Travellers hoping to escape Vancouver's seemingly unending rainy season flock to Mexico in droves...but another tropical hot spot rivals the destination's popularity.
Cuba has welcomed Canadians in droves for decades, offering a sun-soaked respite from frigid winters, numerous fun activities on the land and in the water, a rich history, electric nightlife, and warm locals.
I recently visited the island nation for the second time in about a decade, ensuring I booked time in Varadero - a beach area coveted globally for its sparkling shore and clear waters.
Here's how I planned a great trip to Cuba including a stay in Varadero, and a stint in Havana that included visits to several lesser-known locations and hidden gems.
How to book cheap flights from Vancouver to Varadero, Cuba
Travellers booking flights from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport (VRA) have several low-cost options - but they may want to book travel in advance. Trips booked at the last minute typically soar several hundred dollars above average prices.
To find the best deals to get to Cuba from Vancouver, you may want to book through a third-party travel platform. My trip was booked through FlightHub, which included round-trip WestJet flights from YVR to VRA. Booking directly with the airline often costs more so it helps to search for a lower-cost option.
Ensure you check the restrictions associated with the fare class you book. WestJet's cheapest fare, UltraBasic, doesn't include carry-on bags or flight changes. Thankfully, the next class up, Econo - the class I booked - allows you to bring a carry-on bag in the cabin (as well as a personal item) and reduces the cost of your checked luggage. If you skip checking a bag, the next fare class may cost the same as booking the cheapest ticket and checking a bag since you can't bring a carry-on and the checked item will cost more.
The fastest flight with stops from Vancouver to Varadero takes eight hours and five minutes. My outbound flight included a stopover in Toronto and my return trip had one in Calgary and I didn't experience any issues on the way home.
Sunwing offers the only direct flight from YVR to VRA on Tuesdays; it takes five hours and 55 minutes.
Booking transfers to the resort
If you book an all-inclusive package to Cuba, transfers are included. If you don't, you'll have to pre-book them or get transportation from the airport to the hotel on arrival. This means you'll likely have to book a taxi unless it isn't that busy.
Since it wasn't busy, I asked which bus was going to the Laguna Azul and asked the drivers if I could join. This allowed me to pay them a tip instead of buying a cab. They can't accept money for the transfer but can get some extra money from tips. A taxi ride can soar upwards of US$70 while I tipped US$20. It is a shared bus but they are very comfortable.
Once you are at a resort it should be easier to pre-book space on the transfer to the airport.
Iberostar Laguna Azul
Globetrotters may recognize the Iberostar brand, with its resorts and hotels in 18 countries worldwide. The Spanish chain offers four- and five-star accommodations, with many of them touted for their dreamy oceanfront locations and luxurious amenities.
While I haven't stayed at an Iberostar location outside of Cuba, several guests at the resort mentioned notable differences between their stay in Varadero and overseas.
Travellers should note that many Cuban accommodations can't access the resources necessary to provide the same amenities at this time. This might mean some of the foods you try in other places aren't available and you might not experience the same level of luxury.
Iberostar has several resorts in Cuba, including the Iberostar Selection Varadero (the luxury option), the four-star Iberostar Origin Playa Alameda, the four-star Iberostar Origin Taínos, and the four-star Iberostar Origin Bella Costa.
My accommodation was booked via FlightHub for three nights at the all-inclusive, five-star Iberostar Laguna Azul.
I stayed solo for two nights and was joined by a friend on the third. From what I could see, it looked like there was no shortage of fun things for families to do, such as the resort's kids' club and water activities.
I didn't feel starved for food options at the Iberostar Laguna Azul - quite the opposite. The buffet had a diverse selection, including everything from charcuterie to fresh fruit, pizza to pasta, fish and meat dishes made to order, a variety of breads, vegetable dishes, several desserts, and much more. Breakfast was delightful, with the chefs preparing eggs any style, multiple cereal and milk options, toast, pancakes, bacon, sausages, fruit, and more. My favourite was the freshly squeezed juices, including guava and papaya. When sourced fresh in the tropics, papaya is a deep, nearly reddish-orange and much more flavourful.
The Laguna Azul also has a couple of a la carte restaurants but you must reserve these options in advance at no additional charge.
The Iberostar transforms after dark, with people flocking to its lobby and massive terrace overlooking the ocean to mingle, enjoy drinks, smoke cigars, and dance. The DJ plays requests and people can enjoy the atmosphere until after midnight.
Once that area shuts down, the party continues outside the 24-snack bar, with the late-night crew gathering for drinks, eats, and chats.
But anyone who goes to Varadero for the food is missing the bigger picture.
Varadero beach
Varadero is considered one of the world's top beaches, touted for its powdery white sand, warm, turquoise waters lush palms and other flora dotting the resorts behind it.
The first time you step out to see the ocean outside of a resort you will feel gobsmacked; it looks entirely different than it does on the bus ride from the airport.
If spending time at the beach reading, swimming, or sun-tanning is your cup of tea, then consider this Da-Hong Pao (the world's priciest tea praised for complex, floral aromas).
I did plenty of those mentioned above at the Iberostar, although I also spent some time poolside (they have a couple of large pools perfect for a refreshing dip). They also have a nearby 24-hour snack bar serving grilled foods, sandwiches, pizza, and more for hungry loungers (both resorts I stayed in had these available). You can also get alcoholic drinks and other beverages here.
Companies including WestJet, Cubatur, Sunwing, and Transat offer numerous tours in Varadero and across Cuba. You can usually book options in advance but they are also available at most major hotel lobbies.
While I didn't do an excursion in Varadero, I reserved my transfer to Havana the Iberostar's lobby. This trip takes about two-and-a-half hours and includes a stop midway at a place where you can get a fun drink in a pineapple. At my previous stay there, I arranged a snorkelling trip to a nearby area offering an idyllic place to observe schools of colourful fish and pastel coral reefs in the clear waters. It was an incredible experience and Varadero is a great place to enjoy the activity. Other fun activity options include catamaran tours, fishing, a classic car ride, and cave tours.
Excursion to Havana
If you visit Varadero without taking at least a day trip to Havana, you are missing out. I can't imagine spending less than three days in the vibrant metropolis.
Havana is a city unlike any other, transporting visitors back through time with its cobblestone historic streets, brightly-hued old-school cars, passionate music, and fascinating history. During a day trip, you'll have time to see the city's obvious history, comprised of colonial buildings and architecture, as well as some places of historic significance.
However, the city comes alive after dark, with clubs offering salsa dancing, art, and incredible live music. One night, my friend and I entered a seemingly regular club where patrons danced. In Vancouver, this experience looks entirely different. Sure, people have fun dancing wherever they go, but in Havana, to dance is to make art.
- Related: How to spend the perfect three days in Havana, Cuba: A guide for Metro Vancouver travellers
Poetry in motion takes centre stage in nearly any venue you visit (whether for a professional show or just local people having fun), a testament to the nation's love affair with salsa and other dances requiring impressive skills. We also saw live music in a couple of different establishments, including the captivating Buena Vista Social Club tribute and La Fábrica de Arte Cubano - an art gallery with several clubs inside of it that functions as a space for all things creative to unfold under the cloak of night, including a variety of talented bands and singers.
My travel companion and I also embarked on a 12-hour excursion from Havana to the mountains to visit a tobacco farm and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour's first stop is a visit to a tobacco farm where the group learned about the harvesting process and watched an expert hand roll a cigar. After that, we got to see a stunning viewpoint called Mirador de Los Jazmines, one of the world's largest murals in a beautiful meadow, and take a boat ride through a cave with a river running through it.
Late-night revellers don't have to fret about finding food in the middle of the night in Havana- although they might have to travel to locate exactly what they want (but full meals are available).
Our driver Jose took us to the Friki Monkey, located across the street from Cuba's national zoo. It was 3 a.m. when we stopped for a bite but the elated owners made me a burger and fries and my friend and our driver each a massive pizza for $20 total. He also offered us about half a glass of rum each (straight up), which I politely declined. He gave us some water to drink instead. A couple of other patrons were hanging out in the late-night eatery sharing laughs and food.
Blau Varadero and other nightlife options
The second accommodation I stayed in Varadero was Blau, an all-inclusive, adults-only resort. While several resort amenities and offers were similar to the Iberostar Laguna Azul, I enjoyed having some kid-free spaces on my holiday. I also had a spellbinding view from my fourteenth-floor room and appreciated the generally speedy elevators. The lobby is also impressive, featuring a living atrium of vines streaming down from its ceiling with its two glass elevators positioned on either side.
Blau is located close to downtown Varadero and some of its nightlife options, although I didn't seek any out. Visitors can easily take a cab to visit this area for food, drinks, shopping, and to explore.
Cuban travel entry form
Travellers to Cuba must fill out the D'Viajeros Advance Information of Travellers Form before boarding their flight to Cuba. This can only be done within seven days of entry to the country; I did this during my Toronto stopover.
If you do not fill out the form, you may be denied entry to the country. The form includes basic health questions, anything you plan to declare, where you plan to stay, and a few other questions about your identity.
After you submit the online form, you will get a QR code and an email to present to immigration officers when you go through customs in Varadero.
Go to the online site to start the process and select your language in the upper right-hand corner (unless you speak Spanish).
How to prepare for a trip to Cuba
Travellers headed to Cuba may feel concerned about the recent country-wide power outages.
The Canadian government upgraded its Cuba travel advisory in the wake of the crisis, advising travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to "shortages of basic necessities including food, medicine and fuel."
Travellers should take extra battery packs and plan for the possibility of a transportation shutdown. This may mean that a flight is rescheduled or cancelled and you may return to Canada later than expected. Booking a comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover the cost of your ticket in case you can't leave due to an unforeseeable medical or other emergency reason. It will also cover incidents such as missed connections, baggage interruption and loss, and more.
I experienced a power outage while I was there but it only lasted for a couple of hours at night and in the morning. My phone was already charged and we didn't experience any issues getting into our room with our keycards. Keeping electronics charged and having battery packs is vital for a trip.
Travellers should also avoid visiting during hurricane season - June through November - as powerful hurricanes sometimes ravage parts of the island. My trip took place at start of the December, which was dramatically quieter than visiting during January or February.
Canadians should always register trips they take online before they leave so that the government can contact them in an emergency.
Thanks to FlightHub for facilitating travel to Cuba from Vancouver by hosting our flights and Varadero hotel stay.
None of the above-mentioned experiences or meals were hosted; the entire itinerary was self-curated and paid for by the author with no prior arrangement with any business.
All opinions and inclusions are those of the author and were based solely on personal experience. None of the businesses or entities featured were granted any previews of the story before publication or paid to be mentioned.
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