Visit Varadero and Havana

Cuba is an amazing country with so much to love. In my opinion, everyone should take the opportunity to visit Varadero and Havana as we did in 2017 and it remains one of my favourite destinations. Some people have had very different experiences in Cuba. It is important to plan carefully and to expect a different atmosphere than what you may be used to. Many of the visitors to Cuba are Canadian or European. Americans are currently only able to travel there if their reason for travel falls within one of the twelve categories described here.

Where To Stay in Varadero

On our visit, I spent a lot of time researching where to stay and reading many, many reviews from previous visitors. We stayed at the Ocean Vista Azul, a fairly new (at the time) all-inclusive resort in Veradero. We never experienced some of the issues that others have had in Cuba. Our beds and pillows were comfortable, rooms were cleaned efficiently, and staff was polite and friendly. It is important to realize when traveling to Cuba that accommodation can be very basic. Many normal provisions are hard to come by. If you usually stay in a 3 star hotel elsewhere, book a 4 star in Cuba. We also had good food throughout our trip. I think part of that is because we embrace the local foods, instead of going to another country and trying to eat what we do at home. Rice and beans were offered with most meals, and I tried plantains for the first time in Cuba.

What to Do in Varadero

We stayed quite busy throughout our time there and tried to see as much as we could in a limited time. The hop on hop off bus running into town was very useful. We used it a few times to go to a market to shop for souvenirs, to go to the Beatles Bar with incredible live bands, and to visit the La Casa del Ron (a couple of times) for some rum tastings. One thing we learned was that sitting on the top, open air deck of the bus on a windy day was not the best idea.

Fun Day Trips from Varadero

The full day Jeep Safari was an enjoyable excursion where we did the driving in a convoy of vehicles. We started at a cave where we were able to jump in and swim in the clear water. Then we continued on to a beach for some snorkeling. It was our first time snorkeling and the guides took the time to make sure we were all comfortable with the masks and snorkels. Following that we drove to a ranch for lunch to see some animals and go on a short horseback ride. Along the road to the ranch, there were many women and children waving at the cars. Since there are so many things that the Cuban people can’t buy they really appreciate anything tourists can bring to them. Many people handed out crayons, kid’s toys, gum, soap and other toiletries, band-aids, shoes, and more. We rounded out the day with an indigenous dance performance and a motorboat ride up a river.

On another flawless, blue sky day we took a catamaran trip. There was a short stop for snorkeling but our eventual destination was Cayo Blanco. The beach at Cayo Blanco is like something you would see on a postcard, white sand for miles and aquamarine water. We thoroughly enjoyed swimming and lazing on the beach with beverages after our seafood meal. It was a wonderful, relaxing day.

Never ones to miss out on discovering the regular way of life in any country, we did spend some time learning about the both the sugar and cigar industries. We travelled to the towns of Cardenas and Metanzas. Nearby, we walked through a sugar cane field where they showed up how they harvest their crops and then went by train to a traditional sugar mill factory. There we saw how they used every part of the plant, nothing in Cuba goes to waste. We also learned how cigars are rolled and how to properly light them.

What to Do in Havana

And finally, you can’t miss a trip to Havana while in Cuba. There are many ways to do this, but we chose a group tour. Havana is where the past and the present come together all at once in a way I have never seen in other cities. We stood in one square in the middle of old Havana where we could see buildings still standing that were built in the 1600’s, the 1700’s, and the 1800’s.. On the roads you will see many, many classic cars, along with horses and buggies. Our tour guide to Havana was excellent and told us many stories about the history of the country. One of our stops was at Finca Vigia, the house where writer Ernest Hemingway once lived. Later we did have a ride in a classic car along the Malecon, the wide roadway that goes along the harbour in Havana. We ended our day at the nightly cannon firing ceremony at the El Morro fortress.