4 Best Hotels in Guardalavaca, Eastern Cuba

Located on the Bahía de Naranjo inlet 3 km (2 miles) west of Guardalavaca, this adults-only resort benefits from the luxurious sands of Playa Esmeralda. The setting and the many amenities are the real draws here, as is the five-star service that includes a spa and health center. Activities include a wide variety of nonmotorized sporting facilities and a scuba-diving facility 100 meters from the hotel.

If you seek a fun-loving, contemporary beach vacation, don't pass up this resort operated by the Canadian Blau chain. By day you can take a dip in one of several lovely swimming pools or follow the boardwalk past protected marshlands to the beach, with its gleaming white sand and clear, shallow waters that are good for snorkeling. At night you can sample daiquiris of any flavor at one of six bars or spend some time dancing at the disco before retiring to your spacious, modern guest quarters. All rooms have a balcony or terrace, with sea or garden views. Ample buffets are included in your rates; there are also two à la carte restaurants.

Easy access to a white-sand beach, wide-open public spaces, and elegant swimming pools make this resort a solid choice for a relaxing vacation. Rooms—in the original five-story building or in the newer, breezier villas—have tile work and fairly new furnishings. Older rooms in the main building are undergoing renovation at this writing. Nonguests can pay a day charge to use the facilities.