Varadero is a resort town located at the curves of Hicacos Peninsula in the province of Matanzas, Cuba. As it is the largest resort areas in the Caribbean, it consists of huge and constantly evolving collection of luxury all-inclusive resorts, shops, water activities and pool-side entertainment, but one of the most important reasons for which Varadero is famous is its 20km stretch of gorgeous white sand beach with turquoise water. Here are some of the major attractions in Varadero.
“Parque Josone”
A beautiful park in the middle of the Varadero which is created date back in 1940 and its name is taken from its former owners name José Fermín Iturrioz y Llaguno and his wife Onelia. The park features botanical gardens, miniature violets, music, birds (like flamingo, parrots, goose, ostrich and more), lakes with rowboats and water bikes, atmospheric eateries and a public swimming pool.
“Reserva Ecologica Varahicacos (Ecological preserve)”
This park is established in 1974 as an ecological reserve. Reserva Ecologica Varahicacos is a 3 square kilometer of protected area located in the north-eastern end of the Hicacos Peninsula. This park features Patriarca(a giant 500+ years old cactus), Cueva de Ambrosio ( large cave famous for its Indian pictographs drwaings, qround 200 years old.), Cueva de Musulmanes (a cave with human remain almost 2,500 years old) and to view closely the flora and fauna of the area.
“Cueva de Ambrosio”
Cueva de Ambrosio is an archaeological cave site located inside the Reserva Ecologica Varahicacos, which reflects the Indian traditions of the region. The cave stretches over 300 meters of area with 5 interconnected galleries and contains 72 aboriginal rupestrian rock drawings that are representative of the Taino culture. The rock drawings are around 2000 years old and it is one of largest collection of Indian pictographs in the Caribbean area. This cave is also member of BCI (bat conservation International) dedicated to the protection of 1300+ species of bats and their habitats. Another cave in the area is Cueva de Musulmanes, which features human remains dating back over 2500 years.
“Xanadu Mansion (formerly Dupont Mansion)”
This historical 1930 Spanish style mansion, located on the San Bernardigo crags, designed by architects Covarrocas and Govantes in July 1927. It is now an upscale hotel and club house for Varadero‘s 18 hole golf course and a top floor bar for sunset cocktails. The Xanadu Mansion consist of 4 floors where you can find Ground Floor with Front Desk, lobby and restaurant, second floor with 6 luxury rooms, third floor with a panoramic view bar, side building for golf club reception desk, pro shop and restaurant and the basement is wine cellar.
“Varadero Municipal Museum”
Varadero Municipal Museum is located in the downtown of Varadero. It’s a beautiful wooden architecture of 2 storey building with wrap around porches and one of the first frame houses built on the Hicacos Peninsula. It is dated back to 1921. This museum displays archaeological artifacts of aboriginal people of this region, antique furniture, documents, maps, photographs and objects related to the short history of the town.
“Iglesia de Santa Elvira (Santa Elvira church)”
Santa Elvira is a Catholic Church situated east of Parque Central which is dated back to 1938. This church is famous for its irregular structure made up of wood and stone gives it Alpine structure. The upper front of the church is a horseshoe arch type structure, which serves as a bell tower with a cross at the top.
“Anfiteatro de Varadero (amphitheater)”
Anfiteatro de Varadero is located on the mainland site of the Varadero Bridge. It’s a nice open air theater, which is a best place to enjoy musical concerts from Cuban music to International music. This place also serves best Pina Coladas in Varadero.
“Espacio 34”
Espacio 34 is an art museum situated in Mantazas, Vardero famous for representing the contemporary works of Cuban artists from painting, photographs, ceramics, silver works and sculptures to cultivate the diverse art forms in the country. This art museum is used to be part of the multi art center called “Casa del la Cultura Los Corales” which is now divided into Espacio 34 and dance academy “abc Academia Baile en Cuba”. Espacio 34 is also member of FBC (Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales). Work of artists like Alicia Leal, Ernesto García Peña, Frómeta Gilberto Fernández, Juan Moreira Bencomo, Lesbia Vent Dumois and Manuel Lopez Oliva is shown here.
“abc Academia Baile en Cuba (abc Dance Academy)”
One of the best places to learn and improve your skills in Cuban dances such as salsa, mambo, rumba, danzon, cha cha cha.
This is place is initially a part of multi art center called “Casa del la Cultura Los Corales”, which is later divided into Espacio 34 and dance academy “abc Academia Baile en Cuba”. The abc Dance Academy also hosts the “Varadero Baila, Festival Internacional de Balladores de Salsa” which is an annual Salsa festival organized by cuban agencia Paradiso Turismo Cultural (belonging to ARTEX).
“Centro Todo En Uno (All-in-One) Amusement Park”
Centro Todo En Uno (All-in-One) is an amusement park with a small shopping mall situated in Matanzas, Varadero. Tourists can find here, a restaurant (called La Carretera), a pizzeria, a bowling alley, a few snack bars, a stage, a kid’s playground, arcade games, pool tables, shops, and several rides such as: bumper cars, roller coaster, baseball batting practice, merry-go-round, etc. This amusement park is mostly frequented by Cuban’s. So it’s a good place to meet the locals and to have some fun time outside resorts.
“Centro Internacional de Paracaidismo (Skydiving Center)”
A small diving center based at a small domestic airport, situated few hundred meters from Varadero Bridge. The basic package includes transfer between hotel and the airport, instruction session and a tandem sky dive. The drop will be done from 2500-3000 meters with 35 seconds of free fall (the total fly time will be of 10 minutes). Solo jump options are also available but only for certified jumpers only.
Apart from above mentioned beautiful locations, Varadero is also known for its growing chain of all-inclusive resorts spread along-side the ocean. “Barceló Varadero” is one of the famous resorts in area situated very close to the Playa De La Arena beach with a view of LA Gomera. It’s an ideal family resorts which offers refurbished, spacious and bright rooms with scenic view of the beach area, buffet restaurant, lounge bar, snack bar, swimming pools, spacious garden, fitness center, spa center, children’s playground, mini club, tennis & TT courts and activities like marine mammal watching, trekking, hiking, fishing, surfing etc. And here are some of the other famous resorts in the area are, Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort & Spa, Melia Las Americas, Iberostar Varadero, Blau Varadero Hotel Cuba, Hotel Melia Marina Varadero and Melia Varadero.
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