Gran Retto Varadero 2025 concludes and announces new circuit: Havana

At the closing ceremony of the 4th edition of the Gran Retto Varadero 2025 Open Water Crossing, Cuban tour operator Havanatur S.A. was recognized by the Mexican organization Gran Retto as its official host for Cuba.

This prestigious recognition, presented during a ceremony held at Varadero’s iconic Cabaret Continental, honored the company’s exceptional work and served as the stage for the announcement of a new stop on the circuit: Gran Retto Havana, scheduled for July 2026.

The 2025 edition, which broke records with 604 competitors and more than 800 participants, confirmed the event’s growth and laid the groundwork for this expansion. The inclusion of Havana as one of the two new Cuban venues, along with the gala edition in Varadero in September, marks a transformative milestone for sports and tourism in the region.

Luis Mario Villarreal, director of the Mexican company, officially presented the 2025-2026 Gran Retto Circuit, which integrates these two locations on the island for the first time, consolidating it as an international open water destination.

The international circuit will begin in October 2025 and will include eight events in destinations across Mexico and Cuba, with a points system from first to tenth place.

During the closing ceremony, the overall winners of the 5km and 10km categories were also awarded free registration for the next edition, stays at local hotel resorts, and trips to other circuit competitions.

The Gran Retto director also highlighted the strategic collaboration of Maureen Croes, president of Panam Aquatics, in promoting the circuit’s expansion to new destinations in the Americas and Europe.

The event was attended by representatives of Havanatur S.A. and tourism and sports authorities from Matanzas, who highlighted the significant economic and promotional impact of the event in positioning Varadero and Cuba as a leading hub for international sports tourism.