A Cuban residing in the United States has issued a blunt and straightforward message to tourists planning to visit Cuba for vacation. In a video shared on TikTok, she clarifies from the start: “Listen carefully because I don’t want any confusion. This video is not for Cubans who frequently visit the island to bring a bit of food and joy to their families; this video is specifically addressed to tourists who intend to visit and vacation in the island of Cuba.”
After eight years without returning to the island, @cubitabella09 came back accompanied by her husband—who is not Cuban—to show him the country. According to her, both were deeply affected by what they saw. “As a Cuban, I recommend you: don’t do it. If you have a heart, if you have feelings, don’t visit the island of Cuba, because you will return to your country with a lot of emotions: sadness, anger, rage, frustration.”
It describes the contrast between the tourist world and the everyday life of Cubans: “You stay in a 5-star hotel with a majestic structure, and just down the street is a building falling apart where people still live.” It talks about dining in restaurants where, upon leaving, there were “beggars asking you for a little bit of your leftovers, a bit of money to be able to eat.”
She warns about the practical complications of the trip: “You’re going to go to a gas station wanting to put gas in the car that the government rented to you, and you won’t be able to use your money because they don’t accept it; you have to have one of those little cards that the government sells you for four dollars.” She adds that everything operates with those cards, even in the stores, and if they get demagnetized — as happened to her — there’s no solution: “The CADECA, which is in charge of selling you the card, won’t exchange it. Twenty dollars lost.”
It also warns about the lack of road signage, the inability to use GPS, the presence of barriers in the middle of the road "without prior notice, without lights," and the precariousness of the health system. "I got sick, I had diarrhea, I caught a cold, and there was no medicine."
"Don't go," he insists. "You're going to be angry; you won't enjoy your vacation. If you still have a heart and a bit of feeling left, don't visit the island of Cuba because you'll come back like I did: sad."
Later, she explains how her husband was also affected: “He came back with the same feelings as I did, seeing 12 and 24 hours of blackouts, with people complaining about how things are.” She describes how Cubans wake up at 4:00 in the morning to catch a bus that can take hours, and how upon returning home they face darkness, without light, gas, or water. “They have to cook with charcoal.”
Reactions that amplify the echo of the message
The testimony of the Cuban woman has triggered a flood of comments from people who claim to have experienced similar situations, many of them after returning to Cuba following years abroad. Some recount how they could not leave the houses they rented because they couldn't bear the misery they saw in the streets. Others share that they cut their vacations short due to the emotional impact of their visit. There are also those who assert that they haven't returned in decades, and the deterioration shown in the videos has taken away their desire to do so.
One of the most poignant reactions came from a mother who decided to return permanently to the island to reunite with her children after years of waiting for residency. The creator of the video responded with concern: “Don’t do that because you will regret it for the rest of your life. What future are you going to provide for those little children you have in Cuba? Here, at least, you can support and give your daughter the best. There, they will all struggle.”
Among the dozens of comments, phrases like “I returned crying,” “it left me traumatized,” “I went for only two days and that was enough for me not to want to go back,” or “I’d rather send them from here than return” stand out. Others compare the experience on the island to a desolate reality: “I went to see my grandmother and I couldn’t bear it. I changed my flight to return early. I came back with a pain I can’t explain.”
A complaint that is not alone
This testimony adds to a growing wave of similar accounts that have circulated on social media in recent months. Influencers and anonymous citizens visiting Cuba, both emigrated Cubans and foreigners, agree in depicting a country steeped in deterioration, where the contrast between the official tourism narrative and everyday reality is becoming increasingly evident.
A few days ago, the Spanish influencer Laura Méndez shared a video in which she urged people not to travel to Cuba, considering it “a prison with an open sky” and denounced that tourism only enriches the military elite while the people survive in misery.
A Cuban resident in the U.S. claimed to have stayed less than 24 hours on the island before hastily returning due to the extreme conditions she faced. Her message, titled “Every day is worse, no exaggeration”, reveals the distress of living through a blackout without medication or basic services.
Another emigrant, who returned after several years, warned about scams, power outages, and the collapse of public transport, and recommended bringing your own medications, stating that “Cuba is not as you remember it”.
In February, a woman who returned to Ciego de Ávila after seven years described streets covered in trash, destroyed homes, and a complete abandonment of the environment. She stated, “it’s horrific, it’s like a place you wouldn’t want to go”.
Tourism in crisis and an increasingly tarnished image
These personal reports coincide with the collapse of the tourism sector in Cuba. In the first quarter of 2025, hotel occupancy dropped to 24.1% and the number of visitors decreased by 29.3% compared to the previous year. Additionally, a Panamanian tourist shared her experience, describing restrooms without toilet paper and inadequate conditions upon her arrival at José Martí Airport, where everything, in her words, “smelled bad and was only partially functional”.
Frequently asked questions about the tourist and social situation in Cuba
Why is it recommended not to travel to Cuba as a tourist?
Traveling to Cuba as a tourist is discouraged due to the precarious conditions and social contrasts that prevail in the country. Testimonials from individuals who have visited the island highlight the scarcity of food, medicine, and basic services, as well as a lack of empathy and insecurity. Furthermore, it is criticized that tourism primarily benefits the government and not the Cuban population.
How does tourism affect the Cuban population?
Tourism in Cuba creates a stark contrast between the opulence of tourist areas and the misery in which the majority of the population lives. The income generated by tourism mainly benefits the government, while citizens face shortages of basic resources. Many Cubans are unable to access beaches and tourist services due to economic and transportation restrictions.
What challenges do Cubans face when returning to the island?
Upon returning to Cuba, many emigrants encounter a very difficult economic reality and social expectations for financial support. The scarcity of basic goods, the lack of empathy, and being viewed as economic providers are common challenges faced by returnees. Furthermore, living conditions have significantly deteriorated, impacting quality of life and personal relationships.
How is the current economic situation in Cuba described?
The economic situation in Cuba is extremely precarious, characterized by a shortage of food, medicine, and other basic goods. Wages are insufficient to meet daily needs, forcing many Cubans to rely on remittances from abroad. Furthermore, the system of stores that operate in foreign currency restricts local access to essential products.
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