The young Spanish woman Carolina Márquez recently shared her experience during a trip to Cuba on TikTok, leaving thousands of users moved by her testimony.
In her post, titled "Moments that Altered the Chemistry of My Brain in Cuba," the young woman included various images that depict the poverty, scarcity, and daily struggles faced by Cubans.
His video quickly went viral on his profile @_srtamarquez, accumulating more than seven million views, along with thousands of comments and mixed reactions.
In one of her most moving photos, the message reads: "Realizing everything we have and sometimes take for granted... Crying out of helplessness, because Cubans don't deserve this. I hope that someday it can change." This text accompanies an image of a girl in the streets of Trinidad, a colonial town that, despite its architectural beauty, reflects the shortcomings of the country.
The video has sparked intense debate on TikTok and other platforms. While many users thanked Márquez for revealing the reality of Cuba, others argued that the country's situation is a consequence of the United States embargo rather than the Cuban government.
Among the most prominent comments are those from Cubans both on and off the island who confirmed their testimony: "I am Cuban, and everything they say is 100% TRUE. Cuba needs a change now," stated one user. Another wrote: "Thank you for reflecting reality and for seeing and saying who we really are—a people full of shortcomings but still able to smile."
However, there were also those who defended the Cuban government, attributing the economic crisis to the sanctions imposed by the United States. "The extreme poverty in Cuba is not only due to communism, but also because of the U.S. blockade, which for over 60 years has been cutting off access to food, medicine, and resources," noted another user.
One of the most frequently raised questions in the comments was about the possibility of Cubans accessing the beaches of their own country. Several people asked why citizens do not enjoy these tourist areas, to which Carolina Márquez responded: "Most cannot go due to a lack of money, distance, nonexistent public transport, many do not own a car, and even if they do, the scarcity of gasoline means that there is almost never any available."
The impact of this video continues to grow on social media, once again highlighting the polarized debate surrounding the situation in Cuba. What some see as a necessary denunciation, others view as a manipulation of reality. The truth is that Carolina Márquez's post has helped to shed light on the crisis facing the island and raise awareness about the conditions in which its population lives.
In addition to this post, where he showed the harsh reality faced by ordinary Cubans, he also shared others on his social media about his stay as a tourist on the island, which he acknowledges will be hard to overcome.
The testimony of Spanish tourist Carolina Márquez is not the only one that has highlighted the contradictions between Cuba's tourist image and the everyday reality of its residents. In recent months, several visitors have shared similar experiences after their time on the island, demonstrating how the country's economic and social crisis affects both Cubans and those arriving with the expectation of enjoying a paradise-like vacation.
One of these cases is that of Canadian Jonathon Renko, who became stranded in Cuba during a widespread blackout that affected the entire island. In his testimony for Global News, the tourist recounted how his expectations for relaxation were thwarted by the lack of electricity, the spoilage of unrefrigerated food, and the precariousness of basic services. Renko warned other travelers to reconsider their plans to visit Cuba until the energy crisis is resolved, a call that adds to the growing complaints about the conditions on the island.
Another similar testimony is that of Uruguayan designer Mila Miskovic, who traveled to Cuba not as a tourist, but with a humanitarian purpose. In her account, she shared with her followers on TikTok the extreme poverty she witnessed and how the lack of food and medicine led her to question the idea of vacationing on the island. “I had never seen so many people suffering from hunger,” she stated, adding that under no circumstances would she consider Cuba as a destination for relaxation. Her video sparked a wide debate on social media, with many Cubans thanking her for highlighting a reality that is often ignored by traditional tourism.
The two faces of tourism in Cuba: luxury for foreigners, scarcity for locals
While tourists like Márquez, Renko, and Miskovic are reporting on the crisis in Cuba, other travelers have highlighted the abundance they experience in the hotels of the tourist cays, where the conditions sharply contrast with life in the cities and towns of the country. An example of this is the case of Canadian tourist Debbie Schetagne, who posted images of the culinary opulence at the Gran Muthu Imperial Hotel in Cayo Guillermo. “Someone is wondering about the food shortage... NOT HERE!”, she wrote on Facebook alongside photos of tables overflowing with meats, fish, cheeses, and fruits.
This type of testimony reflects the gap between the experience of tourists staying in luxury resorts and the harsh reality faced by Cubans who must confront the shortage of basic products. In her video, Carolina Márquez denounced this inequality by showing images of stores with shelves full of a single product, but where payment is only allowed in foreign currency, excluding most of the local population. She also documented how in some restaurants, the offerings were so limited that customers could only choose a single available dish.
The economic situation in Cuba has seriously affected the country's ability to attract tourists. In 2024, the island received just 1.9 million visitors by July, a significant decline compared to previous years. Although the Cuban government has attempted to attract tourists through advertising campaigns and new investments in the hospitality sector, the reality faced by those visiting the country — with blackouts, supply issues, and an energy crisis — is prompting many to reconsider their travel plans.
Tourists as witnesses to a deep crisis
The video by Carolina Márquez not only shares her personal experience but also highlights a growing trend: more and more tourists are becoming direct witnesses to the Cuban crisis and are choosing to share it on social media. Her account adds to those of many other travelers who, by venturing beyond the tourist circuits, have documented the precarious situation faced by the local population.
The images that Márquez shared on TikTok —crumbling buildings, garbage piled up in the streets, children playing barefoot, food shortages, and lack of freedom of expression— reflect the daily lives of millions of Cubans. Her testimony, far from being an isolated case, is part of a broader narrative that reveals the contradictions of tourism in Cuba: while some enjoy a vacation paradise, others uncover a reality that, as she herself said, “altered the chemistry of her brain.”
Frequently asked questions about the current reality in Cuba and its impact on tourism
What is the current situation in Cuba according to the testimony of Spanish tourist Carolina Márquez?
Carolina Márquez describes a Cuba marked by poverty, scarcity, and the daily challenges faced by Cubans. In her viral TikTok video, she showcased images of daily life on the island, highlighting the disparity between tourist areas and the living conditions of the locals.
How does the economic crisis affect the tourist image of Cuba?
The economic crisis has deteriorated Cuba's ability to attract tourists, resulting in a significant decline in the number of visitors. Despite advertising campaigns, supply issues, power outages, and the energy crisis discourage potential tourists, creating a gap between the allure of the resorts and the harsh local reality.
What impact do tourists' testimonies have on the international perception of Cuba?
Testimonials from tourists like Carolina Márquez highlight the crisis in Cuba and raise awareness about living conditions on the island. These accounts, widely shared on social media, contrast the tourist beauty with the economic and social reality of the country, influencing international perceptions and the decisions of potential visitors.
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