Energy shortages, aviation fuel rationing and rolling blackouts are converging into a full-blown travel crisis in Cuba, prompting the United States, United Kingdom and Canada to warn citizens of growing risks. With flights curtailed, hotels shuttered or consolidating guests, and transport networks under strain, travelers already on the island and those with winter holidays booked are facing unprecedented uncertainty across one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations.
Fuel Shock Turns Into a Travel Emergency
The immediate trigger for the current disruption is a nationwide shortfall of aviation fuel and refined oil products that Cuban authorities say is tied to a tightening of United States sanctions and pressure on countries that supply the island. In recent weeks, Cuba has quietly informed foreign airlines that its major airports cannot provide jet fuel, forcing carriers either to arrive with enough fuel for round-trip operations, refuel in third countries or suspend services altogether.
Notices to aviators indicate that shortages are expected to last at least until mid March 2026, covering key gateways such as Havana, Varadero, Cayo Coco, Holguín, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba. This period coincides with peak high season, when winter-weary travelers from Canada and Europe traditionally flock to Cuban beaches. Instead, the island is now grappling with a shrinking flight schedule and elevated risk of last-minute cancellations.
The aviation crunch sits atop a broader energy emergency. Cuba has suffered steep cuts in crude and fuel imports over the past year, compounded by aging power plants and a fragile grid. Authorities have been forced to shut down a significant share of generating capacity, leading to blackouts that frequently last many hours in both urban and rural areas. The combination of fuel scarcity, power cuts and faltering infrastructure is now directly affecting how visitors move around the country and where they can reliably stay.
US, UK and Canada Urge Caution as Disruptions Mount
In response to the deteriorating conditions, the US, UK and Canada have all issued messages urging heightened caution for travel to Cuba. While the exact wording and legal force of these advisories differ, the thrust is similar: visitors should be prepared for substantial disruption to flights, local transport, accommodation and basic services such as electricity and water.
British officials now advise against all but essential travel to Cuba, citing the combined effect of fuel shortages, frequent power outages and constrained medical and communication services. They note that aviation fuel supplies are limited nationwide and that schedules remain vulnerable to abrupt changes, potentially through at least March 11, 2026. Travelers are warned to expect delays, diversions and, in some cases, difficulty leaving the country on their originally planned dates.
Canadian authorities have updated their guidance to highlight the impact on transport and tourism infrastructure, stressing that an already fragile system is under exceptional stress. With Canada historically Cuba’s single largest source market, the message is aimed at tens of thousands of citizens who typically book all-inclusive packages to resorts on the north coast and in Varadero during the winter months. Tourists are urged to closely monitor airline communications, stay in contact with tour operators and consider contingency plans if services deteriorate further.
US officials, who already maintain longstanding restrictions on American leisure travel to Cuba, have emphasized the knock-on effects the energy crisis may have on consular assistance, emergency medical care and internal mobility for any citizens legally traveling to the island. While relatively few US tourists visit compared with Canadians and Europeans, the advisory underscores how widely the Cuban crisis is reverberating.
Airlines Cancel, Divert and Scramble to Repatriate
The most visible sign of the crisis for many travelers has been the sudden reshuffling of flight schedules. Air Canada, one of the principal carriers linking Cuban resorts to North American cities, has suspended its regular services to the island, citing the inability to source aviation fuel in Cuban airports. The airline is instead operating special southbound flights without passengers, dedicated to repatriating several thousand Canadians currently in Cuban destinations.
Other carriers serving the island have pursued different strategies. Some European and Canadian airlines have opted to maintain at least part of their schedule by scheduling technical fuel stops in nearby countries, such as the Dominican Republic or Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. These detours increase flight times and costs but allow aircraft to bypass Cuba’s refueling constraints. For passengers, it means longer travel days, greater potential for missed connections and a higher chance of operational delays if the knock-on effects ripple through airline networks.
Smaller regional airlines and charter operators face particularly stark choices. With limited fleets and thin margins, the combination of added fuel stops, airspace fees and uncertainty about ground handling has led some to temporarily suspend routes to Cuba entirely. This has narrowed the options available for last-minute rebooking and made it more difficult for stranded tourists to find alternative ways home.
For now, aviation authorities stress that Cuba’s airports remain open and that air traffic control services are operating. Yet the crisis has highlighted just how dependent Cuba’s tourism sector is on stable energy supplies and predictable international connections, and how quickly that system can be thrown into disarray when a central component like jet fuel availability collapses.
Hotel Closures and “Consolidation” Reshape the Tourism Map
Even for those who manage to reach Cuba, the experience on the ground is markedly different from what many visitors expect. Facing acute fuel shortages and pressure to save electricity, the Cuban government has begun temporarily closing a number of hotels and relocating their guests to other properties, particularly in resort areas along the northern coast and in Varadero.
Officials describe the policy as a “consolidation” or “compaction” of tourism infrastructure. By shuttering low-occupancy properties and concentrating guests in a smaller number of hotels, authorities hope to reduce energy consumption while maximizing the earning potential of facilities that remain open. In practical terms, however, this can mean last-minute changes of hotel for travelers, altered room categories and a feeling of crowding in the resorts that continue operating.
Reports from Cuban and international media indicate that closures have affected hotels in Cayo Santa María, Cayo Coco, Varadero and parts of Holguín. Some international chains have scaled back operations at select properties, while continuing to operate others under the same brand. Guests with confirmed reservations at affected resorts have been informed through tour operators and travel agents that they will be moved to alternative accommodations, sometimes at short notice.
Beyond the beach hubs, city hotels in Havana and Santiago de Cuba are also adjusting to rolling blackouts and strained fuel supplies. Many properties now run backup generators for only limited hours, prioritize power for essential services and reduce or rotate air conditioning. Visitors may find that amenities such as pools, spas or certain restaurants operate on restricted schedules, or that Wi-Fi and water pressure fluctuate depending on local energy conditions.
Life on the Ground: Transport, Blackouts and Basic Services
The strain on Cuba’s energy network is visible well beyond the tourism bubble. Long queues for fuel at gas stations, reductions in public transport services and frequent, lengthy power cuts have become part of daily life for residents. For travelers, these realities translate into slower, less predictable movement within the country and occasional challenges in accessing basic services.
Intercity buses and domestic flights have seen schedules trimmed or adjusted as authorities work to conserve fuel. Independent taxis and private car services, which normally absorb some of the pressure when state-run transport falters, are also constrained by rationed gasoline and diesel. Visitors accustomed to booking last-minute excursions or transfers may discover that options are fewer and prices more volatile than in past years.
Extended blackouts affect everything from air conditioning and refrigeration to water pumping systems, especially in higher floors of buildings. While major hotels strive to shield guests from the worst effects by using generators or prioritizing tourist zones, complete insulation is impossible when the grid is under such stress. Travelers report having to adjust to fan-cooled rooms, intermittent lighting and occasional water outages even in well-known properties.
Health care and communications are not immune. Clinics and hospitals must juggle limited fuel for generators, while mobile networks and internet services can degrade during lengthy outages. For visitors, that means medical facilities may be operating under greater strain, and staying in touch with family or tour reps may be more difficult precisely when information is most needed. Governments advising caution are urging travelers to carry printed copies of key documents, ensure that travel insurance is comprehensive and maintain flexible expectations about connectivity.
Package Holidays, Insurance and the Fine Print
The travel crisis is also testing the resilience of consumer protections and the clarity of small print in package holiday contracts. In the United Kingdom, where the Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel, many standard travel insurance policies no longer provide coverage for new leisure trips to Cuba. Tour operators may be obliged to cancel or amend packages when it becomes impossible to deliver the advertised product or when official guidance reaches a certain risk threshold.
Travelers holding non-refundable tickets or hotel bookings face varying outcomes depending on the policies of individual airlines, tour companies and booking platforms. Some carriers are offering rebooking or credit vouchers, while others adhere strictly to existing fare rules unless a flight is outright canceled. In Canada, large tour operators are working to reroute or refund clients affected by hotel closures and flight suspensions, but processing times can be lengthy given the scale of the disruption.
Governments are advising travelers to contact their airline or tour provider before heading to the airport, to verify that flights are still operating, and to check whether hotels remain open and fully functional. Those already in Cuba are encouraged to register with consular services, keep receipts for unexpected expenses and document any significant changes to their itinerary that might later support insurance or compensation claims.
Consumer advocates say the situation underscores the importance of reading policy exclusions, particularly those related to government advisories, civil unrest and infrastructure failure. While many travelers associate travel insurance with medical emergencies or lost luggage, events such as nationwide fuel shortages or prolonged blackouts often occupy a gray area that policies handle in different, sometimes surprising, ways.
Wider Economic and Regional Implications
The travel turmoil in Cuba is symptomatic of a deeper economic crisis that has been building for years. Tourism is one of the island’s most important sources of foreign currency, and visitor arrivals had already fallen sharply before the latest round of fuel-related disruptions. Official figures show that Cuba welcomed roughly 1.8 million international visitors in 2025, far below both government targets and pre-pandemic peaks.
Energy shortages, inflation and persistent scarcities of food and medicine have contributed to a sense of strain among ordinary Cubans, many of whom have grown increasingly dependent on remittances and the spending of foreign visitors to make ends meet. The decision to concentrate scarce fuel and power resources on sectors that earn hard currency, such as tourism, has sparked criticism from those who point to long blackouts and bare store shelves in residential neighborhoods as evidence of skewed priorities.
Regionally, the crisis may shift travel flows toward rival Caribbean destinations that can offer more reliable infrastructure during the current winter season. Islands such as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Mexican Caribbean are already seeing strong demand and could benefit further if would-be Cuba travelers opt to rebook elsewhere. Over the longer term, however, analysts note that Cuba’s unique cultural and historical appeal gives it enduring attraction, provided it can restore a basic level of service stability.
The diplomatic backdrop is equally complex. Cuba’s government blames the United States for what it describes as an “energy siege,” pointing to sanctions and pressure on fuel suppliers. Washington counters that its measures target the Cuban leadership, not the population, and frames the pressure as part of a broader push for political change on the island. Meanwhile, other countries are attempting to navigate between geopolitical alignments and humanitarian concerns, with Mexico, for example, dispatching ships with aid cargoes even as it faces US criticism over any energy cooperation with Havana.
What Prospective Travelers Should Do Now
For travelers considering a trip to Cuba in the coming weeks, the overriding message from authorities and industry experts is to proceed, if at all, with heightened caution and flexibility. Prospective visitors are urged to monitor official travel advisories from their home governments, which are being updated as the situation evolves, and to stay in close contact with airlines, cruise lines or tour operators about any operational changes.
Those who decide to travel despite warnings should prepare for a more rugged experience than typical Caribbean holidays. That may include tolerating intermittent electricity and water, coping with high temperatures without constant air conditioning, and accepting that some advertised amenities will be limited or unavailable. Carrying battery packs, printed confirmations, basic medical supplies and extra patience is strongly advised.
Travelers with low risk tolerance, health vulnerabilities or strict time constraints may wish to postpone their trips or redirect plans to more stable destinations until there is clearer evidence that Cuba’s energy situation has improved and that transport networks are functioning reliably again. In the meantime, the experience of those currently on the island will help clarify what level of disruption is manageable for visitors and what crosses the line into an unacceptable holiday experience.
As winter progresses, the central questions will be whether Cuba can secure additional fuel supplies, stabilize its power grid and reassure airlines that it can once again serve as a dependable partner. Until then, the combined warnings from the US, UK and Canada stand as a stark signal that travel to the island in early 2026 carries risks that demand careful, informed decision making from anyone planning to go.