Varadero On a Budget and Without an Expensive All-Inclusive

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How To Travel Cuba Independently and Without An Expensive Resort

Varadero is the all-inclusive resort capital of Cuba, but it’s possible to experience Varadero on a budget, without the expensive, overpriced resorts.

Located on the northwest coast of Cuba, the 20km long and 1km wide Hicacos Peninsula of Varadero is home to beautiful white sand beaches with turquoise water and over 60 hotels and resorts.

While the beaches are undeniably beautiful, Varadero is one of the largest resort destinations in the Caribbean. As a place where the tourists greatly outnumber the locals, if you’re looking for a real cultural experience in Cuba, you won’t find it in Varadero.

After traveling around Cuba independently for 11 days, I found myself in Varadero for one day and night before my flight out.

If you’re traveling around Cuba independently, chances are you’re looking for an authentic experience, so Varadero likely won’t interest you for more than a few days. If at all. But if you start or end your trip in the west of Cuba, Varadero may be your best option for flights because it’s the tourist mecca. And it’s only a two hour drive from Havana.

If you’re looking to relax for a few days, there are loads of other beaches in Cuba that are much cheaper and less touristy.

But if you happen to find yourself in Varadero for a day or two…

HOW TO EXPERIENCE VARADERO ON A BUDGET

WHERE TO STAY

The key to experiencing Varadero on a budget is to stay in a casa particular (which is like a homestay), instead of a hotel. Which works out to be a savings of $75-365CUC per night (CUC is on par with US dollars, so it’s the equivalent of $75-365USD per night).

Staying at a casa particular is awesome because you get your very own Cuban mom or grandma as a part of the deal! All of my Cuban moms at the casas I stayed at were such lovely people. Staying in a casa is a much more authentic experience than staying at a hotel and it provides an extra and necessary source of income for Cubans (and they still must pay a fixed fee to the government regardless of how many or how little travelers they receive). If you stay at a hotel, expect a ridiculously overpriced, less authentic experience and all the money goes straight to the government, which is an all-around waste.

When you stay at a casa particular, you can expect a private room in a family’s home and usually a private bathroom. And you don’t need to book in advance. You get a key to the room, but you don’t often get a key to their home. There typically aren’t any safes in the rooms, but it’s safe to leave your valuables. It’s extremely unlikely that your hosts would steal from you because tourism is Cuba’s bread and butter. But still exercise caution.

I paid $35CUC for one night at a casa particular in Varadero, with breakfast included. In every other city I traveled in Cuba, $20-25CUC per night seemed to be the standard and I always had someone to share with, so the cost was split. But breakfast was not included. My room in my casa particular in Varadero had its own bathroom and 3 beds, so the cost could’ve been split

While I paid more than usual for accommodation in Varadero, staying at a resort costs $110-400CUC+ per night. So staying at a casa particular is a massive savings because at no point during my Cuba trip did I spend even close to $110CUC in one day. A hotel will have more luxuries and amenities, as well as wi-fi available for an extra cost in the common areas. But if you travel to Cuba independently and on a budget, you’re likely not going there with the expectation of the usual western luxuries and conveniences.

WHERE TO EAT

You can eat in Varadero on a budget by eating cheap local “fast” food, like ham and cheese sandwiches, for $0.10-0.25CUC and by eating at the local restaurants, which have meals for $1-3CUC.

You can actually find chocolate in Varadero! I didn’t see any chocolate anywhere in Cuba, except sometimes in the form of ice cream. And you can also find snacks, which are also a major rarity outside of the tourist meccas in Cuba.

Food is ridiculously expensive at the Varadero airport, with western prices for terrible food. So eat before you go, if possible.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Go to the beach
Watch the incredible sunsets at the beach
Walk around and explore. Varadero is very walkable.
Rent a scooter
Check out the souvenirs, like locally made arts and crafts
Go diving and snorkelling
Explore the nearby caves
Go golfing
Experience the nightlife and go dancing

Varadero

NIGHTLIFE

With more than 100 bars and nightclubs, you’re spoiled for choice for nightlife in Varadero. Here are a few popular places:

Casa de la Musica – There’s a reason why every major city in Cuba has a Casa de la Musica. You’ll find live Cuban music and salsa dancing, which attracts both locals and tourists. $10CUC cover.
Calle 62 – An open air bar with live music and people dancing in the street, which attracts locals and tourists. No cover.
The Beatles Bar – Another popular open air bar with live rock music. No cover.
Cueva del Pirata – A nightclub in a cave. $10CUC cover.
Havana Club – One of the most popular nightclubs in Varadero. $10CUC cover, unless you’re staying at the Hotel Palma Real.

WI-FI

There is a wi-fi park and the hotels have wi-fi, both of which you’ll have to pay to use. The casa particulares do not have wi-fi.

GETTING IN AND OUT

Varadero is only 2 hours from Havana, which will cost $10CUC by bus or colectivo (shared taxi). It would be an unforgivable crime to go to Cuba and not visit Havana. And Havana deserves much more than a day trip because it is one of the greatest cities in the world.

Trinidad is a $20CUC 6.5 hour bus ride away with beautiful beaches on the south coast of Cuba.

The 25 minute bus ride to the Varadero airport costs $6CUC. Or you can take a $25CUC taxi.

NEED TO KNOW

Because Varadero is a major tourist destination, you can actually find things like sunscreen, medication, soap, shampoo, etc. These are simple things we take for granted at home, but are very difficult to find in most of Cuba.

Also, because Varadero is a major tourist destination, be aware that locals try to find (i.e. seduce) eager tourists in order to try leave Cuba.