Varadero, Beach resort town in Matanzas Province, Cuba
Varadero is a resort town on the Hicacos Peninsula along the northern coast of Cuba with about 12 miles of sandy beach facing the Atlantic Ocean. Most buildings stand close to the water and provide access to the sea through beach sections lined with sun loungers and palm trees.
In the late 16th century the area served as a site for extracting salt from shallow lagoons along the coast. From the 1920s onward foreign families settled and built holiday homes along the beach.
The Josone World Music Festival brings together local and international musicians, showcasing traditional Cuban rhythms and contemporary performances throughout the season.
Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport sits about 6 miles west and receives flights from several countries. Buses run regularly to Havana and take around two hours for the journey.
The Varahicacos ecological reserve protects several caves with pre-Columbian wall paintings and native plants. Visitors can walk on marked trails through protected sections of coastal vegetation.
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