It doesn’t matter if you’re staying in a five-star hotel in Havana or discovering the rustic attractions of Vinales; it’s all Cuba. Varadero, a lively coastal paradise, may be overlooked by some travelers, but it should still be considered as part of your Cuban trip plans. While there are plenty of opportunities to spend your afternoons in Varadero enjoying Cuban rum in a hotel bar before hitting the beach, there’s a lot more to this town than meets the eye – eyes that will need sunglasses to protect them from the ever-present glorious sun.
Here’s a list of places to see while vacationing in Havana or Varadero.
El Morro
El Castillo de Los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro, also known as “El Morro,” is a must-see Havana attraction. The term “El Morro ” is widely used to denote not just this colonial-era Spanish fortress but also the Morro-Cabaña Military Historic Park, which includes the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress.
The fortress can now be reached by ferry or by land looping around the bay. With massive, imposing walls, a moat, and a stoic lighthouse visible from the city, the castle’s distinctive design hugs the rocky cliffs of the bay.
Finca Vigía
Finca Viga is a mansion in Havana, Cuba’s San Francisco de Paula Ward that was previously Ernest Hemingway’s home. It is now a museum, just like Hemingway’s Key West residence. The structure was built in 1886.
Mary Welsh, the author’s wife, entrusted the house to the Cuban government to be preserved when he committed suicide in 1961. In 2007, Finca Vigia became a museum. Because of its structural fragility, this museum is currently on the list of top protected historic sites.
Old Havana District
Old Havana, which was founded in 1519 on Cuba’s northwestern coast, has retained a stunning unity of character by sticking to its original urban form. The historic center of the city is filled with urban plazas surrounded by several buildings of great architectural worth and narrow lanes lined with more popular or conventional styles. It has the most remarkable historical city center in the Caribbean and one of the most notable in the entire American continent because of its overall feeling of architectural, historical, and environmental continuity.
El Capitolio
The Capitolio Nacional de La Habana, sometimes known as El Capitolio, is a public structure in Havana, Cuba’s capital. The structure was funded by Cuban President Gerardo Machado and designed by Eugenio Rayneri Piedra between 1926 and 1929. It’s located right in the heart of Havana.
Today, elements of the building can be seen for a modest price. Due to ongoing development and the fact that the facility is occasionally used for special events, expect limited openings and irregular closures. However, going inside to see the richness of the interior is definitely worth the effort.
Gran Teatro de La Habana
The Tacón Theater, located just in front of Parque Central, opened in April of 1838. For its elegance, comfort, and superb technical preparation, this was Havana’s most prominent theater at the time and possibly one of the best on the continent. The building’s facades can only be characterized as spectacular. Carvings and other granite ornamentation, as well as marble and bronze works, adorn the walls. Four sets of white marble sculptures by Giuseppe Moretti represent charity, education, music, and theater on the facade.
Long Tour in Convertible From Havana to Varadero
This is a round-trip excursion that should begin between the hours of 8 and 9. This tour is 10 hours long. Travel time to Varadero is estimated to be around 2 hours. You will first stop at the Bacunayagua Bridge, then proceed through Matanzas City, and finally, arrive at Varadero Beach. When you get to Varadero Beach, you will tour the town, swim in the water, eat lunch in a Cuban restaurant (lunch is not included in the price), and see the city’s most important sights.
Hemingway & City Tour in Havana
This tour combines the Hemingway route with a two-hour city tour. This tour includes stops at “La Vigia” (Ernest Hemingway’s home), Cojimar village (where he used to fish and drink), and the Morro-Cabaña stronghold for a panoramic view of Havana city, before continuing on to Old Havana, Centro Habana, Vedado, Nuevo Vedado, and Miramar districts. The Capitol building, China Town, Habana Forest (stop), 5th Avenue, and Malecón Avenue are some of the sights to view on this tour.
Things to do in Varadero include:
Varadero Beach 
This blonde-bombshell of a beach, which stretches for 20 kilometers along the elegant Peninsula de Hicacos, is one of the Caribbean’s best. Palapas bloom from the flour-soft sands, palms rustling in the breeze, and the shoreline falls seductively into the velvety blue sea.
Snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and sailing are just a few of the water sports available to beachgoers.
Varahicacos Ecological Parque (Varadero Ecological Park)
A white-sand beach, a range of plant species, including cacti and orchids, a bird-rich lagoon that was formerly used to mine salt, and a variety of birds, insects, and reptiles may all be found in this protected area.
The preserve has narrow hiking trails that wind their way through it, but the ground is rocky and can be difficult for little children and anyone who is unsteady on their feet. Insect repellant and sturdy hiking shoes are advised.
Saturno Cave
A trail through the bush near Varadero’s airport leads to Saturno Cave (Cueva Saturno), the star attraction of a complicated cave system. This mesmerizingly beautiful cenote, or subterranean swimming hole, provides a welcome break from the sun-baked beach. Stalactites drip from the cave’s top, and stalagmites emerge from the depths of the water.
Tourists come to swim in the azure-hued freshwater pool, dive from the crystallized columns, and marvel at the amazing rock formations. On a trip here, you’ll need water shoes, a snorkel, and a mask.
The culturally diverse Caribbean city is a treasure mine of hidden jewels just waiting to be discovered. So get your camera ready, apply some sunscreen, and look for a place to stay in Havana for an adventure.
