San Pasqual ship wreck, Cayo Las Brujas, Santa Maria

The S.S. San Pasqual was launched in 1920. In 1921, she was damaged by a storm and docked until 1924. She has a twin sister : the Cuyamaca. Originally she was an oil tanker, but it was then bought by Old Times Molasses Co. from La Havana and served as molasse ship tank in Santiago, Cuba. The ship sank in 1933.

During the 2nd war, the carcass was equipped with machine guns and cannon to counter the German submarines. At that time a bridge was connecting the ship to the shore.

During the Cuban revolution, the San Pasqual served as a prison for the army of Che Guevara. Then the ship hosted a fishing club and fishing competitions. During the 90’s, she was converted to a hotel (10 rooms).

This is the ship’s official story. But actually, I rather much prefer the boat’s legend. As we were floating to the boat, the local guy told me that the ship was carrying a huge provision of sugar cane when she sank in 1933. Since then, no one did go there cause the ship is supposed to be haunted, and no one did even recover the sugar cane inside the boat. For now 80 years, the sugarcane has begun to fermentate, producing an excellent rum, filling the holds of the ship... And it is true that when we toured the ship, over dozens of yards around, a delicious smell of rum just tickled our nostrils. Unbelievable, it was a true delight!