Cargando...Varadero, Cuba’s premier beach resort, will host the Destinos Gaviota Tourism Exchange 2026 from September 13 to 17. The event will take place on “Cuba’s most famous beach, where tradition, modernity, and nature intertwine to showcase the infinite potential of our beautiful island,” said Carlos M. Latuff, president of the Gaviota Tourism Group, during the closing ceremony of the seventh edition held in Cayo Santa María, as reported by Travel Trade Caribbean.
The 2025 edition concluded with gratitude to those who made it possible, to those who believe in Cuba, trust in Gaviota, and are part of its story of rebirth. “Like Santa María, Cuba always rises, always blossoms, always opens its arms to welcome those who choose us,” Latuff emphasized.
Thus, Cuba’s top sun-and-sand destination will have the honor of hosting the country’s two most significant leisure industry events in the same year: the International Tourism Fair in early May, followed by Destinos Gaviota in September.
According to Luis Martínez de Armas, delegate of the Ministry of Tourism in Matanzas Province, the occasion will highlight not only beaches but also “the innovation born from our hotel tradition, the commitment of a reinvented tourist destination, and the magic of an authentic place.”
With 22 kilometers of beach, crystal-clear waters, and rich indigenous history and culture, Varadero is the most popular and internationally recognized leisure destination in Cuba. It is also known for its unique caves—Ambrosio, Calero, Saturno, Abono, Florencio, and Santa Catalina, the latter featuring rare stone mushroom formations.
Founded on December 5, 1887, Varadero began its tourism boom in 1990. Today, it boasts 57 hotels and 23,106 rooms, welcoming around 39% of all international tourists visiting Cuba.
Varadero’s impressive growth reflects the Cuban government’s prioritization of tourism in its development model and aligns with a Territorial and Urban Planning Strategy through 2030, which promotes sustainable development to ensure tourism for all generations.
