Cuba Beaches

GMT -5 hours

Spanish. English is also spoken.

• Peso. • US dollars and US traveller’s cheques aren’t as widely exchanged as they used to be. • Traveller’s cheques are mostly accepted, but not all hotels exchange them – go to an international bank instead. • There’s a minimum fee of 8% to exchang

Varadero
El Morrillo Fort
This national monument was built in 1720 to protect Matanzas from pirates.

Sauto Theatre
Dating back to 1893, this beautiful monument is one of Latin America’s most famous theatres.

San Carlos Cathedral
Dating back to 1736, this is stunning cathedral is Matanzas’ oldest church.

Yumuri Valley
This breathtaking natural wonder is best viewed from the Bacunayagua lookout point.

Bellamar Caves
Discovered in 1861, these magical underground caves are riddled with glittering crystal formations; magnificent stalactites and stalagmites; and clear rivers and streams.

Santa Catalina Cave
Explore over 8kn of passageways as you weave your way through this beautiful cave, where evidence of pre-Colombian people was found.

Crocodile Farm
Established to protect the crocodile from extinction due to hunting, this wonderful facility is home to over 10,000 of these beautiful creatures.

Guardalavaca
Bahía de Naranjo Nature Park
Set in nearly 2,500 acres of woods and mangrove swamps, here you can hike along scenic trails.

Cayo Naranjo Aquarium
See vibrant tropical fish, go horse-back riding, try watersports and even swim with dolphins that live in large natural ocean pens.

The Cayos
San Pasqual
See this imposing post-WWI shipwreck, marooned off the coast of Cayo Las Brujas in 1933.

Varadero
Often dubbed one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, here you’ll find soft white sand and glimmering clear water.

Guardalavaca
Unwind on pristine white sands and float in the clear blue sea on this unforgettable stretch of coast.

The Cayos
With powdery white sand, warm turquoise waters and endless watersports, Cayos beaches are simply breathtaking.

9¾ hours to Havana

Watersports
Your resort may offer windsurfing, sailing, snorkelling, kayaking, waterskiing, scuba diving, sailing and canoeing. You may also be able to go out in a catamaran or pedalo.

Land sports
Sports on offer at your hotel might include tennis, basketball, badminton, volleyball, table tennis and squash.

Food
In resort
• Our Cuba beach resorts serve a range of cuisine, such as Cuban, Creole, Italian, Japanese and oriental fare.

Local dishes
• Tostada is buttered and toasted bread, often dipped in coffee for breakfast.
• The local speciality is pork roasted on a spit and covered in lemon and honey, served with black beans and rice.
• Ropa Vieja is a stew of shredded flank steak in tomato sauce.
• Picadillo is a beef hash with onions, garlic, olives and herbs.
• Moros y Christianos is a dish of black beans and rice flavoured with spices including pepper, cumin and paprika.
• A traditional a stew of chicken, okra and plantains is served with rice.
• Cuban sandwiches are a popular hot snack of Cuban bread with mustard, ham, pork, cheese and pickles.
• Empanada is a chicken or meat turnover, eaten with a side of plantain chips.
• Popular desserts include custard flan and rice pudding.

Drink
• Stick to bottled water.
• Cubans drink a lot of coffee, with milk or in espresso shots. Daiquiris and mojitos are also popular.

Dialling code: +53

Varadero
Matanzas Province Museum
Housed in the Palacio de Junco, which dates back to 1838, here you can peruse art, history, weapons, archeological and ethnology collections.

Museum of Pharmacy
This wonderfully unique museum is a pharmacy that was established in 1882, and on display are record books of prescriptions and other fascinating medical relics.

Oscar María de Rojas Museum
Discover collections of history, insects, butterflies and colonial weapons as you wander around this fascinating building, which was built in 1863.

History Museum José Antonio Echeverría
Wander around historic collections in this neoclassical Cuban house, the birthplace of the revolutionary leader José Antonio Echeverría.

Varadero Museum
This small museum houses an archeological exhibit plus historical relics, documents and photos.

Guardalavaca
El Chorro de Maila Museum
At this fascinating archeological site, see over 100 skeletons buried in the 15th and 16th centuries and uncovered in 1986, along with fragments of pottery and jewellery. Nearby is Aldea Taína, a replica of a village that shows how the settlers might have lived.

• Take a catamaran tour around nearby islands, swim with dolphins, walk nature trails and explore on horse-back or bicycle.
• You may also be able to visit Havana, Santa Clara, Topes, Bariay, Holguin, Santiago and Trinidad.

A discreet tip here and there is welcome!