Day Trips from Varadero — 8 Excursions Beyond the Beach
The best day trips from Varadero, Cuba. Visit Havana, Matanzas, the Bay of Pigs, caves and more. Expert picks from Travelfab, ATOL-protected holidays.
Varadero has one of the finest beaches in the Caribbean — 20 kilometres of white powder sand along the Hicacos Peninsula. But after a few days of all-inclusive relaxation, most visitors want to explore. The good news is that some of Cuba's most fascinating destinations are within easy reach of Varadero.
Here are the 8 best day trips from Varadero, from colonial cities and natural wonders to revolutionary history and authentic Cuban culture.
1. Havana (2 hours)
The essential Cuba experience. A day trip to Havana gives you time to see the highlights of one of the most charismatic cities in the world.
What to expect:
Drive along the Malecón waterfront
Walking tour of Old Havana — Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja, Calle Obispo
Visit El Capitolio and the Museum of the Revolution
Lunch at a paladar (private restaurant)
Optional: classic car tour, rum museum, cigar factory
Duration: Full day (12–14 hours including 2-hour drive each way)
Cost: £60–£100pp through a tour operator; £40–£60pp in a shared taxi (4 passengers)
Tip: Start early (7am departure) to maximise time in Havana. The drive passes through lush countryside and crosses the Bacunayagua Bridge — Cuba's highest, with spectacular views.
2. Matanzas — The Athens of Cuba (30 minutes)
The provincial capital just 30 minutes from Varadero is called the Athens of Cuba for its literary and musical heritage. It is completely overlooked by most tourists, which makes it one of the most authentic Cuban cities you can visit.
What to see:
Cuevas de Bellamar — stunning limestone caves with stalagmites and underground rivers. Guided tours run every 30 minutes (£5pp)
Pharmacy Museum (Museo Farmacéutico) — a perfectly preserved 19th-century pharmacy with thousands of original bottles and equipment. Free entry.
Plaza de la Vigía — the central square with the Sauto Theatre, one of Cuba's finest colonial theatres
Río Yumurí — scenic valley views from the city's bridges
Rumba performances — Matanzas is the birthplace of rumba. Ask locally about weekend performances.
Duration: Half day (4–5 hours)
Cost: £15–£25pp by taxi; caves entry extra
Tip: Combine Matanzas with a morning at Varadero beach for a perfect half-and-half day.
3. Bay of Pigs / Playa Girón (1.5 hours)
The site of the failed 1961 CIA-backed invasion is now one of Cuba's best snorkelling and diving spots, with crystal-clear cenote-fed waters and a vibrant coral reef right off the shore.
What to do:
Snorkelling at Caleta Buena — a natural cove with coral formations just metres from shore. Equipment hire available (£5). Fish, starfish and sea fans in warm, calm water.
Museo Girón — small museum telling the Cuban side of the Bay of Pigs invasion. Aircraft, weapons, and photographs. Entry £3.
Cenote diving — several freshwater cenotes near Playa Girón offer extraordinary diving through underground cave systems. For certified divers only.
Cueva de los Peces — a flooded sinkhole 70 metres deep, right beside the road. Excellent snorkelling with tropical fish.
Duration: Full day
Cost: £50–£80pp including transport, entrance fees, snorkelling equipment, and lunch
Tip: The road from Varadero passes through the Zapata Peninsula — Cuba's largest wetland and a birdwatching paradise. Ask your driver to stop at the crocodile farm and the flamingo lagoon.
4. Trinidad (3 hours)
A UNESCO World Heritage colonial town frozen in time. Trinidad is arguably the most beautiful town in Cuba, with cobblestone streets, pastel-coloured buildings, and live music everywhere.
What to see:
Plaza Mayor — the central square surrounded by colonial mansions, now museums
Museo Histórico Municipal — climb the tower for the best views of the town and the Escambray mountains
Casa de la Música — the famous outdoor music venue on the steps above Plaza Mayor. Live bands play every evening, but the atmosphere starts from late afternoon.
Calle Desengaño — the most photographed street in Cuba, with its colourful colonial facades
Playa Ancón — a beautiful Caribbean beach just 15 minutes from the town centre
Duration: Full day (long day — 3 hours each way)
Cost: £80–£120pp including transport, guided tour, and lunch
Tip: Trinidad really deserves an overnight stay. If possible, book a night in a Trinidad casa particular and return to Varadero the next day. The town is magical at night when the day-trippers leave.
5. Viñales Valley (3.5 hours)
The UNESCO-listed tobacco-growing valley in western Cuba, surrounded by dramatic mogote limestone hills. This is where Cuba's finest cigars begin their journey.
What to do:
Tobacco farm visit — watch a farmer roll a cigar by hand and hear about the growing process. You can buy cigars directly.
Horseback riding — ride through the valley past tobacco fields, farmhouses and mogotes. 2–3 hour rides available.
Cueva del Indio — enter a cave and take a boat ride through an underground river
Los Jazmines viewpoint — the classic Viñales panorama, perfect for photographs
Duration: Full day (long day — 3.5 hours each way)
Cost: £80–£110pp including transport, farm visit, and lunch
Tip: Like Trinidad, Viñales is better as an overnight trip. The valley is at its most beautiful in the early morning mist. However, a day trip from Varadero is possible if you start at 6am.
6. Santa Clara (2 hours)
The city where Che Guevara's forces won the decisive battle of the Cuban Revolution in December 1958. A must for anyone interested in Cuba's revolutionary history.
What to see:
Che Guevara Mausoleum and Memorial — the bronze statue, museum, and Che's remains (transferred from Bolivia in 1997). The museum is one of the best in Cuba. Free entry.
Tren Blindado (Armoured Train) — the actual derailed train carriages from Che's ambush, now an open-air monument on the original site
Parque Vidal — Santa Clara's elegant central square with the ornate Teatro La Caridad
Iglesia del Carmen — recently restored colonial church
Duration: Full day (8–10 hours)
Cost: £50–£70pp including transport, entrance fees, and lunch
Tip: Santa Clara is a university city with a younger, more progressive feel than Havana. The bar and music scene around Parque Vidal is excellent.
7. Cárdenas (20 minutes)
The closest town to Varadero and one of the most authentically Cuban places you can visit on a short trip. While tourists flock to Havana and Trinidad, Cárdenas is a working Cuban town where daily life continues without a tourism filter.
What to see:
Museo Oscar María de Rojas — one of the oldest museums in Cuba, with a quirky collection spanning natural history, colonial artefacts, and revolutionary memorabilia
Flagpole Square (Plaza de Colón) — where the Cuban flag was raised for the first time in 1850
Horse-drawn taxi rides — Cárdenas is known as the City of Horse-Drawn Carriages. Take a ride through town for £2
Local market — the agricultural market gives a real insight into Cuban daily life
Duration: Half day (3–4 hours)
Cost: £10–£15 by taxi from Varadero
Tip: Go in the morning when the market is busiest. Cárdenas pairs well with a morning at Varadero beach.
8. Saturno Cave (15 minutes)
A natural underground swimming hole just 15 minutes east of Varadero. The Cueva de Saturno is a collapsed cave filled with crystal-clear freshwater, surrounded by stalactites and tropical vegetation.
What to expect:
Swim in the cool freshwater pool (a refreshing change from the warm sea)
Snorkel among small freshwater fish
Certified divers can explore the underwater cave system (20m depth)
Basic facilities (changing rooms, snorkelling equipment hire)
Duration: 2–3 hours
Cost: £5 entry, £3 snorkelling equipment hire
Tip: Go early in the morning before tour buses arrive. The cave is shaded and cool — a perfect escape from the midday heat. Bring water shoes as the rocks can be slippery.
Planning Your Excursions
Booking Options
Through your resort — convenient but typically the most expensive option
Through a specialist tour operator — better guides, smaller groups, more flexibility
Independently by taxi — cheapest for short trips (Matanzas, Cárdenas, Saturno Cave)
Pre-booked with your holiday — if booking with Travelfab, we can include excursions in your itinerary at preferential rates
What to Bring
Cash (CUP and/or Euros) — card payments are rare outside resorts
Water and snacks — not always available en route
Sunscreen and hat — even for city visits
Comfortable walking shoes — cobblestones in Trinidad and Havana
Swimwear — for spontaneous beach and cenote stops
Why Book Excursions with Travelfab?
When you book a Cuba holiday with Travelfab, we can build excursions directly into your itinerary — with private guides, reliable transport, and no resort markups. Every trip is ATOL protected (licence 11706).
FAQ
Can I visit Havana from Varadero in one day?
Yes, but it is a long day — expect 12–14 hours with 2 hours driving each way. You will have 6–8 hours in Havana, which is enough for the main highlights. Start early (7am).
What is the best day trip from Varadero?
For first-time visitors, Havana is the must-do excursion. For something closer, Matanzas and the Bay of Pigs offer authentic Cuban experiences without the long drive.
How do I get around from Varadero?
Most excursions are arranged through tour operators or by private taxi. Viazul buses connect Varadero to major cities but are slower and less flexible. Private taxis for 4 passengers typically cost £60–£120 for a full-day trip.
Are day trips from Varadero worth it?
Absolutely. Varadero's beach is beautiful but the town itself is almost entirely tourist-focused. Day trips to Havana, Trinidad, or the Bay of Pigs give you the real Cuba that you will not find at the resort.
Can I book excursions after I arrive?
Yes, resorts and local tour desks offer excursions daily. However, Havana and Trinidad trips can sell out in high season. Pre-booking through your tour operator guarantees availability and usually gets a better price.
