Varadero, a vibrant resort town in Cuba, is a must-visit location for travelers worldwide. With its pristine beaches, dynamic history and welcoming locals, Varadero is an experience you won’t soon forget.
In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through an ideal 48-hour itinerary in Varadero, ensuring you have a unique and unforgettable experience.
What to do in Varadero Cuba? And how to get to Varadero?
Introduction to Varadero Cuba
Located on the Hicacos Peninsula, Varadero is a beach town that’s a slice of paradise. Its golden sand beaches, crystal clear waters and swaying palm trees make Varadero feel like a dream. It’s no wonder it’s considered one of Cuba’s top beach destinations!
Beyond its natural beauty, Varadero is also known for its historical attractions and cultural experiences, making it a well-rounded travel destination. It’s more than just one of the largest beach resort towns in the Caribbean. Whether you’re a beach lover, a history buff or a foodie, Varadero has something for everyone!
Flying to Varadero Cuba
If you’re booking into an all-inclusive resort in Varadero, the easiest option to get there is to fly directly into Varadero. Canadian airlines flying direct to Cuba often land at the Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport (VRA) in Varadero, just outside Matanzas township.
Yet for those of us flying in from Colombia, Europe or Mexico, our airlines often land at the José Martí International Airport (HAV) in Havana. And if you are landing in Havana it makes more sense to spend at least 48 hours in Havana before traveling to Varadero.
To find the cheapest airline fares and to see which airfares you can get flying direct to Varadero, I suggest looking on WayAway using the widget below and also checking OMIO if you’re coming from Europe.
Flying with Vapes (or valuables) to Varadero Cuba
I need to put a note here for those of you who vape. Though Cuba has no specific laws regarding vaping and vapes are legal in Cuba, Varadero’s Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport (VRA) has been known to confiscate them.
Officials at this airport have been known to steal items from peoples suitcases (i.e. GoPro cameras, jewellery, toiletries and cash) and you should not pack anything valuable in your suitcase. In particular, you should not pack vapes in your suitcase unless you’re prepared to have them taken.
It’s part of a long running problem with the Varadero airport. And anything ‘confiscated’ or ‘lost in transit’ will be sold by the staff member who takes them. This most often happens on your departure from Cuba (so you can’t complain) but has been know to happen on arrival.
Getting to Varadero from Havana
The journey from Havana, Cuba’s vibrant capital, to Varadero is about 150 kilometers long. And you have five (5) transport options to transit between Havana and Varadero. Depending on the mode of transportation you select, the trip can take anywhere from 2.5-4 hours.
There are five main transportation options to consider:
- Private Car Transfer
- Shared Transfer
- Viazul Bus
- Taxi or La Nave (Cuba’s Uber equivalent)
- Rental Car
Each option varies in price, travel time and convenience. So it’s important to choose the one that best fits your needs and preferences. For the positives, negatives and costs associated with each option, see transiting between Havana and Varadero on this site.
Essential Items For A Trip To Varadero Cuba
There are three (3) essential items you must have with you when arriving in Varadero or any other part of Cuba. Those items are a valid visa, travelers medical insurance covering Cuba and a good VPN.
- Cuban Visa (Tarjeta Del Turista): This is most often sold to you by your airline on check-in for $25USD. But you should read your airlines policies. And if necessary consider buying the visa from the Cuban embassy or consulate in your country.
- Travelers Medical Insurance: It’s a requirement under Cuban law that all visitors have a valid medical insurance policy covering Cuba. I get my policies from www.visitorscoverage.com
- Virtual Private Network (VPN): Most websites, social media and messaging applications are blocked in Cuba. Don’t travel to Cuba without a good VPN. Get NordVPN so you can access the internet while in Varadero. NordVPN is available at www.nordvpn.com or click the banner below
Day 1 in Varadero: Rest and Relaxation
On your first day in Varadero, you’re likely tired and sore from travel and work. So take your first day in Varadero to rest, recuperate, relax and recharge.
Just check-in to your hotel, explore the resort and surrounding area and bask in that glorious Caribbean sunshine. Plus if you’re coming from Canadian, North American or European winters you likely need that Caribbean sunshine to get some sort of tan. So you stop reflecting the sunlight and blinding everyone else!
Morning: Arrival and Exploration
Once you’ve made your way to Varadero, take some time to settle in and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Most accommodations in Varadero are either on the beach or within walking distance of the beach, so you won’t have to venture too far to start exploring.
If you’re staying in an ‘all inclusive’ resort, you should start your day by enquiring as to where and when you can access meals. You will want to know where the resort’s restaurants and bars are located. And what time they open and close each day.
I would also recommend getting the wifi password so you can access the internet. But only if you have NordVPN installed. Without a VPN in Cuba the wifi won’t allow you to access much at all.
Midday: Visit Varadero Beach
After exploring your resort, spend some time at Varadero Beach (Playa Varadero), also known as Blue Beach (Playa Azul). With its white sand and turquoise waters, it’s the perfect place to unwind and soak up some Caribbean sun. You can also participate in various water sports like jet-skiing, snorkeling and sailing.
If the wind is blowing on the section of beach in front of your hotel, consider moving down the beach to a different spot. When it’s windy in Varadero the waves can get quite large, making swimming treacherous. But there are parts of Varadero Beach that are more sheltered than others.
One of the best sections of Varadero Beach is in front of the Xanadu Mansion (former Dupont House). Due to the shape of Varadero Beach it’s often sheltered from the wind. So do check out the section of beach in front of Xanadu Mansion if the wind is spoiling the beach in front of your resort.
Afternoon: Take a Tour of Varadero
No visit to Cuba would be complete without cruising around town in one of Cuba’s famous 1950’s American cars. Now, if someone approaches you on the street offering to sell you a ticket for a ride in one of the cars, this is most often a scam. Your best option to ride in one of the cars is to book online with a reputable provider.
I recommend booking a ride in one of Cuba’s iconic 1950’s cars that is combined with a tour of Varadero. That way you get the photo opportunities and you get to explore Varadero. Learning about the best bars and restaurants while cruising around Varadero in style.
Evening: Dinner at one of The Best Restaurants in Varadero
After a day of beach fun, you could have dinner at your resort. But the restaurants in the resorts are often of a much lower quality than the local restaurants. If you want better food and want to explore nightlife in Varadero, visit one of the restaurants in Varadero below.
The restaurants listed below are favourites among locals and tourists alike. I’ve ranked them based on the quality of their food, pricing and overall vibe. Because of their popularity I recommend booking in advance.
Below is a list of the best restaurants in Varadero. Click each restaurant for it’s location on Google Maps:
- Varadero 60
- La Barbacoa
- Salsa Suárez
- Waco’s Club
- La Cofradia Del Pescador (great lunch – try the grilled lobster)
- La Gruta el Vino
- Paladar Nonna Tina (hidden spot that actually has good Italian cuisine)
Local Beer Tip: If you’re going to order a beer, order the Cristal verde (green Cristal) or for a stronger beer, the Bucanero. Don’t order the Cristal Extra (white Cristal), locals don’t drink the white Cristal. Green Cristal is the original Cuban beer and the green Cristal is the one you want.
Local Food Tip: Don’t go out for Italian food in Varadero. Cuban’s don’t know how to cook Italian food. The pasta will be undercooked and have the consistency of chewing gum. The pizza will just be a huge mess of cheese. Go out for lobster and fresh seafood or local cuban pork, if you want the best food in Varadero.
Day 2 in Varadero: Exploration and Adventure
On day two you have a choice to make. You can either take a half day tour and then relax in the afternoon. Or you can go for a full day of exploration and adventure!
Your best full day options are to either take a luxury catamaran ride out to Cayo Blanco and snorkel pristine coral reefs, swim with dolphins and eat as much fresh caught seafood as you can handle. All while contending with a never ending supply of Cuban cocktails.
Or you can take the Yumurí Valley Jeep Tour. Where you will see parts of Cuba few rarely see. Such as the Canimar River, Coral Beach, Saturno cave system and the Yumurí Valley itself. You’ll visit Matanzas and the Hermitage of Monserrate. But moreover, you’ll be able to say that you drove a jeep through the wilds of Cuba.
Now, if you choose either of the full day options (I’ve taken both) you will need to book in advance. These options can’t be booked same day or the day before. And both tours do book out, sometimes months in advance.
So, my advice to you is if you want to really have an experience in Varadero to write home about, book as far ahead as possible. If you miss out on the full day options or don’t have the time, you’ll find in this article below a more subdued itinerary for your second day.
Morning: Explore Matanzas and the Bellamar Cave System
For those of you who don’t have the time, money or will to take a full day tour from Varadero, you should start your day with a tour of Matanzas and a visit to the Bellamar Cave System.
Matanzas is the birthplace of Cuban of Rumba, the ‘Cuban Venice’ (it has 17 bridges) and the ‘Athens of Cuba’ (birthplace of poets). It’s also home to the Bellamar and Saturn Cave systems. And located on its northern side is the Yumurí Valley.
Now, the Matanzas and Bellamar Caves Tour hits all the main sights in Matanzas and visits the Bellamar caves. The tour visits Plaza de la Libertad, the neoclassical and baroque Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo and Plaza de la Vigia.
It also ventures up to my favourite spot in the area, the Hermitage of Montserrate. The Hermitage of Montserrate provides you with the best, Instagram worthy views out over Matanzas township and the Yumurí Valley.
The Matanzas and Bellamar Caves Tour will pick you up from your all-inclusive resort or Airbnb at 9am. It will then drop you off at your accommodation, or a restaurant of your choice, at around 1:30 in the afternoon.
Lunch: Visit Xanadu Mansion and Varadero Golf Course
Kickback after your morning of exploring Matanzas and its surrounds by visiting the Xanadu Mansion, a grand estate built by Irenee Dupont in 1927. Seized after the Revolution, Xanadu now functions as a tourist attraction, restaurant and hotel. The Xanadu Mansion offers beautiful views of Varadero Beach.
Xanadu Mansion serves lunch on its terrace with some of the best ocean views you’ll find in Varadero. You can then tour the mansion and see the largest pipe organ in Latin America, the best wine cellar in Cuba and have a cocktail on the top floor while looking out over Varadero Beach.
Right next to the mansion, you’ll find the Varadero Golf Course. Even if you’re not a golfer, the well-manicured lawns and stunning ocean views make it worth a visit. But I’d recommend taking a dip in the Caribbean sea right in front of the mansion, before investigating the golf course.
My own favourite swimming spot on Varadero Beach is directly in front of Xanadu (Dupont house).
Afternoon: A Swim at Varadero Beach and then Golden Hour
In the afternoon, have a swim on Varadero beach. Soak up some more of that Caribbean sun and then head back to your hotel or accommodation.
If you’re in an all-inclusive resort like Meliá Internacional, they’re likely hosting a cocktail hour for sunset on the beach. So grab a cocktail and watch the sunset over the Caribbean Sea with your fellow guests.
If you’re not much of the cocktail type or you don’t feel like swimming, you could visit the Varahicacos Ecological Reserve. Located on the Hicacos Peninsula, the same strip of land Varadero sits on, the Varahicacos Ecological Reserve is home to 2500 year old human remains and ancient cave paintings.
Evening: Enjoy Local Cuisine at one of the best restaurants in Varadero
For dinner, visit another of the local restaurants (listed above) and try some traditional Cuban dishes. No matter which of the best restaurants in Varadero you choose from my list above, you’re sure to enjoy the rich flavors of Cuban cuisine.
Personally, I always recommend everyone try the Enchilado de langosta (Cuban Creole Lobster), Lobster tails or something more traditional like Ropa Vieja.
Day 3 in Varadero: Bonus Day in Varadero
If you have longer than 48 hours in Varadero, I would recommend taking the second of the full day tours, if you took one of them the day before. If you took the luxury catamaran ride out to Cayo Blanco on your second day, take the Yumurí Valley Jeep Tour on your third day in Varadero.
Yet if you did take one of the full day tours yesterday, but only have half a day to spare on your third day in Varadero, take the Matanzas and Bellamar Caves Tour. You’ll be back at your accommodation ready to check out by 1:30 in the afternoon. And most all-inclusive resorts have late checkouts.
With a greater amount of time in Varadero you can even visit Viñales from Varadero. 7 days is ample time for rest and relaxation, while also being able to incorporate all the exploration and adventure you can handle.
So if you do have longer than 48 hours, hit all three of the full day tours below and spend the rest of your days just soaking in the Caribbean sun at your resort. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking the terrible resort food is representative of all that’s available in Varadero, or the rest of Cuba!
Final Thoughts on Your 48 Hours in Varadero Cuba
Spending 48 hours in Varadero is a whirlwind of experiences. From lounging on beautiful beaches to exploring historical sites and indulging in local cuisine, Varadero offers a unique blend of relaxation and adventure.
Remember, the key to a successful trip is packing the essentials, planning ahead, allowing sufficient travel time and staying hydrated (with Cristal verde!). With these tips in mind, your 48 hours in Varadero will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience. And you’ll have plenty of photos to show off to your friends and family once you’re home!
Where Can I Get More Information About Cuba?
I’ve made my Complete Guide To Traveling Cuba available on this website. And I recommend you read it before traveling to Cuba. It will help you navigate Cuba and Cuban society.
My Complete Guide To Cuba will save you a lot of time and a significant amount of money on your trip to Cuba. Cuba is not the sort of destination where you can just arrive unprepared.
Read the most Complete Guide To Traveling Cuba here.
