Whether you have already decided to take your next Caribbean holiday to the paradisiacal beach heaven in Varadero or not, knowing all about the best tours in Varadero might make you just a little more determined and excited.
I have traveled regularly to Cuba for five years and visited Varadero multiple times, although I normally stay in Old Havana when I am there (you can also stay in “modern Havana,” the Vedado area).
Whisking off to Varadero is a great getaway whenever I need a little break from the busy and noisy Cuban capita, but be aware, Varadero is nothing like the “real Cuba”l.
There are a variety of tour companies situated here to help you plan your Varadero holiday. These are the best tours and excursions you can find, both in, on, and out of the water.
1. Catamaran Day Trip Varadero To Cayo Blanco – My Favourite!
I have done this Varadero catamaran tour, and if you are anything like me, feeling blissful on turquoise waters and white palmy beaches, you will love this tour, too.
For this excursion, you will be picked up at your hotel and head to the Varadero marina, where a bright white catamaran is ready to go.
Enjoy an idyllic breezy trip out to a perfect spot where you get to snorkel in the clear blue waters with coral reefs and tropical fish.
Then, the catamaran continues to Cayo Blanco, where you have around two hours to enjoy the paradise beach. Enjoy live music, have a fresh lunch, and maybe a piña colada or two.
You can also join a “meet-and-greet” with the dolphins living in a mangrove just across from Cayo Blanco.
The catamaran returns to shore around 3 p.m., and the party vibe on the trip back is often a bit higher than the departure in the morning, so prepare for some salsa and reggaeton on deck as you sail back to shore.
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Join this top-rated scuba diving tour to Playa Coral outside Varadero!
2. Classic Car Tour In Varadero Cuba
You don’t need to be in the capital, Havana, to enjoy the famous classic car tour roaming around; you find them all over the island.
Now, you can also take one of the traditional Classic cars in Varadero, a private tour with hotel pickup that will take you all over the Hicacos peninsula to enjoy the scenery!
The ride takes you by Josóne Park, by the house of famous mobster Al Capone, and the Varadero town market, to mention a few things.
You will be picked up at your hotel at 10 am for the guided tour and returned to your doorstep at 12 with messy hair.
3. Day Tours From Varadero To Havana!
Yes, there are tours from Varadero to Havana!
No visit to Cuba is complete without spending at least one day in its vibrant capital city, Havana. Stroll the streets of the old historic city of Havana, marvel at the colonial-era architecture, and taste the famous cocktails.
In the afternoon, take a classic car tour and then find a rooftop terrace to take in the spectacular view of the city at sunset.
There’s also plenty of nightlife in Havana to enjoy, with live music and dancing in the many bars and clubs.
You can book an organized day tour from Varadero to Havana or book a ticket with the Viazul bus and stay in Havana casa particular for a night or two.
4. Yumuri Valley Jeep Tour
You start your jeep tour at Coral Beach, a stunning natural enclave of crystalline waters, where you stop to snorkel an amazing coral reef, admiring the island’s rich marine diversity.
The tour continues to the incredible Cave of Saturn, or Saturno Cave, which is home to two large caverns and a natural pool of emerald waters where you can swim in the cool cave water!
You will pass through the city of Matanzas before visiting Rancho Gaviota, where you will be welcomed with a cocktail, visit the farm (go horseback riding?), and enjoy a traditional Cuban lunch!
The last activity of the day is a thrilling speedboat ride on the Cánimar River before returning to Varadero in the afternoon!
5. Varadero Sugar, Rum & Tobacco Tour
Included in the Sugar, Rum & Tobacco tour are:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Transport by minibus
- A visit to a sugar factory and sugar cane plantation
- Lunch
- Cuban rum tasting and cigar testing
- English speaking local tour guide
This day starts with a visit to a museum dedicated to sugar cane, learning about the history of the sugar industry in Cuba.
You will get to taste the Guarapo, a sweet sugar cane drink, and learn how to prepare one of the famous Cuban cocktails!
Then you’ll go to Cardenas town, where you can explore the charming city streets and admire its colonial architecture.
After a lunch break, you will head into a tasting of local rum and tobacco and learn about their important role in Cuban culture!
6. Matanzas & Bellamar Caves Tour
This Matanzas and Bellamar Caves Tour starts with you being picked up at your hotel in the morning and heading for Matanzas City!
You will explore Plaza de la Libertad, the neoclassical and baroque Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, and Plaza de la Vigia, where you will learn about the Corsair attacks of the past!
Then, you will visit a viewpoint of the Hermitage of Montserrate, one of the best places for a photo stop and an unbeatable panoramic view over the valley of Yumurí and the city of Matanzas.
Finally, you will explore the Bellamar Caves, which are more than 300,000 years old. Admire all the ancient stalactites and stalagmites and spend time exploring their interior halls.
You can marvel at the Manto de Colón, the Paso de la Lluvia, and the Huerto de las Zanahorias before you return to your hotel.
7. Guama and Hatiguanico River Trip
This amazing river trip’s first stop is the Peninsula Zapata National Park, and on the way, you will notice the beautiful contrasts between the Cuban countryside and coastline!
You will enjoy a fascinating visit to a crocodile farm before you continue to the coast, where you board a speedboat for a riveting rush of adrenaline.
The boat takes you across Laguna del Tesoro Lake and into the center of a spectacular natural wilderness encompassed by vegetation and water.
After the boat trip, you will explore Guamá and the Hatiguanico River, both places of tropical beauty, before a traditional lunch of pork, chicken, or fish, drinks, and coffee!
Before returning to your Varadero hotel, you can do some snorkeling to wrap up your day. If you are lucky, you might encounter some of the exotic species that live in these crystal waters!
8. Day Trip Trinidad, El Nicho & Cienfuegos
For this tour, you’ll start this excursion day by making your way up to El Nicho, a protected area with a stunning waterfall from the River Habanill in the Topes de Collantes Natural Park!
Swim in crystal-clear natural pools while parrots are perched in palm trees, and you’ll also have a traditional Cuban lunch here.
Then, you are off to the historic colonial city of Trinidad, protected by UNESCO; you can explore the ancient streets and museums in the city.
Lastly, you will visit Cienfuegos, a beautiful coastal city with lots of French influences, where you will do the panoramic tour of Punta Gorda, which is an outing spot for the locals.
Also, see the Hotel Jagua and the imposing Palacio del Valle and José Martí Park. And you don’t need to stress home to dinner, as you will get it served here!
9. Varadero Excursion To Vinales Valley
Even from Varadero, you can manage to visit Vinales Valley west of Havana, a lush green UNESCO-protected part of Cuba that is also home to the famous Cuban cigars!
This day tour is really long, as there is quite a bit of transport time involved. I have only made the Vinales day trip from Havana, which is a great experience, so I can not review this particular tour.
You get to experience the Mural de la Prehistoria, visit a tobacco farm, sample cigars, and rum, and get a demonstration of how it is done. Lunch in Vinales Town is on your own, and you will also visit the botanical garden and view.
What this tour does not have is a visit to Cueva del Indio and its hidden waterways, which are also stunning. But for a day trip of this magnitude, you get a lot.
FAQ’s Tours In Varadero Cuba
Is Varadero Worth Visiting?
Varadero is located on a paradisiacal peninsula on the northern shores of Cuba and has miles and miles of pristine white beaches.
The beautiful Varadero Beach was, in fact, rated the second most stunning beach in the world on TripAdvisor in 2019, which is not a small achievement!
Also, being the largest resort area in the Caribbean region, Varadero is definitely worth visiting for anyone loving to enjoy resort life, lounging by the pool, water sports, or wandering endless white paradise beaches under the palms for a Caribbean getaway!
Is Varadero Open For Tourists?
Yes, Varadero is completely open for tourists and tourism.
Cuba is also open for American tourists who want to visit, which everyone is not aware of. Americans do not travel as “tourists”, but travel according to one of the 12 pre-approved reasons for Cuba travel. The most common one is “to support the Cuban people”:
What Is The Best Time To Visit Varadero?
The high season in Cuba is from November through May, as the wet season starts in June and lasts until the end of October.
Hurricane season is also in the middle of this period, where the highest risk of hurricanes in Cuba is around September.
Wrap-Up Best Tours In Varadero Cuba
I hope you have found something on this list that will get you out of your pool chair and off exploring outside the resort in Varadero!
You might not know this, but the largest nationality of travelers that are visiting Cuba is Canadians. If you think organizing a trip from Canada to Cuba is difficult, read this article about traveling to Cuba from Canada to find out it is easy-peasy!
More and more Americans also realize they can visit Cuba legally, in accordance with the pre-approved reasons for Cuba travel.
Whether on the water or on shore, there are plenty of experiences waiting for you when you make the trip to magnificent Cuba, so don’t miss out!
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