Located on the Hicacos Peninsula, the resort town of Varadero Cuba is flanked by two bodies of water: The Bay of Cardenas and the Straights of Florida. This gives Varadero plenty of beaches, and its placement only 140km east of Havana provides access to the nation’s capitol. On the edge of the peninsula on which Varadero rests one can find the Hicacos Point Natural Park. This ecological preserve contains the Cave of Ambrosia, a habitat for 31 species of birds, 24 species of reptiles and ruins of La Calavera Salt Works.

Varadero began as a dry dock for salt mines in the 16th century. Since then Veradero has evolved into a magnificent tourist destination, although many attractions within the city bring to mind Varadero’s humble beginnings. Varadero’s history has become an integral part of the development of its tourist industry.

Varadero’s coast consists of over 20km of white sand beaches, and the beach is a major attraction to vacationers. In 1960, The Park of the 8000 Cubicles was built by removing the wealthy from their mansions on the beach. This not only created jobs for much of the local population, but also opened up the area to travelers from many walks of life. The park has become a center for the city. The facility has held concerts, festivals and sporting events in the past. Due to the success of this park a number of hotels were established. This led to a neglect of the original park facility, which was eventually closed. Currently, Varadero’s tourism industry centers on the "all-inclusive" vacation concept.

The beauty of Varadero’s beaches has made the sparkling coastline one the greatest resources the city has to offer. There are many natural attractions besides Varadero’s beaches, such as caves around the beach, which can provide some fascinating exploration outside of the water. The city is also a free port, and offers popular activities such as scuba-diving, deep sea fishing, yachting and many other water based attractions.

Non-beach attractions are also available to vacationers in the city of Varadero. One of these attractions is golf. An incredible 18-hole, par 72 course can be found in the city. It is widely considered Cuba’s main golf course. Cuba as a whole has begun to get involved in both the European Golf Tour and the PGA. This association serves as evidence that the nation and Varadero specifically, has quality resources to offer the golf enthusiast.

Another well known attraction vacationers enjoy is the Seafari Cayo Blanco. This excursion consists of a catamaran tour, snorkeling in a coral reef, swimming with dolphins, seeing the Delfinario Dolphin Show, music, entertainment, lunch and an open bar. This tour is seven hours long and covers the entire city.

Another popular event is visiting the Parque Josone. This spot is a beautiful park nestled in the middle of the city. It is filled with parks, vendors, music and even offers camel rides. A final spot to stop is the Tropicana Matanzas. This cabaret features traditional Cuban forms of music and dancing.

Depending on your specifications, the resort atmosphere can be very welcoming. Almost every resort in Varadero is all-inclusive. Part of this is for convenience, and part is for necessity. In Varadero, there are fewer restaurants then you would normally see in a tourist destination, but Varadero’s hotels provide quality restaurants themselves. There are still a number of good eating establishments in the city if you would like to explore a bit, and if you like everything taken care of for you this environment is perfect. The resorts in Varadero are world-class. This fact is one reason Varadero is a haven for tourists.

As a tourist center, Varadero is very well established. The location of the city on the island of Cuba makes it a perfect enclave for visitors. The local population is comparatively small in relation to other Cuban cities, and this makes the overall atmosphere agreeable to many vacationers. It should be noted that the lack of local citizens in Varadero is not due to any deficiency of the area. The city’s population is significant enough to provide a relevant experience of the nation as a whole. Also, due to the amount of tourists in Varadero, the presence of police and security is heightened to ensure a safe vacation experience.

Travelers to Varadero can expect world-class resorts surrounded by gorgeous beaches and incredible natural beauty. What makes Varadero special is the quality of activities and amenities it offers. With Cuban culture ever-present, Varadero combines world class beaches with modern resort entertainment and excitement.

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About Author: Nick Kakolowski is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to vacations and the travel industry such as Cuba Travel