Varadero is the number one resort on the maps of Cuba. Luxurious hotels, vibrant nightlife, dozens of restaurants with national and international cuisine, beach activities - all this makes a vacation in Varadero comfortable and beautiful. The focus here is on truly luxurious and photogenic beaches. And thousands of tourists from all over the world come here all year round.
However, this sophisticated resort, designed for tourists and meeting all their needs, can not provide a glimpse of the real Cuban life. To feel the atmosphere of the island and get acquainted with its national flavor, you need to find time and make several excursion trips. There are plenty of attractions around Varadero, so it makes sense to think in advance what to see in Varadero.
TOP 10 attractions in Varadero
House of Dupont
House of Dupont
The resort owes its development to the American billionaire Irene Dupont. When Dupont was looking for the best place for a secluded getaway in 1927, he opted for the Cuban Icacos Peninsula. He was attracted by the natural beauty, climate and gorgeous beaches. But he built his house not near the water, but on a rocky high bank.
The Dupont House is a luxurious three-storey villa. At the time of the first owner, it was equipped in the most modern way: a telephone, an elevator, a unique private organ. To maintain the huge mansion, 76 workers were required, living right there.
DuPont invested huge amounts of money in the development of Varadero. And gradually he attracted many of his wealthy compatriots here. This has given the resort a reputation as a respectable holiday destination.
Today the house houses a golf club, one of the best in the Caribbean, a restaurant and a mini-hotel. Visitors can walk around virtually the entire villa, take in wonderful views from the upper floors and take beautiful souvenir photos.
Church of Santa Elvira
Church of Saint Elvira
The Church of St. Elvira is a relatively young building. It was built in 1938 and is the only Catholic church in the area. And although it is not a masterpiece of architecture, tourists still enjoy exploring it and consider it one of the attractions of the resort.
The peculiarity of this lovely church is that it was built of wood and stone - materials typical of Alpine Germany and Austria. Nevertheless, the church of Agia Elvira fits very harmoniously into the architecture of Varadero.
The appearance of the church is rather laconic. It is a low rise white stone building with a gable roof covered with tiles. Inside, the stone walls are not finished and look the same as the outside. The roof is supported by dark wood cross-beams. The simplicity of the interior design leaves a pleasant impression.
The population of Varadero is not very religious, so the church is often empty, although it is active. On Sundays, the church hosts services in Spanish.
Rum House
Rum House
Opened in 2001, the House of Roma quickly gained popularity among tourists visiting Varadero. Of interest to foreigners is the exposition telling about the origin of rum and brandy in Cuba, about how sugarcane appeared on the island, how this strong drink gained popularity among soldiers and pirates during the Spanish conquest. You will learn about the first rum factories in Cuba, about the people thanks to whom this industry developed and flourished. They will share with you the recipes and secrets of making rum. And they will teach you how to distinguish a really high-quality product from cheap fakes.
The theoretical part of the excursion can be supported by practical experience, because all varieties of Cuban rum are collected here. Visitors to this unusual house-museum have the opportunity to taste different brands of rum and form their own opinion about the taste of this drink.
Guam
Guam
Guam is a conservation area an hour and a half from Varadero. There are no sandy beaches and scorching sun. Guama is the picturesque Laguna del Tesoro lake, several islands connected by wooden bridges, a system of canals, a botanical garden, an Indian village and a crocodile farm.
Long before Columbus, Indians of the Taino tribe lived in these places. Today, a resort was built here, stylized as an Indian village. Major architects, artists, historians and biologists took part in its construction. Canals were built, the lagoon was cleared, and plants characteristic of the area were planted on the fortified banks. With great attention to detail, 44 Indian huts were built from straw and leaves. They stand on stilts surrounded by water and can only be reached by boat. Guam got its name from the name of the leader of the tribe.
The local botanical garden is also very popular with tourists. Here you can not only see many exotic plants, but also taste unusual fruits and cocktails.
At the crocodile farm, you can observe predators almost in their natural habitat, see how they are caught, take pictures with a small crocodile. A nearby café offers crocodile burgers.
Varaikakos Natural Park
Varaikakos Natural Park
The Varaikakos Nature Reserve, located on the Icacos Peninsula, is easily accessible by car, sightseeing bus or even on foot.
The deposit of crystals and salts, which was at this place 100 years ago, became impoverished, and it was decided to create an area where the true Cuban nature would be preserved. Today the park consists of narrow paths between various cacti and mangroves. And a lot of tourists.
The most interesting exhibit is El Patriarca (translated "patriarch"), a 500-year-old giant cactus, one of the largest in Cuba. There are many such ancient plants in the park.
Another feature of Varaikakos Park is the caves. The guides will definitely tell you about the rituals that were performed in the caves by the Aboriginal Indians. The most interesting caves are Ambrosio, where 72 drawings of ancient Indians have been preserved and the Muslim, where smugglers, nicknamed by Muslims for their silence during interrogations, hid their goods.
When going on an excursion to Varaikakos, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and closed clothing, there are many mosquitoes. And if you bring a flashlight with you, then exploring the caves will bring even more pleasure.
Bellamar cave
Bellamar cave
Bellamar is a 30-minute drive from Varadero towards Havana. This cave has been declared a National Monument of Cuba. Cavers from all over the world consider it their duty to come here to form their own opinion about the stunning beauty of Beliamar.
To appreciate the splendor of the cave, you need to descend 159 steps. And then the luxurious "Gothic Hall" will open for you. Its length is 80 meters, width is 25 meters. The walls and ceilings are covered with a myriad of multicolored rare crystals.
The Columbus Cloak is impressive - a 12-meter stalactite hanging in folds resembling a curtain. Other stalactites and stalagmites are no less beautiful. Experts estimate the age of many of them at 40,000 years. The purest water stream flows along the bottom of the cave.
Travel tip: Comfortable sportswear and footwear will come in handy. And keep up with your guide so you don't get lost in the cave's galleries.
Hosone Park
Hosone Park
Of all the parks in the vicinity of Varadero, Josone Park is the most attractive and popular. Talented landscape designers have transformed it into a magical garden, an oasis of stunning nature. The collection of rare plants that grow only in Cuba is impressive.
Several beautifully designed artificial reservoirs allow boating and admiring the park from the water.
The park is full of exotic animals and birds, the most interesting of which are the large and bright macaws, which are found here at every step.
There are several restaurants in the park with Italian, Creole and international cuisine. In the entertainment area you will find a bowling alley, a shooting range and a swimming pool. The smallest visitors will love the miniature railway. Equipped barbecue areas make the park popular not only among tourists, but also among local residents.
Avenida Primera street
Avenida primera
The main street of the resort of Varadero is notable for being the main street not only for tourists, but also for the local population. Travelers look for dining, shopping and entertainment here. But the inhabitants of Varadero come here for the same. The locals are hospitable and cheerful people, so Avenida Primera always has a lively atmosphere, a real Cuban spirit. Music is heard from everywhere, in some places people easily start dancing, demonstrating their temperament. Numerous shops and souvenir shops are great entertainment after a beach holiday. And if you are a little tired of the noisy and cheerful street, you can turn off it and try to find unusual monuments installed in Varadero: a monument to a tube of toothpaste, a monument to a crab or a monument to Don Quixote.
Pinar del Rio
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Rio is an agricultural province of Cuba, world famous for the production of cigars. This is the ideal land for growing tobacco. Visiting one of the tobacco factories in the region, you can find out what types of tobacco exist, how the tobacco leaf is collected, processed and rolled, how the best Cuban cigars in the world are obtained.
In addition to factories for the production of tobacco products, an excursion to Pinar del Rio involves exploring other, no less interesting, attractions:
- orchid garden, which contains 4000 species of these flowers, including the famous black orchid and chocolate orchid;
- Indian cave, where tourists are offered a boat ride on the river inside the cave;
- El Salto waterfall, in the spray of which a rainbow is always visible;
- distillery, where the worldwide popular Guayabita del Pinar liqueur is produced
Dolphinarium
Dolphinarium
Dolphinarium in Varadero is a wonderful attraction for adults and especially for kids. The dolphinarium occupies a fairly large area. Animals feel at ease and comfortable here, as they live in natural conditions, because a special pool is connected to the sea.
During the half-hour performance, dolphins amaze the audience with the most spectacular tricks, dance and perform the commands of the trainers. And after the performance, those who wish can swim with dolphins or take pictures with charming water artists as a keepsake. The inhabitants of the dolphinarium willingly make contact, evoking the most positive emotions in tourists.
You can get to the dolphinarium, located on the outskirts of Varadero, using a special tourist bus that delivers directly from hotels and back.
