Related videos:
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Auswärtiges Amt) issued its most severe travel advisory to date regarding Cuba, strongly discouraging any travel to the island in an official notice published on its website.
The warning leaves no room for interpretation: “Travel to Cuba is currently strongly discouraged”, states the German government, attributing this recommendation to the energy crisis, the decline in healthcare, the collapse of essential infrastructure, the halt of international financial services, and the rise in crime.
Energy crisis without an exit
The German ministry describes a situation of extreme deterioration and warns that “Cuba is facing a serious energy crisis, exacerbated by a widespread, deteriorated, and unreliable energy infrastructure”.
According to the report, “throughout the country, including the capital, Havana, electricity has only been available for a few hours a day for months”, a situation that directly affects the supply of drinking water, food and medicine preservation, the operation of hospitals, ATMs, communications, and security services.
The Federal Foreign Office adds that “a further collapse of the power grid cannot be ruled out”, a particularly severe warning considering it is part of an official travel advisory.
The consequences extend to all areas of daily life. The ministry notes that public transport, street lighting, traffic lights, communication systems, and basic services are "severely restricted or out of service."
The crisis also directly impacts the airline sector. Germany warns that “since early February 2026, airplanes arriving from abroad have been unable to refuel in Cuba”, which has forced numerous airlines to cancel routes, reduce frequencies, or introduce technical stopovers to refuel.
The options for direct flights to Europe from the island have been reduced to very few operators, while many hotels have closed or are operating only with minimal services due to a lack of fuel and electricity.
This situation is part of an unprecedented tourism collapse: Cuba received only 328,608 visitors in the first quarter of 2026, which is a 55.8% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, and hotel occupancy does not exceed 10%.
Without guaranteed medical care
One of the most alarming aspects of the German warning is the health-related one.
The ministry warns that “due to the severe shortage of medications and medical supplies, as well as the current energy crisis, healthcare cannot be guaranteed in Cuba in case of an emergency”.
The situation is so delicate that Berlin also acknowledges that “currently, the repatriation of sick individuals to Germany is not guaranteed”, due to logistical difficulties and restrictions affecting air transport.
In another particularly striking excerpt, the German government states that “there is no reliable rescue system in Cuba” and that the availability of healthcare and emergency services “is often not comparable to European standards.”
The Auswärtiges Amt advises travelers with pre-existing health conditions to "very seriously" reconsider any travel to the island and recommends traveling with sufficient medication, an emergency kit, and international medical insurance and repatriation coverage.
It also warns about the persistence of mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche fever, which continue to be reported in several Cuban provinces and in Havana.
Bank cards disabled as of today
The German ministry confirms that "starting from June 6, 2026, payments with VISA and Mastercard in Cuba will no longer be possible", a measure that further exacerbates the difficulties for foreign travelers.
Additionally, it is advised that ATMs are often out of service or disconnected from international payment networks, so it is recommended to carry sufficient cash in euros.
The suspension of VISA and Mastercard in Cuba is linked to Executive Order 14404 signed by Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, which expanded sanctions against the regime and introduced secondary penalties for foreign banks associated with GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls vast sectors of the Cuban economy.
Increase in crime rates
The report also shows a deterioration of citizen security.
“The crime rate in Cuba is increasing,” warns the German Foreign Ministry, which alerts about thefts, assaults, attacks, and, in some cases, violent crimes.
According to the document, there has been an increase in crime, especially in Old Havana during the blackouts, and "in some cases, potential victims are threatened with weapons."
The ministry also notes that fuel theft through the drilling of storage tanks has become increasingly common and warns that reporting crimes can be complicated because, at times, Cuban authorities refuse to accept complaints from foreigners.
An unprecedented international front of alerts
The German warning adds to those issued by Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as by the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Argentina, and Spain, forming one of the largest recent international consensus on the deterioration of travel conditions in Cuba.
As a summary of the situation, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a direct warning to those already on the island or planning to travel there soon: “Prepare for significant disruptions, particularly shortages of diesel and gasoline, water, food, and medicines, as well as new restrictions on emergency medical care.”
In recent days, economist Elías Amor projected that Cuba could end 2026 with fewer than one million international visitors, which would represent the worst tourist outcome for the island in decades.
Filed under: