Located on the north coast of Cuba, 87 miles from Havana, lies the beautiful town of Varadero. This tiny town of eight thousand is one of the top vacation resorts in Cuba due, in large part, to its’ great golfing.
One of the top golf courses on the island is the Varadero Golf Club located on the thin Hicacos Peninsula.
Built in 1933, this was the first golf course on the island. This is a narrow, 7,000 yard, 18 hole course with spectacular views of water on both sides set in the magnificent Caribbean landscape. This par 73 course features five par 5s and five par 3s with the longest hole at 587 yards while the shortest is 179. However, they saved the best of last as the most exciting hole is the 18th where the green sits on top of a cliff. Completing the course are 70 bunkers and numerous dog legs.
Carts are required and the green fees will cost about $100 but there are other amenities also. There is an excellent restaurant, a terrace bar and a well stocked pro shop. The old Dupont mansion, with all of it’s’ grandeur and luxury, now serves as the clubhouse.
Golfing is not all that there is to do in Varadero; there are many more activities designed for the visitor’s enjoyment. Close to the golf club is Varadero Beach which is the most popular beach in Cuba. With its’ sparkling white sand beaches and warm, clear water, this is a paradise for the beach lover. For the swimmer, there are wide sandbanks so they can venture far out into the ocean.
A wide variety of water sports are also available. Excellent scuba diving is offered that includes underwater caves, a huge variety of sea life, and beautiful coral reefs. There are sailboards, aqua bikes, Catamaran rides and parasailing plus many other fun things to do.
If that isn’t enough to keep the visitor occupied, cars, bikes, and motorbikes can be rented.
Other entertainment facilities in Varadero include a go cart track, an amusement park, and a marina that offers yacht cruises. Nearby at the Dolphinarium, dolphins perform show for the audiences to enjoy and visitors can even get in the water and swim with them.
Once nighttime falls, there is no drop off in activity. Live concerts are performed nightly by salsa orchestras and there are more than 10 discos to insure that the party doesn’t end. The resort has over 30 first-rate hotels offering fine dining and luxurious accommodations.
Varadero is a fantastic tropical paradise although it is not very well known outside of Cuba. Vacation in Varadero and you won’t be disappointed.
The series has 16 teams organized into two zones (or zonas), Oriental and Occidental. Each team represents a province in Cuba, and two teams represent the capital city of Havana. The regular season is comprised of 90 games and runs from November through March or April. At the end of the season, the top eight teams participate in a tournament for the league championship title.