Varadero Family Week — Beach, Caves and Dolphins
A week on the Varadero peninsula built for families, with a caves-and-river day in the Yumurí valley near Matanzas, a dolphin and reef day, and a heritage stop in Cárdenas.
For: Families with children, multi-generation groups
1 · Budget first
A transparent, itemised estimate for 2 travellers · 7 nights · resort tier. Every line is a planner range in USD — an estimate to budget with, not a quote.
| International airfare | $600 – $1,900 |
| Entry documents (tourist card) | $60 – $150 |
| Travel insurance | $80 – $300 |
| Accommodation | $1,050 – $2,590 |
| Local transportation | $610 – $1,195 |
| Food | $560 – $1,092 |
| Guides & activities | $60 – $160 |
| Connectivity | $30 – $110 |
| Tips | $35 – $140 |
| Water, laundry & sundries | $21 – $84 |
| Emergency reserve | $251 – $873 |
| Total (2 travellers) | $3,357 – $8,594 |
- Per traveller
- $1,679 – $4,297
- Per day
- $480 – $1,228
- Ground only (no airfare)
- $2,506 – $5,821
- Airfare est. / traveller
- $300 – $950
Basis: resort · comfortable food · private driver · 2 guided days.
Adjust every number in the planner →Estimates in USD to help you budget — not observed prices, quotes or guaranteed availability. Most US cards don’t work in Cuba; carry cash and keep the reserve.
2 · Fly in
Tampa (TPA) → Varadero (VRA) — Juan Gualberto Gómez
Cuba's #1 leisure gateway — the airport for Varadero, historically fed by Canadian and European charter carriers.
Example dates 2026-09-15 → 2026-09-22 (adjust on the live search). CubaAtlas books nothing — these open live results:
3 · Day by day
Where to sleep and dine each day is a real listing from the CubaAtlas provider dataset, nearest your base.
Morning
Short transfer from Varadero airport; check into an all-inclusive on the beach.Afternoon
First swim on the twelve-mile beach; kids to the pool and water slides.Evening
Buffet dinner and a family-friendly evening show.StaySelectum Family Resort Varadero5★ · Varadero+53 45 624300Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)DinnerTerraza CubaVaradero(+53) 45 613640Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Open Varadero on the map →Nearby: Matanzas, Havana, CárdenasMorning
Kayaks and pedal-boats in the calm shallows.Afternoon
Josone Park lagoon, rowing boats and shady lawns for a picnic.Evening
Pizza on the boardwalk and an ice-cream stroll.StaySelectum Family Resort Varadero5★ · Varadero+53 45 624300Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)DinnerTerraza CubaVaradero(+53) 45 613640Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Open Varadero on the map →Nearby: Matanzas, Havana, CárdenasMorning
Drive to the Bellamar Caves near Matanzas — stalactites and underground pools.Afternoon
A gentle boat float and rope-bridge walk in the green Yumurí valley.Evening
Back to the resort for a relaxed poolside dinner.DinnerRanchón del TenisrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Open Matanzas on the map →Nearby: Varadero, Havana, CárdenasMorning
Morning at the dolphinarium in the mangrove lagoon.Afternoon
Glass-bottom boat to the reef for easy family snorkelling.Evening
Beach barbecue and a sandcastle competition at sunset.StaySelectum Family Resort Varadero5★ · Varadero+53 45 624300Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)DinnerTerraza CubaVaradero(+53) 45 613640Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Open Varadero on the map →Nearby: Matanzas, Havana, CárdenasMorning
Drive to nearby Cárdenas, town of horse-drawn carts and the flag museum.Afternoon
Ice cream on the main square, then back to the beach for a swim.Evening
Family paladar dinner with live music the kids can dance to.Morning
Banana-boat and catamaran rides off the resort beach.Afternoon
Nothing scheduled — swimming, shade, and long lazy hours.Evening
Themed buffet night and the evening entertainment show.StaySelectum Family Resort Varadero5★ · Varadero+53 45 624300Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)DinnerTerraza CubaVaradero(+53) 45 613640Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Open Varadero on the map →Nearby: Matanzas, Havana, CárdenasMorning
One more morning in the water and a beach-shell hunt.Afternoon
Souvenir shopping on First Avenue and packing.Evening
Early dinner before the short transfer to the airport.StaySelectum Family Resort Varadero5★ · Varadero+53 45 624300Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)DinnerTerraza CubaVaradero(+53) 45 613640Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Open Varadero on the map →Nearby: Matanzas, Havana, Cárdenas
4 · Visa, entry & customs
Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card (tarjeta del turista) plus a passport valid for the stay and proof of onward travel and medical insurance. Buy the tourist card before you fly — the price and colour depend on your departure country and airline.
Travelling under US jurisdiction: there is no general tourism licence. US persons travel under one of OFAC’s authorised categories — most commonly Support for the Cuban People or family visits — which carry record-keeping duties and a full-time-schedule requirement. The tourist card for US departures is the pink one. Confirm your category before you book.
5 · Book direct, or compare an agency
This plan is costed to book direct — the $5,231 (expected) above is what the trip actually costs, itemised, with no package margin. A travel agency bundles flights, hotel and transfers into one price and adds a service fee for the convenience. We don’t quote agencies (we’d never invent a price) — so take a package quote and compare it line-for-line against the breakdown above.
Operating United States agencies serving Cuba, if you prefer a package:
- Cuba Travel Services (CTS) ↗
Long-running US seller of scheduled and charter air to Cuba plus packages.
Sells: flights, charters, packages, hotels
- ABC Charters ↗
Miami charter operator to Havana and other Cuban cities.
Sells: flights, charters · +1-305-263-6555
- Marazul Charters ↗
One of the oldest US–Cuba travel providers.
Sells: flights, charters, packages
- Xael Charter ↗
Direct flights Miami/Orlando/Tampa to Havana, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín; since 1988.
Sells: flights, charters, hotels, cars, tours · (305) 643-2200
- insightCuba ↗
Non-profit people-to-people and custom group tours; since 2000.
Sells: tours, packages
- Cubamax Travel ↗
Flights, packages, shipping and remittances; 13 Florida branches.
Sells: flights, packages, hotels, cars · +1-305-512-0303
CubaAtlas is non-commercial and takes no commission. Agency links go straight to the operator; we don’t book, broker or earn from them.
Every Cuba agency, compiled — with the free equivalent for each →Questions
- How much does the "Varadero Family Week — Beach, Caves and Dolphins" trip cost?
- An estimated $3,357–$8,594 all-in for 2 traveller(s) over 7 nights ($2,616 per traveller expected), including airfare, lodging, food, transport and a reserve. It is a planner estimate, not a quote — you book each part direct, with no agency margin.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
- Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card. Travellers under US jurisdiction have no general tourism licence and travel under an OFAC category such as Support for the Cuban People or family visits. See the CubaAtlas visa & entry guide.
- When is the best time for this trip?
- Best months: December–April and July–August (school holidays).
- Can I book this trip on CubaAtlas?
- No — CubaAtlas is a free, non-commercial planner. It gives you the itinerary, the budget, live flight-search links and real hotel and restaurant listings, and you arrange each part directly at the source. We book nothing and take no commission.