Palapas à Varadero : Se protéger du soleil avec style

We can never say it enough: beware of the burning sun of Varadero, even under the clouds!

If, like me, you go to Varadero around Christmas, you probably dream of coming back with a nice tan, just to defy the Quebec winter, always too long and harsh for my taste… But be careful, the sun of Varadero is much more powerful than you imagine, even on cloudy days!

A good sunscreen is essential, especially during the first few days. If you are planning an excursion on the water, it is better to organize it towards the end of the stay or to make sure you have shelter from the sun during the excursion.

Palapas, shade shelters inspired by palm trees

Not all of Varadero’s beaches offer the natural shade of palm trees, especially since the ravages of Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Fortunately, Cuban hotels provide palapas on their beaches. As you can see in the photo accompanying this article, these "fake" palm trees provide valuable shade for travelers.

Definition of a palapa: "Large fixed parasol covered with thatch or palm leaves instead of canvas."

Source: https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/palapa

A highly sought-after shade

Some hotels in Varadero offer more shaded areas than others, whether around the pools or on the beach. However, travelers regularly complain about the practice of "reserving" lounge chairs at dawn. Some people place their towels on several chairs, both at the beach and at the pool, and only use them for a few hours during the day.

Result? Many vacationers find themselves without access to a spot of shade... and for those traveling with children, this can be a real problem!

In my opinion, reserving your place for the time it takes to go eat at lunchtime is reasonable. But monopolizing several chairs all day without using them fully is a bit excessive...