Varadero travel guide

History

Salt was the first economic catalyst in the area, followed by cattle, timber and sugar. A plan was drawn up in 1887 for the foundation of a city, but development of the peninsula did not really begin until 1923, when it was discovered as a potential holiday resort for the seriously rich. There are some old wooden houses left, with rocking chairs on the verandas and balconies, but the village area was not built until the 1950s. The Dupont family bought land in the 1920s, sold it for profit, then bought more, constructed roads and built a large house, now the Mansión Xanadú.

Getting around

Distances are large. Avenida 1, which runs southwest–northeast the length of the peninsula, has a tourist bus service . It takes about an hour to cover the length, taking into account dropping-off times. Calle numbers begin with lowest numbers at the southwest end and work upwards to the northeast. Car rental is available at the airport and at numerous hotel and office locations along the peninsula. Most hotels rent bicycles, or mopeds, which will allow you to get further, faster. Taxis wait outside hotels, or you can phone for one. There are also horse-drawn carriages for a leisurely tour and a handful of cocotaxis.

Getting there

Varadero’s international airport is 26 km from the beginning of the hotel strip. If you are booked into one of the new hotels at the end of the peninsula, you will have a journey of some 40 km. The Víazul bus pulls in here on its way to the central bus terminal. If you are travelling by car from Havana there is a good dual carriageway, the Vía Blanca, which runs to Varadero, 142 km from the capital. The toll at the entrance to the resort is CUC$2 for cars. The easiest way to get to and from Havana is on a tour or transfer bus, booked through a hotel tour desk, which will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. There are daily buses from Havana, and also from Trinidad via Sancti Spíritus and Santa Clara with Víazul . A taxi from Havana to Varadero airport costs CUC$80.

Air

The Juan Gualberto Gómez airport (VRA), T45-247015, receives international scheduled and charter flights.

Bus

The interprovincial bus station is at Autopista Sur y C 36.

Víazul, T45-614886, has daily buses Havana–Varadero, Varadero–Trinidad and Varadero–Santiago de Cuba, see timetable, page .

Tourist bus

Varadero BeachTour, run by Transtur, T45-668212. There are dozens of bus stops along the peninsula (all clearly marked). The bus passes every hour (a red open-top double decker). CUC$5 for a day ticket where you can get on and off. The hop on hop-off MatanzasBusTour leaves Varadero at 0930, 1100, 1400 and 1530 arriving in Matanzas at 1100, 1230, 1530 and 1700. It returns to Varadero at 1115, 1245, 1545 and 1715. CUC$10 per day.

Car/moped hire

Hire a car rather than jeep to avoid having your spare wheel stolen, insurance covers 4 wheels, not the spare. Agencies have offices all over town and in nearly all the hotels.

Cubacar at many of the hotels, main office: T45-667326. Transtur, T45-667715. Vía Rent a Car, T45-619001. Havanautos, T45-614409.

Moped/bicycle hire

Hiring a moped is a good way to see the peninsula but you will have no insurance and no helmet. Many of the hotels do moped rental and bicycle hire, CUCS$12-15 per hr, CUCS$24-30 per 24 hrs.

Taxi

Cubataxi, T45-614444. Most trips cost from CUC$5-15 depending on where you need to go along the peninsula. The best place to hail a taxi is at any hotel as they usually wait there for fares. Horse-drawn vehicles act as taxis, usually just for a tour around town, CUC$10.

Banks

Banco Popular de Ahorro, esq Av 1 y 36, has an ATM, Mon-Fri 0830-1530. Banco Financiero Internacional, Av 1 y 32, Mon-Fri 0900-1500, last working day of month 0900-1200. Cash advance service with Visa and MasterCard available. Bandec, Av 1 y 36, has an ATM.

Immigration and police

39 y Av 1, T45-613494. Immigration, Mon-Fri 0900-1200, 1350-1630 for visa extensions. Canadian consulate, 13 y Av 1, close to a mini grocery store.

Internet/telephone

DHL, next to Casa del Habano, Av 1 y 39, daily 0800-2000. Etecsa, Av 30 y 1, open daily 0830-1930 for internet and phone booths.

Medical services

Clínica Internacional Varadero, Av 1 y 61, T45- 667711/667226, http://www.servimedcuba.com. International clinic and pharmacy, doctor on duty 24 hrs, a medical consultation in your hotel is possible at a cost.

Post

Av 1 entre 36 y 37, open at 0800. Most hotels have post offices where you can buy stamps for use and for collectors. Internet, phone and fax services are usually available but rates vary.