A Cuban woman living in the United States shared a now-viral video on Facebook, capturing her shock just hours after landing in Cuba. She describes the desolate streets, gasoline priced at an exorbitant $10 per liter, and a pervasive sense of pity that makes her declare her immediate desire to leave.
"I've been in Cuba for four hours and this country is completely upside down. I can't believe everything that's happening," she exclaims in the 52-second clip, shared on the Facebook profile of Rickee Estrada.
The Fuel Crisis: A Staggering Reality
The first harsh reality she encountered was the cost of fuel. "My gasoline is $10 a liter, and it's a struggle to even get it," she complains.
This price aligns with the informal market conditions, where a liter was priced between six and ten dollars. On Friday, the Cuban government imposed a new price hike in dollarized channels, doubling the price of special B100 gasoline to $2.60 per liter.
The fuel shortage is evident on the streets. "The streets are deserted because, obviously, there are no cars; the cars don't have gasoline. It's profitable for drivers to buy and resell it at $10," she explains.
A Jarring Contrast Between Lives
Reflecting on the disparity between her life in the U.S. and the average Cuban's reality, she wonders, "If I, living in the U.S., find things expensive, what must it be like for ordinary Cubans who can't afford to buy, who can't afford to live?"
Her first day in Havana was spent mostly indoors. "I haven't really left the house because I can't use up the gasoline in the car I rented, as I need to drive to Trinidad tomorrow," she adds.
Grim Prospects in Trinidad
The outlook in Trinidad isn't much brighter. Recent videos show the colonial city's empty streets, a sentiment echoed by Father José Conrado Rodríguez in The Miami Herald. "It was an economy entirely based on tourism… Now they have no way to live. Their hotels are empty," he stated.
The woman traveled for family reasons but acknowledges she can't take her family out of the island. Her conclusion is firm: "It's really better, I say, for someone to reunite with family in another country than to come to Cuba," she advises.
Her account is one of many similar complaints emerging lately. Recently, photographer Alina Sardiñas described walking through Cuba "with a mix of terror and amazement."
Previously, an Italian tourist described Cuba as the dirtiest country she had ever visited.
Underlying Energy Crisis
The energy crisis highlighted in the video has deep-rooted causes. Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel admitted in February that "not a single barrel of foreign oil" had arrived in Cuba, and Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy confirmed Thursday that the country had run out of diesel and fuel oil for electricity generation.
International tourism, a major source of revenue for the regime, plummeted by 48% in the first quarter of 2026, with only 298,057 visitors, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information.
Understanding Cuba's Current Challenges
What challenges did the Cuban resident face upon returning?
The Cuban resident faced empty streets, exorbitant gasoline prices at $10 per liter, and a general sense of despair upon her return to Cuba.
How has the fuel crisis affected Cuba?
The fuel crisis has left streets empty as cars lack gasoline, forcing drivers to buy and resell fuel at inflated prices.
What impact has the energy crisis had on tourism?
Cuba's energy crisis, coupled with other economic challenges, has led to a 48% decrease in international tourism in early 2026.