Solitude in Paradise at Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba
Photo Feature by Idania Cardenas
HAVANA TIMES – Cayo Santa María is a small island located north of Villa Clara province, part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago. It is connected to the main island by a causeway (a road over the sea) approximately 48 kilometers long. Cayo Santa María is known for its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, and it is part of the Buenavista Bay Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO.
The island is home to several resorts and is a major tourist destination in Cuba. A few days ago, I visited the Valentin Perla Blanca Hotel, a luxury resort nestled between radiant turquoise waters and endless white-sand beaches. A natural paradise that seemed frozen in time, immune to the chaos of the outside world.
However, something felt different. In a hotel built to accommodate more than a thousand guests, only about forty of us shared the silence. The solitude was tangible. The left wing of the building was closed, a silent witness to a larger crisis: the steep decline in tourism in Cuba.
The combination of international restrictions, internal economic crisis, and political complexity has led to a sharp drop in visitors to an island that for decades thrived on the charm of its Caribbean hospitality.
The pool in this part of the hotel, once bustling, had become a sanctuary for seabirds bathing as if it belonged to them. A beautiful desolation, where the solitude was palpable and the seagulls became the true protagonists of this surreal setting.
There was no buffet — unnecessary with so few guests — but this did not mean a drop in quality. Meals were served à la carte in specialty restaurants, with carefully prepared dishes and personalized service. At night, the lobby bar transformed into a small social hub: impromptu fashion shows, karaoke, dancing music… a simple but soulful celebration.
This photo essay captures a destination that remains magical, though wounded by the absence of visitors. A place where hospitality becomes even more precious in times of scarcity, and where solitude reveals as much as beauty does.
As the saying goes, “Looks nice, but looks can be deceiving.” Another one is, “It looks good from far, but far from good.” Castro-fascism destroyed the island. What remains are the cadres who know nothing else but to steal and destroy. The island is a prison run by the remnants of Castro’s communism crusade – inept, incapable, and delusional.
I used to bring suitcases of goods, but it was drop in a bucket. Gone in a day! These days we need to bring dry beans, rice, tomato paste, canned food, because that country moved to next level…starvation.
You can go without shoes, without t-shirt or shorts, but you can’t work hungry all day long with being paid close to nothing! So, on vacation when we are supposed to relaxed, be happy we see unhappy, starving people. This is a reason people don’t want to come. It’s too much to digest. Older Canadians are also afraid of lack of medical help in case of emergency.
We have huge problems here in Canada, we don’t need to pay to add even more misery.
Maybe one day, not now.
Como hay comentarios diversos, que bueno, me alegra que hayan comentado y expresado su valoración muchas gracias, lo aprecio
I have been wanting to go to Cuba….But it feels like it’s not going to be an easy trip with all the hassles and paper work. Hope things change on all the levels that need to.
How many of those visitors were Cubans? Just curiosity.
I went to Cuba with my husband and daughters ages 14 and 17. We were both Cuban born, my husband’s family migrated when he was 6…..I was only 1 a few months short of turning 2. We wanted to see where we were born. Traveled to Havana, Cienfuegos, and Varadero. Cuban people were my people, I cried for my parents who never got to return…..my daughters swam in the mountain river of El Nicho….BEAUTIFUL!!! Unforgettable trip, however we will not return due to our breaking hearts. It is TOO sad to go enjoy something as people starve and are mistreated. Do not go to Cuba. Ban trips. Make the communists grovel….and see how to get out of the HADES they have created.
I have not been to this resort but, it seems to be the same through many of the resorts in cayo santa maria.
I have been to many of the other resorts.
I hope and pray for the cuban people.
Only the ignorant idiots push negative comments.
Kind hearted human beings still live and work there.
Valentín is my paradise. My home away from home. We go several times a year and made friends with the staff. They have the most wonderful beaches and staff in all of Cuba. If you haven’t walked the beach to the nature reserve you haven’t seen the beauties of the Cuban ocean.
Cuba is collapsing and when it reaches a certain point , the Cuban population will have to pay with their blood for their freedom. The revolution is over and has failed.
I stayed at that resort in 2020 and was packed
A beautiful resort, been there 4 times. The staff are excellent. A Gem for sure!
I’m sure it’s a beautiful island, but I’m also sure it’s nothing special. There are hundreds of equally beautiful spots in the Caribbean…probably thousands when you add them all up…
So why would you go to a place that’s so lacking in everything that’s not its natural beauty? Let alone a communist dictatorship where your tourist dollars go to support such repression of individual freedom?
This place offers NOTHING in comparison to resorts in democratic Caribbean countries.
Visited Cayo Coco 6 years ago. Loved the beaches and the people. Except for the sand flies, had no complaints.
Went to Veradero last year. Huge mistake. Not much for food selection anywhere, hotel was in terrible shape. Staff didn’t show that they cared at all. Beaches were still nice, sand flies were much worse. Will likely never return.
Very nice write-up with beautiful photos.
Looks beautiful there I have been to Melia Las Dunas Cayo Santa Maria about 5 years ago I lived it, it was so beautiful there and the food was great would definitely go back. Love Cuba
I’ve been there a few times over the past decade and always loved it. I hope more people discover it as Cuba needs the business. The Valentin hotel is one of my favourites.
Cuba needs to make the airports more welcoming, improve screening so we don’t have to wait for hours when you arrive going through customs and security. They try to charge you to get past the line. Terrible service at the airport. Also baggage security is bad, had stuff stolen from my bag at the airport after checking bag.
Oh yes!!! Let’s all go running to CUBA so we can participate in the slaughter of the CUBAN PEOPLE by the CASTRO-ASSASSIN/DIAZ-CANEL DICTATORSHIP!
That’s the ticket!!!! And if you throw in the starvation mode of 11 million CUBANS and the eternal blackouts throughout the island, the beatings and encarcerations of everyone from women andchildren/ and people of all ages making them eternal POLITICAL PRISONERS, well that just the icing on the cake!!! Do you need to be enlightened further about CUBA, the “ISLAND PRISON”? Why not even turn to the INTERNET instead of trying to BS your readers.
Let me guess, the DICTATORSHIP has you on their propaganda machine/PAYROLL?
A true PARADISE!!!!!
Everything is beautiful and gorgeous❤️❤️❤️
It was truly a paradise, natural beauty,ocean grounds and amazing staff. The guests we met were wonderful. I pray the numbers pick up for this gem of a resort, I will be returning in April 2026. Let’s bring the numbers back up,we all deserve this paradise and the Cuban workers need thier jobs.
Nice article and photos! We had been in Santa Maria few times. Love the drive even though it was long. Such a sad thing what is going on there. Not good for local people who depend on tourism. Not sure if the government is aware or cares enough to do something. We would feel uneasy to be there while people struggle. May be later when things improve.
Been there.
Love the beautiful Cuban People.
Loved the landscape.
We won’t talk politics.
.
Have a wonderful day.
Santa Cayo Maria is one of the most beautiful places I have visited. The cuban people are so friendly and will do anything for you
I was here two years ago and it was beautiful and thriving. Breaks my heart ❤️ Fo every year to Cuba and love love the people. Going again in February.
It’s sad to read solitude due to drop of tourism. I went to Cayo Santa Maria years ago for a change from Cayo Coco and Varadero and love the place. To be honest, it has its reasons, I think people are scared of power shutdown which means food could be contaminated besides others negative impacts will ruin your vacation. But I love the beautiful beaches that only Cuba can offer and the wonderful people working at resorts that make your stay memorable. I’m still taking a leap of faith going to an another island this summer as I miss the swim in clear sea. Hope that Cuba tourism will be back which Cuba needs most to survive. Thanks for great sharing of this beautiful country I always consider as paradise!