The Cuban influencer Lino García, known as El Creador Cubano, posted a video on Instagram in which he is seen arriving at a bus stop in Havana, inviting three people to get into his car and giving them a free ride, amid the severe transportation crisis that the island is experiencing.
García explains the situation that Cubans face daily: "During the day they charge you a thousand pesos, but at night they charge you fifteen hundred. For ordinary Cubans, it's impossible to take transportation. There are no human beings who can endure it."
The influencer also hands two thousand Cuban pesos to a person who confesses to needing money for food. "What do you need, buddy? Some money. Here, this is more, it's two thousand pesos, okay? That's perfect, good for one to eat," is heard in the video.
One of the people traveling with him reacts with disbelief: "No, nobody does that. It's impossible for someone to lend their tourist car for those trips."
In the post description, García wrote: "Helping my Cubans, 70% of my time in Cuba was spent helping them, the rest was to be with my family."
The video is set against a public transportation crisis in Cuba that has no recent precedent. The state passenger service decreased by 93% between January and September 2025, with routes suspended due to a lack of fuel.
In Havana, the "boteros" are practically the only alternative for millions of people, but gasoline in the informal market reaches 4,000 Cuban pesos per liter, which forces them to charge rates well above the official limits.
The government responded in March with fines of up to 24,000 pesos for ticket agents, which further reduced the available supply.
The average salary in Cuba is around 4,000 to 5,000 pesos per month, which makes a night trip costing 1,500 pesos a devastating expense for most families.
A recent post about the cost of a trip in Havana illustrates how transportation has become unaffordable.
García's gesture adds to a growing trend among Cuban diaspora influencers who document acts of solidarity during their visits to the island.
Filed under: