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A person reported on Facebook that Jalisko Park, an amusement park located in Vedado, Havana, charges 1,000 Cuban pesos per person for entry —which only includes a soft drink and a pack of cookies— making it necessary for a family of four to pay 4,000 pesos to access the area during the summer holidays.
The person who made the report stated that they arrived at the place with their children full of excitement, but had to leave without entering because they could not afford that amount.
"I went with my kids full of excitement so they could have some fun, and I had to turn back because I didn’t have that money, and even if I did, I wouldn’t pay it," she wrote in her post.
In their complaint, the individual openly questioned how such a price could be allowed in a space intended for children, during the height of vacation season and amidst widespread blackouts and shortages.
"Imagine a family, a mother, a father, and two children, living on 4,000 pesos with so many needs, enduring blackouts and shortages," he wrote.
The indignation culminated in a phrase that encapsulates the feelings of many Cubans regarding the situation: “We are among cannibals, we are eating and killing each other.”
The 4,000 pesos for that family visit represent more than half of the average monthly salary in Cuba, which is around 6,830 pesos, equivalent to about 12 dollars at the informal exchange rate.
The monthly basic basket, according to independent estimates, exceeds 96,000 pesos, which is about 14 times that salary.
Jalisko Park is an iconic playground in Havana, located at 23 and 18 in Vedado.
After years of neglect, officially reopened on July 29, 2023 under the management of the non-agricultural cooperative “Pekín,” in agreement with the provincial government of Havana.
At that reopening, the authorities promised free admission for children and only 50 pesos for adults.
However, prices escalated quickly: since then, Cuban parents have reported that up to 20,000 pesos are needed for a complete family visit, considering the costs of dining.
The case of Jalisko Park is not an isolated phenomenon. In April 2026, a water park in Ciego de Ávila was charging 500 pesos for just thirty minutes of swimming for children.
On its part, the El Mambisito children's park in Holguín is in ruins: missing roofs, empty kiosks, and non-operational attractions.
This pattern defines the recreational landscape for children in Cuba during the summer of 2026: state facilities are deteriorating beyond repair while private operators set prices that the vast majority of Cuban families cannot afford.
"I wish someone with coherence would explain to me whether this is normal or if I am the abnormal one," concluded the complainant, inviting his readers to draw their own conclusions.
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