Ciénaga de Zapata: The venue for TURNAT 2026

By Daily Pérez Guillén

The Ciénaga de Zapata (Zapata Swamp National Park) will host the 15th edition of the most important international nature event organized by Cuba, held every two years, in 2026, as announced by Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García Granda at the closing ceremony of TURNAT 2024 in Santiago de Cuba.

The minister stressed that the event was a celebration of nature, sustainable tourism and the inexhaustible potential of the eastern region of the archipelago. “We have had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in unique experiences that have brought us closer to the purest essence of our land through farm tours, explorations, photographic safaris, accessible tourism, hikes and we have rediscovered the wonders that this country has to offer,” he noted.

García Granda also stated that TURNAT 2024 strengthened the commitment to promote tourism that values and respects nature, create new alliances and reflect on the potential of this type of tourism in Cuba.

International tour operators arrived in the eastern part of the country last week to participate in one of the seven tours planned by the Ecotur Travel Agency, organizer of the event.

According to the Canadian director of Cubatram, Sal Rahmaty, who has participated in the event since its 13th edition, this has been an opportunity to get to know an area of Cuba that offers travelers attractions that differ from other well-known destinations such as Varadero or Havana. “The magic would be to have better connectivity to reach here.”

Meanwhile, Mexican Carlos Diego Méndez, who leads the Cuba Aventuras agency, described the experience of the members of the group that undertook a jeep safari tour as “great, adding, “They have shown us that there are very valuable sites. It is up to us as operators to bring tourists, but believe me, we are leaving with the best taste in our mouths. We are very happy with the work force, with the attention and the natural wonders that this part of Cuba offers.”

García Granda shared a message from Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz with those attending the closing event, in which he congratulated tourism workers and urged them to seek different options to offer international visitors.

TURNAT 2024 participants visited important natural, historical and cultural sites in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.