Varadero Holidays

Varadero sits on a 20km strip of white sand so perfect it barely looks real, and once you've tried a mojito made with rum that's never left the island, you'll understand why people keep coming back.

Highlights of your Holiday to Varadero

• The Beach - Over 20 kilometres of powdery white sand and turquoise water stretching the full length of the Hicacos Peninsula, regularly voted one of the best beaches on the planet.

• All-Inclusive Paradise - Varadero is built for the all-inclusive life, with resorts lining the coast where everything from cocktails to catamaran trips is sorted before you even unpack.

• Cuban Culture on Your Doorstep - Havana is only two hours away, so you can soak up all the classic cars, salsa music, and crumbling colonial architecture on a day trip without leaving your beach base behind.

• Rum and Cigars - You're in Cuba, so the rum is world-class, the cigars are hand-rolled, and there's always someone willing to show you how both are made.

• Underwater Adventures - Over 30 dive sites sit just offshore, with coral reefs, underwater caves, and warm Caribbean waters that stay clear enough to see your toes (and the odd barracuda).

Good to Know

• ☀️ Weather - Varadero gets around 330 days of sunshine a year with temperatures sitting between 25°C and 32°C. The dry season runs from November to April, and the wet season brings short, sharp afternoon showers rather than full washouts.

• 💶 Money - Cuba uses the Cuban Peso (CUP), but most holidaymakers are on all-inclusive so your spending money goes further. A meal at a paladar (privately run restaurant) runs about £8-£15 / €9-€17, and a mojito at a beach bar costs roughly £3-£5 / €4-€6. Cash is king here, so bring plenty.

• 🎶 Fun Fact - The nearby city of Matanzas is known as "the Athens of Cuba" because it's the birthplace of both the danzon and the rumba, two of Cuba's most iconic dance styles. So if you find yourself moving your hips after a couple of Havana Clubs, blame the locals.

Local Lingo

Spanish is the language in Varadero, and while staff at the resorts speak English, having a few words of Spanish goes down a treat with locals. Even a dodgy accent gets a smile.

• Hola, OH-lah, Hello

• Gracias, GRAH-thee-as, Thank you

• Por favor, por fah-VOR, Please

• Una cerveza, por favor, OO-nah ser-VEH-sah, por fah-VOR, A beer, please

• ¿Cuánto cuesta?, KWAN-toh KWES-tah, How much does it cost?

• ¡Salud!, sah-LOOD, Cheers!

• La cuenta, por favor, lah KWEN-tah, por fah-VOR, The bill, please

• Está buenísimo, es-TAH bweh-NEE-see-moh, This is delicious

Travel Advice

• Flight time - Around 10 hours from major UK & Ireland airports, with seasonal direct flights and one-stop options via European hubs.

• Time difference - Five hours behind in winter, six hours behind in summer.

• Currency - Cuban Peso (CUP). Cuba is overwhelmingly a cash economy, so bring euros or pounds sterling to exchange at official CADECA bureaux on arrival. Cards issued by some banks outside the US may work at ATMs, but don't rely on it. US-issued bank cards do not work at all.

• Passport and visa - UK & Ireland passport holders need a valid passport (at least six months remaining) and a Cuban Tourist Card, which you can buy through your airline or travel agent before departure.

• Plugs - A mix of Type A, B and C sockets. Bring a universal adaptor.

• Tipping - Tipping in CUP is appreciated for housekeeping, bar staff and restaurant servers. Many resort guests also bring small denomination euros or pounds to tip with. Budget a few pounds/euros a day for tips.

• Tap water - Stick to bottled water. Resorts provide it free of charge or at minimal cost.

• Health - No mandatory vaccinations, but check with your GP before travelling. Hepatitis A and Typhoid boosters are commonly recommended.

More Destinations

• Cuba - Classic cars, salsa rhythms, colourful colonial cities, and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Havana alone is worth the flight, and the rest of the island delivers on every front.

• Dominican Republic - The Caribbean's biggest all-inclusive destination, with mega-resorts in Punta Cana, lush green mountains inland, and a nightlife scene that properly delivers.

• Jamaica - Reggae, jerk chicken, waterfalls you can actually climb, and a laid-back energy that gets into your bones from day one. Montego Bay and Negril are the headline acts.

• Barbados - A slightly more polished Caribbean vibe with incredible food, rum distilleries, and surf on the east coast that'll keep the adventurous ones happy.

• Antigua - The famous "365 beaches" claim means you could try a new one every day for a year. Smaller and quieter than the bigger islands, with seriously gorgeous coastline.

• St Lucia - The Pitons rising out of the sea make it one of the most dramatic-looking islands in the Caribbean, and it's got the rainforest hikes and volcanic mud baths to match.