Canada Travel Alert 2026: Cuba Suspends Credit Cards, Tourists Scramble
Canadian tourists heading to Cuba this summer just got hit with a major curveball. Visa and Mastercard payments have been suspended across the island nation. That means your plastic is useless at hotels, restaurants, and shops. The suspension comes as Cuba grapples with a deepening energy crisis, fuel shortages, and widespread flight disruptions. For Canadians — who make up the largest group of tourists to Cuba — this changes the game entirely. You can't rely on credit cards anymore. Cash is suddenly king again. And not just any cash: you need to bring enough Canadian dollars or euros to cover your entire trip. ATMs may run dry. Exchange offices might close without warning. The stakes are high for the thousands of Canadians who booked winter escapes or summer getaways to Varadero, Havana, or Cayo Coco. This isn't a minor inconvenience. It's a fundamental shift in how you'll pay for everything.
Cuba has long been a favorite for Canadian travelers seeking warm weather, vintage cars, and salsa rhythms. In 2024, over 1.1 million Canadians visited the island — more than from any other country. But the relationship has been fraying. The island's economy is under severe strain from US sanctions, pandemic hangovers, and now a full-blown energy crisis. Rolling blackouts are common. Fuel deliveries to resorts have been sporadic. The suspension of Visa and Mastercard — the two dominant payment networks — is the latest blow. It echoes the chaos of 2020 when many tourists got stranded due to sudden border closures. But this time, the problem is financial infrastructure. The Cuban government has not given a clear timeline for when card services will resume. For context, even before this, travelers were advised to bring cash. Now it's non-negotiable.
So what does this actually look like on the ground? Picture this: you arrive at your resort in Holguín, excited to check in. The front desk tells you their card machine is down. You rummage through your bag and realize you only brought $200 CAD. That won't cover your all-inclusive upgrade, let alone souvenirs or tips. Across the island, tourists are facing similar scenes. Fuel shortages mean airport transfers might be delayed. Some resorts are running generators part-time, so hot water and air conditioning could be intermittent. Flights in and out of Cuba have seen last-minute cancellations due to fuel supply issues. The Canadian government has updated its travel advisory, urging visitors to carry sufficient cash and confirm their flight status 24 hours before departure. If you're planning a trip to Cuba in 2026, expect a more rustic experience than the brochures promised.
Smart travelers are already adjusting their plans. First, call your resort or tour operator directly — not the booking website — and ask about current conditions. Are they accepting cash only? Is the buffet fully stocked? Are excursions running? If you still want to go, bring at least $100 CAD per day in small bills. Break them before you leave home. Canadian Tire money won't help, but crisp $5, $10, and $20 bills will. Avoid US dollars: Cuba adds a 10% penalty on USD cash exchanges. Euros or British pounds work better. Second, download offline maps and translation apps on your phone. Wi-Fi is patchy, and you might not be able to top up data. Third, consider alternative destinations. The Dominican Republic, Mexico's Riviera Maya, and Jamaica are actively courting Canadian tourists with stable payment systems and no fuel crises. If Cuba is a must-visit, travel in a group so you can pool cash resources.
Practical tip: Before departure, register with the Canadian government's Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service. It's free. If the situation worsens — say, a complete halt to flights — they can send evacuation alerts directly to your phone and email. Most travelers skip this step. Don't be one of them.