A Cuban content creator has highlighted the stark contrast present in Tarará, a coastal development located 27 kilometers from Havana. Through two Facebook videos, she documents a place where decay and affluence coexist. On one side, homes crumble, swimming pools stagnate with filthy water, and services are shut down. Yet just a short walk away, well-maintained seafront houses, solar panels, and luxury vehicles paint a vastly different picture.
Tarará was originally built in the 1940s by The Tarará Land Company, funded by American capital as a luxurious private community featuring a yacht club, church, and restaurants. It was hailed as the first gated community in Latin America.
After the 1959 Revolution, the Cuban government expropriated all properties, repurposing them for various state-directed uses: it served as a "City of Students" from 1959 to 1975, then became the "City of Pioneers José Martí" from 1975 to 1990. During the 1990s and until 2004, it functioned as a sanatorium for children affected by Chernobyl. It later hosted the Miracle Operation, a Venezuelan-financed initiative providing ophthalmological care to Latin American patients.
The area also holds historical significance as the location where Che Guevara coordinated the Agrarian Reform from a house at the intersection of 14th and 17th streets while recovering from a lung condition in 1959.
Today, most of its 520 Art Deco-style residences lie deserted. Schools, a kindergarten, a theater, and a clinic have been closed for years. "There was life here, but it's all been forgotten. They shut everything down years ago," laments the creator in her videos, capturing a scene of neglect that has persisted for over a decade.
The decline documented by Sisi Aguilera isn't new. The decay of Tarará, with its ravaged homes and dirty beaches, was already highlighted in 2021, when rental prices were unaffordable for most Cubans. What stands out in her recent videos is the vivid contrast: complete neglect of the historic residential area versus a coastal strip where maintenance, high-end cars, and stable electricity supply prevail.
Meanwhile, the collapse of Cuba's tourism industry, with 24,000 fewer visitors in January 2026, casts doubt on the profitability of maintaining these elite zones at the expense of the rest.
Understanding the Current State of Tarará
What is the historical significance of Tarará?
Tarará was built in the 1940s as a luxury private community, considered the first gated community in Latin America. It has served various state purposes post-1959, including as a student city and a sanatorium for Chernobyl children.
How does the current state of Tarará reflect Cuba's broader challenges?
The contrast between neglect and luxury in Tarará highlights the uneven distribution of resources and maintenance in Cuba, amidst a struggling economy and collapsing tourism industry.