For decades, Cuba’s Cayo beaches—particularly the world-famous Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo—have attracted sunseekers from around the globe with their powdery white sands, turquoise waters, and postcard-perfect scenery. But in recent years, tourists and locals alike have noticed an unsettling change. The beach is shrinking.
Once stretching hundreds of meters wide, the sandbars that define the Cayo region are slowly but unmistakably disappearing, inch by inch, year by year. Experts now warn that this Caribbean paradise is on the verge of an environmental catastrophe as sea level rise, coastal erosion, and increasingly violent storm surges—driven by the accelerating climate crisis—threaten to wash away one of Cuba’s most iconic destinations.
A Fragile Ecosystem on the Brink
The Cayo islands are a part of Cuba’s Jardines del Rey archipelago, a delicate ecosystem of mangroves, coral reefs, and sandbanks that serve as both a tourism hotspot and a biodiversity haven. But their low-lying geography makes them especially vulnerable to environmental change.
Dr. Isabel Menéndez, a marine biologist with the University of Havana, has studied coastal erosion along Cuba’s northern coast for over a decade. “We’ve seen an alarming rate of beach loss in the last five years alone,” she explains. “Some stretches of beach that were 30 to 40 meters wide in 2010 are now less than 10 meters, and the erosion is accelerating.”
What’s causing the rapid change? A deadly combination of sea-level rise, coral reef degradation, and human activity, she says.
Rising Seas, Receding Shorelines
According to a 2024 report by the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), sea levels around the archipelago have risen by more than 10 centimeters since 2000. That may not sound like much, but in flat coastal areas like the Cayos, even small increases can cause significant inland water intrusion.
Higher sea levels mean stronger waves reach farther inland, pulling more sand out to sea. At the same time, warming ocean temperatures and increased acidification have weakened the coral reefs that once acted as natural breakwaters, absorbing much of the wave energy before it reached the shore. Now, with reefs dying and storm frequency on the rise, the beaches are taking a direct hit.
Hurricane Ian in 2022 was a wake-up call. The category 3 storm tore through the region, wiping out hundreds of meters of coastline and damaging infrastructure from resorts to piers. “It was like watching the sea take back the land,” says local hotel worker Manuel Pérez. “You go to sleep with a beach outside your window, and you wake up and it’s gone.”
Tourism at Risk
Tourism is Cuba’s second-largest source of income after medical services, and the Cayo beaches are among the top destinations. A shrinking coastline not only threatens the island’s natural beauty but also its economic future.
Several beachfront resorts have already had to invest heavily in artificial beach restoration—dumping sand, building breakwaters, and reinforcing dunes to keep the shoreline from retreating. These efforts are expensive, temporary, and not without controversy, as some argue they further disturb the fragile ecosystem.
“The tourists don’t always see it,” says Menéndez, “but it’s like putting makeup on a patient with a serious illness. Without real action on climate change, these beaches won’t be here in 20 or 30 years.”
Government Response and International Help
In response to growing concern, the Cuban government has launched an ambitious coastal protection plan that includes reforestation of mangroves, restrictions on new construction near vulnerable shorelines, and partnerships with international climate organizations. Cuba has also joined the Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, a regional initiative to boost climate resilience through renewable energy, sustainable tourism, and environmental monitoring.
Still, experts say these efforts must be scaled up—and quickly. “We’re not just fighting erosion,” says Menéndez. “We’re racing against time.”
A Paradise Worth Saving
Despite the grim outlook, many remain hopeful that Cuba’s iconic Cayo beaches can be preserved—if action is taken now. For tourists planning their next trip, the advice is simple: visit respectfully, support eco-conscious resorts, and understand that this paradise is under pressure.
“We can’t stop the ocean,” Pérez reflects, watching the tide roll in. “But maybe, if we’re smart, we can learn how to live with it—and keep the beach alive for future generations.”