Ancon Beach, the premier seaside destination in Trinidad, located in the Sancti Spíritus province, has concluded the summer of 2026 shrouded in waste. A photo report by the official newspaper Escambray, released this Saturday, highlighted the dire condition of the bathing area near Hotel Ancón.
The state-run publication lamented, "What once was an area meticulously maintained for cleanliness and order has become an overwhelming sea of trash engulfing the entire bathing zone."
Escambray pointed out dual accountability for the degradation: the country's ongoing multi-faceted crisis and "the lack of discipline and care by individuals and institutions visiting the location," attributing "a share of the blame for the current state of Trinidad's beaches in Cuba" to them.
Earlier during the season, La Boca Beach in Camagüey was found littered with cans and waste, with garbage even reaching the seabed, while the beaches of Mayabeque were in a critical state, with swimmers navigating through litter and debris.
The situation at Ancon Beach is particularly striking given that the peninsula underwent environmental restoration efforts in recent years. In 2023, efforts were made to restore the natural landscape through cleaning, pruning, and reforesting approximately 64 hectares.
In 2024, the Flora and Fauna Company installed trash bins, signage, and perimeter fences to prevent vehicle access. It seems these interventions failed to deliver lasting results.
The decay is part of a broader structural waste management crisis plaguing the entire island. Between November 2025 and February of the previous year, the Cuban government initiated the so-called Operation Clean-Up with 49 measures, yet waste accumulation continues unabated.
In Sancti Spíritus, neglect takes on various forms. In June, official media acknowledged that sections of the Yayabo River, a city symbol, were drowning in garbage, with no response from authorities.
Recently, a video shared on social media exposed the neglect of the San Isidro de los Destiladeros archaeological complex in the Valle de los Ingenios of Trinidad—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—despite restoration efforts funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Understanding the Environmental Challenges in Cuba
What efforts have been made to restore Ancon Beach?
In recent years, environmental restoration projects were undertaken, including cleaning, pruning, and reforesting about 64 hectares of the natural landscape in 2023. Additionally, trash bins, signage, and perimeter fences were installed in 2024 to maintain order and prevent vehicle access.
Why is beach pollution a recurring issue in Cuba?
The persistent pollution of beaches in Cuba is attributed to the country's structural waste management crisis, compounded by a lack of discipline and care from individuals and institutions. Despite initiatives like Operation Clean-Up, waste accumulation remains a significant problem.