What to Pack for a Trip to Cuba: Cuban Woman Warns About Power Outages, Health Risks, and Resource Shortages

A young Cuban woman has taken to social media to highlight the genuine challenges faced by those visiting the island, which include power outages, viral illnesses, and a lack of essential resources. Identified as @briana_matancera on TikTok, she posted a video aimed at individuals planning to travel to Cuba soon, offering basic recommendations for managing their stay amid the country's energy and health crises.

"If you already have a ticket to come to Cuba in the coming days, stay here because I'm going to tell you what is essential to bring for the best possible stay," the young woman begins, speaking from a home on the island. She alerts travelers to the prevalence of "many viral diseases in the streets due to mosquitoes," advising them to pack medications and, importantly, "a lot of repellent," as power outages leave one vulnerable to mosquito bites.

She also suggests travelers bring rechargeable fans, or even "many rechargeable fans," along with lamps, power banks, and any device that can operate without a direct electrical connection. "If you're going to a house, whether it's a rental or a family home, expect power outages unless they live in a prioritized circuit," she explained.

She notes that this situation typically doesn't affect hotels in tourist areas, where "the power doesn't go out [...] they have electricity 24/7, unless the National Electric System fails." The video, which has garnered hundreds of interactions, sparked a range of reactions. While some users thanked her for sharing insight into the situation on the island, others responded sarcastically, suggesting "it's better not to go at all."

@briana_matancera's testimony adds to a wave of viral warnings from both Cubans and foreign influencers about the current conditions for traveling to Cuba. In June, a young Cuban woman from Matanzas mentioned on TikTok that "the first thing you need to know is to bring a suitcase... not necessarily with clothes but filled with dollars," referring to high prices and frequent blackouts.

From Europe, Italian influencer Dario Fattore shared a list of essential warnings after his experience in Cuba, where he reported sleeping in a cockroach-infested hotel with no running water and noted the scarcity of resources, health risks, and the need for a VPN to access the internet. Meanwhile, Spanish influencer Laura Méndez recorded a video during her visit, warning that even the smallest tourist expenditure ends up "funding that disgusting Cuban dictatorship," drawing both applause and criticism.

These warnings come amid a continued decline in tourism, with the island experiencing a loss of over 330,000 visitors compared to the previous year, according to official statistics. @briana_matancera's alert is particularly relevant given the current energy landscape in Cuba, where massive blackouts have begun this October due to a nearly 1,900 MW generation shortfall, impacting millions of homes across the country, including key urban areas like Havana.

The combination of power plant failures, fuel shortages, and delayed maintenance has left the National Electric System in a technical collapse, unable to meet the population's minimum demand. This situation not only worsens living conditions but also increases public discontent and raises questions about the viability of any tourist experience outside the major state-run hotels.

Tourism, a primary source of foreign currency for the Cuban government, is facing growing criticism from visitors and Cuban expatriates who highlight the dire conditions in the country, with widespread power outages, health issues, and deteriorating infrastructure.