TIPS FOR TRAVELING CHEAP TO VARADERO (BUT ENJOYING AS KINGS)

Looking for cheap travel advice to Varadero? In this post we will tell you how to hit a super chachi vacation, without spending a pastón!

The beaches of Varadero may be one of the most exploited treasures in Cuba, for something it will be! We were not very sure of wanting to come here, the resort and wrist roll does not go too much with us, but we considered an alternative plan: enjoy Varadero low cost, staying in a cheap hostel, entering the beaches of the resorts and eating in more local places.

And we get it! We spent 6 days in Varadero paying much less than it would have cost us to stay in an all-inclusive resort, and without giving up anything (it is what you have to travel with parents, you have to take care of them a little hehe)… So if you want know how to take advantage of a destination as exclusive as Varadero with backpacking budget, we tell you!

The beaches of Varadero extend along a peninsula 20 km long. In all this land it is not easy to find a cheap accommodation, what we find will be resorts (more or less new) and some expensive apartments. The alternative? Stay in Santa Marta town, just across the peninsula.

The prices here are greatly reduced and will be the key to ensure that our trip to Varadero does not leave us by a peak. In addition Santa Marta has all the services: cashier, supermarkets, restaurants, CADECA ...

We stay in the Nadal Art Hostel, which we booked through Airbnb and from there we took a friend: Alain. The treatment that the host gave us was simply unbeatable, we hope to see you again soon in Cuba or in Spain, him and his brother Nadal!

The latter is the architect of the idea of ​​creating a different hostel: his paintings and sculptures decorate the 4 rooms that this hostel has. Two of them are larger, studio style, all with A / C, private bathroom, TV, fridge and newly refurbished. For them it is their little creature, so they take good care of it!

It is located in one of the closest streets to the beach, you can even walk in about 10-15 minutes, and the center of Santa Marta in another 5 minutes.

Here you have some photos so you can get an idea and you can book it here.

The beaches of Varadero are freely accessible, although if you want to enjoy the comfort of a sunbed and an umbrella (which in the end is appreciated) you will have to negotiate with the person in charge of the sunbeds of some resort. Honestly, we found them very, very beautiful (although like those of the Cayo de Santa María no hehe, those are our favorites).

We were in two different beaches, first in which there is the height of 48th Street that we did not like too much and then we went to that of 64th Street, where we found our perfect place!

The 64th street beach It is located between two resorts and you can make use of their umbrellas and sunbeds. Upon arrival you will be approached by a worker to rent them and here, as in many other places, prices are negotiable! We pay 5 CUC for two sunbeds a day, but we know that you can squeeze more, include drinks, etc. And well, if you don't want the sunbed or umbrella you can always put yourself in the sand and you won't have to pay anything!

At this price they did not give us any drinks, the good thing is that the little piece that is just behind has cocktails at 1 CUC, beer cans at 1 CUC and soda at 0.50 CUC. They also have cheap fast food.

And if you want to eat a little better, a little further back is the La Barbacoa restaurant, with menu of the day for 5-7 CUC (soup and main course of chicken, veal or prawns). And it eats great!

Although it is probably the place in Cuba where taxis are more expensive, it is worth using them to reach the beach you have decided from Santa Marta. Anyway we tell you what are all the alternatives and prices:

- Taxi: there are both almond and yellow taxis. The first costs around 5 or 6 CUC for the journey, while the yellow ones cost a little more 6-8 CUC.

- Collective taxi: it is a good option if you are traveling alone or as a couple, they are usually larger almonds than usual (with 3 rows) and where about 6-8 people fit. The price is 1 CUC per person. We take it on occasion near the gas station in front of A street in Santa Marta.

- Local bus: not to be confused with private buses that continually pass through the streets of Varadero. These local buses are maroon or red and make stops along the Varadero peninsula and beyond, including of course Santa Marta. There are some small signs that indicate the stops, but it is best to ask where you take it. They usually go very full so patience! The price is 1 CUP and they do not give change, try to take it right or you will have to pay more.

- Truck: it is another way for those who travel alone or as a couple and it is still cheaper, though, much more uncomfortable: they are closed trucks that transport people in bulk ... The price is 5 CUP and, although it is very very cheap, we do not recommend it too much (especially if you travel with your parents XD) because of the risk of telele when you are locked up and with almost no oxygen.

- Others: then there are the typical transport for tourists, passing by the hop on hop off bus (eye, it only makes the journey of the beaches of Varadero, does not reach Santa Marta) for 10 CUC a day, the coco-taxi motorcycles, They are not suitable at all for not talking about horse carts that are expensive and unethical.

If you go to Varadero with the resort plan and wristband, you have this matter solved: put on your boots like a sparrow in every free buffet! But if you do it in backpacking and staying in Santa Marta, there is also good news: in this small town you will find from mega posh restaurants and relatively high prices as simpler and cheaper places!

The ones we can recommend are:

- Cuba Terrace: our favorite place, when we came with daddies we did not want to take them to the most thrown place in Santa Marta, so in this restaurant some lobster fell than another, well, rather they were stewed fish dishes with some lobster hunk hehe ( The parents' excuse is fine, right?). The prices for the dishes are between 4 and 11 CUC. It is not expensive for the attention they give and the quality of the food.

- Atlántida: it is smaller than the previous one, although it has a very cool terrace. Here we had some gentlemen cocktails for 2-3 CUC (don't miss their pina colada) and on the last day we also decided to have dinner, and the dishes are original and very rich. Dishes for about 4-5 CUC.

If you want something faster and cheaper, in this same street and very close to these two restaurants there is a hamburger bar with hamburger and drink menu for 1.50 CUC, a pizza stand that comes out at night and that is thrown out of price and another small but elongated restaurant that we did not try, but with dishes for 1-2 CUC. We also recommend a small window next to the gas station: we used to have breakfast there and catch the occasional pizza / sandwich to take to the beach. Very cheap and good 🙂

As you can see, a fairly economical stay in Varadero can be organized if the chip is changed a bit. Although beware, a good plan is to find an offer in an all-inclusive resort for a couple of days and then spend a few more in backpacking, following the advice we have given you ... you can also stretch the price even more, especially if you You move in buses and eat in windows.

And you, have you been to Varadero? What advice can you give us to save?

Video: Fishing Experience in Cuba. Expérience de pêche à Cuba - Air Transat (April 2024).