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Magical History Tour
Varadero is located on the Hicacos Peninsula, once home to the Siboney people of the Cubanacán tribe, the first settlers of the island of Cuba. Their legacy can be found in the cave drawings around the peninsula, most of which were created some 3,000 years before the arrival of the Spanish. With the coming of the Spanish, the province of Matanzas became an important commercial port in the trade of, among other things, slaves. The African legacy is also very apparent in the day-to-day life of the region.
In its heyday, the city was dubbed the Athens of Cuba, because of its influence on the arts, namely in literature, music and poetry. Nowadays the city, which stretches towards the Bahía de San Juan, is a modern one, with a rich architectural and musical heritage, all of which contribute to make it a prime tourist destination.
A historical tour of the city will take you first to the San Ambrosio and Musulmanes 1 & 2 Caves, all of great anthropological and archeological importance, and which were discovered in 1961. Mansión Xanadú is a Spanish colonial mansion of great architectural beauty that nowadays functions as a restaurant. This home belonged to the magnate Du Pont, who bought up large tracts of land in the 20s and who had a great influence on the industrial development of the region.
A long walk along Avenida Playa will take you to the Establecimiento Tabaquero, which produces the cigars consumed by the tourists who stay in the hotels of this region. You can take an interesting tour of the factory. The Museo Municipal offers a brief history of the city and is housed in one of the most beautiful of the traditional houses to be found in Varadero. The dolphinarium is definitely a family favorite, with dolphins that are trained to perform the most entertaining tricks. If you prefer to commune with nature and to rest beneath a shady tree, you should visit Parque Josone, a pleasant place very close to the Museo Municipal, and surrounded by lakes, tropical plants and crafts markets.
In Matanzas, you must visit the Plaza de la Vigía a point of convergence in the city that is as exhilarating as it is noisy. If you prefer, you can go to the Plaza de la Libertad, or the smaller Parque Central which has a recreation area. Other places of interest are the Museo Provincial de Mantanzas, which presents a complete history of the region, and Teatro Sauto which was built at the end of the 19th Century and has now been declared a national monument. The Museo Farmaceútico in Calle Milanés is a chemist shop from 1882 that has been preserved in its original state. A stop at the Hotel Louvre will take you back to the splendor of the 19th Century.
Lovers of fresh air can enjoy the Yumurí and Mirador de Bacunayagua Valleys, both lined with palms and fertile slopes and traversed by the river of the same name. Explorers of the Bellamar caves will be amazed by their hour-long guided tour.
Shopping in Varadero
When it comes to shopping, Varadero is one of the best locations in the island. All the hotels have their own shops, but if you want to be adventurous and go into town, there is even more to find.
The main shopping center in Varadero is Caimán, which has many shops selling gifts, art and crafts, souvenirs, clothes, alcohol and tobacco. Other well-stocked shops can be found between Calle 54 and Calle 64. If you are interested in art, you should visit the Taller y Galería de Cerámica Artística, the city’s most famous art gallery which not only exhibits works of art, but also sells works by the best Cuban sculptors and potters.
For cigar aficionados, there is the Casa del Habano which trades in the finest tobacco products. If literature is your passion, you should visit the Hanoi library in Calle 44, one of the most comprehensive in the island that has books in English and French, as well as an enormous stock of books in Spanish.
Lovers of Salsa and Son—two enduringly popular strains of Afro-Cuban music with roots that go back centuries—will really enjoy a visit to the shops ARTEX and
One of the most popular excursions is a trip in the Varasub, a glass-bottomed boat which makes a circuit of the peninsula. Another favorite is diving, either by day or by night in the open sea or even in the local caves. For more information about diving, you should contact Club Barracuda. Club Tropical also offers diving excursions in Playa Girón, which include a two-hour introductory course and all the necessary equipment. Club Aqua Diving in Avenida Kawama has the most competitive prices, and offers excursions to a shipwreck and the chance to watch the instructors feed giant manta rays from the boat. The price also includes oxygen tanks and a two-hour trip.
If you prefer, you can go para-gliding from the beach. Those who have lived this experience say it is an unforgettable one. For more details, you can contact Cubanaútica in Avenida Kawama.
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