A traveler from Miami reported being unable to collect a rental car at Santiago de Cuba's Antonio Maceo Grajales International Airport on May 14, despite having reserved and paid for it in advance from the United States about a month earlier.
Raynier Arjona, a Facebook user, shared the incident in a video that has garnered over 110,000 views, detailing how his companion Michael had been stranded at the airport since 7:30 a.m. without being able to travel to Guantánamo.
"We've been at the airport since 7:30 in the morning and haven't been able to reach Guantánamo. My friend Michael, who flew in from Miami early, still hasn't made it to Guantánamo because, unfortunately, there are no rental cars available right now," Arjona explained in the video.
The issue seems widespread: "This has happened to everyone arriving this morning on May 14 in Santiago de Cuba. The response is that there are no cars available," he added.
Comments on the video highlight a consistent and recurring issue affecting many travelers at this and other airports across the island.
Users have reported waiting anywhere from five to over 12 hours for a vehicle, receiving cars in poor condition—with parts tied together with wire, lacking air conditioning, or being damaged—and nearly empty fuel tanks despite having paid for a full tank.
"I arrived on April 30, left immigration at 11 a.m., and didn't get my car until 5 p.m., and it was filthy and almost out of gas, even though I had paid to receive it full," one user recounted.
Another commentator described a common practice: "The customer reserves, but someone needing a car without a reservation pays extra to the renter and gets it. Then they make up a justified story for their personal gain."
"They rent the cars, but they’re like ghosts. When you go to pick them up, they say no cars are available. So, where's the car I rented and paid for?" another user summarized.
The shortage of fuel appears to be the underlying issue causing the service breakdown. In April, Miguel Díaz-Canel himself publicly acknowledged that Cuba "absolutely lacks fuel for almost everything," while the UN warned that the island had been without sufficient supply for more than three months, affecting transportation, health, water, and telecommunications systems.
This context exacerbates the situation for the Cuban diaspora: tourism in Cuba fell by 48% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, and travelers from the United States decreased by 53.8% in February 2026.
Despite this overall decline, those who do travel—mostly to visit family—rely heavily on car rentals to cover journeys like the 80-kilometer route from Santiago de Cuba to Guantánamo, due to unreliable public transportation.
"This has been happening for a while. When there’s a car, it has no gas, and if not, it needs maintenance. In short, you arrive early and leave very late, which is stressful," a user summarized in the video comments.
Understanding Car Rental Challenges in Cuba
Why are rental cars unavailable in Santiago de Cuba?
Rental cars in Santiago de Cuba are often unavailable due to a severe shortage of vehicles and a lack of fuel, which has caused disruptions in the service.
What issues are travelers facing with car rentals in Cuba?
Travelers are experiencing long wait times, receiving poorly maintained cars, and dealing with nearly empty fuel tanks, even after paying for full service.
How has the fuel shortage impacted Cuba?
The fuel shortage has had a systemic impact on Cuba, affecting transportation, healthcare, water supply, and telecommunications, as acknowledged by both the Cuban government and the UN.