Varadero is the known for its stunning beaches and crystal clear waters. As well as the sunbathing and snorkelling, there are some more unusual and fun things to do in Varadero. It is very easy to forget that you are in Cuba and it is a vast contrast to Havana.
This tourist hot spot has over 60 high end hotels, shops, water activities and an uninterrupted 20km stretch of breathtaking beach that rivals almost any other in the world.
Saturno Cave
Saturno Cave is an underground cave full of stunning blue water and walls texturised with lots of stalactites and stalagmites.
After going through the main building and down a short trail you will see the entrance to the cave. There is a shallow area if you just want to paddle but it does go a lot deeper in the middle so it is a popular place to snorkel. There were even bats sleeping at the top of the cave!
It is best to arrive before 10:00 if you want to be the only ones there as it is a popular tour destination. We got there at 09:00 and had the cave to ourselves for 30 minutes before lots of people arrived on a tour bus.
Entrance fee: 5 CUC
Opening hours: 08:00-18:00 everyday
Sculpture of Don Quixote
We first spotted this statue on the way to our hotel and wanted to go back the next day before Saturno cave. There is a golf club with a similar name so our driver at first thought we meant there. Then he realised that we meant the statue between the old tower and Meson del Quijote restaurant. Pretty sure he thought we were weird for wanting to have photos with it.
This steel sculpture of Don Quixote on horseback with a donkey following behind is an ode to the classic Spanish novel.
Iberostar Selection hotel
Iberostar Selection hotel was amazing, and even though it was expensive it was worth the price. It felt like a luxurious all inclusive hotel which isn’t usually our thing. They had great Wifi, a gym and even an onsite pharmacy. The food here was very different to the rest of Cuba and there was such a wide selection to choose from, all freshly made.
We had a mix up as our booking was cancelled the night before we arrived and we didn’t receive the email until we got there because of the lack of Wifi. It was cancelled because of US imposed restrictions in Cuba and bookings.com is an American company. The hotel handled it very well and even gave us an upgrade for the small inconvenience that wasn’t even their fault. Our room had an amazing view from the balcony and was very spacious.
Varadero failed to captivate us in the way that the rest of Cuba did. This is probably partially due to our inability to spend very long on a beach without getting bored. I have never been to anywhere else in the Caribbean but I am guessing this is what it would be like.
If you love the beach and all inclusive resorts then you will love it here, and it is a great place to relax. If you don’t then there are still a few unusual and fun things to do in Varadero.
For usual things to do in Havana click here: Unusual things to do in Havana
