Overview

The superb white sandy beaches of Varadero span a total length of over 18 km (11 mi), and Cubans rightly claim that they are the loveliest in the country. The calm, clear waters range in colour from turquoise to deep blue, with a million and one shades in between. The average temperature in Varadero is 25°C (77°F), and the ocean, warm year-round, is perfect for swimming and water sports.

If the beaches need no introduction, the same can't be said of the Parque Natural de Varadero, a little-known park also found on the Hicacos peninsula. This uncrowded, unspoiled natural setting is also one of the few places in Varadero where you don't have to pay to get in. Fourteen archaelogical sites lie hidden within its boundaries.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, the development of the local tourist industry has transformed Varadero's urban landscape, though a few old wooden houses and streets have survived. Now Varadero's main tourist attraction, the Mansión Xanadu (or Casa DuPont), a majestic Spanish colonial-style mansion, with carved wooden balconies and windows, is reminiscent of an Andalusian palace. Today the mansion comprises the Las Américas restaurant.

As far as nightclubs are concerned, Varadero is definitely one of the best cities in Cuba. All catering to tourists, these establishments offer a wide variety of music and atmospheres.

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