A Sargassum-Free Paradise at Guardalavaca Beach

While much of the world faces growing environmental crises and persistent sargassum seaweed infestations, Guardalavaca Beach, on Cuba's Atlantic coast in Holguín province, remains pristine—a paradise of white sand and crystal-clear waters.

Dr. Ridel Rodríguez Paneque, head of Coastal Management at the Center for Environmental Services and Technologies Research (Cisat), explained to the Cuban News Agency that this outcome is partly due to privileged geography, which provides a natural defense against this plague, preventing sargassum from reaching the northern coastline.

"Although a visitor might momentarily mistake the green leaves and natural vegetation of Guardalavaca for sargassum, they are actually native species, such as the malasia fectilino and the sea grape, which have their own reproductive cycle and constitute an important component aimed at its preservation," commented the researcher.

Rodríguez Paneque noted that the vision of the Cisat team, subordinate to Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, is directed toward beach recovery, conceived as ecosystems with their own characteristics.

In Guardalavaca, this environmental policy constitutes a commitment from hotel resort workers, who conduct active clean-ups that recover not only vital sand but also the organic matter contributed by endemic species through their decomposition, which ecosystems need to withstand the effects of winds.

This task is an essential aspect of the routine for the staff of the Gran Muthu Almirante Beach Hotel, where ecosystem care is not limited to cleaning the beach but also includes using biodegradable products in food services and applying practices that turn food waste into natural fertilizer used for landscaping the premises, according to its General Manager, José Ramón Santana Rivero.

He assured that from the "Almirante" they seek, above all, to conserve that immense natural treasure they have, where visitors themselves support the recycling of plastic, glass, and metallic waste by disposing of it in specialized containers to preserve the purity of the sand.

Other facilities in the area, such as the Starfish Guardalavaca Hotel, maintain the same line of work by following recycling trends and sensitizing guests to the importance of these actions, an aspect the workforce considers one of the main impactful tasks.

"From our three-star category hotel, we prioritize waste recycling and using the least amount of disposable items as pathways to sustainability. Furthermore, from the early morning hours, a specialized team is in charge of cleaning the surroundings to ensure the turquoise waters and fine sands that so captivate our visitors," stated Grace Arellano, the facility's Director for Blue Diamond Resorts.

The Club Amigo Atlántico Guardalavaca is a property that, throughout more than three decades of service, has been characterized by environmental commitment and the protection of the beach as the main tourism resource.

Its young Deputy Director, Lenar Andrés Concepción Romero, commented that during these years they have also fostered environmental commitment in guests through thematic activities for protecting the surroundings.

"For this purpose," he specified, "an action plan includes a green day, held once a week to promote environmental commitment among travelers through tree planting, beach care, and dissemination about the different natural species inhabiting the grounds as a way to combine vacation with ecosystem protection."

Guardalavaca Beach, in the eastern part of the country, is renowned for its warm waters, protected by an extensive coral reef that favors tourism development along its coast and makes it one of the preferred destinations for national and foreign visitors.