Varadero Beach

About this place

Varadero Beach runs along the Hicacos Peninsula in Matanzas Province, a resort town and one of the largest tourist areas in the Caribbean. It is also called Playa Azul, the Blue Beach, and TripAdvisor has ranked it among the world's best beaches. It has long pale sands and shallow blue water, with many all-inclusive hotels. The peninsula lies between the Bay of Cárdenas and the Straits of Florida, some 140 km east of Havana, about two hours by car. It is only 1.2 km wide at its widest and runs for more than 20 km to the north-east. The artificial Kawama Channel separates it from the mainland, and its tip, Punta Hicacos, is the northernmost point of the island of Cuba. The beach is broad and open, with the sun going down over calm water in the evening and thatched huts along the sand. Behind it are the town's streets, with bright old cars, wooden houses left from early days and a small craft market. A park in the centre of town has a small lake ringed by palms, a shady place in the afternoon. It is about 120 km from the Capitol in Havana in a straight line. Most visitors arrive through their hotels, so ask about power and water before booking, as conditions have closed some services. Check the flags before you swim. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Cuba because of fuel, power and water shortages, so read the current advice before you plan.