- Family friendly Cuba beach resorts
- Cuba's best resort for outdoor activities
- Divers note
- TOP 3 best resorts in Cuba
The Soviet people knew very well about the skies like sombreros and the golden beaches of Cuban resorts, thanks to a popular song written in the 70s of the last century. But few could see Freedom Island in those days: the circle of the lucky ones was limited to diplomats, military men, builders and members of their families. Now the best resorts in Cuba are ready to welcome all tourists who want to enjoy the white beaches of the island and the azure blue of the Caribbean Sea.
Family friendly Cuba beach resorts
There are many reasons why travelers choose Cuba. The first and foremost is the extraordinary beauty of the local landscapes. The beaches on Liberty Island are covered with fine white sand (the only exception is the coast in the southeast near the city of Santiago de Cuba, where the sand is black, volcanic), the sea plays with all shades of blue, and the emerald green of palm groves on the shores favorably sets off all of the above … In a word, heavenly pleasure!
There are many wild beaches in Cuba, but for families with children and family vacations, it is better to choose resorts with the availability of infrastructure.
Varadero
Varadero is undoubtedly the leader in the list of the best family resorts on Liberty Island. It is not for nothing that wealthy Americans preferred it in the first half of the last century.
The beaches of Varadero stretch for almost two dozen kilometers, and the beauty of every inch of the local coastline is worthy of the brush of a famous artist. The resort has dozens of various hotels, which have everything for a comfortable family vacation. The beaches of Varadero are suitable for both the youngest tourists and older children. The entrance to the water on the peninsula is almost everywhere shallow, the sea warms up to a pleasant temperature in the early morning.
Pay attention to the season you choose to travel to Cuba with babies. In January, waves occur off the coast of Varadero and bottom currents are raging due to strong winds. But the rainy season, which begins in May and ends in mid-autumn, almost does not interfere with the rest: tropical showers usually fall in the afternoon and end quickly enough.
Trinidad
This family friendly beach is located a few kilometers from Trinidad on the southern coast of Cuba. It is called Ancon and is located on a sand spit jutting out into the Caribbean Sea.
The season in Ancona lasts all year round. Even at the height of winter, the water warms up to + 25 ° С, and the air - up to 27 ° С. At this time, the weather is always dry and sunny, there is no extreme heat, the sea is calm.
The entrance to the water on the beaches near Trinidad is shallow and sandy. The infrastructure is in line with Cuban standards: sun umbrellas and sun loungers, a couple of cafes with soft drinks, ice cream and simple seafood dishes, diving equipment rental.
Cienfuegos
The resort of Cienfuegos is not in vain included in the list of the best in Cuba for families with children.
Firstly, it is located on the southern coast of the island, and the Caribbean Sea, even in January, is a couple of degrees warmer than the waters of the Atlantic in Varadero. Strong winds and waves are rare in the Cienfuegos area.
Secondly, there is a dolphinarium on Rancho Luna, the best beach in the vicinity of the resort, where you can not only attend shows with the participation of marine life, but also swim with dolphins.
There are cafes on the beach serving Caribbean cuisine on the menu. You can rent a room or a house from local residents right at the water's edge. You can fall asleep under the splash of the sea and feed hummingbirds from the palm of your hand, and these invaluable impressions will forever remain with you and your children.
When on Cuban beaches, always pay attention to the signals and warnings of the lifeguards! In the coastal waters of the island during the windy season in the winter months, jellyfish, called "Portuguese ships", can appear. They are unusually poisonous and contact with them causes unpleasant consequences. And therefore, having heard the word "Portuguese" from the rescuers, do not rush to think that you are being "sent" towards Europe. The beach staff are only trying to warn you against unauthorized swimming and prevent health problems.
Cuba's best resort for outdoor activities
Cayo Santa Maria is ideal for tourists who like to have an active and varied vacation, but at the same time prefer relative seclusion and cannot tolerate large crowds. The island off the northern coast of Cuba is rarely calm and is therefore ideal for surfers. In Cayo Santa Maria, you can rent a bike or scooter and get to the wild beaches in the southeast. The resort's water clubs offer boat and yacht trips. Those who like to hang out after sunset on the island will also love it. In the tourist village with the romantic name Zvezdnaya, a dance floor opens in the evenings.
There is another Santa Maria in the vicinity of Havana. The beach resort 18 km from the capital of the country can be reached by city bus departing from the stop opposite the Bolshoi Theater. The beaches of Santa Maria del Mar have everything you need to have a great day outdoors - from diving school to banana rides. On the coast of the capital's suburban resort, there are rental points for equipment for practicing water sports, and in the evenings, beach discos open. Hotels here are not cheap, and therefore most of the patrons of the sandy beaches of Santa Maria del Mar prefer to come to sunbathe and swim from Havana, where you can rent a room in private houses of Cubans at very low cost.
Divers note
Cuba is a diving paradise and this conventional cliché cannot convey the true wealth of diving opportunities here. Every corner of the land on the Cuban coast is diverse and unique, but what is hidden in the sea is worthy of a special story. If you are an experienced diver, feel free to choose any resort or beach. Beginners should try diving under the guidance of experienced instructors.
Varadero. Varadero has the largest number of dive centers and instructors. At the resort you can learn the art of diving, rent equipment and a boat, and even get a license. The abundance of interesting locations for underwater walks in Varadero pleases tourists. The best Cuban beach resort is able to surprise even those who have dived in the best places on the planet. Cayo Piedra del Norte, located a few kilometers northeast of Varadero, is especially popular among divers. On the territory of the marine park, which occupies about seven square kilometers, sunken ships and even a Soviet aircraft rest. They can be explored while diving. The marine life in the park is also very diverse, and the coral reefs are unusually beautiful and spectacular.
Cienfuegos. There are several particularly beautiful sites in the vicinity of Cienfuegos. The most popular are Ensenada de Barreras and Las Playitas. Coral underwater castles alternate here with sea caves, whale sharks and rays silently glide past swimmers, and shipwrecks serve as a refuge for millions of variegated fish of all shapes and sizes.
Guillermo Island. The aquatic centers of the islet of Cayo Guillermo offer the guests of the local hotels fascinating excursions along the seabed. The world of the Caribbean Sea in these latitudes is especially diverse, and the number of species living in the coastal waters of Cayo Guillermo is estimated at thousands. If you are new to the world of diving, the instructors of the centers will be happy to teach you how to don scuba gear and more. Ases-divers will be offered night dives and swimming with sharks.
Coco Island. The largest coral reef in the Caribbean is located off the coast of the island of Cayo Coco, connected to the "big" Cuba by a 27-kilometer dam. The entire territory of the island is a nature reserve, in which both plants and animals are carefully protected. Almost three dozen kilometers of the beaches of Cayo Coco are divided into separate sections by coral reefs, and the underwater world at each section is special and unique. Diving equipment can be rented from hotels on the island and from dive centers on the shore. Beginner instructor services are also available.
Guanaacabibes. Following in the footsteps of pirates and looking for treasure that sank centuries ago? Travel to the Guanaacabibes Peninsula in the west of Liberty Island. The international diving center here will offer you diving at sites whose bottom contains many pirate relics. The variety of aquatic life in the waters of Guanaacabibes is also impressive, from black corals to barracudas and giant stingrays.
Juventud Island. It is believed that Stevenson's Treasure Island is the Cuban Juventud. The largest of the country's own islands is located in the Caribbean Sea and is famous for its particularly scenic diving sites. The dive sites of Juventuda are very diverse and offer not only an introduction to the magnificent flora and fauna of the Caribbean, but also a vivid experience of visiting the area with sunken ships. There are mysterious caves and intricate tunnels in the local coral reefs, and the Punta Frances National Park is able to offer the diver several dozen different places for unforgettable dives.
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TOP 3 best resorts in Cuba
Rest on the Island of Freedom is wonderful because it is possible in any season. The weather in the Caribbean does not disappoint either in summer or in winter, and therefore tours to the best resorts of Cuba are always popular:
Perfect Varadero
The beach season in Varadero lasts all year round. Even in January, the water in the Atlantic Ocean, washing the shores of the resort, warms up to + 24 ° С, and at noon the thermometers rise to + 26 ° С on average.
Varadero offers ideal conditions for any holiday. The resort's hotels have children's animation and meals for toddlers, the beaches are equipped with everything you need, including a rescue service, and the opportunities for educational excursions offered by local travel agencies are truly impressive.
Water sports can be enjoyed on the beaches of Varadero, and the diverse underwater world can be explored while diving at dive sites. Varadero has golf courses and casinos, shopping malls and Caribbean cuisine.
In a word, the resort can be safely called the center of the tourist life of Cuba. If, of course, your priority is a comfortable stay with all the benefits of civilization.
The unique island of Guillermo
Cayo Guillermo is beautiful already because it is a small island. A piece of land is connected to the "mainland" by a man-made dam, and the road there is already capable of impressing the traveler. The island's beaches are very clean and picturesque, and one of them - Pilar - is listed as the most beautiful in the Caribbean.
On Cayo Guillermo, you can organize absolutely any vacation: from calm and contemplative to active and even extreme. The hotels of the island operate on the all inclusive system, which, you see, is important for a compatriot who is used to getting everything from rest.
The ideal time to relax in one of the best resorts in Cuba is November, when the season of storms and hurricanes is over, and the first half of spring, before the rains come.
Posh Holguin
Holguin is not only an expensive resort, but also simply gorgeous. Its beaches are consistently noted in the ratings of the most beautiful in the world, hotels surprise with the level of service, and entertainment pleasantly delights their respectable guests.
In Holguin it is not customary to fuss. Even active entertainment here looks calm and measured: leisurely fishing in the open sea and on the Laguna del Tesoro lake in the vicinity of the resort, excursions to Indian villages, diving and sailing on a yacht.
The best beach in Holguin is called Playa Esmeralda and it is here that the most expensive and fashionable hotels of the resort are located - "five", working on the "all inclusive" system.
You should not come with children on vacation to Holguín: young travelers may find a vacation in this paradise somewhat boring. But fans of beautiful sunrises will be rewarded for a long flight and a tidy sum that will have to pay for the tour.
Unusual Guided Tours in Cuba from Private Guides
When traveling, plan a car tour of the island. Rent a car and explore the most protected corners of Cuba, visit its wild beaches, enjoy the colonial architecture of Havana and Trinidad, feel the endlessness of the Caribbean on small islands where the air is saturated with salt and the sun. Perhaps you will be able to find your own wild beach, swimming on which will give unforgettable memories of a lifetime, and the feeling of flight that has arisen will answer the question of why Cuba is called the Island of Freedom.
