A Cuban identified as Camila Carballo toured the Nacional Aquarium of Cuba and posted a video on Facebook that left many speechless: the Havana venue is so overwhelmed with private enterprises that, in her own words, “there are more private businesses than fish.”
The recording, which accumulated over 348,000 views and 10,000 reactions, outlines a pricing scale that starkly contrasts with the purchasing power of most Cubans. Parking costs 200 pesos—four times more than the usual 50 pesos at other locations in Havana—while admission to the venue is 150 pesos for adults and 50 pesos for children.
Inside, private establishments set their own prices: food ranges from 450 to 1,200 pesos, and a guarapo—a drink that can be found elsewhere for 150 or 200 pesos—has a minimum price of 400 pesos at the aquarium.
The piece of information that generated the most outrage was regarding the marine animal show. "The show with the famous seals that give you a little kiss or a dolphin costs 6,000 pesos, which seems expensive to me for today's Cuba," noted Carballo, who warned that visiting the place requires "a budget beyond what you would find in the street."
It is not the first time that the National Aquarium has generated such reactions. During the Pa'Cuba Festival 2026—held between June and July at the venue, featuring around 100 private ventures—another user documented even higher prices: pizza for 1,350 pesos, two servings of fried rice for 2,000 pesos, and a ride in a children's cart that could reach up to 15,000 pesos.
The physical deterioration of the place adds another layer to the distress. Since 2025, moldy walls, dirty tanks, and a shortage of animals have been documented, and the organization Bienestar Animal Cuba described the conditions as "deplorable." An industry executive acknowledged in 2026 that the facility no longer has the infrastructure or the availability of species that it once had in the past.
Historically, entry to the National Aquarium cost 15 pesos for adults; upon reopening in October 2021, it rose to 20 pesos. The current fee of 150 pesos represents a tenfold increase compared to that reopening, in just five years.
Filed under: