Canadian Tourist Recounts Harrowing Ordeal at Varadero Resort: "I Woke Up Beaten and Naked"

A birthday getaway to Cuba, intended to be a dream vacation, turned into a nightmare for Breanna Peebles, a young woman from Manitoba. She claims she was drugged and assaulted at the Grand Memories Varadero, a premier resort heavily advertised in Cuba's top tourist destination. "I woke up alone in a room that wasn’t mine, naked, bruised, scraped, and missing a fingernail," Peebles recounted to CityNews, still visibly shaken from her June 9th trip.

Her chilling account describes a possible assault after drinking at the hotel bar. Peebles says she felt drowsy after swimming and drinking, with only faint memories of being taken to the wrong room by security. Her next recollection is the confusion, bruises on her body, and the absence of her cell phone. "I think only God can save me right now. I've been praying nonstop," she said, her voice breaking.

The tourist also reported odd behavior from the resort staff following the incident. "They looked at me like they knew what happened," she shared. Despite her distress, she did not report the incident to Cuban authorities at the time, but her family in Canada did after losing contact with her.

Upon landing in Winnipeg, Peebles broke down in tears. "I wanted to kiss the ground. It was the worst experience of my life. I don’t think I’ll ever return to Cuba, not even in a group," she asserted.

Institutional Silence and Troubling Precedents

Neither Grand Memories Varadero nor its operator, Blue Diamond Resorts, responded to Canadian media requests for comment. Travel agency RedTag merely advised the affected individual to reach out for "appropriate assistance."

This incident is not isolated. In 2019, another Canadian tourist reported a sexual assault at the neighboring Memories Varadero Beach Resort, also managed by Blue Diamond. So far in 2025, at least three Canadian tourists have reported traumatic experiences in Cuban hotels.

In February, Sylvie Beauchesne from Quebec suffered a hip fracture in a Holguín hotel accident, enduring nearly 48 hours without proper medical care or communication, according to her family’s report. That same month, a family from Ontario alleged their teenage daughter was sexually assaulted by a hotel employee, with Cuban authorities warning them that pressing charges required staying on the island indefinitely.

Additionally, Crystal Jardine reported being beaten by another guest in a Varadero hotel in March. Despite contacting police and the embassy, her assailant, also Canadian, was never detained or charged.

A Warning to Tourists... and to Cuba

Since last year, the Canadian government has advised its citizens against traveling to Cuba due to food shortages, healthcare service issues, and the energy crisis. While Peebles has not yet decided on legal action, she issued a stark warning to those considering a trip to the island. "Be careful. Don’t go alone. Even when someone smiles and serves you a drink, you don’t know what they’re thinking. And it’s terrifying."

This case highlights the security gaps in some Cuban resorts and the lack of institutional response to serious allegations, jeopardizing not just the country's tourism reputation but also posing a significant threat to honest visitors and workers in the sector. For many Cubans who depend on tourism or have family working in these hotels, the authorities' silence and the absence of clear protocols for incidents like Peebles' are also a cause for concern.