A Cuban woman who embarked on a journey through Brazil recently shared her harrowing 65-day survival story on TikTok. Her tale is a raw account of hunger, life in the favelas, and a single act of kindness that altered her journey's course.
Known on the platform as "La Narra," she recounted her story last Sunday in response to another Cuban user's post. In a video lasting just over two minutes, she describes arriving at a Brazilian bus terminal from Uruguay, spending nearly eight days sprawled on a couch, penniless, hungry, and feeling lifeless, as she put it.
The Struggles and Unexpected Kindness
"Sixty-five days on the streets of Brazil, sleeping in favelas—I've been through it all," she recounts, traveling with her daughter and husband. During her entire stay in Brazil, she encountered only four fellow Cubans. So, when she approached a scrap collector, exhausted and desperate, and heard him say, "I'm Cuban," she felt rejuvenated.
The man didn't hesitate. He climbed into his truck and returned with a delicate gold chain, instructing her to sell it at a nearby jewelry store. "It's gold; sell it, they'll give you some money for it," he advised.
For that chain, she received "sixty-something" dollars, enough to feed her family and continue their journey through "three more towns." She expressed a desire to one day meet that man again, to ask, "What do you need?" Emphasizing that gratitude isn't about repeating thanks, she said, "Gratitude is shown through actions and remains in the soul, never forgetting the person who helped you when you needed it most."
Cuban Migrants' Struggles in Brazil
Her story adds to the growing number of accounts from Cubans surviving in Brazil through a mix of ingenuity, solidarity, and extreme resilience. Another documented case in April 2025 described a Cuban woman traversing 28 Brazilian cities, singing on buses and sleeping on the streets to get by.
The migration route typically starts in Cuba and heads to Guyana, the only country in the region that doesn't require a visa for Cubans. From there, it crosses land and water into Brazil's states of Roraima or Amapá, continuing southward. Many, like this woman, also pass through Uruguay.
The journey's conditions are harsh. In October 2025, 23 Cubans were rescued after being abandoned on a Brazilian highway, highlighting the dangers faced by those undertaking this trek.
Growing Trend: Cuban Migration to Brazil
The migration flow to Brazil shows no signs of slowing. In 2025, Cuba surpassed Venezuela for the first time in asylum applications in Brazil, with 30,731 requests between January and September alone. By year's end, Cuban asylum applications reached 41,900, marking an 88% increase from 2024, according to statistics on Cuban emigration surging in Brazil.
Brazil has emerged as the new favorite destination for Cuban migrants in South America, driven by the island's profound economic and political crisis after more than six decades under dictatorship.
FAQs about Cuban Migration to Brazil
Why are so many Cubans migrating to Brazil?
Many Cubans are fleeing the severe economic and political crisis in Cuba, seeking better opportunities and freedom in Brazil.
What challenges do Cuban migrants face in Brazil?
Cuban migrants often face extreme conditions, including hunger, homelessness, and dangerous travel routes, as they attempt to survive and make a new life in Brazil.
How has the number of Cuban asylum applications in Brazil changed recently?
In 2025, Cuban asylum applications in Brazil reached 41,900, an 88% increase from the previous year, reflecting a significant surge in migration.