Varadero, Cuba Family Travel Guide presented by
Winter-Spring 2013
An introduction to
Varadero, Cuba Presented by
Thomas Cook Kids First Family Vacations A selection of all-inclusive family resort vacation packages designed to provide the ultimate holiday experience for parents and children.
Cover images courtesy of depositphotos.com.
Varadero, Cuba Consisting of no less than twenty kilometres of beautiful white sand beaches, the resort of Varadero is one of the largest tourist resorts in the Caribbean. Thanks to its modern infrastructure and close to perfect climate, it’s also one of the most popular. Should you find yourself dreaming of smoking the world’s finest cigars on some of the world’s finest beaches, here are a few important things to know.
Climate Cuba enjoys a mild subtropical climate. The average daily temperature in Summer is 79 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature in Winter, on the other hand, is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The hurricane season officially lasts from August to October. This coincides with the countries rainy season which lasts from May until October. Despite its ominous sounding name however, rainy season visitors can still expect three sunny days out of every four.
When to Go The most popular time to visit Cuba is between December and April. Unfortunately however, this is also the most expensive time to visit, with the cost of both airfare and accommodations typically rising by as much as forty percent. Time your visit outside of these peak months, and you can not only expect lower prices but also decidedly less crowded beaches. Low season visitors can also expect a much more vivid view of traditional Cuban life.
Things to Do There’s no denying the beauty of Varadero’s beaches but there’s a lot more to Cuba than sunbathing. Here are a few of the best things to do. • Visit Havana: Day trips to the Cuban capital are widely available and typically cost around $70. Known for its beautiful architecture and fascinating history, it’s an unforgettable city that all visitors to Cuba should experience at least once. • Smoke a Cigar: It might be the most clichéd thing that you can do on the island but no visit to Cuba would be complete without a smoke of their world famous cigars. Stick to reputable retailers however, a “good deal” generally means a counterfeit cigar. • Tee off at Varadero Golf: Cuba’s first eighteen hole golf course is well designed, aesthetically stunning and almost always surprisingly quiet. • Go Diving: Barracuda Diving Centre offers snorkeling, cave diving and night diving, all offered by a friendly, multilingual staff. Arguably the best place on the island to experience the ocean. • Saturno Cave: Arguably the most impressive cave system in all of Cuba. Tours are both affordable and exhilarating. Highlights include scuba diving, indigenous bats and some pretty spectacular photo opportunities. • Take a Cruise: The most popular cruise in Varadero is the Seafari Caya Blanco. Always a top rated attraction on Trip Advisor, the cruise includes a dolphin show, a leisurely lunch at Caya Blanco and even some light scuba diving.
Where to Eat From delicious Cuban flavours to more traditional family favourites, there’s no shortage of places to dine in Varadero. Here are four of the most popular. • Varadero 60: If you want to try some genuine Cuban food, this is where you go. Popular among both tourists and locals, this understated restaurant serves traditional dishes packed full of Cuban and Caribbean flavour. • Kiki’s: Widely regarded as being home to the best pizza in Varadero, Kiki’s is an Italian restaurant offering both delicious food and generous portions. • La Gruta: Famous for its excellent sea food and even better Mojitos, La Gruta is a quirky, intimate restaurant set inside a candle lit cave. If you’re looking for a memorable dining experience, this is where you go. • Salsa Squarez: For those nights when you can’t decide between Cuban, Mexican or Italian, Salsa Squarez specializes in all three. Perfect for parents trying desperately to please everyone. • La Casa Del Chef: If there’s one thing that the Caribbean does well, it’s seafood and La Casa Del Chef is a perfect example of this. To make the most of your visit, opt for the $14 grilled lobster, arguably the best value meal in Varadero.
Good to Know Finally, here are a few important things to know before you land in Cuba. • Regardless of how you feel about the history of Cuba, open criticism of the government or Fidel is a major taboo. While the Cuban people are generally a very friendly race, this is one area in which it’s important to tread softly. • While English is widely spoken in Varadero, outside of the resort English speakers are a little more rare. If you plan on exploring the rest of Cuba, a few Spanish phrases are therefore very much recommended. • The average Cuban worker makes as little as twenty US dollars per month. While a ten percent tip mightn’t mean a lot to the average tourist, it’s what many workers are counting on to survive.