The official discourse of the Cuban regime has always proclaimed that beaches are public heritage and freely accessible to all, but the reality is different: at Marina Marlín in Tarará, in East Havana, visitors must pay 500 CUP just to enter, in exchange for an access wristband.
This is how content creator Darelis Guerra (@dare.guerra) documented it in a video posted on Instagram where she recounts her experience in that coastal enclave.
Guerra describes that after paying the entrance fee, one must walk about two kilometers to reach the marina. The beach is equipped with umbrellas and sun loungers. It is usually in very good condition, but during their visit, they found the entire sand covered with sargassum.
The loungers are rented for 400 CUP and are not included in the entrance fee. The food options inside the venue were limited to warm soft drinks, so the creator recommends that those planning to go buy food before entering.
«I had already heard that the food offerings were not very good. So first we stopped by a café and bought some pizzas to avoid going hungry. I recommend you do the same because there we could only buy soda and it was warm.»
Guerra values Tarará for its tranquility compared to other beaches in the area. "I would definitely go back, considering how calm and safe the place is, in comparison to the rest of the Playas del Este where there is a crowd of people during this time."
Tarará and the Eastern Beaches: Access Becomes Increasingly Difficult
In the Cuban summer, going to the beach has become a privilege that not everyone can afford. The barriers are numerous and extend beyond just the cost of admission, as is the case with Tarará.
In Boca Ciega, renting an umbrella or tent was 9,000 pesos in May, before the summer began. This amount exceeds the average monthly salary of 6,930 CUP.
Transportation is another barrier to vacationing at the eastern beaches. In July 2025, the government introduced a train to the eastern beaches with a fare of 35 pesos per trip, but in the current crisis, they have not confirmed when it will be back in service.
The beaches of Santa María del Mar, Boca Ciega, and Guanabo are open to the public, but they suffer from deteriorating infrastructure, accumulation of trash, limited police control, and a collapse of public transportation, which hinder the enjoyment of Cubans.
Tarará, for its part, has a unique history. Its infrastructure was built in the 1940s and 1950s. It was a luxury residential area with around 520 homes. Most of its properties were expropriated by the government in 1960, and the area was repurposed for state use.
Between 1990 and 2011, it hosted a medical care program for children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Today, Tarará is a ghost town located 27 kilometers from the center of Havana. Its streets are empty, its houses abandoned, and services such as schools and the polyclinic have been closed for years.
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