VARADERO
Area: Cuba
Country: Cuba


Location:
On the N coast 87 miles E of Havana and its international airport. 20 miles E of Matanzas, the provincial capital. 14 miles E from its own international airport. 10 miles NW of Cardenas, the nearest town.

Telephone code from UK:
53 5

Position:
Linked to the fairly flat agricultural mainland to the S by a single bridge near the W end.

Description:
Although usually referred to as the "peninsula" of Varadero, it is technically an island. It measures 13» mls long by a maximum of half a mile in width and is almost perfectly flat. The beach runs along the N coast, while the sea to the S varies from a narrow channel and lagoon in the W to an ever-widening area of very sheltered sea further E. It divides into 3 areas. The narrow strip W of the bridge is a quiet residential area of what were originally upmarket mansions (many American) in pre-revolutionary times. Al Capone's former home is now a restaurant here. This area can occasionally be affected by the smell from distant oilfields when the wind is in the right (or wrong) direction. The central part is the town built on a grid pattern of no more than 5 avenues with narrow streets crossing at right angles. Again it is mainly residential but with small simple houses which would often not look out of place in any Greek village. The residents are considered by the rest of the population to be privileged to live or work here. It is well patrolled by police, tourists feel safe and it does have a certain "sanitised" feel to it compared with Havana or the rest of the country. It is certainly not built-up or overloaded with hotels and other tourist infrastructure. When originally laid out, Central Park was clearly meant to be the planners' focal point so, despite the fact that it has no particular significance for visitors, we have used it here from which to measure all distances to hotels. Finally, the area E of town is where most of the newer hotels are and building continues. Other infrastructure follows, like the golf course and Chapelin Marina, but properties in this area are generally fairly isolated and self-contained.

Suitability:
Favoured by the majority of visitors to Cuba probably because of its reputation as a "safe option". Plenty of sun, sea, sand and water sports; the closest major resort to Havana. Lots of Italians, Spanish and Canadians.

Accommodation:
A frequently encountered mix of older properties in prime positions but past their sell-by date, and newer smarter hotels but farther out from the centre: some, indeed, are positively isolated. Many are "all-inclusive" (see our comments on this in the Guardalavaca resort report) but many are not. Others can't make their minds up and offer both. Generally, 3-"star" properties will be fairly basic, probably dated and well-worn so may disappoint. 4-"star" is likely to be the minimum acceptable for most people other than real bargain hunters. Without fail, all hotels offer a full entertainments programme, day and night.

Shopping:
In town the small shopping centre opposite the Cuatro Palmas hotel is as good as it gets, with half a dozen shops and a bar. Out of town the Plaza las Americas centre between the two Melia hotels is a little bigger but will not set shopaholics' pulses racing. Cigars (also see our comments in the Havana resort description) and rum are the things to buy. Other local shops may have necessities but little else. For important information on Cuban currency regulations, see under Currency section in Cuban country report.

Beach:
6» mls of continuous fine, near-white sand with slight variations in width and steepness into the clear water. E of the Bella Costa hotel there are stretches of rocky shore, but all the hotels beyond this point still have their own stretch of sand. Plenty of water sports centres _ mainly nonmotorised _ and snorkelling or scuba diving.

Entertainments:
Daytime: mainly beach activities plus the nonstop activities in the hotels. Josone Park is a pleasant place to go for a stroll, to eat, go boating on the lake or swim at their pool. Chapelin marina offer all sorts of boat trips. Submarine trips. Dolphinarium with the chance to swim with them. Golf. Nightlife: shows in all hotels. Cabaret nightclub at Internacional hotel. Discos.

Eating:
Plenty of eating places in hotels and outside, including Cuban Creole, "international", seafood (cheap lobster), grills, Chinese.

Public-transport:
There are buses but apparently not for tourists. Metered taxis. Horse-drawn carriages.

Local-excursions:
Havana City. Cayo Largo Island. Pinar del Rio for tobacco and scenery. Trinidad (see Playa Ancon resort description). Guama and Bay of Pigs. Matanzas town.