Beaches in Mayabeque Overwhelmed by Trash: Cuba's Recreational Spaces in Jeopardy

A recent Facebook video has once again drawn attention to the dire condition of Playa Mayabeque, also known as Playa Rosario del Mayabeque, located on the southern coast of Melena del Sur. The footage reveals dozens of Cubans swimming amidst cans, debris, and garbage littering both the shore and the water.

The video, shared by Marisol Carabeo Morales, quickly surpassed 75,000 views and sparked a heated discussion about the filth, neglect of recreational areas, and the limited options many families have for leisure in the midst of Cuba's deepening crisis.

“Mayabeque, a beach on the brink of extinction. There was more trash than people; truly, we Cubans have become accustomed to living in filth,” Carabeo commented alongside the video.

The images reveal a significant amount of refuse and cans scattered across the area where swimmers enter the water, particularly at the mouth of the Mayabeque River. This river, with its cold waters, has been a beloved feature of this popular beach for decades.

The Impact of Environmental Neglect

The scenes not only incited outrage but also nostalgia among Cubans who remember a very different beach. A 42-year-old user reminisced, “When I was a child, that river was immense, cold, and clean,” recalling the Mayabeque of the 1980s and 1990s.

Other users argued that the economic crisis should not be used as an excuse to litter natural spaces. “Poverty and filth are not related,” one user pointed out.

Another highlighted the visible environmental damage depicted in the footage: “In Cuba, people have lost their sense of responsibility. It’s so easy to pick up a bag and dispose of trash properly. Look at the number of cans on the ground where water runs and people swim—this is environmental harm.”

A Sole Recreation Option Amid Crisis

However, beyond the images of people swimming among trash lies another reality: for many Cuban families, places like Playa Mayabeque are practically the only recreational option they can afford.

One user summarized this predicament by noting that more well-maintained destinations are financially out of reach for much of the population. “There’s nowhere else to go; Jibacoa is expensive, and Varadero is unattainable. We have no choice but to go to the little pond for a dip to relieve some stress, lest we end up in a psychiatric ward,” she wrote.

This testimony exposes a harsh truth of the situation: despite the unsanitary conditions shown in the images, dozens continue to visit the area seeking a few hours of relief from the heat, daily struggles, and lack of affordable leisure activities.

Widespread Neglect of Cuban Beaches

The decline of Playa Mayabeque is not an isolated incident. In April, Playa El Rosario in Güines was reported to be in ruins, surrounded by debris and partially submerged boats. By June 2025, locals revealed that coastal areas in Matanzas were overrun with plastics, cans, and even discarded appliances.

Similar reports have surfaced from Bacuranao, where swimmers reported an underwater graveyard of cans. Earlier this year, Santa Lucía Beach in Camagüey was found covered in sargassum and garbage, further evidence of the degradation affecting natural and recreational sites across various Cuban provinces.

The situation aligns with a severe crisis in waste collection and management in Cuba, worsened by fuel shortages, deteriorating equipment, and years of inefficiencies in communal services. Despite the Cuban government's "Operation Clean-Up," which proposed 49 measures from November 2025 to February 2026, waste accumulation remains a common sight in many neighborhoods and public spaces.

In Playa Mayabeque, the issue stems from both institutional failure to manage waste and the irresponsibility of visitors leaving cans and other debris behind, a point frequently raised by those reacting to the images.

Among the criticisms, a woman left a message tinged with nostalgia for those who knew the beach before its current state of decay. “It’s still beautiful, not just abandoned by those in government who should care for it. The natural surroundings have changed. I keep dreaming of one day being able to swim in my Mayabeque River like when I was a child,” she wrote.

Her comment encapsulates a sentiment shared by many Cubans who view these images: it’s not just a beach that’s deteriorating, but a cherished communal space tied to family memories and a form of recreation that is increasingly rare on the island.