Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea.   The island is roughly 1200 km long (744 miles) and between 210 and 35 km wide (130 and 22 miles). Havana or La Habana, is Cuba’s capital city as well as its largest.  Havana is on a bay about 75 km from the western tip of the island.  

 

From the capital, travel east along the northern coast to Varadero.   While it is not marked on some maps of Cuba, look for Varadero about 170 km west of Havana & 50 km west of Matanzas.   There is a long, narrow peninsula between Matanzas and Cardenas on this coastline.  The city at the base of the peninsula, the beach & the peninsula itself all bear the same name: Varadero.  Matanzas refers to the state as well as the capital city in this state.   In Latin American countries, it is common to use the same name for multiple geographical features.  It is less common in Canada or the U.S.A.