Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero
Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero
Special reduced direct rates when looking for a Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero you will have a large selection of Car Rental Agencies all of which offer both airport collection and Hotel or places like Juan Gualberto Gomez Airport VRA, Matanzas, Cardenas, Melia Varadero, Las Americas Shopping Center, Dowtown Varadero as pickup locations. Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero can also be delivered to your Hotel in Varadero. The main offices for CubaCar Varadero are situated at Varadero International Airport but other smaller offices can be found at the hotels below. For other Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero agencies there is Havanautos Varadero which is based in Varadero Airport but also has offices all over Varadero and has been fused with CubaCAR Varadero under the name of Transtur Varadero. Lastly, 2 other Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero agencies exist one being REX Varadero and the other being VIA. Nonetheless, all companies are owned by the Cuban Government and there is little difference between them, REX Varadero being the exception which offers more luxurious vehicles.
For Cuban Americans staying in Varadero there are special rates on the above pages. Simply click to chat and advise the agent you are from Cuba. Some ID may be required to obtain the discount.
While driving your Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero there are several important “must see” landmarks & Monuments plus read our driving tips
The following hotels are recommended for your stay in Varadero or Matanzas
Economy Hotels
Note: All Hotels in Varadero are All Inclusive and are easily accesible with your Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero
You should try and pre-reserve a Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero before you arrive to save lost time searching from office to office looking for available vehicles and paying more for desk rates with a company such as Havanatur which offers all companies on one website or individually with each company in the previous links at the top of the page.
Varadero is a seaside town in the province of Matanzas, Cuba, and one of the biggest resort areas in the Caribbean. Varadero is also know as Playa Azul, which translated means “blue beach”
Geography
It is located on the Hicacos Peninsula, sandwiched between the Bay of Cárdenas and the Florida Straits, 140 km east of Havana City, at the eastern end of the Via Blanca highway. The cape is only 1.2 km wide at its widest point and is separated from the island of Cuba by the Kawama Channel. This stretch of land though extends more than 20 kilometers from the mainland through a northeasterly direction and its slant, Punta Hicacos, is the northernmost position of the island of Cuba. At the northeastern end of the cape there is a nature reserve with forests and long sandy beaches. The Hicacos Point Natural Park is a 3.12 km2 (1.20 sq mi) ecological preserve recognized in 1974. It contains the 250 m (820 ft) long Cave of Ambrosio, Mangón Lake (home to 31 species of birds and 24 species of reptiles) with the ruins of the La Calavera (The Skull) Salt Works (one of the first salt works to be built by the Spanish in the New World). The cays developed off shore, such as Cayo Piedras and Cayo Cruz del Padre are the western most part of the Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago easily visited with your Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero
Varadero Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport, located west of the peninsula, is Varadero’s only airport. It is the second-most-important airport of the island after José Marti Airport in Havana, and serves international and domestic flights.
History
The first talk of Varadero was in 1555. The place was first used as a dry dock (The name in spanish: varadero) and the salt mines of the cape (finally closed in 1961) supplied most of the Spanish Latin America Fleet from 1587 until 1961. However, the establishment date of Varadero as a city was only on December 5, 1887, when ten families from the adjacent city of Cardenas received permission to build their vacation homes between today’s 42nd and 48th Street.
It was recognized as a municipality at the administrative re-distribution of July 3, 1976 from territory beforehand part of Cárdenas. In August 2010, the Varadero municipality was abolished according to a Law approved by the Cuban National Assembly, becoming part of Cardenas municipality again.
Varadero is primarily a tourist town, offering more than 20 km of white sandy beaches. The initial tourists visited Varadero as early as the 1870s, and for years it was considered an elitist resort. In 1910 the yearly rowing regatta was started; five years later the first hotel, called Varadero and later Club Nautico, were built. Tourism increased in the early 1930s as Irenee du Pont Nemours (The Du Pont Family), an American millionaire, built his estate on the peninsula which is still there today and serves as a Club House with various exclusive suites for guests. Many famous and infamous people stayed in Varadero, for example Al Capone, Bugsy Malone, etc.
Post Cuban Revolution in 1959, many mansions were confiscated from their rich owners by the Castro Brother. These mansions soon became museums. As a symbol of the new integrated tourism for Cubans and foreign visitors of all social classes, the Park of the 8000 Cubicles (Parque de las 8000 Taquillas) was built in 1960. Guests could leave their property in the basement of the park, had access to sanitary installations and gastronomic services on the first floor, and could hire bathing articles and swimsuits. The setting of the park became the center of the city. Between the 1960s and 1980s Varadero changed itself into a cultural centre. During those years the central park (8000 Taquillas) (located between 44th and 46th Street) saw countless concerts, festivals and national sporting events.
Starting in 1990s saw the start of another hotel building campaign, mostly in the 4-star and 5-star segment. Many of the hotels are operated or co-owned by foreign businesses like Melia, Barcelo, TRYP, etc. As international visitors have increased, the local population increased with the arrival of people, some in key economic positions, from other parts of Cuba. As a result, Varadero forgave much of its social and cultural life and its traditions. The central park, the cinema and various cultural meeting places were neglected in favor of a hotel-centered all-inclusive-tourism then, finally closed. The International Carnival, an initiative of Cubans and foreigners started in the 1980s, has now also ceased.
Over and above its most valued resource, the beach, Varadero has natural attractions such as caves and a chain of easily accessed Virgin islets. There are also cultural, historical and environmental attractions in the vicinity, such as the cities of Matanzas and Cardenas, the Zapata Peninsula and the resort of San Miguel de los Baños. Varadero, which is a free port, also offers scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, yachting and other water sports.
Varadero receives more than 600,000 tourists yearly.
Varadero is primarily visited by Europeans from UK, France Russia, Italy. Also, Latin American and finally the largest group being Canadian tourists. The number of U.S. tourists visiting Varadero, although going up, has been limited because of the restrictions that make it illegal for U.S. citizens to visit Cuba as tourists.
Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero – Do not overcomplicate your precious vacation time and prebook your before you arrive.
Rent A Car in Cuba Varadero 101
Rent A Car in Cuba Holguin
Rent A Car in Cuba Holguin
To the east of Gibara is the bay known as Bahia de Bariay, and in the bay is the peninsula called Cayo de Bariay. It is here that most people believe Christopher Columbus first landed in the year 1492. He described the land like it was paradise. To commemorate the 500th anniversary of this historic event a monument was erected. It is called “Monumento Encuentro Dos Cultures” (the meeting of two cultures) and it is dedicated to the Taino Indians and who inhabited this area. There is a beach here, Playa Cayo Bariay and a restaurant as well. Visitors can reach Bahia de Bariay either by road with a private vehicle or by boat from Guardalavaca.
Holguin: Banes
The town of Banes makes a nice trip for visitors staying at the nearby resort of Guardalavaca, just 30km / 25mi away. Cubans just going about their daily life in this community is one of the main attractions for travelers who have not ventured beyond the resort area. Some of the other highlights, for those who have already seen other Cuban towns are the Museo Indocubano Bani, and the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Caridad. The Museo Indocubano Bani contains one of the best collections of Indian artifacts outside of Havana. Among the collection is a famous small gold statue of a woman called Idolo de Oro, which dates to the 13th Century. It is one of only twenty gold artifacts found in Cuba from pre-Columbian times. The museum also displays other items found in the area, which is known for being an archeological hot spot in Cuba.
Holguin: Chorro de Maita
Near the resort of Guardalavaca is Chorro de Maita, the site of a large native Indian burial area. Excavations here in 1986 revealed a total of 108 skeletons, one of which was actually a Spaniard, along with clay works, shells, decorative items, and other artifacts. Visitors can learn about the excavations and the history of Chorro de Maita at the Museo Aborigen Chorro de Maita. On display are 56 skeletons exactly as they were found. Across from the museum is a recreated Taino Indian village with figures on display showing how life would have been in this type of Indian village. There is also a souvenir shop on site, and an opportunity to try some traditional Amerindian cuisine.
Note: you will need a rent a car in Cuba Holguin to visit this location
Holguin: Loma de la Cruz
For panoramic views over the city try climbing the more than 450 stairs up to Loma de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross). This hilltop location has a lookout tower and a large cross. The cross was placed here on May 3, 1790 during a period of drought. Each year now local residents of Holguin climb up the stairs to Loma de la Cruz on May 3 in celebration of Romerias de la Cruz de Mayo. Considering the city is relatively flat and laid out in a typical grid pattern with no particular point of interest, the view, although extensive, may not be worth the climb.
For an interesting look at the flora and fauna of Cuba and other parts of the Caribbean try going to the Museo de Historia Natural Carlos de la Torre y Huerta in Holguin. This museum contains over 7,000 specimens of stuffed animals, reptiles and aquatic life. Visitors will see stuffed birds, turtles, shells, and fish fossils among other items. The building that houses the Museo de Historia Natural Carlos e la Torre y Huerta is a beautiful mix of architectural styles, with neo-Classical columns and Moorish turrets with a splendid interior. The building has undergone some recent upgrades. Hobbies & Activities category: Architecture – Moorish; Natural history museum; Architecture – Neo-Classical
All together rent a car in Cuba Holguin before you arrive to save lost time searching from office to office looking for available vehicles or prebooking in advance with a company such as Havanatur which offers all companies on one website.
Have fun with your rent a car in Cuba Holguin there are many sights to see and a car is very useful to see these easily
Rent A Car in Cuba Cienfuegos
Rent A Car in Cuba Cienfuegos
For best deals when looking to rent a car in Cuba Cienfuegos you will have an ample selection of Car rental agencies all of which offer both airport collection and Hotel or places like Cienfuegos Malecon, Palacio de Valle, Dowtown Cienfuegos as pickup locations. The main offices for CubaCar are situated at Hotel Jagua but other smaller offices can be found at the Cienfuegos Airport terminal, hotel Hotel Rancho Luna and other locations. For other Rent A Car in Cuba Cienfuegos companies there is Havanautos which is based in Cienfuegos Airport but also has offices all over the city and has been fused with CubaCAR under the name of Transtur Cienfuegos. Finally, two other Rental Agencies exist one being REX Cienfuegos and the other being Via. However, all of these companies are owned by the Cuban Government and there is not much difference between them, REX being the exception which offers more luxurious vehicles.
For Cuban Americans there are special rates on the above pages. Simply click to chat and advise you are from Cuba. Some ID may be required to obtain the discount.
While driving in Cienfuegos there are several important “must see” landmarks & Monuments
Cienfuegos: Paseo del Prado / Malecon
Address: Calle 37, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
The Paseo del Prado (Calle 37) is a long thoroughfare running right through the centre of Cienfuegos (north to south), stretching from the Rio El Ingles (north) all the way down to the popular Punta Gorda in the south. Actually the longest city street in the country, the Paseo del Prado is a fantastic place to walk and people-watch, and is loaded with neoclassical buildings, monuments and many funky shops. As you head southwards, the Paseo del Prado becomes the Malecon, where you can enjoy a promenade alongside the bay. During the evening, the Malecon is an especially lively place to hang out.
Cienfuegos landmark open: daily – 24 hours
Cienfuegos landmark admission: free
Cienfuegos: Visit Trinidad
Tourism officials like to say Trinidad is a museum in itself. Those visiting the 500-year-old city will find Spanish colonial architecture, underscoring a colonial ambiance that marks the tiny city one of the country’s greatest attractions. Only a few square blocks in size, historic Trinidad is famous for its lovely, cobblestone streets, pastel colored houses with elaborate wrought-iron grills, as well as beautiful palaces and plazas. The city can be toured in a few hours, by foot or by horse-drawn carriage. The city is located near both the Escambray Mountains and the Caribbean coast.
Note: To see this with your Rent A Car in Cuba Cienfuegos you will need to drive about 1 hour
Cienfuegos: Casa de la Cultura Benjamin Duarte
Address: Calle 25 – 5401, Parque Jose Marti, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 0432 516 584
The Casa de la Cultura Benjamin Duarte is one of the grand structures that overlooks the Parque Jose Marti. Formerly named the Palacio de Ferrer, this wonderful place was built in 1918 and comes with its own tower (mirador), from where there are fantastic city views. As you explore, you will encounter a series of interesting features, such as an Italianate marble floor and an iron staircase, while it is the dome-shaped cupola that gives the building its distinctive appearance. Live music can be enjoyed at the Casa de la Cultura Benjamin Duarte most nights.
Cienfuegos landmark open: daily – 08:30 to midnight
Cienfuegos landmark admission: free
**See this with your Rent A Car in Cuba Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos: Palacio de Valle
Address: Calle 37, Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 0432 511 226
Dating back to 1917 and located on the corner of Calle 37 and Avenue 2, the opulent and somewhat gaudy Palacio de Valle is one of the top landmarks in Cienfuegos. This palace is especially photogenic and rather Arabic / Moroccan in character, and lies on the southern side of the city, just beyond Punta Gorda. Although the architecture is perhaps a bit over the top, the palace offers an interesting tour and also comes with a classy restaurant and terrace bar.
Cienfuegos landmark open: daily – 09:30 to 23:00
Cienfuegos landmark admission: charge
**See this with your Rent A Car in Cuba Cienfuegos 10 mins from the centre
Cienfuegos: Catedral de la Purisima Concepcion
Address: Avenue 56 – 2902, Parque Jose Marti, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 0432 525 297
Overlooking the Parque Jose Marti at the eastern end is the Catedral de la Purisima Concepcion (Cathedral of the Most Pure Conception). The cathedral stands right next door to the flashy Boutique Hotel and was built way back in the late 1860s, with the interior featuring an especially high nave. Boasting stained-glass windows from France and coming with two lofty towers, the facade is known for its neo-classical appearance and pale yellow colour.
Cienfuegos landmark open: daily – 07:00 to 12:00
Cienfuegos landmark admission: free, donations suggested
Cienfuegos: Cementerio La Reina
Address: Calle 7, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
The Cementerio La Reina (the Queen Cemetery) is to be found on the corner of Calle 7 and Avenue 50, and is one of two National Heritage cemeteries in Cienfuegos. This serene place is situated on the western side of the city, near the water’s edge, and was founded way back in 1837. It features graves of Spanish soldiers who perished in the wars of independence and has the distinction of bodies being interred above ground, in the walls in fact. This is a first in Cuba and is because of the ground saturation.
Cienfuegos landmark open: daily – 08:00 to 18:00
Cienfuegos landmark admission: free
Cienfuegos: Necrópolis Tomás Acea
Address: Carretera de Rancho Luna, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
The Necrópolis Tomás Acea in Cienfuegos is one for the archaeological buff, with its Parthenonesque look. Just a short taxi ride from town and located in south-east Cienfuegos, this local landmark is known as a garden cemetery. Onsite is a large neoclassical pavilion and dozens of Doric columns that have taken their cue from Greece. There is also a monument dedicated to the marine martyrs.
Cienfuegos landmark open: daily – 08:00 to 18:00
Cienfuegos landmark admission: charge
On the whole, rent a car in Cuba Cienfuegos requires either lost time moving from office to office looking for available vehicles or prebooking in advance with a company such as Havanatur which offers all companies on one website.
Therefore, rent a car in Cuba Cienfuegos can be with the previously mentioned direct online bookings or Havanatur.
Benefit from your rent a car in Cuba Cienfuegos because there are many sights to see and a car is priceless to help see these easily
Rent A Car in Cuba Havana
Rent a Car in Cuba Havana
Capitolio Havana
For those looking to Rent a Car in Cuba Havana there is an ample choice of Car rental agencies all of which offer both airport collection and Hotel or places like Vedado, Miramar, Old Havana as pickup locations. The main offices for CubaCar are situated at 3ra y Paseo in the city but other smaller offices can be found at the Havana cruise terminal, Hotel Sevilla and other locations. For other Rent A Car in Cuba Havana companies there is Havanautos which is based in Miramar but also has offices all over the city and has been fused with CubaCAR under the name of Transtur Havana. Finally, two other Rental Agencies exist one being REX Cuba and the other being Via. However, all of these companies are owned by the Cuban Government and there is not much difference between them, REX being the exception which offers more luxurious vehicles.
While driving in Havana there are several important “must see” landmarks
Fortaleza San Carlos de la Cabaña, a fortress located on the east side of the Havana bay, La Cabaña is the most impressive fortress from colonial times, particularly its walls constructed at the end of the 18th century.
El Capitolio Nacional, built in 1929 as the Senate and House of Representatives, this colossal building is recognizable by its dome which dominates the city’s skyline. Inside stands the third largest indoor statue in the world, La Estatua de la República. Nowadays, the Cuban Academy of Sciences headquarters and the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (the National Museum of Natural History) has its venue within the building and contains the largest natural history collection in the country.
Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro is a picturesque fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay; Morro Castle was built because of the threat to the harbor from pirates. To visit this location you will need a Rent a Car in Cuba Havana.
Castillo San Salvador de la Punta, a small fortress built in the 16th century, at the western entry point to the Havana harbour, it played a crucial role in the defence of Havana during the initial centuries of colonization. It houses some twenty old guns and military antiques.
Cristo de La Habana, Havana’s 20-meter (66 ft) marble statue of Christ (1958) blesses the city from the east hillside of the bay, much like the famous Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro. To visit this location you will need a Rent a Car in Cuba Havana. Rent a Car in Cuba Havana Required as this is not near the city.
Note: To see this you will need to go through the tunnel of Havana with your Rent a Car in Cuba Havana
The Great Theatre of Havana, famous particularly for the acclaimed National Ballet of Cuba, it sometimes hosts performances by the National Opera. The theater is also known as concert hall, García Lorca, the biggest in Cuba.
Hotel Nacional de Cuba, an Art Deco National Hotel. NOTE: Rent a Car in Cuba Havana Not required
El Malecón Habanero, the avenue that runs beside the seawall along the north shore of Havana, from Habana Vieja to the Almendares River, it forms the northern boundary of Old Havana, Centro Habana and Vedado.
Museo de la Revolución, located in the former Presidential Palace, with the yacht Granma on display behind the museum.
Necrópolis Cristóbal Colón, a cemetery and open air museum it is one of the most famous cemeteries in Latin America, known for its beauty and magnificence. The cemetery was built in 1876 and has nearly one million tombs. Some gravestones are decorated with sculpture by Ramos Blancos, among others.
Overall rent a car in Cuba Havana requires either lost time moving from office to office looking for available vehicles or prebooking in advance with a company such as those mentioned above or Havanatur which offers all companies on one website
Enjoy your rent a car in Cuba Havana has many sights to see and a car is invaluable to see these easily
Rent a Car in Cuba Havana 101
Rent a Car insurance in Cuba | Prices & Payment methods
Whether you are from Canada, UK, USA or Timbuktu, your credit card car rental insurance WILL NOT be accepted in Cuba for Rent a Car insurance in Cuba.
It’s amazing how many people swear that their credit card company says it will and, argue for minutes or hours… that they are covered, only to finally accept that if they don´t pay the insurance they won´t get the car. Save yourself time and resign yourself to the fact that it WILL NOT be accepted and, the start of your vacation will be more pleasurable.
Why my credit card insurance is not accepted for Rent a Car insurance in Cuba?
The simple answer is, the Cuban Government owns the car, the rental company and the insurance companies so, they simply deem your insurance non valid.
When I prepay to rent a car in Cuba, why can´t I pay insurance in advance?
This question is asked time and time again. The Cuban government “obliges” the payment of insurance when the car is collected. Some say that this is because insurance can only be valid if paid in Cuba and others say it’s so that, despite having a prepaid voucher, they can refuse to insure you if you do not meet the minimum criteria of valid license, age etc. The bottom line is you will ALWAYS pay the insurance when you collect the car with only a few exceptions. One is that you rented a car with a driver and the other is that you specifically booked a car where insurance is included within your vacation package price. This last option is VERY rare and 99% of car rentals are “insurance payable in Cuba”
What does the insurance cover?
Cuba recently abolished franchised insurance where you pay a set amount in case of a claim or damage. This means that you cannot choose anything other than CDW or fully comprehensive insurance which essentially covers everything. If you need to claim, the car is a wreck or gets damaged you will not need to pay anything. However, the insurance does not cover negligence. This means leaving your car keys in and it gets stolen, leaving it on a street and the wheels are stolen or leaving it open and the radio vanishes. Again, there is a fine line between crime and negligence and to prove you have been negligent is very hard. The best way to eliminate doubt if anything untoward happens to your car is file a police report and take a copy of this report with you to the car rental office. Always keep a copy for yourself, even after you have returned the car, especially if you paid the deposit and/or insurance with a credit card.
What is the cost of Rent a Car insurance in Cuba?
Depending on the vehicle rented and its value the daily amounts are currently (2011)
Economic Car – 10 CUC Per day
Medium Car – 15 CUC per day
Medium High Car – 20 CUC Per day
Minivan – 25 CUC per day
Van – 35 CUC per day
Luxury – 25 CUC per day
See the CUC Calculator into your own currency
Car Rental in Cuba | Precautions | Collecting a Cuba Rental Car
Special precautions apply when collecting a Car Rental in Cuba but these are not much different to other countries. We´ll try and pinpoint special recommendations.
Voucher for Car Rental in Cuba
Contract for Car Rental in Cuba
Leaving the Car Rental in Cuba rental office
Car Rental in Cuba made easy
Cuba Rent a Car | Types of cars available
Cuba Rent A Car Models
Cuba Rent a Car companies offer an assortment of categories which are as follows:
Economic or Economy Cuba Rent a Car
Minivan 7 seats Cuba Rent a Car Here
A full list of all Current Cuba Rent A Car models
Rent a Car in Cuba | On a road to nowhere?
Rent a Car in Cuba | On a road to nowhere?
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Rent A Car in Cuba, have fun!
Rent a Car in Cuba – Roads in Cuba
Rent a Car in Cuba – Roads in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Rent A Car in Cuba – Cyclists
Rent A Car in Cuba – Tips & Advice #1
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
Do´s & Don’ts of driving in Cuba
