Varadero - Docking
Marina Dársena de Varadero
Now open to International Arrivals (see listing below). Docking prices are improving, yet facilities remain poor. The Internet is pretty much non-existent here.
As reported by Addison Chan of Cuba Land & Sea Facebook Page: For deep draft vessels heading for Marina Darsena Varadero take note that there is a bar that is building up in the channel. The controlling depth is still above 9 ‘and with a little creative navigation 10 feet can still be accommodated, but the 12’ plus of a couple of years ago is no more. The bar is only about 50 ‘wide and is likely just sand, but caution is advised.
Marina Gaviota
Tucked just inside the extreme northeast end of the Hicacos Peninsula. Rather remote. To get to the farmer’s markets or to meet Cubans who are not working in the resorts requires either a nhour-long bus ride followed by a 20-minute walk, or an expensive taxi ride.
Marina Gaviota is a modern facility with floating concrete docks (no posts in the way), electricity, water and good WiFi. There are restaurants around the marina and a well-stocked grocery store. Security at night is fine, but during the day tourists come onto the docks for the dive/fishing boats, so it can get busy. The marina hotel Melia offers cruisers three buffet meals a day, unlimited drinks and alcohol until midnight as well as the use of pools, private beaches and other amenities.
Varadero is a holiday town with hotels, restaurants and banks. There are a couple of cash machines near the bus station.
Note: Marina Gaviota Varadero is on the OFAC list of banned marinas and American citizens are prohibited from spending money to stay there. See this report for more information.
Last updated: February 2023
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Port Navigation
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Reported by Addison Chan on Cuba Land & Sea Facebook Page – 11 January 2018
It looks like the markers for the channel leading into Marina Gaviota have taken a beating.
Every mark from G1 to R8 is either damaged or missing. The first red marker is R10 there is no sign of R2-R8. The first undamaged green is G11. The bases of G3 and G5 remain on the station but they are difficult to see in good light. In a choppy sea or at night they would be invisible. There is a temporary floating can at the approximate location of G7.
The good news is that although the markers are missing the depths remain mostly unaffected and the controlling depth in excess of 5m with the exception of the curving stretch between where R2 was located and the floating temporary G7 where the controlling depth is now 3.6m
If you are using the latest Navionics charts my recommendation is to use the position of the charted markers as a steering reference and maintain a sharp bow watch. Other chart users should exercise an above average level of caution.
Once you have passed the two fixed pole buoys at R14, G15 the remaining markers and depths into the marina channel are in place and charted depths are accurate.
As reported on Cuba Land & Sea Facebook Page:
Rate Change at Marina Darsena
Effective May 22, 2017 – the prices for dockage at Marina Darsena in Varadero have been reduced, and the discounts for longer term stays have been restored.
For vessels less than 72 ‘the dockage rates are
1-30 days $ .50 / ft / day
31-60 days $ .45 / ft / day
+61 days $ .35 / ft / day
For vessels from 72 ‘and up to maximum of 131’
1-30days $ 1.80 / ft / day
31-60 days $ 1.60 / ft / day
+61 days $ 1.20 / ft / day
Water and power are extra and billed at $ .10 / gal and $ .40 / km respectively in the first month and $ 06 / gal and $ 35 / wk for subsequent bills.
Posted on Sailing & Cruising Cuba Facebook Page:
I left Varadero a few days ago on the back of Matthew and SAILED to Puerto Vita and then halfway to Ocean World, DR before having to motor!!!
Here are a few price updates for anyone interested – they are bang up to date and based on my boat which is a 40′ cat:
Haul and launch in Varadero – 750 cups (very professional and safe)
Long term storage on the hard Varadero- 180 cups/month
New in water dockage rate Marina Gaviota- 41 cups/day Inc power & water
Diesel – 1 cup/litre
Excellent mechanic (removed, rebuilt and refitted both my Volvo Penta engines!) – 12 cups/hr
Dockage or anchorage at Puerto Vita (you have to pay either way) – 20 cups/day
Fuel is available – 1 cups/litre
Posted on Sailing & Cruising Cuba Facebook Page, 1 December 2015:
Arrived in Gaviota, Varadero yesterday afternoon from Fort Lauderdale overnight.
Welcome in Varadero was great and the bureaucracy has been reduced so immigration came to the boat, as did the doctor and dock master. This morning the agriculture guy inspected our fresh produce. But all in all a pleasant arrival.
Our guests wanted to go swimming so we decided to go for a day sail, barbecue on board and hopefully see some Dolphins. We let the dock master know. We had a despacho, which was issued on our arrival. They asked us to pull up to the check-in pontoon again on our way out and see the immigration guy again.
He took our passports away to note down our departure but returned with a Cuban cruising permit. On our return, we were allowed to return directly to our slip without checking in again. So we now have a pass allowing us to sail around. We will be leaving Varadero today for Havana overnight.
We will check with the dock office and the immigration guy again so we don’t upset anyone. But we are hopeful that now our arrivals and departures will happen more smoothly. We have the impression that they are trying really hard to make sailing Cuba as smooth as possible. Everyone has been really pleasant.
Until further notice, the only Marina in Varadero is Marina Gaviota on the extreme northeast end of the Hicacos Peninsula. Marina Puerto sol Darsena de Varadero is closed to International Arrivals.