20 kilometers of virgin white beach flanked by pristine turquoise water and one of the best beaches in the world, Varadero in Cuba is a tourist retreat like no other. Not for nothing has this tiny peninsula at the northernmost tip of Cuba attracted travelers since centuries. First used as a dry dock (Varadero in Spanish) by the Spanish fleet in the 16th century, it started life as a city in the 19th century and quickly grew in size as visitors discovered its charms. Currently, it hosts more than 500,000 tourists annually. So if you are looking to get away from it all, you must travel to Varadero for a week of self-indulgence.

Varadero is very easy to reach, with several flights from the Americas, Europe and the Caribbeans landing at the local Juan Gualberto Gomez International Airport. For the seafaring traveler, docking facilities are available at the Chapelin, Puertosol Darsena de Varadero and Gaviota marinas. Hotel accommodation is easy to come by in all segments, and several international names like Sandals, Melia and Iberosta having prominent presence.

In addition to the aforementioned beaches, Varadero offers tourists several other sightseeing opportunities like the green beauty of the Parque Josone and the unspoiled charms of the Bellamar Caves. The Tropicana Matanzas, the island’s top cabaret, offers a taste of the nightlife to the thrill-seeking traveler. For a taste of the local cuisine, a gamut of choices from beach vendors to upscale restaurants are available. And so are the Cuban cigars of worldwide renown.

You should also visit the towns of Cardenas (a seaside town) and Matanzas (the “city of bridges”), the Santa Elvira Church and see the El Patriarca cactus, reputed to be more than 600 years old. At night, venture out for a taste of Cuban nightlife, with the Rumba Palace, the Continental Cabaret, and the Habana Cafe definitely worth a visit.

For the sporty visitor looking for thrills, Varadero offers water sports (Barracuda Club), swimming with dolphins (Delfinario), parachuting (International Parachuting Center), and much, much more. The Mojito, a splendid concoction of freshly crushed mint, lime juice and white rum, is a must-have in Varadero, accompanied by the Cuba Libre, a combination of of rum, cola and lime juice.

Great beaches, good food, numerous places to visit – Varadero offers all this in one package. Therefore, if you want to take a break from the hectic pace of life and experience life in a tropical paradise, you must travel to Varadero.

Jose Mauricio Maurette Garces is a reservation consultant and co owner of Quest World Travel Ltd . He has a great deal of experience organizing Cuba travel. If you need to arrange a tailor made Cuba Holiday please follow the links above.