Cheap flights to Matanzas

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Airport and getting there

Varadero airport, between Matanzas and the resort

Indicative distances taken from Wikipedia (FR, EN, ES, DE) and Wikivoyage (EN); they differ from one source to another, notably for the distance between Matanzas and Varadero (from 32 to 40 km). Flight connections change: check them before you book.

The city of Matanzas

The city of bridges, poets and three rivers

Finding your way

Matanzas, capital of the province of the same name, is a port city founded in 1693 at the head of a deep bay, about 100 km east of Havana. The municipality has about 160,000 inhabitants according to 2022 estimates. Three rivers, the Yumurí, the San Juan and the Canímar, run through it; it has seventeen bridges, hence its nicknames "city of bridges" and "Venice of Cuba".

The Athens of Cuba

Matanzas is also nicknamed "the Athens of Cuba", a title that appeared in the 19th century because of its literary and intellectual life: printing arrived in 1813 and poets, including José María Heredia, wrote here. The nickname has remained a local source of pride, and should be taken as such. Around Libertad Park, the colonial buildings, the cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo and the central promenade give a good first impression of the city.

A history marked by sugar

In the 19th century Matanzas became a major sugar port, and the presence of many enslaved Africans and then their descendants left Afro-Cuban traditions that are especially alive, visible in music and festivals. The city has remained a place of memory and culture; it receives few tourists compared with nearby Varadero.

Sauto Theatre

An Italian-style hall from 1863

The Sauto Theatre

Opened in 1863, the Sauto Theatre is the city's great cultural symbol: an Italian-style hall shaped like a U, with three balconies, boxes and wood panelling, seating about 775 according to Wikipedia (ES). It has welcomed major artists passing through Havana and has been a national monument since 1978. It was closed for renovation between 2010 and 2018 according to Wikipedia (EN); find out about performances and visiting possibilities.

Museums and culture

The Triolet pharmacy, museums and music

The pharmacy museum

The pharmacy museum, set in the old pharmacy founded in 1882 by Ernesto Triolet and opened to the public as a museum, keeps porcelain jars, glass containers and equipment for preparing 19th-century medicines. It stands near Libertad Park. Opening hours change: check them before you visit.

Other museums

The provincial history museum occupies the Junco palace, built in 1838; the Slave Route museum is in the San Severino castle, from the 17th century, near the port; the Matanzas art museum shows African art among other things. Contemporary art galleries in the centre complete the picture.

Danzón and rumba

Matanzas is regarded as the cradle of the danzón, a dance that became a national emblem, and it is linked to Afro-Cuban rumba, with well-known groups such as Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. Concerts and festivals take place throughout the year: find out what is on at the time of your visit.

The Bellamar caves

South-east of the city, the Bellamar caves, a national monument according to Wikipedia (EN), have been open to visitors since the 19th century. The route includes steps, a damp floor and marked heat: wear suitable shoes and check the opening hours.

Yumurí Valley and Bacunayagua Bridge

The highest bridge in Cuba, on the road to Havana

The Bacunayagua Bridge

About 18 km west of Matanzas, on the Vía Blanca road between Havana and Varadero, the Bacunayagua Bridge spans a wooded canyon at a height of around a hundred metres. Opened in 1959, it is the highest bridge in Cuba. A viewpoint with a restaurant, on the neighbouring province's side, lets you stop to admire the bridge and the valley; the stop is a classic of bus and car journeys.

The Yumurí Valley

Between the city and the coast, the Yumurí Valley, covered in palms and greenery, offers a landscape of hills; it is known for birdwatching. Excursions are made by car, by taxi or with a local guide. On the Canímar River, a few kilometres from the city, boat trips go up the river to a rustic restaurant.

Varadero

A peninsula of beaches east of Matanzas

The beaches of Varadero

The Hicacos Peninsula, about 130 km from Havana, has more than 20 km of fine white-sand beaches, lapped by the turquoise water of the Straits of Florida; Wikipedia (ES) presents it as the country's main beach resort. The resort developed mostly from the 1990s with hotels that are for the most part all-inclusive, and many visitors come from Canada. Beach time, sailing, kitesurfing, snorkelling and catamaran trips are on the menu.

Around Varadero

The Varahicacos ecological reserve, at the tip of the peninsula, protects dunes, mangroves and caves; the Ambrosio cave holds indigenous paintings. The town of Cárdenas, at the entrance to the peninsula, has a different, more local atmosphere. Further south in the province lies the Zapata Peninsula, a large protected natural area: it is best discovered on another trip, as it falls outside the scope of this guide.

Food and drink

Fish, lobster and Cuban cooking

Dishes to try

In the province, the sea provides fish and lobster, often grilled; ropa vieja (shredded beef in tomato sauce), moros y cristianos (rice and black beans) and tostones go with most meals. Paladares, private restaurants, and casas particulares serve meals that are more varied than hotel buffets, to be checked depending on the season.

What to drink

Rum, neat, in a mojito or in a Cuba libre, and strong coffee are the classics. Stick to bottled water.

Where to eat

In Matanzas, the small places in the centre are the most affordable; in Varadero, restaurants on the beach and in the shopping centre have pricier menus. Restaurants beside the Canímar River serve simple meals after the boat trip.

Getting around

Taxis, buses, trains, horse carriages and rental cars

From the airport and between towns

Intercity buses link Havana, Matanzas and Varadero several times a day, and some serve the airport; a taxi costs more but is simpler with luggage. The Vía Blanca road links the three. Trains also run between Havana and Matanzas, with schedules that vary.

On the spot

In Varadero, a double-decker tourist bus serves the peninsula, taxis and coco-taxis, small three-wheeled vehicles, are easy to hail and bicycles or scooters can be rented; a rental car is useful for Matanzas, the cave or the valley. Coches, horse-drawn carriages, run in some towns. Agree the price before getting in.

Good to know

Fuel and some services can be limited; internet access is sometimes restricted. Carry cash, because cards are not always accepted. Prices and timetables vary: check them before you leave.

Budget

A variable budget, higher in Varadero than in Matanzas

In Matanzas, simple meals and local transport remain cheaper than in Europe. Varadero, a beach resort where hotels often sell all-inclusive packages, is noticeably more expensive. We give no figures, because prices vary with the season, the accommodation and the way you pay.

To keep costs down, stay in a casa particular in Matanzas, share taxis and eat in the small places.

The plane ticket remains the most variable item of a trip. SniperAir tracks flights to VRA and compares them with the route's price history.

When to go

When to go to Matanzas and Varadero?

The climate is tropical, hot all year. The dry season runs roughly from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. Cuba is exposed to hurricanes from June to November: follow the official bulletins and consider a flexible cancellation insurance. Protect yourself from the sun and from mosquitoes.

By length of stay

What to do depending on how long you stay

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Matanzas