A video shared on Facebook reveals the dilapidated state of Puerto Escondido Campground, situated in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque, at the 80-kilometer mark of the Vía Blanca, northeast of Havana. Captured by the Cuban content creator known as "El creador cubano," the footage displays wrecked cabins, a deserted pool, and a dance floor in complete disrepair.
"Sadness, nostalgia, memories, remnants of something that no longer exists. Those beautiful memories that marked my childhood," the video's creator reflects while navigating the remnants of the site. As he showcases the pool, he sarcastically comments, "It's nice on the floor to bathe."
The Rise and Fall of a Popular Getaway
Puerto Escondido opened its doors on July 6, 1983, as the first facility of the Northern Coast Complex of Mayabeque, part of the Campismo Popular program initiated in 1981. The site featured rustic wooden cabins with thatched roofs, a swimming pool, a dance floor, and recreational areas. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it was a favored retreat for Havana families and youth.
"Here is the dance floor where we used to have night parties at the Puerto Escondido camping. It's heartbreaking, it shatters my soul, dear. Look at that. And this is all that's left," the creator mourns in front of the ruins.
Neglected and Forgotten: A Widespread Issue
The decline of Puerto Escondido is not an isolated incident. The abandonment of Campismo Popular facilities is a widespread issue across the island. Even the official press described these sites in March 2024 as "a sad picture of glorious years reduced to dirt, decay, and waste."
San Pedro Campground in Artemisa saw a reduction from 310 cabins in 2023 to just 242 in 2025, with infrastructure characterized by cracked floors, deplorable bathrooms, and completely ruined recreational areas. Río Jobabo Campground was labeled as a "precarious sanctuary without water, lighting, campers, or life."
This prolonged crisis of underinvestment and lack of maintenance has been exacerbated by vandalism, illegal occupation of vacant facilities, and damage caused by Hurricane Rafael in 2024, further worsening the deterioration of these spaces nationwide.
Emotional Impact and Community Resonance
The video of Puerto Escondido has struck an emotional chord with the Cuban community both on the island and abroad, amassing over 372,000 views and nearly 1,600 comments. The author's description encapsulates the sentiment of many: "My Cuba is stuck in the past, just a memory of what we once knew, of what we lived, the most beautiful memories of my childhood remain only in memory. Give me back my Cuba."
The Decline of Campismo Popular in Cuba
What is the current state of Puerto Escondido Campground?
Puerto Escondido Campground is in a state of ruin, with destroyed cabins, an abandoned pool, and deteriorated facilities.
Why has the Puerto Escondido Campground fallen into disrepair?
The campground has suffered from a lack of investment and maintenance, compounded by vandalism, illegal occupation, and damage from Hurricane Rafael in 2024.
How has the community reacted to the deterioration of Puerto Escondido?
The video documenting the site's decline has resonated emotionally with the Cuban community, resulting in widespread engagement and expressions of nostalgia and loss.