José Luis Pérez Balart, a veteran associated with the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and once part of Fidel Castro's personal security detail, has begun a solitary trek covering more than 1,500 kilometers. This journey, dubbed "Fidel's Route after Moncada," is part of official events marking the centennial of the dictator's birth, as reported by TV Santiago.
The expedition commences at Granjita Siboney, historically the starting point for the 1953 Moncada Barracks assault, and the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. It concludes at El Cacahual, a mausoleum in Boyeros, Havana, which holds the remains of Lieutenant General Antonio Maceo and his aide Captain Francisco Gómez Toro.
According to TV Santiago, the journey spans over 1,500 kilometers, encompassing about 1,200 kilometers from east to west, along with visits to significant historic sites of the mambí invasion and the final offensive of the Rebel Army.
Pérez Balart's background firmly places him within the Cuban state security apparatus. In addition to serving as Castro's personal bodyguard, he undertook international missions in Africa, worked in security at the Gran Parque Turístico Baconao, and currently teaches at the MININT Academy of Advanced Studies.
He is also a Tai Chi Master and the founder of a project aimed at preserving the authentic "Fidel's Route after Moncada," making this endeavor institutionally supported, despite being publicly portrayed as a personal challenge.
The trek omits the 64.66 kilometers from Guantánamo to Santiago de Cuba but includes the 1,200 kilometers from east to west and visits numerous historical sites associated with both the 19th-century wars of independence and the Cuban Revolution.
Granjita Siboney served as the headquarters where 135 fighters set out on July 26, 1953, to attack the Moncada Barracks, an action the regime regards as the start of the Revolution.
The final destination, El Cacahual, was declared a National Monument on October 10, 1978, and is the resting place of Maceo and Gómez Toro, who fell on December 7, 1896.
This initiative is part of the "Year of the Centennial of the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz," an official designation by the Cuban government for 2026 to commemorate Castro's birth on August 13, 1926.
The regime has orchestrated a broad propaganda campaign that includes youth caravans, cultural events, the publication of 23 volumes of Castro's Selected Works, and the First International Colloquium "Fidel: Legacy and Future," scheduled for August 10-13, 2026, at the Havana Convention Palace, all amidst a severe economic crisis affecting the Cuban population.
Understanding Fidel Castro's Legacy and the 2026 Centennial Celebrations
What is the significance of the "Route of Fidel after Moncada"?
The "Route of Fidel after Moncada" is a historically significant path that retraces key locations related to Fidel Castro's revolutionary activities following the 1953 Moncada Barracks assault, an event considered the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
Who was Antonio Maceo, and why is El Cacahual important?
Antonio Maceo was a prominent figure in Cuba's wars of independence, known as the "Bronze Titan" for his bravery and leadership. El Cacahual is important as it is his final resting place, symbolizing Cuban resistance and patriotism.