Playa Luxury Varadero was due to reopen on 23 October
Published on 10/24/2026 at 10:39 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSReopening and location details
- Grupo de Turismo Gaviota announced the 23 October 2026 reopening at Cayo Libertad.
- The adults-only hotel has 85 rooms and belongs to Gaviota's Luxury brand.
- Official tourism information places Varadero 140 km from Havana and gives the resort an area of 14.4 square kilometres.
Varadero was the setting for the announced reopening of Playa Luxury Varadero on 23 October 2026, placing a hotel change at Cuba's main beach resort. The 85-room adults-only property is at Cayo Libertad, on the far end of the Hicacos Peninsula.
Gaviota sets the Varadero hotel reopening for 23 October
Grupo de Turismo Gaviota announced the reopening as part of its plans for the 2026-2027 high season. The announcement was made by Elia Elena Cortés, the group's sales director, during a presentation at the Paseo del Prado hotel in Havana.
The hotel had already offered services in 2025, so the change is a reopening rather than a first opening. The property is part of Gaviota's Luxury brand and is reserved for adults. Its announced facilities include a restaurant, spa, gym, nautical equipment and a Cigar Bar.
The date and place were reported together in the reopening announcement for 23 October. The same report identifies Gaviota as the operator and places the hotel at the end of the Hicacos Peninsula.
Cayo Libertad places the reopening at Hicacos Peninsula
Cayo Libertad is described as a slightly separate area at the end of the peninsula. That position links the hotel directly to the geography that defines Varadero, a narrow Cuban seaside resort in Matanzas province.
The official Cuban tourism website gives the destination a total area of 14.4 square kilometres and an approximate beach length of 13 miles. It places Varadero 140 km from Havana and identifies nearby Cárdenas and Matanzas as reference towns.
These details matter for the reopening because the hotel is not an isolated venue in an unnamed resort zone. It is part of the Hicacos Peninsula destination, where the beach, nautical facilities and wider visitor infrastructure form the setting for the new season. The official destination profile describes the resort's area, beach and position in Matanzas.
The announcement also comes as Gaviota concentrates its active operations in selected Cuban destinations. For travellers, the specific change is therefore the planned return of one hotel, rather than a general reopening of every property in Varadero.
Visiting Varadero: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The announced reopening date for Playa Luxury Varadero was 23 October 2026, at Cayo Libertad on the Hicacos Peninsula.
- The property is an adults-only hotel with 85 rooms; the reported reopening follows services offered there in 2025.
- Varadero is in Matanzas province, 140 km from Havana, with Cárdenas and Matanzas among the nearby reference towns.
- The destination is a seaside resort with an approximate beach length of 13 miles and facilities for nautical activities.
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Frequently asked questions about Varadero
What changed at Varadero on 23 October 2026?
Playa Luxury Varadero was announced to reopen on 23 October 2026 at Cayo Libertad, after having offered services in 2025.
Where is Varadero and how do you get there?
Varadero is in Matanzas province on the Hicacos Peninsula, 140 km from Havana. Cárdenas and Matanzas are nearby reference towns.
What is Varadero?
Varadero is a Cuban seaside resort with an approximate beach length of 13 miles and a total area of 14.4 square kilometres.
