Playa Girón, Península de Zapata

Visit Playa Girón in the Península de Zapata, a heavenly place known for its role in the history of Cuba

Playa Girón, Península de Zapata
© Fotos593

Playa Girón, giving entrance to Bahía de Cochinos in the Península de Zapata, province of Matanzas, is one of the best known places on the island of Cuba. Although it is a popular tourist destination for the beauty of its landscape, it is even more famous for the historical events that took place there.

Playa Girón
© Fotos593

The name of the beach comes from the pirate Gilberto Girón who installed his operational base in this place and from it organized many of his strokes until he was killed. The strategic location of this beach has been used by many throughout history, not only by pirates. In this area archaeological remains have been found that determine the existence of inhabitants already in the mesolithic and neolithic eras. It is therefore an area that has always been populated. After serving as a pirate base, in the 18th and 19th centuries its location, hidden by the vegetation, turned into a hideout for the illegal slaves entry destined to work in the sugar factories and, during the War of Independence, it was also a strategic point in the fight against the Spanish army.

However, the most significant event is the attempt by the United States to conquer the Castro regime in 1961. A few years after the beginning of the Revolution, the CIA sent troops made up of Cuban exiles to initiate the counter-revolution on the shores of theBahía de Cochinos. But despite the expectations of the secret service, in barely three days Castro's army won the battle of Playa Giron, a shameful defeat for the Americans.

Museo Municipal de Playa Girón
© Cave Travel

Today, although there are reminders everywhere of this great victory of the regime, the area is gaining interest as a tourist attraction for its beaches and its ecosystem rather than for its historical past. The Playa Girón is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with turquoise waters surrounding the white sands under the shade of bright green palms that make the area a magnificent oasis of tranquillity and rest.

Nearby is the Museo Municipal de Playa Girón (Playa Girón Municipal Museum), where you can learn more about the events that occurred during the Cold War in this area. It exhibits graphic documents from the 1961 battle as well as weapons material. It stands out the exhibition of a British Sea-Fury fighter and Soviet tanks used by the Cuban troops in the defense of the Beach.

More information:

Location:

Bahía de Cochinos.

Interactive map:

Varadero

What to see:

Beaches:

Museums :

Museo Municipal de Varadero

Cardenas

What to See:

Catedral de la Purísima Concepción de Cárdenas

Museums:

Península de Zapata

What to See:

Beaches:

Museums :

Other nearby destinations:

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