Varadero, Cuba’s most popular beach resort, begins receiving international tourists today (Oct. 15) opening the door for the resumption of flights from Canada in November. Canadians will be able to hop on Air Canada flights from Nov. 6 followed by Sunwing and Transat service in December. Hola Sun will also introduce packages in November.
Notably, visitors must have hotel reservations upon arrival – air only passengers are not allowed into the country at present.
Cuban tourism authorities report that safety protocols are fully in place at VRA and arrivals are required to take a (free) PCR test upon arrival and have COVID-19 insurance or else buy medical insurance at the airport (US$30).
After arrival, here’s what visitors can expect:
• Local authorities have created a safe tourist corridor starting at K Street until Punta Hicacos (end of the peninsula). Within this area, tourists will have a choice of several 4- and 5-star hotels, golf course, two marinas, Dolphin Park, two shopping plazas (Plaza America & Plaza Hicacos), plus additional restaurants and services.
• Tours and excursions are available within the approved zone, such as: water sports; nautical activities offered by the two marinas and the dolphin park; hop-on-hop-off double deck tourist bus; and moped, bicycle tours and car rentals in the permitted area.
• To avoid cash handling, all services must be paid by credit cards or debit-visa from Canadian banks.
• All hotels will include a medical team consisting of a doctor, a nurse and an epidemiologist specialist to monitor guest health throughout their stay.
“Our first and foremost priority is the safety of our clients and staff, so in this initial stage, the mobility of the clients and the range of the excursions will be limited to the approved area,” says Cuba Tourist Board Canadian director Lessner Gomez. “This means that tourists will not be allowed under any circumstances to leave the safe tourist zone – they cannot visit the rest of the island and the locals cannot enter the tourist zone.”
He adds, “The situation is very fluid. I’m looking forward to the time when this safe zone is expanded to include more hotels and more services, but right now we are happy to open Varadero, one of Canadians’ favourite destinations.”
In September, Air Canada resumed flights to Cayo Coco from both Montreal and Toronto, following the re-opening of the “cayos” by Cuba to tourism on July 1.