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Preparing for Travel Disruptions to Cuba in 2026: Bookings, Insurance, Tactics

Expect sudden schedule changes, long blackouts and cash‑only transactions, pack USD/EUR in small bills, mosquito repellent, power banks, and flexible bookings.

Nina Kowalski•6 min read•10:21 AM

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Ecuador Expels Cuban Ambassador, Orders Entire Havana Mission Out Within 48 Hours

Ecuador’s foreign ministry has declared Cuba’s ambassador Basilio Antonio Gutiérrez persona non grata and ordered the entire Cuban mission in Quito to leave within 48 hours via a diplomatic note dated March 4, 2026.

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Analysis

Choosing Travel Insurance and Refund Rights for Cuba Travel Disruptions

Buy a policy that explicitly covers airline suspensions, supplier failures and hotel consolidations, watch rebooking cutoffs like Feb. 5 and consolidation notices such as Feb. 13 for refund or rebooking rights.

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News

US DOJ Working Group Prepares Indictments Against Cuban Regime, Including Raúl Castro

Federal prosecutors in South Florida have formed a multi-agency working group to probe Cuban officials, a review that could lead to indictments including former president Raúl Castro.

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Updates

Trump declares national emergency on Cuba, vows easy transition to new government

President Trump declared a national emergency and signed an Executive Order on March 8, 2026, to impose tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, saying Cuba is "at the end of the line" and regime change will be "easy."

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News

Moncada Homers as Cuba Defeats Panama 3-1 to Open WBC

Moncada homered as Cuba opened Pool A with a 3-1 win over Panama; ESPN and other outlets published same-day game logs and play-by-play for the March 6, 2026 contest.

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News

Cuban Opposition Signs Freedom Accord After U.S. Signals Push for Change

Rosa María Payá and Orlando Gutierrez led Miami signings of the Freedom Accord on March 3, 2026, a pact calling for prisoner liberation, stabilization, reconstruction and elections.

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Updates

Air France suspends Paris-Havana route March 28-June 15 over fuel shortage

Air France will halt direct Paris–Havana flights from March 28 to June 15, citing Cuba’s jet fuel shortage and its knock-on effect on tourism and other economic activity.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Trump Claims Cuba Negotiating Deal with Rubio and Himself Amid Crisis

Trump says Cuba is negotiating "with Marco [Rubio] and myself," predicts "a deal will be made very soon," and signals Rubio may travel to Havana amid blackouts and analysts' warnings fuel could run out by mid- to late March.

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Analysis

US Oil Embargo Since January Deepens Social and Economic Divisions in Cuba

The Economist reports that US oil sanctions imposed in January are causing fuel shortages, power cuts and food scarcity as the Cuban state retreats from services.

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Updates

Cuban Team Arrives in U.S. for WBC Training Amid Visa Tensions

Cuba’s 30-man roster trained in Phoenix on March 2 after staged travel, while FCBS said eight delegation members were denied U.S. visas and Reuters named three officials barred from travel.

Sam Ortega3m read

Updates

U.S. Embassy in Havana Warns After Nationwide Cuba Blackout, Updates Travel Guidance

The U.S. Embassy in Havana published a Security Alert on March 4, 2026 after a 12:41 p.m. disconnection left areas from Camagüey to Pinar del Río, including Havana, without power.

Sam Ortega3m read

Updates

Cuba Launches Official eVisa Portal evisacuba.cu Live in English and Spanish

Cuba’s official e-visa portal went live in early March 2026 in English and Spanish, replacing the paper tourist card system that retired June 30, 2025.

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Updates

Jet fuel shortage forces Cuban airports to cut flights through April 10

Cuban aviation authorities told airlines the jet fuel shortage will run until April 10; Air Canada has suspended Cuba service and plans to repatriate about 3,000 customers.

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News

Fault at Main Thermoelectric Plant Triggers Blackout Across Two‑Thirds of Cuba

A fault at a major thermoelectric plant triggered a cascading outage that left roughly two‑thirds of Cuba without power, officials and multiple outlets reported.

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Updates

Spanish Consulate in Havana to Maintain Appointments Despite Power Outages

The Consulate General of Spain in Havana posted on X that it will keep all scheduled appointments despite Cuba’s frequent blackouts, and will report any service problems through that same channel.

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News

Cuba Arrests 10 Panamanians in Havana Over Alleged Subversive Signs

Cuba says it arrested 10 Panamanians in Havana, who admitted they were paid $1,000–$1,500 to make signs with "subversive content."

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Updates

Sunwing Issues Cuba Travel Alerts as Canadian Carriers Keep Flexible Policies

Sunwing updated its travel alerts page with an advisory covering trips through Feb. 25 as Air Canada, WestJet and Transat roll out differing rebooking windows and penalty rules for Cuba travel.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Updates

FCDO Advises Against All But Essential Travel to Cuba, Airports Lack Fuel

The FCDO on 5 March 2026 advised against all but essential travel to Cuba after warning that international airports are without aviation fuel, putting travellers at risk of being unable to leave.

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News

Trump says U.S. could pursue friendly takeover of Cuba amid crisis

Trump told reporters Feb. 27 that the U.S. "could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba," as Havana reels from fuel and food shortages after Venezuela's leader was removed.

Jamie Taylor3m read

News

Cuba Markets New Beach-Culture-Nature Packages at ITB Berlin Amid Flight Shifts

Cuba pitched combined beach, culture and nature packages at ITB Berlin while Cubana announced it will cut Frankfurt–Holguín–Havana flights to Wednesdays from April 1, 2026, citing US fuel sanctions.

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Community

FITCUBA 2026 Scheduled May 6-10 in Varadero; Canada Named Guest Country

FITCUBA 2026 will run May 6-10 at Plaza América Convention Center in Varadero, with Canada named guest country as organizers tout B2B meetings even as Varadero reports hotel closures and fuel shortages.

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Analysis

Immediate Cuba travel checklist: contacts, documents, and insurance claims

Save contacts, receipts and screenshots now, if airlines suspend flights or hotels consolidate, these items are what insurers and operators will ask for.

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Updates

Cuba Ends Tourist Card, Requires Mandatory e-Visa for All Travelers July 2025

Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism has retired the paper tourist card and made the e‑Visa mandatory from July 1, 2025; apply through the eVisaCuba portal and complete D’Viajeros within seven days of travel.

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Analysis

Fuel blockades and shortages choke movement and business, imperil Cuba’s economy

A de facto restriction on fuel shipments, ageing plants, and maintenance shortfalls have pushed Cuba to the brink, triggering a 16-hour blackout and broad government workplace and health cuts.

Jamie Taylor3m read

News

Cuban Forces Kill Four, Detain Six After Armed Florida Speedboat Incursion

Cuban border guards shot dead four and detained six after a Florida-registered speedboat (FL7726SH) opened fire near Cayo Falcones, leaving a Cuban commander wounded.

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News

Supreme Court to Hear ExxonMobil, Havana Docks Suits Over Seized Cuban Assets

The Supreme Court hears two Helms-Burton appeals today: ExxonMobil’s bid over a 35,000-barrel-per-day refinery and 100+ service stations seized in 1960, and Havana Docks’ push to revive $440 million in judgments.

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News

Garaicoa, Prieto and Los Carpinteros anchor Cuban presence at ARCO, Matadero

Garaicoa, Prieto and Los Carpinteros anchored a visible Cuban presence at ARCO and Matadero, with Garaicoa’s Prêt-a-porter on view at Galería Elba Benítez and Prieto’s 2011 work tied to CA2M.

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Analysis

Connecting in Cuba via ETECSA Nauta Wi‑Fi, Mobile and Home Plans

ETECSA runs Cuba’s Nauta Wi‑Fi, Nauta Hogar, Nauta Plus and Cubacel mobile services; practical steps, prices and technical tips to get online are provided for residents and visitors.

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Analysis

Cuban Entrepreneurs Test Limits as Private Sector Sees Narrow Opening

Ricardo Herrero warns Cuba’s electricity grid is near collapse, with provinces seeing two- to three-day blackouts and only one hour of power when it returns.

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