Varadero, Cuba

Varadero has many comfortable well-equipped hotels. Most visitors come here on all-inclusive packages which are probably the straightest, most unencumbered line between you and the beach. Everything you need is a shout to hotel staff away and if you do decide to venture beyond the sun and surf, all you need do is put your name down for your preferred day-trip on the blackboard.

Private houses to rent, so common in the rest of the country, are not permitted in Varadero and your best bet, while here, is to stay at a hotel. There are some houses which rent out rooms, usually for no more than US$30 a night, but they are tricky to find if you are not familiar with the area. If you are gung-ho about staying in a private house, you should considering looking in Matanzas, which is still close to Varadero's beaches. This is certainly a cheaper option than a hotel, although not always as comfortable.

The hotels located in the eastern side of the peninsula have access to the best beaches. One of the most noteworthy is the Hotel Horizontes Caribe, on the Avenida Playa. This is surrounded by discos, restaurants, cafés and all sorts of nighttime entertainment.

The Hotel Meliá Las Américas, on the Autopista Sur, is very near the golf course. It offers a wide range of facilities, including access to a private beach for the exclusive use of guests. The Hotel Sol Palmeras, on Las Morlas Road, is part of the same Spanish chain, Sol Meliá. It is the largest hotel in Varadero, with room for 1100 guests. It too has a beautiful private beach, as well as a fine restaurant, swimming pool and apartments surrounded by palm groves.

The Hotel Pullman, on Avenida Primera, is a gorgeous 19th century building, where you will find accommodation at reasonable prices. The Hotel Club Varadero, on Las Américas road, has all the facilities of a great hotel: swimming pool, sports activities, restaurants, and shops, among others.

Not to be outdone, Hotel Club Med, another favorite, has a private beach and offers salsa lessons. Hotel Barlovento on Avenida Primera, is comfortable and well-equipped, and in the very center of Varadero, you will find Hotel Club Tropical, with reasonable-priced rooms and, as if that were not enough, the Disco Azúcar (Sugar Disco) club. While in the center, you can also check out the Hotel Internacional, built in the 1950s and offering comfortable rooms and spacious apartments. Hotel Tuxpan, located to one side of Club Varadero, has a nice swimming pool, and La Bamba disco.

The Villa del Caribe caters to Cubans and foreigners, and is located very near the beach. Its rooms are comfortable, service is good, and prices are very reasonable. Villa Kawama offers comfortable accommodation and the advantages of a large pool, although its beach is not one of the best. Villa Punta Blanca is recommended for its pleasant staff and the Aparahotel Varazul, on Avenida Primera, for balconies that look out onto the sea, as well as for excellent service. Hotel Oasis on Vía Blanca is a reasonably priced all-inclusive hotel, which has access to the most beautiful beaches in Varadero.

In Matanzas, a good choice is the Hotel Louvre on Milanés street. It is a stunning old colonial building, with a décor and atmosphere which will take you back to the splendor of days gone by. On the Plaza de la Libertad, you will find the Hotel Velasco, also a colonial style building, and very comfortable indeed. Towards the Valle de Yumurí, the Casa del Valle is a health resort that will get you into closer contact with nature.

The entertainment choices in Varadero are almost unlimited. The intense nightlife here is in a league of its own, even when compared to La Habana. Every hotel, bar, restaurant, club and theater is accustomed to catering for visitors, and indeed many specialize in it. There is a mix of atmospheres and music here that will satisfy any taste.

Most hotels offer nighttime entertainment of some sort because few tourists venture out to explore the city and all its possibilities. For those with a taste for adventure and exploration, however, the choice is staggering. La Cueva del Pirata, on the Autopista Sur, presents the best Cuban bands live, and occasionally hosts cabaret shows. El Anfiteatro, near the Varadero bridge, offers a very popular cabaret and well-known Cuban bands sometimes stage concerts in the Parque Josone. One of the best salsa clubs in town is the Havana Club, near Hotel Siboney. If you are in the mood for a more private, intimate setting, you cannot beat Casa Du Pont and its top-floor piano bar. Here you can spend a relaxing evening enjoying nightfall and the gorgeous views.

La Casa de la Cultura, on Avenida Primera, is home to Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, a rumba group of nationally and internationally renowned musicians. Here, also, you can attend cultural events, poetry readings, folk groups, concerts of local trovadores (troubadors) and, every Saturday, the Sábado de la Rumba (Rumba Saturday) with Afro-Cuban dances inspired by santería (religion of African origin) rites. The Casa de la Cultura de los Corales houses the Sol y Mar art gallery, which exhibits an interesting selection of local arts and crafts. The Retablo gallery has a large selection of puppets and marionettes, and at Antigüedades gallery you can find antique ceramic, porcelain and glass for sale.

The Museo Municipal de Varadero, on Avenida Playa, presents a brief history of the city. The Museo Provincial de Matanzas has a more complete history of Varadero, as well as organizing cultural activities in its courtyard. On Saturdays it celebrates traditional Cuban music by presenting the Rincón Lírico band, and every third Saturday, hosts activities for children.

Another museum worth visiting is the Museo del Morrillo, an old colonial-era military fortress. The Museo Farmacéutico is a traditional 18th century chemist shop, which has been left intact, and is one of a kind. The Monumento al Esclavo Rebelde (Monument to the Rebel Slave) in Matanzas is an imposing feature, and demands a look; likewise the Monumento al Mambí Desconocido (Monument to the Unknown Mambí, or rebel in the Cuban Separatist War) in the Plaza de la Vigía.

For lovers of classical music, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas frequently gives concerts in the Plaza de la Libertad. If you enjoy theater, Teatro Sauto, an architectural jewel in Varadero, hosts regular performances while the Sala Papalote, on Daoíz street, presents shows for kids. For movies, try the Cine Varadero on Avenida Playa, which shows the best of Cuban cinema. In Matanzas, Cine Granma is also a good option. For bookworms, you are bound to find something of interest in the following: Santa Marta bookshop or José Smith Comas library in Varadero, Cultural bookshop and Pensamiento if you're in Matanzas.

Hotel Internacional offers an excellent show Mondays to Fridays, called Cabaret Continental, a colorful '50s extravaganza. Hotel Tropical gives you Disco Azúcar, which has an intimate and pleasant atmosphere. Hotel Tuxpan, with its disco La Bamba, is a favorite, a sophisticated nightclub that combines Latin and European rhythms.