Varadero has dropped one spot, from ninth to tenth, in the list of the 25 best beaches in the world, according to the annual evaluation by the American travel website TripAdvisor.
The predominant tags in the evaluation of Cuba's main beach resort were: Activity, Entertainment, Expensive, and Wellness.
The summary provided by the mentioned website highlights that this location “has everything you would expect from a perfect beach: golden sand, turquoise water, and stunning sunsets.”
Additionally, they highlight the activities that can be done such as swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking. They add that you can travel on a catamaran, go fishing, play a game of beach volleyball, walk along the shore, "or simply relax and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery."
Global and Caribbean Beach Rankings
The list is topped by Falésia Beach in Portugal. Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Eagle Beach in Aruba lead the ranking.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Varadero ranked 48th among the best beaches in the world, according to the list compiled by the specialized site The World’s 50 Best Beaches. The list, which takes into account the opinion “of the most recognized and experienced influencers, journalists, and travel experts in the world,” is headed by Lucky Beach in Australia, followed by Source d’Argent in the Seychelles, and Hidden Beach in the Philippines.
Tourism Decline in Cuba
The drop in Varadero's position is closely related to the decline in tourism indicators in Cuba. Economist Pedro Monreal, analyzing on his social media account X, stated that “tourism had a terrible start in Cuba in 2024. Visitors increased moderately by 4.3% in January compared to the same month the previous year, but that was only 55% of the average for January from 2017-2019.”
Based on statistics provided by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), Monreal warned that visits from Canada—Cuba's main source of tourists—were lower in January 2024 than in the same month of 2023. Visits from the Cuban community, usually the second source of tourists in Cuba, also decreased.
However, there was an increase in tourists from Russia, although tourism from the top five European sources—Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Spain—declined.
Understanding Varadero's Drop in Rankings
To better understand Varadero's drop in the rankings and the current state of tourism in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions:
Why did Varadero drop in Tripadvisor's beach rankings?
Varadero dropped in the rankings due to a decline in tourism indicators and other factors such as visitor reviews and overall satisfaction.
What activities can tourists enjoy in Varadero?
Tourists can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, catamaran trips, fishing, beach volleyball, and relaxing on the shore.
Which beaches are currently ranked higher than Varadero?
Falésia Beach in Portugal, Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Eagle Beach in Aruba are some of the beaches currently ranked higher than Varadero.
How has the tourism trend in Cuba affected Varadero?
The tourism trend in Cuba has seen a decline, with fewer visitors from major sources like Canada and the Cuban community, although there has been an increase in tourists from Russia.