beach · Matanzas
Varadero
Varadero, also referred to as Playa Azul, is a resort town in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, and one of the largest resort areas in the Caribbean. Varadero Beach is rate
Overview
Varadero, also referred to as Playa Azul, is a resort town in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, and one of the largest resort areas in the Caribbean. Varadero Beach is rated one of the world's best beaches in TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice Awards since 2019, ranking at number 9 as of January 2024. Common activities include fishing and excursions to Matanzas, Cárdenas, and the Península de Zapata.
Varadero is a beach in Matanzas, Cuba. It is located at approximately 23.139°, -81.286°.
It sits within the province of Matanzas.
The nearest recorded places in the atlas are Matanzas (32 km to the west), Havana (111 km to the west) and Cárdenas (14 km to the south-east).
It is associated with beaches, beach resorts, diving and snorkeling.
Highlights
Verified highlights
Source-backed classifications from the CubaAtlas record — each opens the places that share it. No star ratings.
Your companion for Varadero
honest data · every value datedConditions
No dataLive sea and weather conditions aren't connected here yet. When they are, this strip will summarize what's realistic to do today — and flag anything to check first — each value stamped with how fresh it is and where it came from.
Get there
23.13940, -81.28610Opens your maps app for turn-by-turn directions. CubaAtlas doesn't track your location.
Tropical outlook
LiveChecking the National Hurricane Center…
Weather
No dataAir temperature, wind, rain chance and UV for planning your day.
Weather adapters (NOAA + Cuba's INSMET) are the next feed to wire — each value will be stamped with its observation time and source.
Marine conditions
No dataSea-surface temperature, wave height, swell and currents for swimming, diving and boating.
Sea-state adapters (NOAA CoastWatch SST ~5 km, NHC marine, NDBC buoys) are queued next — near-real-time values, never a guessed number.
Water & safety
No dataWhether the water and conditions look manageable today for swimming or wading.
Once sea state and any advisories are connected, this frames conditions as favorable, use-caution, or not-recommended — always with the reason. It will never certify safety; final judgment is yours and the local lifeguard's.
Wildlife
LiveLoading recent wildlife records…
Fishing
No dataConditions for fishing, plus the standing reminder that legality is local.
Once sea state is connected, this shows whether conditions look workable — but it will always defer the question of whether fishing is permitted to local rules.
Daylight & season
Local time CDT (UTC−4). Computed from the date and coordinates — accurate to about a minute. Recent
Within the Atlantic hurricane season (Jun 1 – Nov 30). Check active advisories before coastal or boating plans.
Seismic activity
LiveChecking USGS for recent seismic activity…
Emergency
- 106Police (PNR)Recent
- 104Ambulance / medicalRecent
- 105FireRecent
- +53 7 866 4499Asistur (traveler assistance)Recent
State travel-assistance service for visitors (medical, legal, financial help).
These are Cuba's publicly published national numbers. Coverage, language support, and response times vary by area and are not verified in real time — confirm the correct local number with your accommodation on arrival.
CubaAtlas states how much it knows and how fresh it is. Values marked “No data” aren't connected yet — we show you the official source instead of guessing. Not for navigation, rescue, or legal decisions.
What's near Varadero
Where to stay, eat & explore in Varadero
Nearby places
Distances are straight-line, measured between recorded coordinates — not driving distance.
Around Varadero
580 named civic, cultural, natural and service places are mapped within about 15 km of Varadero, across 30 categories. Open any category to see it on the map, centred on Varadero.
Notable near Varadero
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Bahía de Cárdenas
Bays, capes & cays
The Bay of Jorge Cárdenas is a shallow bay on Cuba's northern shore, in the province of Matanzas.
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Cristóbal Colón
Attractions
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish transatlantic voyages in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions were the first known European contact with the Caribbean and Central and South America.
🏛️ Culture & heritage 43
🚬 Cuban craft & cuisine 6
⛰️ Nature & terrain 7
🏭 Industry & resources 13
🏥 Health & care 20
🎓 Education 33
🏦 Civic & services 52
🚉 Transport 7
🏟️ Sport & leisure 27
⛪ Faith 16
🛒 Shops & markets 42
🛏️ Stay 314
What Varadero makes
15 working sites mapped — energy, industry, mining, farming, fishing and ports.The whole economy →
⚡ Energy 3
Central Eléctrica Cárdenas · Parque Solar Fotovoltaico Cárdenas · Planta Energas Varadero
🏭 Industry 12
Aguas Varadero · Base de Ómnibus Transgaviota · Base de Transtur Varadero · Cárdenas 110 kV · …
Industrial heritage
3 pre-1959 sites in and around Varadero — sugar centrales, railways, mines and ports.The 1959 heritage map →
- Arechabala distillery, Cárdenasrum
- Port of Cárdenasport
- San Martin Railway Stationrailway
Photos
Photo: RenaKol · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Joduc · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: José Espanca · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: José Espanca · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
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Photo: José Espanca · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
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Photo: José Espanca · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Official information and sources
generated from facts
- Wikidatageographic
- Wikimedia Commonsmedia