Canadian travellers face higher costs as Cuba remains off limits

Canadian travellers seeking a winter escape are paying hundreds of dollars more for sunny vacations as Cuba remains inaccessible. Flights to the island were suspended indefinitely earlier this year after a U.S. oil blockade caused severe fuel shortages. The Canadian government advises against all non-essential travel to Cuba due to shortages of medicine, food and fuel. Travel agents report that affordable all-inclusive packages in Cuba are unavailable, forcing Canadians to book pricier alternatives.

Ashley Harold, a travel agent at Flight Centre Canada, said travellers are spreading their winter trips across a wider mix of destinations. "There isn't one new Cuba, if you will. Canadians, they're really spreading their winter travel across a much wider mix of destinations and trip types," she said. Mexico, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean spots like Aruba, Barbados and Jamaica are seeing the most diverted bookings. Some travellers are also considering Caribbean cruises or tours to warm destinations like Costa Rica or Peru.

Domestic tourism within Canada is also gaining traction as an alternative. Harold said some Canadians are choosing to visit "fantastic" winter destinations from Alberta to the West Coast. "Folks, now more than ever, are wanting to explore their own backyard and keep their dollar within Canada," she said. The lack of Cuban options has also led travellers to book other vacations much earlier to secure the best pricing and choice.

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Before the pandemic, Cuba welcomed over a million Canadian visitors annually, but that number has been declining. Statistics Canada recorded around 700,000 visits in 2025 and 127,000 in the first quarter of this year. The drop accelerated after President Donald Trump imposed the oil blockade and Canada issued its travel advisory. The suspension of flights and the withdrawal of major hotel chains have devastated Cuba's tourism-dependent economy.

John Wood, president of Durham Travel east of Toronto, said his agency's Cuba sales plummeted from over $389,000 last year to just $24,000 so far in 2026. He described typical Cuba visitors as "value conscious" travellers who wanted frequent, affordable getaways. "Some of Durham Travel's clients used to go to Cuba 'three, four or five times a year … because they could go for a very reasonable price, get away and enjoy the sun and beautiful beaches,'" Wood said. Wood said travel sales to the Dominican Republic have increased from about $1 million in 2025 to nearly $1.3 million this year. "The Dominican Republic appears to have absorbed most of the difference from Cuba," he said, citing traveller concerns about crime and seaweed in Mexico. At Flight Centre Canada, Mexico remains the top destination despite higher prices, Harold said.

Harold provided a cost comparison, noting a seven-day package to a four-star Cuban resort from Toronto was under $1,400 per person last holiday season. Comparable trips to Mexico, the Dominican Republic or Jamaica now cost around $1,800. "So, for travellers that are used to Cuba pricing, there may need to be a reset in expectations before they start shopping," she said. She added that this situation allows tourists to "get creative" with their holiday plans.

With files from The Canadian Press, CityNews and Narcity