Varadero Shopping

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Don't buy your gifts in the hotel's gift shops. Go to 'downtown' Varadero. Gifts are much cheaper there.

There is a nice local craft market with lots of gift stands.

What to buy: Wooden carvings, jewelry like necklaces and bracelets made from wood and grain, T-shirts with Che.

What to pay: Never pay the price they ask, always try to bargain, although, it seems more difficult to bargain in Varadero than elsewhere in Cuba.

I had heard that there was little to buy in Cuba, and this is perhaps true. There's a trade embargo against Cuba since the sixties that means luxury goods are few and far between.

However, when you're talking about suvenir shopping, Cuba has plenty of interest to offer. You don't really want to go on hols to Cuba to bring home a Burberry hat to your sister, do you?

So, while thre government run shops in your Hotel may not seem to carry a huge stock, they do have genuine Cuban suvenirs at truly good prices.

I would recommend shopping for the following:-
Cuban cigars (though these can be cheaper in the factory shop), leather voodoo type masks in bright colours and beautifully made, items of jewelry in black coral (especially lovely are the delicate Rosary beads), rum, and coffee. You can also buy beautifully carved wooden items, but they will be the subject of another tip as they are best purchased elsewhere.

Many of these items can be bought at the flea markets, but often the quality is not as good plus you have to bargain. For those who don't like to bargain, the government shops are reasonably priced and honest plus you know you're not buying fakes.

In the resort there are two gift shops. One is the main one and around the corner is a tiny little shop you could miss if you walked the other way. I found this small gift shop a great place to buy t-shirts and postcards. They had a very good selection. So buy up your Che shirts now!

What to buy: If you are lucky and happen to be on the beach when the beach vendors go by and they haven't run out, bring home a banana leaf hat. You can pick them up for around 2 or 3 dollars US and they are a very unique gift to bring home. They start off green and by the time they dry they will turn a nice shade of beige.

What to pay: T shirts run about 7 to 10 dollars US.

There is no much to buy in Varadero except the local crafts. We have bought some pictures £ 3 peso each, neckleses 1 peso each... In Varadero there is one American style shopping center. For me it was wasting a time, expensive and not a big choice. Cuba definately is not the best place for shopping

You can buy here gifts for your family or friends or that little thing that will remind you of your travel to Cuba. You could bargain, although not very much, and if the seller doesn't reduce the price, try to ask for a discount if you are interested in more than an object.
You can get here from your hotel by Coco Taxi. It will cost you 5 CUC. You can take also the touristic bus (5 CUC) or a "normal" taxi (the cost will depend on how far is your hotel from the market, you may ask it at reception desk).
I found it amusing.

What to buy: Puedes comprar aqui los regalos para tu familia y amigos, o esa cosita que te recordará tu viaje a Cuba. Puedes regatear, aunque no mucho, y si el vendedor no baja el precio, prueba a pedir un descuento si estas interesado en mas de una pieza.
Se puede llegar desde el hotel en Coco Taxi. Te costara 5 CUC. Tambien puede coger el autobus turistico (5 CUC) o un taxi "normal" (en ese caso, depende de lo lejos que este tu hotel del mercado, puedes preguntar en recepcion).
Lo encontre divertido.

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the market in havana may take a while to complete...there are many vendors selling the same stuff....i suggest not buying the first thing you see because you will see it again 5 vendors down for half the price.....and bargain, bragain, and bargain some more. The jewelry is lovely..some are poor quality, but some are great...i still wear my wooden bracelets.

What to buy: The authorised beach vendors sell trinkets like neklaces, bracelets and banana leaf hats. There are also people who approach tourists and try to sell cigars, but these cigars are almost always fake ones.

What to pay: Little

If you are a coffee lover- be sure to pick up a bag of coffee. The cofffee in Cuba is rich and smooth and unlike any cup you will find at any of the brand name corporate coffee houses around North America. Most resorts have a little specialty shop with cigars, rum and coffee onsite or the airport will have some, as will most tourist shops.