Sandro Castro, the grandson of Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro, organized a two-day beach party in Varadero, while the country faced the struggles caused by his family’s regime.
Castro, who labels himself a “filmmaker,” “content creator,” and “influencer,” maintains that his upbringing does not grant him special privileges in Cuba.
However, despite his assertions, he has often showcased his lavish lifestyle on social media, even as Cuba’s long-standing communist government continues to thrust the population into severe poverty.
On Saturday, Castro shared a party flyer on Instagram Stories promoting a weekend schedule titled “Vampirak Way.” This name is derived from a comedic character he portrays, a “vampirac,” who famously quenches his thirst with Cristal beer, a brand Sandro Castro has claimed for his own branding. These ephemeral posts disappear within 24 hours.
The flyer included activities for May 30 to May 31, such as lunch, enjoying sunsets at Varadero Marina, a “hotel tour to greet friends,” beach parties, and an after-party called “the lemon.” Sunday’s schedule offered jet skiing and seafood to help with hangovers.
The term “the lemon” references Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who once remarked that “lemonade is the base of everything” during a factory visit.
Castro’s social media post suggested optimism, stating, “The situation is getting better. Please look forward to it.”
His party coincided with a 72-hour music festival named “Summer Kickoff 2K26,” running from May 29 to May 31, sponsored by Resonance Music Hotel. Notably, this hotel was formerly managed by Canadian chain Blue Diamond Resorts, which recently halted operations in Cuba following U.S. sanctions on the military conglomerate that oversees tourism.
Though Blue Diamond has stepped back, reports indicate that Resonance Music remains managed by the conglomerate and continues to offer summer packages, with ticket sales organized through one of its subsidiaries.
Castro’s extravagant events have drawn sharp criticism from many Cubans, as the regime pushes citizens into turmoil, marked by power outages lasting for days, hunger, and crumbling infrastructure.
It’s said that up to 64 percent of Cuba anticipates power outages again by June 1, according to international reports. This comes on the heels of the regime’s acknowledgment of persistent power grid issues.
Despite the widespread outages, hotels appear to maintain power, highlighting disparities in resource distribution within the country.
