Varadero: reasons to be regarded as the second best beach in the world

Varadero beach, located in Matanzas, has been chosen by the Travelers' Choice 2022 awards, from the TripAdvisor portal, as the second best beach in the world. And this is not only due to its natural goodness. Along with crystal-clear waters of the spa, its fine sand and excellent weather, there is an entire infrastructure and human capital giving their best.

On February 25th, TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel platform, released the news, result of the choice of millions of tourists worldwide.

Out of a total of top 25 beaches chosen throughout the planet, Varadero, 90 miles east of Havana, was only runner-up to Grace Bay, Providenciales, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, north of the Dominican Republic and southeast of the Bahamas.

As an example of the travelers’ opinions that fully back this choice, TripAdvisor mentions: “A postcard landscape. Fine sand and the bluest water I've ever seen."

Behind that postcard landscape

Undoubtedly, this is a reality that makes this beach unique, but little or nothing could enamor such “postcard,” heavenly landscape, if there were no will and efforts to guarantee the safe, responsible, hygienic, and quality tourism that distinguishes it.

In regard to the field of health —hit hard by COVID-19 with strong impact on tourism—, 15,000-plus workers of that spa were trained under the Protocols of the Tourist Services in the different stages of COVID-19, as announced at the annual balance meeting of the Delegation of the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) in Matanzas.

And this built trust in issuing markets, so much so that one hundred percent of people working there boast a fully initial vaccination schedule, and almost all have also received the first booster dose.

Even when the Cuban economy suffers the onslaught of the pandemic that puts pressure along with the tightening of the US blockade, in the year that recently ended, an attempt was made to guarantee the supply of products and services to tourism in the territory, favored by national involvement with the contribution of state-owned companies, agricultural and non-agricultural cooperatives, private workers, and micro, small and medium enterprises.

The ropes were tightened so much in favor of tourism in Varadero, which is definitely for the good of the nation, that between last October and December, the winter stage, the best results were produced there, with the attention to more than 880 thousand tourists a day.

About a third of that total corresponded to the domestic market; this, based on the diversification of options in hotel and non-hotel offers designed for this time span.

The aforementioned was announced by Ivis Fernández Peña, MINTUR delegate in Matanzas, who recalled that it was the result of the opening of new hotel and non-hotel products, the availability of 100% of the optional portfolio, the operation of night recreation centers, as well as the gradual increase in flights and airlines from the Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport, in Matanzas.

So far in February, 43 hotels provide services in Varadero, with 17,888 available rooms, 83% of the total existing in Varadero.

Feeling at home

Several awards have been granted to the tourist hub of Varadero. Last year, hotel, non-hotel and support organizations were granted international awards that valued their outstanding performance and prestige among customers.

Consequently, the Royalton Hicacos and Blau Varadero hotels were granted the Holiday Check Special Award, while the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Award was given to Meliá Internacional Varadero.

The Casa Perla boutique hotel was awarded at the provincial level and welcomed a Mention at the national level in the 2021 edition of the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments Awards of the Republic of Cuba.

Tourists mostly from Russia, Canada, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom enjoyed Varadero hub last year. These countries stood for the 80% of the foreign tourists served in Varadero in the period.

It is no coincidence that Varadero will host —May 3-7— the FITCuba 2022 International Tourism Fair, which could not be held last year due to the pandemic.

Prior to this important meeting, a set of investments associated to the Varadero Boulevard, the Plaza América Convention Center, Xanadú Mansion, Casa Perla, Mediterranean Complex, and the Parador Fotografico are executed in the resort.

The Spanish Irma Calafell visited Varadero last December and left her opinion on TripAdvisor: “Today is our last day after 7 nights at the Roc Barlovento hotel. We have had a great time, everything has been really perfect. A very cozy place, very kind and friendly staff, great facilities (...). And what about the heavenly beach, a wonder to stay for much more than a week. Next time we will. Thanks again to all the staff and to Klaus for making us feel at home.”

And yes, hospitality and kind welcome are among the strengths that make Cuban tourism unique in general terms, and particularly that of Varadero, the second best beach in the world, according to TripAdvisor.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff