CubaPLUS Magazine

Cuba's beaches are once again capturing the attention of tour operators and travel agents due to recent rankings that highlight their beauty and upkeep. Reports from the press, including those from Granma, emphasize this novelty and reflect a preference previously noted on other occasions.

The publications indicate that Varadero, located in the western province of Matanzas, and Cayo Santa María, in the central province of Villa Clara, rank among the best beaches in the world for 2025. This information was featured in a report by the Coastal Systems Research Group at the International Center for Beach Management and Certification, based in Chile.

The coastlines of hotels such as Meliá Las Antillas, Meliá Internacional, Ensenachos, and Caracol in the Hicacos Peninsula, as well as Perla Movida, La Estrella, Perla Blanca, and Meliá Las Dunas in Cayo Santa María, along with Las Salinas in Trinidad, made the list due to their quality, protection, conservation, and sanitation.

In this regard, more than 70 experts from various countries considered a methodology that combines ecological, social, cultural, and economic indicators to produce results in the so-called Beach Ranking. This approach allowed for a systemic analysis of beaches as complex and strategic territories.

The document presented by the aforementioned research group states that there was a rigorous application of the Beach Prioritization Framework. This year’s edition evaluated 200 beaches across 11 countries in the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula, with contributions from 71 specialized evaluators, including oceanographers, geographers, engineers, public managers, and other specialists.

This process involved field studies, the use of geospatial data, and active listening to local communities, which provided insights from experts about the best beaches in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean regions, highlighting Varadero, Cayo Santa María, Trinidad, and Holguín.

Participants in the research noted that, unlike purely tourist rankings, this one offers a deeper understanding of coastal areas by considering factors such as bathing conditions, biodiversity, accessibility, safety, infrastructure, climate resilience, and ecosystem services.

Thus, the beach is understood as a dynamic socio-natural system whose value transcends leisure and encompasses multiple environmental and socio-cultural functions.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)