By air
Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport (VRA), ~25 km by road
North America · Cuba
Varadero, Cuba
Cuba's long white-sand resort peninsula
Getting there
Best time to visit
November to April — dry and sunny
Don't miss
Varadero Beach
Mansión Xanadú
Cueva de Ambrosio
The Varahicacos Ecological Reserve
Things to do
Swimming and sunbathing
Snorkelling and diving trips
Catamaran outings
Day trips to Matanzas
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Sageo · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear, sunscreen, a light layer for evenings
A quieter corner
Cueva de Saturno, a cave pool for swimming near the airport road
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Varadero?
November to April — dry and sunny. What to pack: Swimwear, sunscreen, a light layer for evenings.
How do I get to Varadero?
Fly into Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport (VRA), ~25 km by road.
What is there to do in Varadero?
Swimming and sunbathing, snorkelling and diving trips, catamaran outings, day trips to Matanzas. A quieter find: Cueva de Saturno, a cave pool for swimming near the airport road.
What should I eat in Varadero?
Grilled lobster and fish, rice and beans, fried plantains, mojitos.
About Varadero
- Coastal
Where it is
Varadero is a resort town on the Hicacos Peninsula in Matanzas province, on the north coast of Cuba east of Havana.
History
The narrow peninsula was long used for salt works before wealthy Cubans and foreigners began building summer homes there in the early 20th century. The American industrialist Irénée du Pont built his Xanadu mansion on the shore around 1930, and from the late 20th century Varadero grew into Cuba's largest beach resort.
People
Varadero's residents speak Spanish and many work in the resort hotels, while nearby Matanzas is known as the birthplace of the danzón, Cuba's official national dance.
Known for
- A beach some 20 km long
- Calm, clear turquoise water
- Mansión Xanadú
- Diving and snorkelling trips
Did you know?
Varadero's beach runs for around 20 km along the Hicacos Peninsula, making it one of the longest stretches of sand in the Caribbean.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.