Varadero or Kayo-Koko

Varadero or Kayo-Koko – Where is it better to relax in Cuba in 2025? We compare the weather, beaches, entertainment, prices and service in hotels. What you need to know, where to go, fresh reviews are in the material of Eurotraveler.

The island of Cuba as a beach resort direction enjoys the unfading love of Russian travelers. Nothing actually uncomplicated – even in a difficult trip in terms of foreign travels in 2025.

It seems to be expensive, and get to Cuba from Moscow – you are tortured, and the observators have recently threatened the tests with the observators! But go – you can’t meet negative reviews. What is there: everyone Know describes the incredible purity of the sea, endless sandy spaces and an incredible sense of relaxation, covering the body on the Caribbean island.

Even those who are not too lucky with the weather will not dramatize the situation. On the contrary, it seems to be very convincingly stated that they would like and will definitely return (when they drive money). What are they ready to go to relax in Cuba even in September – and do not give a damn about hurricanes!

In general, it inspires. So much so that it remains in fact that one question remains, where is it better to go: to Kayo-Koko or Varadero?

That is, to the island, albeit not cut off from the “large land”, but still involving a certain isolation? Or still at the most famous resort in Cuba. From which in general it does not cost nothing to go for a day to get to know the harbor?

We decided to comprehensively study this issue. If possible, going up to the matter is unbiased (well, we don’t like quiet calm locations, what can you do). And that’s what happened!

Varadero against Kayo-Koko-which is better

All other things being equal, that is, there is no restrictions and prohibitions related to pandemia or something completely completely force majeure, it is mainly necessary to compare the preferences of vacationers. You crave (relative) solitude and peace – go to the islands. I would like the greater presence of civilization and entertainment, your choice is Varadero.

In the first case, if you do not lock yourself on vacation, you still limit it in a certain way-from Kayo-Koko to Havana 500 kilometers along the highway. And although you can fly from the airport on an internal flight at least every day, in modern conditions you are not flying – everything is quite expensive.

As for Varadero, if you have a desire and a certain amount of money from here, you can easily go on a land excursion to many remarkable places in Cuba. In the same Vignacles Valley, where the best tobacco sheet is grown in the world, in Santiago de Kubu, who is replete with the houses of the colonial era, you want-generally on the southern Kayo-Largo.

It is inconvenient to talk about Havana – every first tourist travels there from Varadero. Rarely, of course, independently – usually still with a guide from local (expat).

However, we go in order!

Hotels

They are distinguished by a good user rating and therefore (today) are popular hotels as:

• Hotel Playa Coco, whose huge plus is the presence of well, just incredible in size of the beach
• Memories Caribe Beach Resort.
• Tryp Cayo Coco

The best belonging to the best in Cuba Melia Cayo Coco and even Pullman Cayo Coco Hotel, judging by the reviews, already in 2023, that is, after passing the peak of coronavirus pandemia, they did not reach the declared (including price) planks.

As for hotels in Varadero, we will not be original, and indicate Melia Internacional Varadero, the owner of the beach supported in the excellent condition of the beach, as one of the best. Not only in the resort, in general on the island – including, by the way, from the point of view of relaxation with children.

The existing opinion that hotels on Kayo-Koko are preferable to service and food, the state of rooms, in fact, you can not take into account. Everything is about the same – as for furniture and plumbing.

The quality of your nutrition, smiling and warning of staff will depend on the regularity of the tips left. Their size is standard: Cook or today is already Cubin Peso, which is approximately equal to the dollar.

They are ready to constantly encourage the Cuban staff – almost certainly you will be met everywhere with a smile. If you decide that this is superfluous – already so much paid for a tour – you can … buy more “souvenirs”.

It is worth considering that the range of goods that can be bought in a cube as a gift or for personal use, in Varadero stores (with hotels and not only), is still larger. And the prices there are more modest than those that are used to installing on Kayo-Koko.

Prices

Note that at present the difference in the cost between island and “continental” hotels has declined so much that this factor can hardly have a significant impact on the choice. It is much more correct to compare precisely hotels, not locations

Once, yes, Kayo-Koko was more expensive-how, it was a “secluded place”. The island was presented as an elite resort for the very cream of society. There were not so many Russian tourists at all times, Canadians mainly rested.

But, once again, today the border was erased. And as a result, the bar in 2025 (May-June) is as follows: a 10-11-day round on Kayo-Koko with a flight from Moscow and back will cost at least 200-205 thousand rubles for two. Transfers and food “All inclusive” are taken into account in value.

If you aim at Varadero, then the option with all the same “all inclusions” starts … Exactly from the same 200 thousand.

Beaches

Here is equality. And there is no need to trust the reviews that “Kayo-Koko is a tropical paradise” with crystal-transparent water and non-enlightened beaches. Since in Varadero you also do not have to complain about the cleanliness of the water area and stumble about the bodies of other tourists when trying to take a walk on the beach or swim.

There are many thorough opinions that Ikakos is actually better to sunbathe and relax on the peninsula. For the coastal spaces there are much more spacious. That is, it is generally unknown where they end – in search of the “best place” you should just walk a little.

Weather

It also does not differ much. It should be noted that Kayo-Koko is north and east of his colleague. And the first meets hurricanes approaching from the Atlantic Ocean.

Someone claims that the winds in Varadero are always blowing a little stronger. Exciting the sea and creating interference during swimming. At the same time, however, contributing to such studies as Windsurfing and others like him.

However, there are polar opinions. That, as if, is the opposite – and winds in the northern islands feel more confident.

Entertainment

But in this paragraph there is no need to talk about equality. For on Kayo-Koko all your classes will be somehow connected with the beach and the sea. Bathing, beach parties, catamarans, windows and kite surf- this is an almost exhaustive set of affordable entertainment.

And, yes, we forgot about diving – he is in local, exceptionally transparent waters, really good.

You can rent a car and ride an island. But the maximum that you will see is a small colony of pink flamingo and (possibly) secluded beaches.

It is not difficult to go to Cuba Cuba itself with Kayo-Koko. But, as we said above, to Havana on the highway half a thousand kilometers …

It is easier to organize leisure in Varader, and it will clearly be more interesting. Even if you do not take into account the fact that the resort itself is a rather large city, which you can wander in your free time for a long time.

One way or another, but cigars, rum, coffee, you will buy a little cheaper here than in hotels stores.

In search of leisure, you can go to the well -groomed Park Hoson. Trying to swim in Karst Lake in the Cave of Saturn is not a Mexican hay, of course, but it seems. Get to Matansas and even go beyond its borders to admire the Beliamar cave.

Not bad for Varadero and Diving. And in the National Park, Kayo Pyedras del North even created an entertaining landscape under water, plunging the plane and ships there.

Almost certainly you will want to see Havana. To which you can get by car in less than 2 hours (excursion, taxi). You can get on a regular bus. Which, however, goes for so long – 3.5 hours at least – what to think about an overnight stay in the capital of Cuba.

Restrictions (long -shot)

Just for you to imagine how it was all recently …

In the pandemic, after the opening, but long before the removal of restrictions, the rules for tourists were such …

Arriving foreigners should have presented the PCR test not older than 72 hours in English. And to be subjected to another test – at the expense of the host – its results were reported after 24 hours. From the surrender of both the first and the second test only babies aged 0-1 years were released.

A positive test guaranteed you a room in the observator or hospital, depending on the state of your health. Naturally, any measures related to walking or swimming in the sea, for the entire stay In this institution, excluded. Physical contact with those (those) with whom you came to rest were equally excluded.

I had to subject myself to some tedious procedures upon returning to Russia. Regardless of the presence or absence of antibodies in the body, within 4 days it was necessary to make and put on the website of the State Services of the PCR test.

© EUROTRAVELER