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A Cuban resident in Ciego de Ávila has offered his fully equipped home in exchange for two plane tickets to travel to Guyana, in what seems like a desperate act amid the acute migration crisis facing the country.
The post, shared in a Facebook group called Cubans in Georgetown, Guyana, reveals the level of despair and sacrifice many citizens are willing to endure to escape the economic and social decline on the island.
“I am offering a house in Cuba (Ciego de Ávila) for two tickets, and I will cover the difference with everything included”, the user wrote anonymously.
Although no further details are known about the housing, exact location, conditions, or estimated value, the message speaks for itself: the home, one of the most valuable assets a person can have in Cuba, becomes a bargaining chip in the pursuit of a future outside the island.
However, instead of generating surprise, the offer was echoed by several users who would also be willing to give up their homes in exchange for a ticket out of Cuba.
“I also have a small house but in Havana for two tickets”, a woman wrote. Another user was even clearer: “I offer a similar house and a difference for tickets to Guyana”.
Even one user offered her home in exchange for a single ticket to Uruguay: “And I would also give a house for a ticket to Uruguay”, she wrote.
The phenomenon reflects a painful reality: the massive exodus of Cubans has reached a point where leaving everything behind, literally, seems like a rational decision in light of the lack of prospects on the island. The material value of a home, once a symbol of stability, has been reduced to a bargaining chip for the opportunity to emigrate.
In the conversation, some ask for details: “Which part of Ciego?”, while others simply comment “to the private,” as if wanting to close the deal as soon as possible. There is urgency. There is need. There is resignation.
This type of post has become common in migrant groups, where many Cubans offer their most valuable belongings—houses, motorcycles, appliances—in order to finance their journey to countries like Nicaragua, Suriname, or Guyana, visa-free routes that facilitate the trip to the southern border of the U.S.
According to official U.S. data, over 850,000 Cubans have emigrated since 2022, most of them facing perilous journeys through Central America. In the fiscal year 2021-2022 alone, more than 220,000 Cubans were apprehended at the border between Mexico and the U.S.
Although the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel blames the embargo for this exodus, stating that “the migratory exodus in Cuba is proportional to the tightening of the blockade”, experts and voices from the diaspora agree that the economic deterioration, political repression, and lack of future are the true reasons why millions are fleeing the country.
Cuba is running out of people
This migration crisis has visible consequences: Cuba ended 2024 with fewer than 10 million inhabitants and the lowest number of births in more than six decades, as acknowledged by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). The island loses hundreds of thousands of people every year due to migration and aging, in a process that the regime itself describes as "irreversible".
In the midst of this demographic collapse, the official discourse attempts to rewrite history. A recent report from state television claimed that mass migration did not begin with the Revolution of 1959. However, the data contradicts that narrative: the country shifted from being a host for migrants to expelling its own children, in a stampede that shows no signs of stopping.
Thousands of families have been shattered forever. Children who will never see their parents again. Grandparents who die without being able to embrace their grandchildren. The pain of exile has become as normalized as the desperate act of trading a home for two tickets.
Frequently asked questions about the migration crisis in Cuba
Why are Cubans willing to exchange their homes for plane tickets?
The desperation and lack of future in Cuba are driving many citizens to relinquish their most valuable assets, such as their homes, in exchange for the opportunity to emigrate. The economic crisis, political repression, and the deterioration of living conditions are key factors in this decision.
What are the most common destinations for Cuban emigrants?
Guyana, Nicaragua, and Suriname are common destinations for Cubans due to the ease of entry without a visa. These countries serve as starting points to other destinations, such as the United States, through migration routes in Central America.
What is the demographic impact of the mass exodus in Cuba?
The massive exodus has led Cuba to close 2024 with fewer than 10 million inhabitants, and the number of births is the lowest in over six decades. The loss of population is a process that the regime itself describes as "irreversible."
What does the Cuban government say about the migration exodus?
The Cuban government blames the U.S. embargo for the migration exodus, arguing that the tightening of the blockade is the main cause. However, experts and voices from the diaspora point out that the economic deterioration and lack of opportunities are the true reasons.
How does migration emotionally affect Cuban families?
The exodus has fractured thousands of Cuban families, with children who will never see their parents again and grandparents who die without embracing their grandchildren. The separation and pain of exile have become normalized in the lives of many Cubans.
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