Street Scams in Varadero, Cuba
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Varadero — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Negril, and Santo Domingo.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
2
Street Scams Scams
8
Total in Varadero
How it works
Street sellers and individuals in Varadero town approach tourists offering genuine Cohiba, Montecristo, and Romeo y Julieta cigars at "factory prices" or claiming a relative works at the state factory. The cigars are invariably counterfeit — poor quality tobacco rolled in professional-looking packaging. Some sellers present official-looking boxes with fake government hologram stickers. Cuban customs also limits the number of genuine cigars tourists can export legally.
How it works
Despite Varadero's resort-dominated beach being more controlled than other Caribbean destinations, vendors and informal sellers still operate along the public beach sections of the strip. They sell trinkets, corn, coconut drinks, and craft items at inflated tourist prices and use persistent follow-up approaches after initial refusals.
See all scams in Varadero
8 total warnings across all categories