Spanish Tourist's Eye-Opening Experience in Cuba: "Cubans Don't Deserve This"

Recently, Spanish traveler Carolina Márquez took to TikTok to share her startling experiences during a visit to Cuba, leaving thousands of viewers deeply moved by her account. In her post titled "Moments that Altered My Brain Chemistry in Cuba," Márquez showcased a series of images capturing the poverty, scarcity, and daily struggles faced by the Cuban people.

Her video quickly went viral on her profile @_srtamarquez, amassing over seven million views and sparking a heated debate. Among the most poignant images was one paired with the caption: "Realizing all that we have and sometimes don't appreciate... Crying in frustration because Cubans don't deserve this. I hope one day things will change." This particular image depicted a young girl on the streets of Trinidad, a colonial town whose architectural beauty starkly contrasts with the country's hardships.

The video ignited widespread discussion on TikTok and other platforms. While many praised Márquez for highlighting Cuba's realities, others contended that the country's plight results from the U.S. embargo, not Cuban governance. Cuban voices from both within and outside the island resonated with her portrayal: "I'm Cuban, and everything she says is 100% TRUE. Cuba needs change now," one user declared. Another commented, "Thank you for showing the truth about who we are—a people full of shortages but still smiling."

Conversely, some defended the Cuban regime, attributing economic woes to the long-standing U.S. sanctions. "Cuba's extreme poverty isn't just due to communism but also the U.S. blockade that's deprived us of food, medicine, and resources for over 60 years," argued another user.

Frequently, questions arose regarding why Cubans can't access their own beaches. Márquez responded: "Most can't go due to lack of money, distance, no public transport, many don't own cars, and even if they do, the gas shortage means they rarely have it."

The video continues to resonate on social media, spotlighting the ongoing polarizing debate over Cuba's situation. While some see it as a necessary exposé, others view it as distorting reality. Nevertheless, Carolina Márquez's post has undeniably raised awareness of the island's crisis and the dire conditions its people endure.

Beyond this post, which depicted the harsh realities faced by everyday Cubans, Márquez shared other insights from her tourist experience in Cuba, acknowledging the emotional toll it took on her. Her testimony is not isolated; in recent months, numerous visitors have recounted similar experiences, revealing how Cuba's economic and social turmoil impacts both its citizens and those seeking idyllic vacations.

One such story is that of Canadian tourist Jonathon Renko, who found himself stranded during a widespread blackout across the island. In an interview with Global News, Renko described how his vacation plans were thwarted by power outages, spoiled food, and inadequate basic services. He urged others to reconsider visiting Cuba until the energy crisis is addressed, joining a chorus of growing concerns over the island's conditions.

Similarly, Uruguayan designer Mila Miskovic shared her humanitarian-focused trip to Cuba on TikTok, detailing the extreme poverty she witnessed and how the scarcity of food and medicine made her rethink the notion of vacationing there. "I've never seen so much hunger," she stated, adamant that she wouldn't consider Cuba a leisure destination. Her video sparked widespread debate online, with many Cubans expressing gratitude for her candid portrayal of a reality often overlooked by conventional tourism.

Tourism's Dual Reality in Cuba: Luxury for Visitors, Shortages for Locals

While tourists like Márquez, Renko, and Miskovic expose Cuba's crisis, others highlight the abundance found in the country's tourist hotspots. Canadian tourist Debbie Schetagne, for instance, shared images of culinary opulence at the Gran Muthu Imperial Hotel in Cayo Guillermo, captioning, "Anyone wondering about food scarcity... NOT HERE!" alongside photos of lavish spreads of meats, seafood, cheeses, and fruits.

These accounts underscore the stark divide between the luxurious experiences of tourists in resorts and the harsh reality for Cubans struggling with basic needs. In her video, Márquez emphasized this inequality by showcasing stores stocked with a single product line, available only for foreign currency, leaving most locals excluded. She also documented restaurants with such limited menus that patrons had just one dish option.

Cuba's economic troubles have severely hindered its ability to attract tourists. By 2024, the island saw just 1.9 million visitors by July, a sharp decline from previous years. Despite the Cuban government's efforts to draw tourists through marketing campaigns and hotel investments, the realities facing visitors—blackouts, supply issues, and energy crises—are causing many to rethink their travel plans.

Tourists as Witnesses to Cuba's Deepening Crisis

Márquez's video not only conveys her personal experience but also highlights a growing trend: more tourists are becoming firsthand witnesses to Cuba's crisis and choosing to share their stories online. Her account aligns with numerous other travelers who, upon venturing beyond tourist circuits, have documented the hardships facing locals.

The images Márquez shared on TikTok—crumbling buildings, piles of garbage, barefoot children, food shortages, and a lack of free expression—echo the daily reality for millions of Cubans. Her testimony, far from being isolated, is part of a broader narrative that exposes the contradictions of Cuban tourism: while some bask in a vacation paradise, others uncover a reality that, as she aptly put it, "altered her brain chemistry."