The sea temperature at Varadero today is 28.2 °C (83 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 29 °C. The forecast for the next 3 days is 28.5 to 28.6 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 29.9 °C to 28.2 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 25 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.3°C / 77.6°F | 25.8°C / 78.4°F | 26.1°C / 78.9°F |
| February | 25.3°C / 77.5°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F | 26.2°C / 79.2°F |
| March | 25.7°C / 78.3°F | 26.1°C / 78.9°F | 26.4°C / 79.5°F |
| April | 26.2°C / 79.2°F | 26.6°C / 79.8°F | 27.2°C / 80.9°F |
| May | 27.7°C / 81.8°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.4°C / 83.2°F |
| June | 28.5°C / 83.2°F | 29.0°C / 84.1°F | 29.4°C / 84.9°F |
| July | 29.2°C / 84.5°F | 29.7°C / 85.4°F | 30.4°C / 86.7°F |
| August | 29.5°C / 85.1°F | 30.1°C / 86.2°F | 30.5°C / 86.9°F |
| September | 29.7°C / 85.4°F | 30.0°C / 86.1°F | 30.2°C / 86.4°F |
| October | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.0°C / 84.3°F | 29.4°C / 84.9°F |
| November | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 27.7°C / 81.8°F | 27.9°C / 82.1°F |
| December | 26.6°C / 79.8°F | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 26.8°C / 80.2°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.0°C / 73.5°F | 23.4°C / 74.2°F | 23.8°C / 74.8°F |
| February | 23.5°C / 74.3°F | 24.0°C / 75.1°F | 24.3°C / 75.7°F |
| March | 24.0°C / 75.2°F | 24.5°C / 76.2°F | 24.8°C / 76.7°F |
| April | 24.7°C / 76.5°F | 25.3°C / 77.5°F | 25.6°C / 78.0°F |
| May | 26.2°C / 79.2°F | 26.7°C / 80.1°F | 26.9°C / 80.5°F |
| June | 27.1°C / 80.7°F | 27.6°C / 81.6°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F |
| July | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.5°C / 83.3°F | 28.8°C / 83.8°F |
| August | 28.1°C / 82.6°F | 28.6°C / 83.5°F | 28.8°C / 83.8°F |
| September | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 28.3°C / 82.9°F | 28.4°C / 83.2°F |
| October | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.1°C / 80.9°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F |
| November | 25.5°C / 77.9°F | 25.8°C / 78.4°F | 25.9°C / 78.6°F |
| December | 24.2°C / 75.6°F | 24.6°C / 76.2°F | 24.7°C / 76.5°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Varadero holidays
Varadero stretches along the Hicacos Peninsula on Cuba's north coast, in Matanzas province, about 140 km east of Havana. Its beach of pale sand runs for around 20 km along the Atlantic side of the peninsula, with the town at the western end and large resorts farther east.
Beaches
The beach in Varadero town is lined with casual cafés and small hotels, and the sand slopes gently into clear, shallow water that suits children. Do not swim while a red flag is flying, and follow the lifeguards' instructions. Farther east, the resort zone has quieter stretches in front of all-inclusive hotels, and near the tip of the peninsula the Varahicacos ecological reserve protects a patch of coastal scrub and caves. Catamaran trips from the marinas sail to Cayo Blanco, a small island with a white-sand beach and a reef for snorkelling.
Things to do
Josone Park, in the centre of Varadero, is a green garden with a lake and restaurants. The Mansión Xanadú, a villa completed in 1930 for the American industrialist Irénée du Pont, stands on the cliffs above the golf course. Near the airport road, the Cueva de Saturno is a cave with a freshwater pool for swimming, and the Cueva de Ambrosio in the Varahicacos reserve has old wall drawings. Day trips go to Havana and to the city of Matanzas, known for its bridges and theatre, and diving and snorkelling trips visit reefs off the peninsula.
Weather and best time to visit
At Varadero the sea stays above 25 °C / 77 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Varadero has a tropical climate, with a drier season from about November to April, when most visitors come. Winter cold fronts can bring a few windy, cooler days and rough sea. From June to November it is hotter and more humid, with afternoon storms, and this is also the Atlantic hurricane season.
Hotels and where to stay
Most visitors stay in all-inclusive resorts along the Hicacos Peninsula, where the beach is right outside; some of them take adults only. The town of Varadero has smaller hotels and casas particulares, private homes with rooms, closer to local restaurants and shops.
Airport and getting there
Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport (VRA), about 25 km west of Varadero, is the nearest international airport; routes and operating dates change, so confirm them with the airline before booking. Havana's José Martí Airport is around two hours away by road, and buses and transfers run along the coast road from Havana. Within Varadero, taxis, horse-drawn carriages and a tourist bus run along Avenida Primera, the main street.