Things to do in Varadero in 2026: beach, diving and day trips

Varadero is Cuba's main sun and beach destination, on the Hicacos peninsula about 36 kilometers from the city of Matanzas, according to the Cuban tourism portal Cuba.travel. Before any list of things to do, the current conditions matter more than the beach. The UK government's travel advice for Cuba, last updated on 25 September 2026, advises against all but essential travel to Cuba. It describes shortages of fuel, electricity, water and basic necessities, says the national electricity grid has collapsed several times and that further collapses are likely, and reports that these shortages are affecting tourism services and disrupting travel within the country. It also says Cuban authorities announced that all international airports are without aviation fuel, that only Terminal 3 at José Martí International Airport in Havana is operating, and that several airlines, including all Canadian airlines, Air France, Iberia, World2Fly and LATAM, have suspended flights.

This page lists what the destination offers, using the tourism portal for the attractions and the UK government for the conditions, and it keeps the two apart. The attractions are described as the portal presents them. Whether any of them is running on a given day depends on fuel, power and staffing that nobody outside Cuba can promise. The UK advice also says that most travel insurance will not cover you where your government advises against travel, so read your policy before you book and see the travel insurance overview. For entry steps, read how to get the tourist visa and D'Viajeros form for Varadero, and for the rules that apply to US citizens, can Americans go to Varadero. The Varadero travel guide and the Cuba guide cover the rest.

Be honest about fit. This trip is a poor match for anyone who needs reliable transport, air conditioning, hospital care, medicines or card payments. The UK advice says that basic medicines are in severe shortage and that many items available in the UK are not available in Cuba, that clinics treating foreigners are more likely to stock basic supplies, and that foreigners or their insurers must pay in foreign currency, most likely US dollars, before treatment. It says the ambulance service is limited and generally unreliable outside cities. If you travel with children, a chronic condition or a tight schedule, the risk of a disrupted journey or a canceled flight is higher than on a standard beach holiday. If you decide to go, bring cash, medicines with a letter from your doctor, a flexible return ticket and a plan for a delayed departure.

The portal calls Varadero the main sun and beach destination in Cuba, with fine sand and transparent water, and describes the peninsula as about 30 kilometers long. It gives an average temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius, relatively low humidity and 274 sunny days a year. Those are the board's figures, so treat them as a promotional guide rather than a forecast. Hurricane season runs from June to November, the UK government says, and heavy rains often cause flash floods and landslides, while power, communications and water can be disrupted after a hurricane. The advice adds that Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 left infrastructure and services severely affected in the east of Cuba, which is far from Varadero but shows how a storm can reshape the whole system.

The practical choice is the beach, the sea and the shade. A beach day needs little more than a hat, water and a swim, and it does not depend on a bus or a car, which makes it the activity least affected by fuel shortages. Check the sea state before you go in, and do not swim alone or after drinking.

The portal says Varadero offers 32 dive sites and more than 50 nautical points, with excursions that include diving, snorkeling and catamaran trips, kitesurfing areas along the beach and an International Skydiving Center. It also lists dolphin excursions, which are controversial; if you are considering an animal encounter, ask about welfare standards and consider whether the experience is one you are comfortable with.

Before you book any water activity, check what is operating and how it is run. Fuel for boats may be limited, and a trip can be canceled at short notice. Confirm the operator's credentials, the age of the equipment and the insurance conditions, and do not pay far in advance. If you are a US citizen, note that US officials have warned that prepaid tour packages for activities such as scuba diving, bicycling and fishing, sold by third-country agencies, are illegal under US rules. The details are in can Americans go to Varadero.

The portal says more than 60 excursions run from Varadero to attractions across the country, with the star products being visits to Havana, the Zapata Peninsula National Park, the Canímar River tourist park, Cayo Blanco, Trinidad, Cienfuegos and Pinar del Río. It lists a Havana city tour that includes Old Havana and modern Havana, a tobacco factory visit, a tour that visits the Hemingway museum at Finca Vigía, and a combined Cienfuegos and Trinidad day with a transfer to the Topes de Collantes natural park. In the province, it mentions the Saturn Cave, the Yumurí Valley and a boat trip on the Canímar River.

Treat these as a menu, not a promise. Long road days depend on fuel, vehicles and road conditions. The UK advice says the Cuban authorities have rationed fuel and that car hire is difficult because of fuel shortages, especially for long distances, and that driving at night is dangerous because of poor lighting, animals and unlit vehicles. If a day trip is on offer, ask the operator what happens if fuel runs out, and keep your plans flexible. The guides to Havana, Trinidad and Viñales explain what each destination offers if you choose to extend your trip, and each one is a long day from Varadero, so a stay in each is more realistic than a day trip.

Closer to the resort, the portal lists a rum and tobacco excursion that explains how Cuban rum is made, a visit to the Arrechabala rum factory in Cárdenas and the Casa del Ron in Varadero, a sugar mill and plantation visit with a steam train ride and a classic car tour of Varadero with a stop at a dockside bar. It also lists the town's evening bars. Cárdenas and Matanzas are the nearest towns for a little history, and the portal describes Matanzas as the first modern city of Cuba by urban criteria and the birthplace of the danzón, considered the national dance.

If you take a classic car tour, the UK government's advice is to book rides in old classic cars from reputable companies, and to avoid private taxis and old private classic cars, since it is unlikely they are properly licensed or have modern safety features. The same advice says three-wheel coco-taxis may be unsafe and that tourists have been injured and killed in them. Official yellow taxis are generally reliable, and only registered yellow taxis should be used from the airport, since fake taxi drivers operate there.

The tourism portal says that Visa, Mastercard, Union Pay and some other cards are accepted, and that no card issued by a US institution works in Cuba. The UK government's advice, which is more recent in its wording, says the Cuban Central Bank has announced that international cards such as Visa and Mastercard are no longer accepted, that you cannot withdraw cash from ATMs with an international card, and that you should bring enough cash to cover your whole stay and an emergency. It adds that US dollars and euros are widely accepted and can be exchanged, and that it is illegal to exchange money anywhere other than Cadeca exchange houses, including with individuals. Because the two official sources disagree, follow the cautious one: bring cash, keep it in more than one place and do not rely on a card. The money guide covers cash and cards in general.

Several rules catch visitors out. The UK advice says drones are not allowed and will be confiscated on arrival, that GPS-equipped devices must have the GPS turned off, and that photography of military zones can be treated as espionage. It warns of muggings in Havana and of burglaries at properties, including casas particulares, asks you to keep valuables in a hotel safe, and says drug laws are zero tolerance. Health risks include dengue, chikungunya and Oropouche, so use repellent, and the authorities may fumigate chemically. Emergency numbers are 104 for an ambulance, 105 for fire and 106 for police.

Spend most days within walking distance of your accommodation, on the beach and in the water. Book one or two short excursions you can reach by a pre-arranged vehicle, and leave a buffer before any flight. Bring a power bank, a flashlight, a water bottle, a basic medical kit and printed copies of your bookings, because the UK government advises conserving fuel, water, food and phone charge and being ready for significant disruption. Keep checking your airline and the UK or your own government's advice until the day you leave.

Do not assume a normal resort season. Do not rely on a card. Do not pay far in advance for an excursion that depends on fuel. Do not exchange money on the street. Do not bring a drone. Do not photograph military or restricted areas. Do not skip travel insurance, and do not assume it covers a trip your government advises against.