CubaPLUS Magazine

Cuba has two of the best beaches in the world according to a list published by TripAdvisor, highlighted today by tour operators and travel agents. Tourism professionals consider that among the values of this archipelago for the travel industry are its beach resorts, particularly Varadero and Pilar, which occupy positions 10 and 11 respectively in the aforementioned list.

This selection was put on the table in February of this year, but now it is highlighted in the periodic evaluations of travel agencies and tour operators, especially those that have working relationships with the authorities of this country, and in the case of hotel chains such as Meliá and Iberostar.

The beaches are Varadero, the most famous on the island, located about 140 kilometers east of Havana, the capital of the country, and Pilar, which is located in Cayo Guillermo, in the Jardines del Rey area, center-north. Both are references for one of the reasons to travel and vacation to this country, although the authorities provide programs with variety such as visiting the archipelago in search of knowledge of history, culture, traditions, adventures, nature and rurality, circuits, recreational nautical and hiking.

In particular, Playa Pilar is one of the most beautiful in Cuba and the entire Caribbean. Located in the Cuban province of Ciego de Ávila, the dunes that surround this virgin beach reach up to 16 meters high. If we add to that the waving palm trees, the fine, clear sand, the calm, crystal-clear waters and a seabed with a coral barrier, the result can only be paradise on Earth, noted in the arguments for including it in the list cited.

The travel portal Tripadvisor published the ranking of the best beaches in the world, based on opinions and comments that users make on the platform throughout the year. This ranking is part of the 2024 Traveller's Choice Best of the Best awards, which recognize, among others, travellers' favourite destinations, hotels, beaches, experiences and restaurants based on their reviews on the platform, many of these awards being given to facilities and places in Cuba.

This award is given to those who receive a large number of excellent opinions and comments from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Of the eight million profiles, less than one percent achieve it. For this occasion, the best beach in the world this year is Praia da Falésia (Algarve, Portugal), followed by Spiaggia dei Conigli (Sicily, Italy) and Playa de La Concha (San Sebastián, Spain), in second and third position respectively.

La Concha Beach was already part of the 2021 and 2023 rankings. Next on the list, in the same order, are Ka'anapali Beach (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii), Grace Bay Beach (Turks and Caicos), Anse Lazio (Seychelles), Manly Beach (Sydney, Australia), Eagle Beach (Aruba), Siesta Beach (Siesta Key, Florida), along with Varadero and Pilar.

The list also includes Playa Balandra (Mexico), Reynisfjara (Iceland), Poipu Beach (Hawaii), Seven Mile (Cayman Islands), Las Canteras (Spain), Ipanema (Brazil), Manuel Antonio (Costa Rica), Falassarna (Greece), Nungwi (Tanzania), Kelingking (Bali), Nissi (Cyprus), Myrtos (Greece), and Norte (Islas Mujeres, Mexico).

(Taken from Prensa Latina)