Discussions to establish a maritime connection between Yucatán and Cuba are underway, according to Cuban consul for the Yucatán Peninsula, Rasiel Calvo Morgolles.
The proposed route between Progreso in Yucatán and Mariel, Cuba, would transport tourists back and forth and cargo as soon as next year.
The port city of Mariel is located roughly 30 miles from Havana, the country’s capital and largest city.
Mariel has around 45,000 people and is known for its beautiful beaches, colonial architecture, and rich history.
The most direct sea route between Progreso and Mariel is 395 miles, meaning the trip would take just under 24 hours on a standard cruise ship.
“This is an extremely ambitious project that will require bilateral cooperation both at the public and private level but would be sure to prove greatly beneficial to both regions,” said Calvo Morgolles.
Despite having recovered some ground since the Pandemic, Cuba’s tourism industry has yet to return fully. According to Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism, the total number of visitors to the island over the past year has been roughly half that of 2020.
Bilateral relations between Mexico and Cuba have been relatively positive over the past several years, though significant challenges remain.
Earlier: New flight connects Yucatán to this underappreciated region of Cuba
For Example, Mexico’s deep economic and security ties with the United States limit its flexibility in engaging with Cuba on several fronts.
That said, visiting Cuba remains a thorny issue for many who consider such an activity as a means of support for the totalitarian regime.
Over the past decades, Yucatán has also become home to at least a couple thousand Cuban nationals, mostly living in Mérida and Progreso.
Mérida has increasingly become the scene of protests held by Cuban nationals demanding an end to the corruption and excesses of the nation’s communist regime.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has repeatedly blamed the political unrest in his country on the United States and its continued trade embargo.
As a result of economic hardship, barges of Cuban migrants washing up on the shores of the Yucatán Peninsula have become a relatively common occurrence.
