Online Stores to Buy in Cuba From Abroad: What Still Works After EnviosCuba Closed
If you want to buy groceries, gas or appliances for family in Cuba from the United States, the stores that still work in 2026 are private marketplaces such as Katapulk, Supermarket23, Cuballama, Cubamax and Tuambia. You pay online with a US card, and a local courier delivers to the door in Cuba, often within 24 to 72 hours in Havana.
The state-run option is gone. EnviosCuba, the portal behind the government’s dollar stores (Almacén-On, Electro Envío, La Puntilla, Carlos III and others), stopped taking orders on June 14, 2026, weeks after Washington widened sanctions on the military conglomerate GAESA. If you used an older list of “online stores by province,” almost every store on it no longer accepts orders from abroad.
Updated October 15, 2026
At a Glance
| Question | Short answer (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Can I still buy online for family in Cuba? | Yes, through private marketplaces and shipping agencies. |
| Is EnviosCuba working? | No. It shut down on June 14, 2026. Its sites now show only a closing notice. |
| Main options | Katapulk, Supermarket23, Cuballama, Cubamax, Tuambia |
| How you pay | US or other international Visa/Mastercard (Discover at some stores) |
| Does the recipient pay anything? | Normally no; delivery fees are charged to you at checkout |
| Typical delivery | 24 to 48 hours in Havana at the fastest stores; longer in the east and in rural towns |
| Biggest risk right now | Fuel shortages that pause deliveries outside Havana with little notice |
| Is it legal for Americans? | Buying from private platforms for your family is generally allowed; paying stores run by Cuba’s military conglomerate is not |
What Happened to EnviosCuba and the State Stores
For years, the most common way to “buy in Cuba from abroad” was the EnviosCuba portal. It looked like a single website, but it was a front door to state retail chains on the island. You picked a province, then a store such as Almacén-On or Electro Envío, and the goods came out of government warehouses in Cuba.
On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the portal posted a short message: for “reasons beyond our control,” it could no longer provide service. As of October 15, 2026, both envioscuba.com and the older envioscuba.ca address lead to that same notice. The company never gave a public reason.
What is known:
- Who ran it. According to corporate records cited by Cuban independent outlet 14ymedio, the platform was formally run by a Spanish company, and its stores were tied to CIMEX and Tiendas Caribe, the state retail chains controlled by GAESA (Translating Cuba’s English version of the report).
- Which stores went down with it. Reports named Puerto Envío, Electro Envío, Mercado, Carlos III, La Puntilla and Almacén-On.
- The timing. The closure came about six weeks after President Trump signed Executive Order 14404 on May 1, 2026, which exposes foreign companies doing business with GAESA to sanctions. Havana Consulting Group’s Emilio Morales told the Associated Press that portals like this one sold goods stored in GAESA warehouses and predicted more would close (AP report via WLRN).
If You Had a Pending EnviosCuba Order
The closing notice says orders that were already approved and in process will be shipped, and that its support team remains available. It gives no delivery timeline. If your family has not received an order you paid for:
- Save your order confirmation, the receipt and any emails.
- Write to EnviosCuba support through the contact link on the notice page.
- If nothing arrives and there is no answer, ask your card issuer how to open a dispute for goods not delivered. Card networks set deadlines for this, so do not wait months.
The Online Stores That Still Deliver in Cuba
The stores below were open and taking orders when we checked their sites on October 15, 2026. Most sell goods supplied by Cuba’s mipymes (small and medium private businesses, or MSMEs) and by private importers, not by the state.
Katapulk
Katapulk is a marketplace owned by Cuban-American businessman Hugo Cancio. Since August 2025 it sells products “at cost”: the price you see is the supplier’s price, and Katapulk adds a flat $7.99 (USD) service fee per order, no matter how many items or stores you combine. Each store sets its own delivery charge by province or municipality, shown before you pay (Katapulk’s own FAQ on the model).
- What it sells: food packs and combos, frozen meat, fresh items, appliances, cleaning and personal care products, and 10 kg liquefied gas cylinders (with exchange of an empty one).
- Delivery: the company advertises 24 to 48 hours; some items are tagged “free delivery in 24 hours.”
- Payment: Visa, Mastercard and Discover from international banks, plus its K-Wallet credit. All prices are in USD.
- Worth knowing: Katapulk says it does not do business with Cuban state companies.
Supermarket23
Supermarket23 publishes the clearest delivery chart of the group. Its policy covers every province, with delivery from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cuba time, seven days a week, when conditions allow.
Sample rates from its posted chart for regular orders, as checked on October 15, 2026:
| Destination | Estimated time | Delivery fee |
|---|---|---|
| Havana | 2 days | $8.60 |
| Santa Clara (city) | 1 day | $8.60 |
| Holguín (city) | 1 day | $8.60 |
| Artemisa / Mayabeque | 3 to 5 days | $16.13 |
| Matanzas | 3 to 5 days | $21.51 |
| Santiago de Cuba (city) | 4 days | $10.75 |
| Camagüey | 5 to 7 days | $26.88 |
| Las Tunas | 5 to 7 days | $32.26 |
Heavy or oversized orders, such as appliances, carry a separate fee and can take 8 to 12 days in the eastern provinces. The site also sells refrigerated “special dairy” products in a few provinces and items from partner bakeries, restaurants and florists, which are delivered separately.
Reviews are mixed. On Trustpilot, recent customers praise fast delivery and complain about spoiled meat, missing items and slow refunds. Check the item list with your family when the order arrives.
Cuballama
Cuballama, also known for phone top-ups, runs a “Mercado” section for food, combos and meals from Cuban restaurants. It advertises home delivery in all provinces and also ships parcels by air from $2.99 per pound. It has walk-in stores in Florida, Texas, Nevada, Kentucky and Arizona, plus one in Madrid, if you prefer to pay in person.
Cubamax
Cubamax, based in Miami, mixes an online store with a parcel agency. Its current offers include frozen meat and seafood delivered in 48 hours, 100-lb gas tanks (pickup or home delivery in Havana), 22-lb gas cylinders, portable power stations, and its “Full Todo en Caja” box: up to 110 lb of food, medicine and toiletries from $39 at its offices.
Tuambia
Tuambia is a smaller store known for low prices, with its strongest coverage in Havana. When we checked, its site announced it had reopened in Villa Clara. It accepts Visa, Mastercard, Tropipay and, for buyers in Spain, Bizum. Read our full Tuambia review.
How to Order Step by Step
- Check the recipient’s location first. Pick the province and municipality before you browse. Stock and delivery fees change by town, and a product shown for Havana may not exist in Bayamo.
- Create an account with your real name and the billing address on your card. Mismatched details are the most common reason payments get stuck “under review.”
- Enter the recipient’s details exactly: full name as on their Cuban ID card (carné de identidad), street address with cross streets, and a working phone number. The courier will call before delivering.
- Review the delivery fee and estimated date at checkout. Split heavy items into a separate order if the store charges oversized rates.
- Pay and save the confirmation. Track the order from your account or WhatsApp.
- Ask your family to check the goods at the door. Missing or spoiled items are much easier to claim with a photo taken on delivery day.
Rules for US Citizens and Residents
Buying for family in Cuba is not forbidden, but who you pay matters. This is a summary, not legal advice.
- No direct payments to restricted entities. US sanctions rules bar anyone subject to US jurisdiction from direct financial transactions with entities on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List (31 CFR 515.209). The list includes CIMEX, the state retail and remittance holding, and its remittance arm Orbit S.A., added effective March 10, 2025 (State Department notice, July 2025).
- GAESA is off-limits. GAESA has been on the Treasury’s SDN list and the Cuba Restricted List since December 21, 2020. Since May 2026, foreign companies that deal with GAESA, or with firms it owns 50% or more of, also risk US sanctions (OFAC FAQs on Executive Order 14404).
- Gift parcels have limits. If you ship goods from the US yourself or through an agency, the Commerce Department allows one gift parcel per month per recipient, worth up to $800 at retail. Food is exempt from both limits. Senior Cuban government and Communist Party officials are not eligible recipients (Bureau of Industry and Security guidance).
In practice, private marketplaces that source from Cuban mipymes are the route most families now use. If a store’s products clearly come from Tiendas Caribe, CIMEX or another GAESA chain, skip it.
Compare the Options
| Store | Best for | Fees (as published) | Coverage | Pay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katapulk | Mixing items from many private sellers; gas | $7.99 per order + store delivery fee | Nationwide, 24–48 h advertised | Visa, Mastercard, Discover, K-Wallet |
| Supermarket23 | Predictable fees; groceries and appliances | From $8.60 to $32.26 per regular order | All provinces, 1–7 days | Credit cards |
| Cuballama | Food, restaurant meals and top-ups in one account | Air parcels from $2.99/lb | All provinces (advertised) | Online checkout; cash at its US stores |
| Cubamax | Frozen food, gas tanks, big boxes | Boxes up to 110 lb from $39 | Varies by service | Online or at its offices |
| Tuambia | Low prices in Havana | Shown at checkout | Havana; Villa Clara reopening | Visa, Mastercard, Tropipay, Bizum |
The Fine Print
- Prices and stock change daily. These stores depend on imports and fuel. A product in your cart in the morning can be sold out by noon.
- Delivery estimates are not guarantees. Every store’s terms list fuel, weather and “force majeure” as reasons for delays.
- Refunds may land as store credit. Some platforms, Katapulk among them, can refund to an in-site wallet. If you want the money back on your card, ask before you accept.
- Appliance warranties are local. Find out who handles repairs in Cuba before buying a fridge or a power station.
Why Deliveries Stall: The 2026 Fuel Crisis
This is the part most guides leave out. Since January 2026, US pressure on oil shipments to Cuba has left the island short of diesel and gasoline, and nationwide blackouts have hit repeatedly. Delivery trucks are the first thing to stop.
On February 11, 2026, Supermarket23 suspended deliveries in most provinces, Cubamax dropped home delivery and limited customers to one shipment, and Katapulk warned of “irregularities” in the weeks ahead (Diario de Cuba report (in Spanish)). Service came back first in Havana and was restored gradually elsewhere, according to the stores.
What this means for you:
- Check the store’s Facebook or WhatsApp channel for delivery notices before you pay, especially for eastern provinces.
- When fuel news turns bad, buy early. Stores have asked customers to do exactly that.
- For families outside Havana, a store with pickup points may be faster than home delivery during shortages.
- Gas has become a product in its own right. In May 2026, Katapulk and Supermarket23 began selling 10 kg liquefied gas cylinders for $29, imported from the US by private businesses, and stock sold out within hours.
Scams and Red Flags
- Clone sites. Type the store’s address yourself instead of clicking ads or links in Facebook groups.
- “Resellers” who want Zelle or cash apps. A legitimate store takes card payments on its own checkout page. A stranger offering to “buy for you on EnviosCuba” in 2026 is lying: it no longer takes orders.
- Prices far below the market. Treat deep discounts on scarce goods, like gas cylinders or power stations, as a warning sign.
- Requests for your family’s ID numbers by phone. Be wary of anyone who asks for documents or payment over the phone before a delivery.
Practical Tips
- Order basics (rice, oil, chicken, eggs, powdered milk) in one cart and appliances in another. Heavy items ship on their own schedule; Supermarket23 quotes up to 12 days for oversized orders in the east.
- Ask the recipient to keep the phone charged and on. Couriers call before delivering, and a dead phone during a blackout can mean a missed delivery.
- Compare the total, not the item price. A cheaper product with a $26 delivery fee can cost more than a pricier one with free delivery.
- Keep a second store set up. When one platform pauses a province, you can switch the same day.
Alternatives to Online Stores
- Food-only sites. See our list of the best websites to send food to Cuba.
- Shipping your own boxes. Agencies like Aeroenvio carry parcels from the US; read our Aeroenvio Cuba guide and the Cuba customs rules for 2026 before packing.
- Specialty items. For beer, there is a dedicated service: how Micerveza.com works.
- Sending money instead. Cash lets your family buy locally, but rules and exchange rates matter. Start with how to send money to Cuba from the United States and our guide to Cuban currency in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EnviosCuba still working in 2026?
No. EnviosCuba stopped accepting orders on June 14, 2026. Its websites show only a closing notice saying approved orders will be shipped.
What is the best online store to send food to Cuba?
It depends on where your family lives. Katapulk and Supermarket23 have the widest coverage; Tuambia is often cheaper in Havana. Compare the total with delivery before you choose.
Can Americans legally buy products for family in Cuba online?
Generally yes, when you pay a private platform. US rules prohibit direct financial transactions with entities on the Cuba Restricted List, such as CIMEX, and with GAESA.
Can I use my US credit card to buy for someone in Cuba?
Yes, on platforms based outside Cuba. Katapulk takes Visa, Mastercard and Discover, Tuambia takes Visa and Mastercard, and Supermarket23 takes credit cards at checkout.
How long does delivery take in Cuba?
In Havana, often 24 to 48 hours. In eastern provinces, expect 4 to 7 days for regular orders and longer for appliances, and more during fuel shortages.
Does my family in Cuba have to pay anything on delivery?
Normally no. Delivery fees are charged to the buyer at checkout. The recipient may need to show ID.
Can I send gas cylinders to Cuba?
Yes. Katapulk, Supermarket23 and Cubamax have sold liquefied gas cylinders for delivery, mainly in Havana, but stock runs out quickly.
Why was my order delayed or canceled?
The most common reason in 2026 is the fuel shortage, followed by out-of-stock items and wrong recipient details. Contact the store and ask for a card refund, not only store credit, if the order cannot be completed.
What happened to the state dollar stores like Almacén-On and Electro Envío?
They were sold abroad through EnviosCuba and stopped taking foreign orders when the portal closed in June 2026.
Is it safe to buy from online stores for Cuba?
The established platforms are real businesses with customer service, but quality complaints are common. Use a credit card, keep receipts and avoid sellers who ask for payment through apps or social media.
This guide was updated on October 15, 2026, replacing our earlier province-by-province list of EnviosCuba stores, which are no longer available. Store fees and coverage come from each company’s website on that date; sanctions information comes from the US Treasury, the State Department and the Commerce Department. Prices and services in Cuba change quickly, so confirm at checkout.
