this is a complex and recurring theme. It should be premised that we consider the social media controversy about the “real Cuba” to be cloying.  In our opinion, any country or territory has very different facets that contribute to forming its identity. Cuba, as indeed other countries, encompasses many things, including the all-inclusive tourist enjoyment, which occupies its own relevant, though not dominant, space. Moreover, while Varadero maintains a purely seaside vocation, it has a number of distinctly “Cuban traits” that make for a different experience from the all-inclusive experiences of other Caribbean and Central American resorts, such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VARADERO
Some differences between Varadero and other areas of Cuba:
♦ In Varadero, hotels do not lack electricity because they have generators.
♦ In private homes, on the other hand, electricity service suspensions (“apagones) may occur. Depending on the time of year, the power may be out about 1-2 hours a day.
♦ Varadero has no real city center with a resident population living there. In the hotel area, they work Cubans who actually live in areas bordering the peninsula, such as Matanzas, Santa Marta, and Cardenas. Thus, considering the type of vacation one takes in Varadero and the urban layout of its peninsula, it is less easy to establish a connection with the Cuban people in Varadero than in other areas of Cuba.

In Varadero, however, some common features can be found compared to other areas of Cuba :
♦ Tourist affluence has never recovered to pre covid levels. In the streets, businesses and clubs, you don’t see people, the number of customers is sparse.
♦ This is reflected in the vacation atmosphere, which is undoubtedly less festive and carefree than in the past.
♦ The current tourist presence tends to be concentrated in a few hotels.
♦ Even in the top-rated hotels, there is a lack of basic items, a lack of variety, and a lack of continuity in the level of service quality.
♦ Unlike other typically beach resorts in Cuba, such as the cayos, in Varadero there is the option of staying in a casa particular.
♦ If you leave the resort to do independent sightseeing and excursions, you will face the effects of high prices and experience the dual-currency economy typical of countries affected by hyperinflation. Prices offered by local vendors are in hard currency (usd and euro) and often exaggerated.
♦ Visitors should equip themselves with patience and a spirit of adaptation.

VARADERO’S STRENGTHS
♦ The beach : long, sandy, with crystal clear water, uncrowded, no algae on the shoreline.
♦ International airport close by (30 min).
♦ Not excessive distance from La Habana, allowing day trips.
♦ Day trips also possible to Playa Larga, Ciengfuegos and the Bay of Pigs.
♦ Interesting nature excursions within reach: Cueva de Saturno (30 min) and Cuevas de Bellamar (42 min) ; Puerto Escondido (70 min); La Arboleda Rio Canimar (70 min); Canasì (80 min).
♦ Catamaran excursion : Cayo Blanco.
♦ Tourist attractions: dolphinarium; Tropicana cabaret (Matanzas branch).
♦ Some nightclubs in the extra-hoteliero center.

VARADERO’S WEAKNESSES
♦ Outside of the hotels, there is currently no real social life.
♦ In hotels, the level of service is average to low. There is a lack of organization, staff training and customer care.
♦ With very few exceptions, there is no high-end dining outside of hotels, something that can be found in La Habana.
♦ Shopping opportunities are limited to state store standards.
♦ Excursions and activities on the Varadero peninsula offered by hotels are expensive and not particularly exciting.

CONCLUSION : IS IT WORTH VACATIONING IN VARADERO?
♦ The beach in Varadero is beautiful and will not disappoint, unless you run into a ‘frente frio“.
♦For an absolutely relaxing beach vacation, Varadero is a good option, but it should be kept in mind that you need to lower your expectations with respect to the quality of certain services. The almost obligatory solution is to go for the top-of-the-line hotels, knowing that you will receive a level of service at least one star less than the stated standards.
♦ Even for those who choose to vacation in Varadero to take advantage of its beautiful beach, we recommend getting out of the resort and getting to know the surroundings. Among the possible excursion options, we suggest spending at least one day in La Habana and devoting a second day to a hike in one of the surrounding nature areas. In our opinion, the classic excursions sold by hotels are not must-do.
♦ Including Varadero in a time-constrained itinerary for visiting Cuba, especially if it is your first time in Cuba, is probably not a good idea. The beautiful sea in Cuba can be savored elsewhere, such as nearby La Habana, Trinidad, and Viñales.

If you want to know how many days to devote to visiting Cuba, read  this post.

If you want to know the itinerary we suggest for a first visit to Cuba in a week, read here.