My Trip to Varadero Cuba! Thursday 13 October, 2016
Another day another trip. I literally have non-stop traveling for the last month and went to Varadero, Cuba recently. America is now allowing some flights into Cuba and I took full advantage! Few airlines in America are starting to slowly allow direct flights to Cuba. I flew American Airlines. Although I was able to fly to Cuba straight from America, you do need to obtain a Visa in addition to your international passport and go under the 12 categories. I went under Journalism.
I wont be saying much now…just sharing some of the photos from the resort I stayed in at Club Kawama. Check out the photos below!
I was in great company with my best friend Lexi aka My Twinkie Twin
I am so happy I had this Cuban experience with Lexi. She is one of my best friends and we decided we were going to take an international trip together and Cuba was our choice! When we got to the hotel, we realized there weren’t any Americans on the resort. In fact, we were some of the first Americans many of the staff ever met. Of course the native language is Spanish, and the only other English speaking people who visit are Canadians and Europeans. They all thought we were Canadians or Cuban! It was kind of interesting knowing we were the unicorns of the resort and even moreso that they thought we were possibly Spanish. The entire trip I tried to accommodate some of the staff by speaking back to them in Spanish, with the little bit of Spanish I did learn in school and Panama at Habla Ya!...it just motivated me that I want to take another full course abroad to truly learn the language.
These cute vintage cars are everywhere. Its a must to take a photo of one when you visit!
The Varadero beach looks straight out of a postcard
Plenty of shaded areas and lawn chairs!
The resort pool area
Beach Bar
The entertainment area – nightly fun
A pianist performed every night through the El Risolino reservations
My nightly view by the window – perfect view of the nightly sunset
Nightly fun performances and participation games!
My first homemade cut fresh coconut!
perfect coconut by the beach
We decided to go snorkeling and as you can see Lexi immediately regretted it. We were SCARED!!
Out in the Varadero Ocean, getting ready to get my flipper on!
I am not going to lie, for my first time snorkeling it was intense. I tried to do it but I didnt like the snorkel mask on my face so I lowkey started to hyperventilate. I did see some of the beautiful fishies in the water but the photoshoot with the photographer (shown in photo) was a complete fail!
I survived snorkeling 2016!
All smiles now that we actually survived the experience. It was fun although we were scared out of minds lol! Look at the little boat we were sailing on!
Doing more scary stuff…posing with snakes…what is wrong with me??!
Immediately after I got ahold of the snake I gave this right back. I made it look cute and stuff but nope…and more nope!
Celebrated Cuba Night in the buffet area!
Made friends with the Club Kwama entertainment staff Sarah – we are both curlies!
Made another entertainment staff Jenny! Love her so much she made my stay here so pleasant and fun. Great ball of energy and I truly feel like I made a friend in here. I will come back to Varadero just for her!
Overall I had a great time in Varadero. It was a true vacation. Club Kawama was a great all-inclusive experience. We didn’t make it to Havana,Cuba the city but it was fine. Varadero is the tourist part of Cuba and I highly recommend people to visit this area as well. Beautiful beach, peaceful and a beautiful vacation. As beautiful as Varadero the beach and resort was, remember Cuba is still a developing country. Do not expect to go to any part of Cuba and have access to wi-fi without paying $2 peso an hour. Also many of the people are kind, humble and peaceful despite how traditional the city is. Cuba is still a country where people live in poverty, do not have access to many luxuries we are used to having, so when I left I was asked to donate clothes, toiletries, used makeup and other products and I gladly gave what I could.
I felt at home, I went there as an American and returned with a little bit of Cuban pride. I am part Cuban now (laughing but seriously I think they adopted me). I will be returning and I can’t wait to visit again. I am serious about a possible abroad learning trip to learn Spanish so I can continue to visit countries and speak Spanish more fluently. It is my goal for 2017 to see if I can make that happen. Next time I will make it a point to go to Havana, but Varadero will also be one international trip I wouldn’t pass up!
Are You Curious To Travel To Cuba?
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
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I know it sounds weird, but its so cool that you’ve been to CUBA! It’s such a taboo travel idea still. I love the old cars they have. I would love to visit.
I am not a fan of snorkeling either. I had a similar experience, but truth be told…I cried! That snake! I wouldn’t have held that thing ever! What a gorgeous place, cool that you could experience it with your bestie!
I’ve never thought of visiting Cuba, although I’ve heard it’s beautiful there. It looks like you had a wonderful time.I think I should add this to my bucket list.
Looks like you were really loving that coconut 🙂 from the way you held on to it. I would love to visit Cuba, form some Mojitos and photography. Glad you guys had a blast.
I’ve wanted to go to Cuba for the past 2 years. One of my dearest friends married a Cuban and they have been going almost every year. She always returns with the most amazing stories. Your pictures also tell a story. I hope to go with her now that she has started organizing annual tours fro groups.
I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO CUBA!!! I think I need to make Cuba a reality for me. My husband and both have said we’d love to visit, we have to make it happen.
And the cars!!
Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.
XO
I would love to visit Cuba. It looks like you had so much fun!! I’m glad that Americans are able to travel to Cuba now and I’m adding it to my to do list. Thanks for sharing!!
Girl I can’t believe you held a snake but didn’t enjoy snorkeling! lol Everything isn’t for everybody. The pictures look absolutely fabulous though and I’m hoping I get the chance to head to Cuba during 2017.
Wow this is a beautiful post and the perfect best friends trip! Your photos look like they came right out of a magazine! I love that you mention you were asked to donate certain items. That is something that I will consider whenever I travel internationally and I’ll make sure I pack extras.
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You always go to the coolest places! I have always wanted to visit Cuba.
Club Kawama looks absolutely wonderful! I’ave always wanted to visit Cuba, but we’ve never had the opportunity before.
I never really thought about visiting Cuba, but you make it look gorgeous! Such great pics!
WOW that beach!!! What a trip of a lifetime!
Wow what a exhilarating experience. I would love to try a homemade coconut and snorkeling looks fun too. Love the vintage car! Varadero is beautiful.
I have always wanted to go to Cuba. It looks so beautiful. Like it is still trapped in the past.
What a great place to visit. I looked into this past summer but decided to hold off for a bit. Maybe next summer will be the time for us to go.
My husband wants to go to Cuba. My son in law and daughter know people here because he works at a hospital as a Spanish interpreter.
I know it sounds weird, but its so cool that you’ve been to CUBA! It’s such a taboo travel idea still. I love the old cars they have. I would love to visit.
I am not a fan of snorkeling either. I had a similar experience, but truth be told…I cried! That snake! I wouldn’t have held that thing ever! What a gorgeous place, cool that you could experience it with your bestie!
Im not sure if I want to go to cuba. It does look cool!
I’ve never thought of visiting Cuba, although I’ve heard it’s beautiful there. It looks like you had a wonderful time.I think I should add this to my bucket list.
Looks like you were really loving that coconut 🙂 from the way you held on to it. I would love to visit Cuba, form some Mojitos and photography. Glad you guys had a blast.
What an awesome trip you had! Would love to visit Cuba with my hubby one day!
I’ve wanted to go to Cuba for the past 2 years. One of my dearest friends married a Cuban and they have been going almost every year. She always returns with the most amazing stories. Your pictures also tell a story. I hope to go with her now that she has started organizing annual tours fro groups.
It looks like you all had a blast! I would love to visit Cuba one day! The beaches looked lovely!
This looks like you had a great time! Girl that snake though??? I don’t know I could have pulled that off.
I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO CUBA!!! I think I need to make Cuba a reality for me. My husband and both have said we’d love to visit, we have to make it happen.
And the cars!!
Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.
XO
I haven’t been in an out of the country trip for so long. This is a nice place to see.
This sounds like an amazing trip! I would love to go to Cuba some day, I love all of your photos!!
Never been to Cuba, but it looks like tons of fun! I know you had an amazing time!!! Love the pics!
My hubby has been to Cuba and reports that it is incredibly beautiful. Certainly on my bucket list to see for myself.
Looks like an amazing place to visit! Your photos are really great. I could use a trip like this!
Girl you live an amazing life! That place looks perfect and it looks like you had a blast. IDK about that snake though. LOL
This looks like a beautiful place! It looks like you had a blast and you took some awesome photos!
The trip looked magical. That little green car was adorbs!
This looks like SO much fun! What an amazing trip for you to go on! It looks like you had an incredible time, too!
Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos of your trip. This is a trip that I would love to take.
I can not wait to go to Cuba. This is so on my list. I had no idea you needed a visa to go to Cuba.
I would love to visit Cuba. It looks like you had so much fun!! I’m glad that Americans are able to travel to Cuba now and I’m adding it to my to do list. Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, this looks like such an incredible, beautiful location! The water and the sky are perfectly blue!
Girl I can’t believe you held a snake but didn’t enjoy snorkeling! lol Everything isn’t for everybody. The pictures look absolutely fabulous though and I’m hoping I get the chance to head to Cuba during 2017.
I love how everything seems so old fashioned! It looks like a great place to visit, and crazy that people are allowed to go now.
Snorkeling and snakes!! Wow. Looks like you had a fantastic time. I need to add Cubs to the list…
Beautiful images and how brave of you with the big snake around you.
http://www.distinguisheddiva.com/2016/10/travel-diary-navigating-amsterdam-like.html
Cuba is a place full of history and amazing places. Too bad they have an awful goverment, it would be a dream place.
My pastor at my church grew up in Cuba. He talks about it all the time.
This trip looks so amazing! I love that car. Awesome!
Cuba has some beautiful beaches! These pictures are astonishing
Sounds like an amazing trip. I would love to go to Cuba someday.
I would love to go there looks like a cool place
Ah stunning photos!! Hope you had an amazing time! 🙂
What a fun trip to Cuba!!! I would love to go and see the country like this, looks like a fun trip you took!
How beautiful!!! That pool looks amazing… and very relaxing! Would love to visit one day 🙂
This place looks simply amazing, I wanna be there right now but instead I am about to have a baby!
Now that seems like the trip of a lifetime! The blue waters, the delicious coconut drinks, the cute cars. Who wouldn’t want to vacay there?
Cuba looks like a lot of fun. I’d love to visit.
Oh. My. Gosh. That car is so stinking adorable! It looks like you had an amazing trip to Cuba. What an unforgettable experience.
Wow I didn’t know the beaches were so beautiful there! Did you have to pay cash for the hotel? Did you book your trip with a group?
Wow this is a beautiful post and the perfect best friends trip! Your photos look like they came right out of a magazine! I love that you mention you were asked to donate certain items. That is something that I will consider whenever I travel internationally and I’ll make sure I pack extras.