Along the Hicacos Península with an extensión of 22 kilometers of beach you will find the famous Varadero Beach Resort located in the province of Matanzas. A visitor may want to reach Varadero by road  from Havana  (around 2 hours drive) or by plane landing at local airport the Juan Gualberto International Airport located half way between the city of Matanzas and Varadero.

According to archaeological studies, the territory was inhabited by Taino Indians. During the colonial period there was no important settlement in Varadero just a small fishing community up until a group of families from neighbouring Cardenas agreed to built summer homes in about 1920. It was not until 1915 that the first hotel was constructed in Varadero.

The area reached full development during the 1940’s. Currently the beach resort has reached an unprecedented growth, accompanied by the diversification and qualification of its tourism product.

In Varadero has been built the major hotel infrastructures on the island: first class hotels, cabarets, restaurants, different water activities, golf course, stores, a combination of options that satisfy the taste of a demanding vacationer. Among some of the complexes that stand out are the excellent services of the Melia Hotel Group like Meliá Las Americas, Paradisus Varadero, Sandals Royal Hicacos, Xanadu Mansion, Iberostar Varadero, Barcelo Marina Palace Cayo Libertad, Paradisus Princesa del Mar among others.

Varadero is the tourism destination per excellence for those that prefer sun and beach. To its most precious resource, the beach, you can find multiple natural attractions like caves, a rosary of easy accessible virgin keys, and others of cultural, historic and environment characters closely linked with the cities of Matanzas, Cardenas, Zapata Peninsula and the San Miguel de los Baños Beach Resort.

You can enjoy a great variety of trips and excursions: The Home of the Cigar Maker, the Retiro Josone Park; neighboring keys, particularly in Cayo Blanco, Recreation Park; Ecological Park in Varadero east of the peninsula with 450 hectares of forests and caves which contain important indigenous paintings.  On your way to Varadero you can make a stop to the Santa Catalina Grande Cave, close to Carbonera and the Muerto or Dead Cave close to the Varadero bridge.   The caves are full of mysteries and vestiges of the past. You must also visit the Bellamar and Saturno Caves.

Varadero is perfect for family tourism, couples, weddings and honey moon and to participate in events and incentives.  Facilities for congresses are complemented with the Plaza America Convention Center. On the other hand, Varadero’s marine floor has over 40 types of coral, fish diversity, lobster, shrimp, crabs, tortoises and over 70 types of mollusc. Marinas like Chapelin, Darsena of Varadero, and Puerto Sol guarantee the perfect conditions and means to practice immersion, with appropriate vessels, trained personnel, diving training centers.