Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

166  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

4 Varadero Y Parque Retiro Josone
Avenida Primera y Calle 56.
Cuba’s top resort, which occupies the 19-km (12-mile) long Tel (45) 667 228. Open daily.
Península de Hicacos, is connected to the mainland by a This is a beautiful park, with
drawbridge, a sign of Varadero’s exclusivity. When, in the elegant trees, tropical flowers
late 19th century, some families from Cárdenas bought part and plants, three restaurants
and a small lake where birds
of the land on the peninsula and built themselves summer gather and tourists hire rowing
residences on the north coast, Varadero became a fashionable boats and pedalos. It was
beach for the wealthy. After Castro took power in 1959, established in 1942 by José
the area was opened up to all kinds of people, and is now Iturrioz, the owner of the
especially popular with Canadians and Europeans, drawn to Arrechabala ronera, the rum
factory just outside Cárdenas.
the white, sandy beaches, clear blue water and good facilities.
He named it Josone, a
combination of the first syllable
of his Christian name and that
of his wife, Onelia.
The park is a hit with children,
who can enjoy a boat ride,
among other attractions.
E Museo Municipal
Calle 57 y Playa. Tel (45) 613 189.
Open 10am–7pm Tue–Sun. & 8
Note: fee for photography may apply.
The Municipal Museum
recounts the history of Varadero
Palm trees surrounding the lake in Parque Retiro Josone both as an urban and tourist
centre and also has a collection
Exploring Varadero are located. The Autopista del of Indian tools on display. It is
The peninsula – which can Sur (motorway) runs along the interesting primarily because of
be toured by hiring a scooter, southern coast. the building which it occupies.
classic car or one-horse The white and blue wooden
carriage – is a succession The Historic Centre chalet with French roof tiles is
of hotels, restaurants, holiday The old centre of Varadero, characteristic of the
villages, bars, discos, shops which has no significant architectural style imported
and sports centres, all set historical monuments, lies from the US and in fashion in
among lush greenery that around the Iglesia de Santa Varadero and the Caribbean
includes bougainvillea, royal Elvira and the Parque de 8000 area in the early 1900s.
poinciana, coconut palms Taquillas, in Avenida 1ra The architect Leopoldo Abreu,
and seagrapes. between Calle 44 and 46. The the original owner of this villa,
The main road along the oldest hotel of note is Hotel landscaped splendid gardens
northern side of the peninsula Internacional (at the western which visitors to the museum
is Avenida Primera (1ra), the end of Avenida Las Américas), can still enjoy. One side of the
eastern part of which is named which was built in the 1950s, museum faces the sea, and the
Avenida Las Américas. It is here complete with a casino and balcony on the first floor offers
that the main luxury hotels, the extravagant swimming pool. It a fine view over the splendid
major marinas and a golf course puts on a popular cabaret show. beach and the coastline.

Varadero Straits of Florida

Airport
PENINSULA Bahía de Cárdenas Straits of Florida
DE HICACOS 1 The Historic Centre
2 Parque Retiro Josone
Cárdenas
3 Museo Municipal
0 km 1 4 Restaurante Las Américas
(Mansión Xanadú)
0 miles 1
5 Punta Hicacos
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp259–60 and pp273–4

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