Varadero off-resort outings including Havana – Cuba – Debbie's Carribean Reviews Forums

stanbec 2015-03-25 00:19:48 UTC #1

I am going to be with my two boys, 13 and 14 in a few weeks. We’re only there for 5 nights at Iberostar Varadero.

1. I am planning a day trip to Havana and have some info from Jorge. The cost of trip each way is $85/$80.  Is there a better way without the bus?  It’s a shame that over half the money is for the round trip.

2. can anyone recommend a good guide in Havana for kids that age? We had some great ones over the years that were specifically geared to kids 

3. does anyone have any other outings they’d recommend that are only partial days?

cheersterry 2015-03-25 01:49:47 UTC #2

Without local connections there is no easy/cheap/magical way to travel between Varadero and Havana.

Personally I don’t see the big deal taking the bus to Havana – it’s only $10 and it drops you right beside the Prado, an excellent location to meet your guide – then splurge on a taxi for the trip back to the resort. It would a good experience for your kids.

[a href="http://pototocuba.com/Pototow/"]Here’s my favourite guide[/a] but he’s no less expensive than Jorge.

Cheers,
Terry

hfxjohn 2015-03-25 14:09:37 UTC #3

There is a 5cuc hoponhopoff bus that you can take from your resort into Varadero town, and that is quite popular, sit on the left on the top heading into town. There are many good places to eat in Varadero. we did two’excursions’. One was 1/2 jetski, (seats 2)the driver needs to be 18 years old. It was fun and we saw wild dolphins. Also did the 1/2 day snorking in the ocean and then a swim at Saturno caves. There are some ‘guides’ that you can hire at the resorts that will take you for a day trip to Havana for about $130cuc; often a resort staff will approach you. We did an overnight at a casa in havana, 200cuc for transport and the casa; we were really glad that we had at least one overnight.
This, apparently, is ‘the best darn tour to havana ever’, http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g147275-i99-k8274553-The_best_DARN_tour_to_Havana_EVER-Varadero_Matanzas_Province_Cuba.html
There seem to be a lot of guides offering something similar. For us, we just wanted to get there and back efficiently, and tour around (and get lost) on our own

desmei 2015-03-25 22:56:38 UTC #4

We’re taking our two teens (and an elderly) on a tour with Yosel Vazquez next week and it’s only $200 total, including transportation.

I’m not sure what else we will do with our two (14 and 16). I may take my 16 year old daughter to Tropicana in Matanzas (my son can come too, but I doubt he will want to). We will probably do the dolphin-free catamaran for the other elderly who is coming with us, and we’ll do the hop on/hop off bus.

beansntoast 2015-03-26 11:02:16 UTC #5

desmei, something to consider about the other elderly and the catamaran to Cayo Blanco. I was only once there 5 or 6 yrs ago and the boat anchored off the beach, dropped a stairway ramp and we waded ashore from 3′ of water. Some of the elderly and those afraid of water were not impressed. Not everyone had planned on "going swimming". I don’t know if it was one specific boat, a very busy day at the docks, or if it even happens today.
Wouldn’t hurt to ask when booking.

stanbec 2015-03-26 17:53:40 UTC #6

So some updates on the Havana excursions–hfxjohn’s recommendation has not returned my email in over 24 hours.-Jorge is asking 290 (mainly because the round trip is at 165 of it

-Cuba Connection and Cuba Outings are about half of that price. I am still waiting on clarification of price in a convertible as one offered in until the outskirts of Varadero and the other was unclear on it.

The best advice I think I have heard is either the Catamaran or a 1/2 Day snorkeling with cave visit. I haven’t seen a tour for it, but seems they are available from the hotels or tour reps.

hfxjohn 2015-03-26 18:10:01 UTC #7

Just to clarify, I was making the ‘observation’ that I had read about that ‘best ever’ Havana Tour, not that I was recommending it. I did make arrangements with one company for my trip to Havana, and I would be able to recommend them.

beansntoast 2015-03-27 10:17:27 UTC #8

[p]Maybe I misunderstood your post, but I would not pursue a trip from Varadero and back in an old convertible. Sounds like a "classic thing to do" but a comfy car with a/c and working windows will be much more enjoyable. Especially for the trip back.Why not rent a convertible for a short city tour in la Habana? Not hard to find once in the city.[/p][p][/p][p]

[/p][p]Edited to add:  Most topless cars you see in Cuba are chopped sedans or have no functioning roof.  Not truly convertible. [/p]

francoisp 2015-03-27 12:28:43 UTC #9

[p]Maybe I misunderstood your post, but I would not pursue a trip from Varadero and back in an old convertible. Sounds like a "classic thing to do" but a comfy car with a/c and working windows will be much more enjoyable. Especially for the trip back.Why not rent a convertible for a short city tour in la Habana? Not hard to find once in the city.[/p][p][/p][p]

[/p][p]Edited to add:  Most topless cars you see in Cuba are chopped sedans or have no functioning roof.  Not truly convertible. [/p]

I don’t know in how many weeks, but some parts of Havana are really really really hot during the summer and having the chance to chill a bit in an AC car (or bus) feels really nice after some time in the hot sun.

hfxjohn 2015-03-27 12:34:59 UTC #10

The day before we went to Havana last year it was 42 celcius on the beach, that night a ‘Canaduan cold front came in and we had 26 celcius for our time in Havana. Some of the old cars have ac, but all that way in a covertible would not appeal to me.

realhavana 2015-03-27 13:17:33 UTC #11

Hi, I can get you a Varadero to Havana taxi for 60cuc. It’s an official state taxi, the modern yellow ones with air conditioning and everything. It’s 60cuc per way. He will pick you up wherever you are in Varadero and drop you off wherever you want in Havana. But I need to know your dates in advance.

In Havana I can get you a taxi to drive you around and give you a tour of the city or whatever you want for about 20cuc per hour. The driver speaks English and is a fun character. He drives a 1962 Ford. It’s pretty cool.

Write me here or send me a PM and we can work out the details. I don’t collect any commission on any of this, just so you know.

beansntoast 2015-03-27 17:39:41 UTC #12

I can get you from Varadero to Havana for 85cuc in a beat up Lada so that you don’t look like everyday tourists. I do collect a commission.

Tomas’ prices have gone up in the last few weeks.

hfxjohn 2015-03-27 19:05:13 UTC #13

We had a beat up Mercedes (at least on the inside, looked great on the outside) for the same price. Was supposed to be new and have ac, but maybe didn’t since the windows were down. The tunes were good, and we were heading to Havana so all was right with the world. On the way back on the outskirts of Varadero there was a terrible noise on the front end that reduced travel to about 20 km. He said he’d be OK beacuse his dad lived in Varadero. What a great trip. Wish I was there now.
I know we looked like tourists. 

Spunky 2015-03-27 22:25:52 UTC #14

We got lots of quotes and ended up using a 55 pink Caddy convertible for an hour in and around Varadero for 20CUC total for the 4 of us, 25 CUC for the 59 Olds convertible back and 5 CUC for the horse and buggy around town. Priceless.

As Beansntoast says, these aren’t real convertibles but topless cars. Original? Absolutely not! With gas at 2CUC/l and diesel around 0.50CUC/l our first ride had a transplanted Mercedes engine, our 2nd, a Mitsubishi and one along the way had a Russian Hino diesel with a Toyota AC unit.
I got some shots of under the hood and though very clean, it’s Franken-Car heaven. 10 years ago they had Lada engines.

The horse was 100% organic.

For a trip to Havana, there are newer AC’d vans with great views and comfortable seats. We had quotes as low as 130CUC for 4, return, for a 7 hour day. Also had quotes for 300+CUC for the same trip.

beansntoast 2015-03-27 22:26:49 UTC #15

We all look like tourists. I just like teasing those that think they can blend in.

Charlene4 2017-04-30 02:07:46 UTC #16

Hey i was wondering how much you would charge for a taxi to go from saturnos caves from hotel playa de oro and maybe tour us around for like 4 hours we want to start at like 7 am because my two friends are only there for 3 days so we want to be back at the resort by noon

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