Varadero / Cuba

Varadero has to have one of the finest beaches in the entire Caribbean. Although large resort hotels now line the shore, the beaches are so expansive that they will very seldom be crowded. And what beaches! No need to search for the perfect spot, since Varadero is located on some 20 kms of white powdery sand that makes up the Peninsula de Hicacos. Naturally watersports are a key ingredient of your holiday, and most hotels offer a wide range of activities.

The "mojito" - a unique combination of sugar, fresh mint, soda water, lime juice and rum - is a refreshing drink in the hot Cuban sun. A popular Cuban drink, Ernest Hemingway made the mojito famous with his taste for the Caribbean beverage.

The Parqui Nacional Cienaga de Zapata is a 300 square km area that has been dedicated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The park is a great area for tourists to get photos of many animals and birds. It is complete with a crocodile farm and Laguna del Tesoro (Treasure Lake) for fantastic fishing. Those who are lucky may catch a manguari, which has the body of a fish and the head of a crocodile.

Cubans love music, and you should try to find some local groups who perform live outside the confines of the hotel strip. Although availability of necessities for tourists has improved dramatically over the years, it is still a good idea to take any familiar items you may need, such as toiletries, film, and certainly any medications.