Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Varadero, Cuba - Travel Tips and Things To Do

Travel information for Varadero, Cuba 
           as of 2013

          Things to bring:
o   We NEED to carry a letter from a travel insurance company verifying that we have travel health insurance!
o   Bring a Photocopy of your passport to leave at front desk and to use equipment instead of actual passport (Critical).
o   Bring Canadian currency (NOT US$).
o   Bring your own large cups or insulated mugs.
o   Bring a fly swatter, pillow covers, wash cloths, and air freshener for the room.
o   Bring your own Snorkel and Mask (theirs is dirty), Power Converter and Adapter (they have 220v euro plugs), travel clock, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and inflatable ball.
o   Bring lots of extra shampoo, conditioner, soap, and toothpaste, cosmetics, toys, and kids clothes & sweaters to use as tips (more valuable than money).

·         Town (Varadero) tips:
o   Go to Club Kiki for pizza or El Sangria for seafood dinner in town.
o   Take the double-decker tourist bus for 5 CUC to the end of the peninsula and back.  Also, you can use the free hotel shuttle bus or the "hop on, hop off" bus around all Varadero for 5 CUC. 
o   They also have “Coco Taxis” pulled by motorcycles.
o   You can rent scooters to drive around.
o   Shop at the Americania store (Plaza Americanos?) & buy the honey. 
o   Look for flea markets.
o   Go to Parque Retiro Josone for a nice walk, restaurants, a few locals selling things, colourful birds, kids activities, amusement park, and live salsa music in the evenings.
o   Go to the Varadero museum on Saturdays for free Cuban music & kids activities.
o   Go to Casa de la Cultura Los Corales for local music and art
o   BUY CIGARS!!!

·         Activities and Day Trips:
o   Find the representative of the Cuban tourist board on duty in the hotel because they will tell you where to find better rates on things like excursions.  You can get a car and driver for the whole day for $200 to show you around Havana and take you to the cigar factory.
o   Do a day trip to Havana (if cheap).  Go for music, Havana Carnival, artisans market, food (ex. Cubano sandwich) and architecture.  You can tour a cigar factory on the way to Havana.
o   Visit Ambrosio's Cave to see 72 rupestrian drawings-one of the largest collection of Indian pictographs in the Caribbean islands & lots of bats (entrance 3 pesos pp)
o   The show and "swim with the dolphins" activity in the Delfinario in Varadero was great. It was especially good for kids.
o   The Cactus Patriarch is a huge cactus (600 years old).
o   The bridge across the 'Yumuri Valley' is breathtaking.

·         Negative comments:
o   Strong smell coming from the petroleum refinery.
o   In town, you are not allowed to bring a purse or bag into most stores
o   People are very poor in Cuba and will ask you for your towel or sunglasses and will even ask you to go into your hotel and bring them out a drink. “Where are you from” is their opening line and you will be asked this several times a day so prepare you response beforehand. 
o   Don’t give large bills (they often try to short-change you).

Happy travels,

Kev

P.S. Here are links to my other social media accounts, in case you want to connect that way:
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