Where is Varadero? – Explore the Caribbean with Debbie

You might have heard of it, this mythical place with more sun than you can imagine, beautiful beaches, an array of all inclusive hotels, and more fun than you can shake a stick at. You might even know the name, but do you know anything else about it, and more specifically, do you know where is it?  more…

You might have heard of it, this mythical place with more sun than you can imagine, beautiful beaches, an array of all inclusive hotels, and more fun than you can shake a stick at. You might even know the name, but do you know anything else about it, and more specifically, do you know where it is?

I am of course talking about Varadero, Cuba’s premier beach resort.

This hugely popular part of the country is completely geared up for tourism, which means it is safe and accessible for those who want to kick back and relax in the sun, with the option of exploring Cuba further if the mood takes them. But where is this place?

Well, Varadero is connected to the main island of Cuba by the Kawama Channel, and is actually a narrow section of land which heads out into the sea, making it a great beach resort break. At its very widest tip, the Hicacos Peninsula, on which Varadero sits, is only 1.2km wide, so obviously you’re never far away from the water, sat right between the beautiful Bay of Cardenas and the Straits of Florida.

Varadero is situated in the Matanzas Province, connected to Havana and other major towns by the Via Blanca Highway. This means it is easy to get around from Varadero, and this has helped majorly with the huge tourism boom that has come to this part of the country. Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport services this part of the country, and is the second most important airport in the whole of Cuba, of course after the capital, Havana. This particular airport was built to facilitate the tourism that flocks to Varadero every year, with countless all inclusive hotels and resorts dotted around the entire town. It is possible to stay in fantastic, glittering 5 star resorts, with every whim and desire catered for, as well as smaller, down to 2 star hotels, still all inclusive, and offering a base. This means a hugely differing price range, and makes Varadero accessible to many different kinds of visitors and budgets. Right at the northernmost part of the whole of Cuba lies Punta Hicacos, and the Hicacos Point Natural Park. This is where you’ll see nature at its very best, with stunning lush, green forests and beaches to take your breath away. This is also an ecologically protected area, and you’ll find countless different types of wildlife here, including birds and reptiles like nowhere else. The La Calavera, or The Skull, salt works remains are also in this part of the country, as well as the Cave of Ambrosio and Mangon Lake, which pull in plentiful visitors and you can get excursions to this section of the island from Varadero.

Whilst it’s easy to point the finger at Varadero for its mass tourism standpoint, fast food eateries, full on entertainment and shopping opportunities, you don’t have to travel too far to see the real Cuban way of life. Varadero brings in plentiful and much needed revenue to Cuba through tourism, and in return for this, holidaymakers are given the best holiday they could wish for, and then some.

Fancy a beach break this year?