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ContentsThe network is crumbling and affects tourists directlyIf the power goes out, so does water, food and basic healthcareThe monetary system is chaotic and stacked against visitorsFrom busyness to despairThe ethical question: do tourists help or make things worse?Who could even think about goingBetter bets for your Caribbean escape in 2026The bottom line

If there is one country that we at Travel Off Path would tell most holidaymakersskip in 2026areCuba.

Not because it isn’t beautiful, or culturally fascinating, or worth paying attention to. It’s because the basics you need for a safe, semi-predictable vacation…electricity, water, food, health care and a usable monetary system– break at the same time.

From a traveler’s perspective, what is happening now is not a ‘difficult period’. It’s onesystemic crisis.

Tourism figures reflect all of the following:The number of international arrivals in Cuba has fallen by approximately 20 to 30%compared to last year, one of the sharpest declines since the pandemic, as visitors from Canada, Europe and beyond stay away due topower outages, shortages and health problems.

This is not about politics or punishing ordinary Cubans. It’s oneconsumer protection warningfor our readers who just want a relaxing Caribbean vacation in 2026.

The network is crumbling and affects tourists directly

The power situation in Cuba has gone from annoying to trip-breaking.

The island has suffered repeatedlythe national electricity grid is collapsingin the past year, cities likeHavanain the dark for hours. Even if the entire system does not collapse, authorities have acknowledged that large parts of the country are affectedlong daily power cutsbecause there is simply not enough fuel or functioning capacity to meet demand.

In theory, large resorts can avoid power outages on generators. In practice,fuel is scarcemaintenance is difficult, and even luxury properties have reported reduced service during extended outages.

For most of our readers that is onehard stepespecially when other Caribbean spots still offer 24/7 power and cold air conditioning as standard.

If the power goes out, so does water, food and basic healthcare

The power crisis is permeating everything else you care about on holiday.

• Water:No electricity means the water pumps will not work consistently. Local reports describe neighborhoods as being on the movehours or days with little or no tap waterwhile hotels and guesthouses struggle to keep tanks filled and sanitary facilities running.
• Food:Cuba is confrontedserious shortages of basic goods– think rice, cooking oil and fresh produce – for months. International reporting notes that even in major tourist areas, shops have empty shelves and restaurants regularly face supply problems, resulting in declining hotel occupancy and visitor numbers.

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Then there ishealth.

Cuba is currently dealing withoverlapping outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseasesincludeddengue,chikungunyaand a newer arrival,Oropouche virus. The first outbreak of Oropouche was confirmed in mid-2024, and health authorities have documented both local transmission and cases among travelers returning from Cuba.

For most healthy people, these diseases are survivable but miserable (fever, joint pain, headaches) and are much more difficult to manage in a system where:

1. Hospitalslack of basic necessities and medicinesAnd
2. Power outages disrupt everything from cooling to diagnostics.

If your dream trip is “lying by the pool, eating well, sleeping well and not thinking about logistics,” Cuba will move in the opposite direction in 2026.

The monetary system is chaotic and stacked against visitors

Even if you don’t mind the difficult conditions, the money situation alone can make a Cuban vacation in 2026 a headache.

Cuba has two very different exchange rates:

• Aofficial rateof about 120 pesos against the US dollar, and
• Acasual street farethat has risen much higher – according to recent reportingwell above 300 pesosand sometimes even almost 400.

When you pay at official rates (whether for hotels, taxis or government-run services), you are actually payingtwo to three times what the locals payon the informal market. That’s a recipe for feeling ripped off, even if no one is technically “swindling” you.

Moreover,US credit and debit cards generally do not workin Cuba, and official guidelines still urge the Americans bring enough physical money for their entire stay.

So your options look like this:

• Wear onebig pile of moneyfor a week or two (and worry about losing it),
• Navigate through a confusing oneblack market money sceneor
• Massively overpaidat official rates.

None of that screams “stress-free winter vacation.”

From busyness to despair

Like many developing destinations, Cuba has always had a ‘hustle culture’ around tourists: cigar sales, classic car tours, souvenirs and private rooms. Normally that’s part of the charm.

But when basic food, fuel and medicine are scarce, the tone changes.

Independent analyzes and foreign travel advisories indicate onesignificant increase in violent crimeincluding theft and assault, as the broader economic crisis deepens. A recent security alert from the US Embassy – something we’ve already discussed in detail at Travel Off Path – explicitly warns visitors against exercisingincreased cautiondue to shortages, disruptions and increasing crime in tourist areas.

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A local guide summed it up bluntly:

That doesn’t mean that every traveler will have a bad or unsafe trip. But theThe margin of error is thinnerand the atmosphere is very different from the laid-back, music-in-the-square Cuba you might imagine.

The ethical question: do tourists help or make things worse?

There is also a moral side that many of our readers ask about.

Much of Cuba’s formal tourism industry – major hotels, resorts, gas stations and foreign currency shops – is controlled byGAESAa powerful onemilitary-run conglomeratewhich dominates some of the island’s most profitable sectors.

Simply put, this means:

• A large part of what you spend on hotels and official transport goes therestate and military companies,
• While ordinary Cubans often still struggle to access food, fuel and medicine, tourists consume those same scarce resources.

Many well-meaning travelers like the idea that “tourism supports locals.” Things are more complicated in Cuba at the moment. You may find yourself competing with locals for basic needs, while your money supports a system that has failed to protect them from the worst of the crisis.

That’s why some travelers and Cuba experts are starting to describe non-essential leisure travel as a form ofdisaster tourism– standing up for aesthetics while daily life on the ground is in emergency mode.

Who could even think about going

To be fair, not everyone should cancel.

If you:

• To havefamily or close friendsin Cuba that you visit,
• Are you traveling with an organizedhumanitarian, academic or religious groupor
• Areavery experienced travelerwho understands the risks and is comfortable with serious disruptions,

Then a trip can still make sense, especially if your goal is support and solidarity, and not a perfect beach holiday.

But even then you want:

• Follow the last one US government travel information for Cuba,
• Read on current health risks and vaccine/precautionary recommendations from official sources, and
• Pack essentials that you would normally skip (medications, serious insect repellent, backup power, water purification options).

And don’t forget that there’s a separate legal wrinkle for many Americans:new American policyhas banned simple vacation trips to Cuba for five years, a story we previously broke down in detail for our readers.

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Better bets for your Caribbean escape in 2026

So if Cuba is off the table, where should you go?

Fortunately, 2026 will be a fantastic year for other destinationsactively courting American visitors. We just highlighted a few countries begging for more American tourists in 2026, many of which offer better prices, more reliable infrastructure, and generous entry rules.

You can also look at:

• Small, lesser-known Caribbean countries that are stable, safe and openly asking for more tourist dollars, like the under-the-radar nation we recently mentioned that “wants more tourists to find it.”
• Two ‘unknown paradise’ Caribbean destinations revived in 2026, where resorts and local businesses are gearing up for visitors instead of struggling to keep the lights on.
• Digital nomad-friendly beach hubs in Latin America and the Caribbean with strong internet, modern infrastructure and clear residency/tax rules if you want to combine work and travel. We’ve broken down some of the best digital nomad hotspots in the region, including great alternatives in Mexico, Central America and beyond.

In other words, you won’t give up your dream winter vacation by skipping Cuba in 2026; you simply choose destinations that are.is ready for you.

The bottom line

We at Travel Off Path rarely tell our readers not to visit a place. But before 2026,Cuba is that rare exception.

The combination of rolling blackouts, food and medicine shortages, overlapping disease outbreaks, a broken currency system, rising crime and ethical concerns about where your money goes means this is a disaster for most American travelers.not the yearto plan a casual Cuban beach vacation.

If you’re looking for warmth, culture, and value next year, choosing one of the many countries that do is a smart movewants more American visitorsand have the infrastructure to receive you safely and comfortably.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation in Cuba, and if the situation actually improves, you will be the first to know.

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