Playa Marazul

Located to the east of Havana’s city center, Playa Marazul – also called Marazul Beach – is a beach with white sand in the province of Habana del Este.  This beach is located in front of a hotel named the MarAzul Hotel – this beach also has a vibrant background of oceanfront homes.  You can see many beautiful houses on the beach Marazul Cuba.  Playa Marazul is a part of a group of beaches around eastern Havana called the Playa del Este – other beaches that are parts of Playa del Este include Playa Megano, and Santa Maria Del Mar.  

Although Playa Marazul has a lifeguard tower, please note that lifeguard deployment here may not be permanent.  In addition to lifeguards, the beach and the area around it have rental facilities for water sports equipment, sun loungers, beach chairs, and beach umbrellas.

Please note that there are no public restrooms here – if you are a customer at one of the local restaurants, you may be able to use their restrooms.

Mar Azul Playa offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, swimming, surf-skiing, water-skiing, surfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife watching. 

This sandy beach is ideal for less-experienced swimmers because the clear water here usually has gentle waves.  If you are planning to swim, kayak, or paddleboard here, we recommend being careful because the water here can have dangerous waves and unpredictable rip currents, especially in winters.

This beach is ideal for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience because it sees fewer visitors as compared to other nearby beaches.

Playa Marazul does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Playa Marazul is easy – from Havana’s city center, you need to drive west on a highway named Via Blanca.  From Via Blanca, you need to turn towards Avenida Amanecer and this road will lead you to Avenida Aventura.  Avenida Aventura is located along the beach and there are a few free street parking spaces nearby – you can easily walk to the beach after parking here. 

If you want to travel by bus, you can easily board a bus to this beach from a bus terminal in Havana’s Parque Central.  Once you reach the bus stop near Playa Marazul, you can easily walk to the beach.

If you like taking pictures with beautiful views, Playa Marazul offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Havana shoreline.

There are many attractions near Playa Marazul within a 30-minute-drive.  Torreon de Cojimar – also called Torreon de la Chorrera – is a tower that was built in 1646 and it was one of the first fortifications to be captured by the British when they attacked Havana in 1782.  This tower now has a restaurant and it offers an interesting insight into the local history.  Castillo de los Tres Reyes Del Morro – also called Castle of the Three Kings of Morro – is a castle that was constructed between 1589 and 1640.  It was designed by Italian architect Giovanni Battista Antonelli and it has a museum and a lighthouse – it also offers amazing views of the Caribbean Sea.  El Malecon is an eight kilometers-long waterfront promenade which offers spectacular views of Havana’s shoreline and the Caribbean Sea, particularly at sunset – this promenade has a combination of new and old architectural styles and it also has a very cosmopolitan ambiance, with many musicians, artists, and street performers gathering here.  Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes has an “Arte Cubano” campus that offers a comprehensive collection of Cuban art by many prominent artists including Wilfredo Lam, Guillermo Collazo, and Raul Martinez – it has one of the largest art collections in Latin America.  It also has a library and a theater and it also hosts many interesting events including theaters and festivals.  If you are looking for another attraction near this beach, Parque Central – also called the Central Park of Havana – is a recreational area that has the statue of Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti and it also has 28 palm trees – Parque Central has a relaxing and hip ambiance. 

If you get hungry, there are many great food options and restaurants near Playa Marazul.  D' Karolina is known for serving excellent dishes including burgers, seafood, and fried chicken, along with a variety of delicious alcoholic drinks.  Restaurante El Bacura has a rustic decor and it also serves a variety of local Cuban and International dishes.  Restaurante Taramar is known for serving excellent local seafood dishes including lobster and paella, along with a variety of other local dishes including enchiladas, ropa vieja, and pechinga de pollo.  Kopas Bar-Restaurant is known for serving excellent pizza, along with a variety of other delicious Cuban-style dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Ranchon Don Pepe offers excellent local seafood and it also offers live music.

If you are looking for a hotel near Playa Marazul, there are many great nearby options within a 30-minute-drive.  The 4-Star Blau Arenal Habana Beach Hotel offers many amenities including a pool, a sun terrace, a wellness center, tennis courts, multiple bars and restaurants, a gym, and a sundeck.  Another great upscale hotel is Hotel Sevilla Habana that offers many amenities including a pool, multiple restaurants, and a bar.  The 4-Star Axel Hotel Telegrafo is another upscale hotel that is set in a 19th-century building and offers many amenities including a pool, a patio, a restaurant, multiple bars, a restaurant, a gym, and a spa – this hotel is also LGBTQ-friendly.  A more affordable hotel is the Hotel Beltran de Santa Cruz that is set in a beautiful 18th-century villa and has a guest-use computer and common sitting areas.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, Hotel Del Tejadillo offers many amenities including two patios that have beautiful murals, a bar, common sitting areas, and gardens.   Other great hotels near the beach include the MarAzul Hotel and the Hotel Atlantico.