A video shared on Facebook by user Sisi Aguilera highlights the current state of decay and neglect at the Bellomonte Lookout in Guanabo.
The site is now overrun with weeds, and its structures are in a state of complete disrepair, despite having been earmarked as the centerpiece of one of the Cuban regime's most ambitious tourism projects in recent years.
Perched in the wooded heights of Guanabo, roughly 17 miles east of Havana, the lookout offers sweeping views of Cuba's northern coast and the Caribbean Sea.
For decades, it was a landmark for locals and tourists alike, featuring a bar where people could enjoy the view alongside local beverages. Today, there is no one to take responsibility for its upkeep.
"What was once Guanabo's pride is now abandoned, overgrown, and destroyed," Aguilera laments in the clip, which circulates with hashtags like #MiseryInCuba, #CubaDying, and #CubaCollapsing.
"It's not nature or time that destroys it. It's neglect, indifference, lack of care," the Cuban woman adds.
The situation is particularly ironic: in June 2015, the joint venture Bellomonte S.A. was established, a collaboration between Cuba's Grupo Palmares and China's Beijing Enterprises Holdings Limited, with an anticipated investment of around 1 billion euros.
The plan included two 18-hole golf courses, a five-star hotel, approximately 650 apartments, and 200 luxury homes.
In May 2021, a water treatment plant was constructed in the area to facilitate the start of the project. By 2022, the company announced the beginning of sales and the transformation of the lookout into a shopping center. However, the project stalled, leaving the site to its fate.
"The Bellomonte Lookout could have been a spectacular place, a site for unique celebrations, shared laughter, unforgettable sunsets," Aguilera wrote. "A space filled with beautiful memories that new generations will now miss out on."
The deterioration of the lookout is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader pattern of public and tourist infrastructure collapse in Cuba.
The Guanabo Lyceum, a historic social venue for dances, quinceañeras, and concerts, has also been in ruins for over 20 years. A video released on February 26 showed its complete destruction.
Moreover, the beach at the resort has been criticized for areas that resemble a garbage dump.
"Why do we let something so close to us fall into such disrepair? Why do we allow places that could be symbols of pride to turn into ruins? How long will we continue to normalize the slow death of our Cuba?" Aguilera questioned.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bellomonte Lookout and Cuban Tourism
What is the current state of the Bellomonte Lookout?
The Bellomonte Lookout is currently in a state of neglect, with overgrown weeds and deteriorated structures, despite once being a focal point for an ambitious Cuban tourism project.
What was planned for the Bellomonte area?
Plans for the Bellomonte area included two golf courses, a five-star hotel, 650 apartments, and 200 luxury homes, as part of a joint venture between Cuban and Chinese entities.
Why did the Bellomonte project stall?
The Bellomonte project stalled due to a lack of progress and maintenance, leaving the area to fall into disrepair.