CubaPLUS Magazine

Cuba’s magnificent Varadero beach has once again secured its place among the Caribbean’s top coastal destinations, according to the annual rankings by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel platform.

In this latest edition, the acclaimed "Blue Beach" earned the number three spot in TripAdvisor’s comprehensive survey of the world’s most significant beaches. The results are based on an analysis of eight million user profiles and reviews collected over a 12-month period.

The report highlights that for those seeking to relax on soft sands or dive into new adventures, the 2026 award-winning beaches promise a true "dream getaway."

According to the survey results, the top-ranked beaches in the Caribbean are: Eagle Beach (Aruba), Tobacco Bay Beach (Bermuda), Varadero (Cuba), Cas Abao Beach (Curaçao), Bavaro Beach (Dominican Republic), Palm Beach (Aruba), Carlisle Bay (Barbados), and Seven Mile Beach (Cayman Islands).

The list also includes: The Baths National Park (British Virgin Islands), Playa Porto Marie (Curaçao), Orient Bay Beach (St. Maarten), Grote Knip/Sabana Westpunt (Curaçao), Mambo Beach (Curaçao), Cane Garden Bay (British Virgin Islands), and Mullet Bay (St. Maarten).

The "Travellers' Choice Best of the Best 2026" distinction represents TripAdvisor’s highest level of excellence in travel. It is awarded only to those destinations that receive a high volume of exceptional reviews and feedback from the global travel community.

As Cuba’s premier "Sun and Beach" destination, Varadero will also host the upcoming International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2026). Dedicated to this specific travel segment, the event will be held at the Plaza América Convention Center from May 6 to 10, with Canada featured as the Guest of Honor.

Renowned for its crystalline waters and fine white sand, Varadero owes its name to its shallow, sandy coastline where ships, swept by the tide, would often run aground (varar) centuries ago. The Spanish navigator Sebastián de Ocampo discovered the peninsula in 1508 during his circumnavigation of the island, though the first official mention appears in 1540 on a map by Alonso de Santa Cruz.

Beyond its coastline, Varadero boasts 15 archaeological sites, including grottoes and caverns that once served as shelters. Currently, the Ambrosio Cave is the most visited site; spanning five galleries and 250 meters in length on the southern coast of the peninsula, it houses what experts consider the most significant collection of pictographs in the Caribbean.