The waters are muddy, to which local people attribute therapeutic properties.

On the shores of the Mayabeque river close to Playa Mayabeque the original Havana village (San Cristobal de La Habana) was founded by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar in 1514 or 1515, before it was moved to the north coast in 1519.

In 1956, under the leadership of Serafín García Menocal, President of the Consejo Nacional Scouts de Cuba (National Council), the Scouts of Cuba bought the national training grounds Campo Escuela Nacional Mayabeque at Mayabeque, in the margins of the river of the same name, near Catalina de Güines in Havana Province within 50 km of the capital.

The Field School was abandoned in 1961, and at the moment is under the water of Pedroso reservoir.

It is 25 km from Güines, 37 from San José de las Lajas, 27 from Batabanó and 30 from Surgidero.