Varadero holidays

For the super adventurous, there’s also scuba diving. The impeccably clear water surrounding Varadero is home to millions of multi-coloured fish, delicate coral reefs and the odd hulking shipwreck. Alternatively, if you’re partial to a bit of time on the green during your holiday, then Varadero is the place for you – it has Cuba’s only golf course.

Most people opt for a hassle-free all-inclusive holiday to Varadero, rarely leaving the luxury of their hotel. However, it really is worth your while to get out and explore this intriguing island and its many idiosyncrasies.

Day trips to heady capital Havana are easy to arrange and highly recommended. Spend a day admiring the faded grandeur of its old town, sipping potent rum cocktails and learning about the island’s revolutionary past at one of the city’s museums.

Even closer, there’s Matanzas. Often overlooked, the “Athens of Cuba” is well worth the short trip from Varadero. With a long literary history, a fantastic theatre, and a strong musical tradition (the city gave birth to rumba), it’s a must for Cuban culture.

If you’re after a cheap holiday to Varadero, it’s wise to avoid the Christmas period as prices peak with the UK school holidays. Hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June to November but it’s extremely rare to encounter a serious tropical storm outside of August and September.

Cuba’s beguiling capital is well worth the two-hour day trip from Varadero. A city where 1950s Cadillacs cruise past crumbling Spanish colonial-era buildings, Havana blurs the lines between past and present like nowhere else.

For a general overview of the island’s history, must-sees include Revolution Square, the Malecon, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and La Corona Cigar Factory.

And don’t forget to make time for mojito or two. Bodeguita del Medio claims to make some of the best in the city and counts Earnest Hemmingway as a former regular.

Cueva de Ambrosio

Mix it up with a visit to one of Varadero’s more unusual tourist attractions, Cueva de Ambrosio (Ambrosio Cave).

Discovered in the 1960s, the cave is notable for its ancient wall drawings, which are thought to be more than 2,000 years old!

You’ll find it in the Varahicacos Ecological Reserve, a natural oasis set back from the built-up beach drag. Follow the signs to El Patriarca – a remarkable 500-year-old giant cactus tree that is said to be the oldest in Cuba.

Snorkelling and diving

Relatively undiscovered and untouched, Cuba has some of the best diving in the Caribbean. Sites near Varadero include Las Mandarinas, where you’ll come face to face with eels and groupers, and Playa Coral, which boasts an extensive network of coral formations.

About an hour’s boat trip north of the resort, you’ll find Cayo Piedras del Norte. A human-made marine park of scuttled ships, you can explore the various military vehicles that lie some 30m below the surface.

If you don’t fancy the depths, stick to the surface with a snorkel. Most hotels can help arrange an excursion.

Parque Josone

A peaceful, leafy haven among Varadero’s high-rise hotels, Parque Josone makes for a pleasant afternoon away from the beach.

Rent rowboats for a spin around the garden’s lake, admire the local flora and fauna (watch out for the ostrich!) or take a dip in the public pool.

If you fancy a break from hotel dining, there are a handful of places to eat and live music is a regular occurrence in the evenings.

The House of Rum

Mojitos, Cuba libres, daquaris, pina coladas… it’s a given that you’ll become familiar with Cuba’s signature spirit during your holiday in Varadero.

But if you want to up your rum game, take a trip to the House of Rum. Here, you’ll learn about the history of rum in Cuba, the many different varieties of rum on the island, and the process behind making the spirit.

What’s more, the House of Rum deals in obscure brands, some so unique, you won’t find them anywhere else in Varadero.