Varadero is a resort town in the province of Matanzas,
Cuba, and one of the largest resort areas in the Caribbean. Varadero is also called Playa Azul, meaning “blue beach” in Spanish. Varadero beach—some call it the world’s greatest beach—has long been the pride of Cuba, and a magnet for the rich and famous. Today, a broad range of
hotels and
resorts on this wide, sandy beach offer affordable vacations to please any pocketbook.
With hotels, shops and nightclubs spread out across the peninsula, there are areas where activity is more concentrated, but nowhere is there the buzz you might expect from the major holiday resort on the largest Caribbean island. None of this detracts from what most people come here for, namely the beach: a seemingly endless runway of blinding white sand. This is also the best place in Cuba for watersports,
scuba diving,
fishing and boat trips, with three marinas and two diving clubs offering a wide range of activities.
Its location on a narrow peninsula ensures that it is constantly cooled by tropical breezes.
But this white beach set against a backdrop of astonishing turquoise water and azure sky is not the only attraction in Matanzas province. The nearby cities of Cardenas and Matanzas (the provincial capital) are known for their
art,
history and
culture. Southwest of Varadero, on the province’s Caribbean coast, is the Zapata Peninsula, famous for its ecotourism and history.
Many famous and infamous people have stayed in Varadero, like
Mafia boss Al Capone. Unique events like the Internation Carnival, an initiative of Cubans and Foreigners started in the 1980s, were also liquidated. You have to eat the Cuban Food! The nightlife in Varadero is unique. You can visit Mambo club, Havana Cafe, La Rumba, La Bamba,
Tropicana cabaret.
