Hotel Balneario

History of the Gran Hotel Balneario

Nestled within the municipality of Jovellanos in Matanzas, Cuba, San Miguel de los Baños is a picturesque town framed by mountain ranges. The area is defined by a refreshing, dry microclimate and is renowned for its high-quality mineral springs, which flow from a natural fault in the local volcanic rock. The centerpiece of the town was once the Hotel Balneario, built in 1929 by Manuel Abril Ochoa.

Dr. Manuel Abril Ochoa, The Resort’s Founder

Ochoa was born on June 11, 1876, in Palmira, Cienfuegos, the son of Spanish immigrants Elpidio Abril and Julia Ochoa. After earning his Civil Law degree from the University of Havana in 1898, Manuel Abril Ochoa went on to serve as president of the Capdevila Brick Factory, which was established in 1900.

In 1906, Manuel Abril Ochoa arrived in San Miguel de los Baños seeking medical treatment for his digestive tract at the recommendation of his doctor. He recovered by bathing and drinking the area’s sulfur water, which has long been thought to have natural health benefits even here in the United States. After his recovery, Ochoa took an interest in settling in the town, buying the San Vicente Farm, owned by Gaspar Álvarez.

The Beginnings of the Health Resort

Inspired by his experience there, Ochoa was driven by a vision to establish a premier thermal resort and sought to capitalize on the region’s therapeutic waters and unique climate. He systematically acquired adjacent properties to secure the space necessary for his new business venture. To ensure the highest standards, he conducted extensive research by touring renowned spas throughout Europe and the Americas. After meticulously documenting his findings and architectural plans, he officially broke ground on the construction project in 1912.

In 1912, Manuel Abril Ochoa established the spa and springs under the corporate name Aguas Minerales de San Miguel de los Baños. Launched with a capital of $140,000, the enterprise operated its main office out of the Loriente Palace in Havana, while maintaining a bottling plant at the springs with distribution warehouses in both Havana and Matanzas. At that time, his Board of Directors consisted of Nicolás Merino Martín, vice president, José A. González Lanusa, and the wealthy merchant and banker, Vicente Loriente.

The Gran Hotel Balneario

Due to its success, Ochoa and his partners drew up plans for an expansion consisting of a grand resort, with engineers Ricardo and Rodolfo Martínez as advisors. The construction of the Gran Hotel Balneario was executed under the expert guidance of engineer Alfredo Colley. Colley brought international experience to the project, having previously contributed to the construction of the renowned Monte Carlo Spa in Italy.

The construction of the Hotel Balneario was completed in 1929, leading to its grand opening in 1930. The inauguration was a high-profile event attended by Gerardo Machado, then-President of the Republic of Cuba, along with several other influential figures of the era. Its three floors were designated for guest rooms, a restaurant, a cafeteria, a ballroom, offices, a shop, terraces, and exterior areas for spacious gardens.

At the time of its opening, the resort was the only hydromineral and climatherapeutic station in Cuba and Latin America, which was visited by thousands of Cuban and foreign nationals. Presumably, Ernesto “Che” Guevara visited Hotel Balneario in 1961 for asthma treatment.

Hotel Balneario’s Therapeutic Springs

Situated behind the resort, five distinct springs—”El Tigre,” “La Salud,” “El Calcio,” “El Magnesio,” and “El Hierro”—formed the heart of the spa’s therapeutic offerings. Their waters were captured and channeled directly into the bathing facilities, providing guests with natural treatments for a wide range of physical ailments. The scientific and therapeutic value of the San Miguel de los Baños waters was extensively detailed in the Journal of the Geographical Society of Cuba (Year XVI, Issue No. 1). It states that, “The personal effort of Mr. Manuel Abril, fighting tirelessly, with the faith of the convinced, since in them he found his lost health, have made this place the first of our spas.

Analysis of these waters has demonstrated their high therapeutic value. They have a remarkable effect on our bodies, regulating the nutritional process, stimulating the appetite, and generally toning all our functions, producing a very noticeable and pleasant feeling of well-being within just a few days of treatment.

There are several mineral springs in this region: at the spa itself, the most used are those of ‘La Salud’, with crystal-clear, fresh, fine waters, with a marked sulfur smell when obtained near the point of emergence, but which disappears after a few moments, making it a soft water with a pleasant taste.

Generally, the sick and vacationers begin by drinking the water from this spring, as its effectiveness is less pronounced; and they continue with the water from the spring called “El Tigre,” which is similar in composition to that of the “La Salud” spring, being, like the latter, clear, fresh, and very light water; it also has a strong odor due to the colloidal sulfur it contains, but this soon disappears. The waters of this spring are, however, more effective than those of “La Salud” because they possess greater radioactivity; this is why the mud from the “El Tigre” spring is successfully used by bathers for skin beautification due to its therapeutic properties.”

Legacy

Aside from the Hotel Balneario, Ochoa contributed to his community by offering free medical treatment at a clinic he established in 1930, located on the premises of the hotel. In 1918, Ochoa also commissioned the life-sized ebony-colored wood sculpture of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross, which can be found in the Hermitage of San Miguel de los Baños. He also paid for the repairs of the Hermitage in 1924. Ochoa also constructed several streets in the town; one of the streets, Avenida Abril, was named in his honor. He was awarded the Citizen Excellence Award by the International Rotary Club on December 13, 1953.

The Resort’s Decline

On January 16, 1962, the property was ceded to the Revolutionary Government and continued operating under the Cuban Ministry of Industry. Some time after, the health spa was shut down after it was found that a nearby sugar mill was polluting its waters. After years of disuse, the Hotel Balneario reopened on June 30, 1979, after a much-needed renovation. After years of use and little investment into maintenance, the facilities deteriorated once again, leading to its closure in 1995.

During Cuba’s “Special Period,” an economic crisis brought on by the fall of the Soviet Union, the hotel and grounds were stripped of valuables. Today, the Gran Hotel Balneario stands as a hollow husk of its former self. Nevertheless, it remains a site of profound awe, serving as a grand but quiet reminder of what was once among Cuba’s most glamorous and prestigious destinations. Locals still frequent the property to gather the clean water that still flows behind the hotel.

Photo Gallery