STORY: On Cuba's Playa Larga beachfront, Manuela Arencibia Baez's rental house is empty.
Tourism on the island has dried up, along with fuel and electricity, amid a U.S. energy blockade.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists used to visit the Zapata Swamp - one of Cuba's top eco-tourism hotspots - every year.
But now, Arencibia says, she's lost track of her canceled bookings - even though they had invested heavily in solar panels that help them keep running during power outages.
"The critical issue, the one that hits us hardest, is fuel. The fact that there is no fuel."
That means not being able to transport clients to the area's pristine national park, or to dive in its famously clear waters.
Arencibia says it also means tourists already in the country can't find a taxi with enough gas to make the two-hour trip southeast from Havana.
Official figures show, Cuba's international arrivals plunged 56% in February from the year before.
The island has been plagued by shortages for decades, hampered by its state-run economy and a Cold War-era U.S. trade embargo.
But this time is different, those who live and work in the Zapata region say.
Hat seller Jorge Alberto Brito Echevarria says everyone in the area depends on tourism.
"With no tourism, the town has ground to a complete halt."
Electricity is now out for 22 hours a day.
Water is running short in many areas, and medical services are even trickier to come by.
There are a few visitors still rolling the dice on travel to the region.
Like repeat American tourist Blair Andrews, who has come back despite Cuba's struggles for another dive at the beautiful Bay of Pigs.
"I certainly hope the politicians get together and work out some sort of compromise that works for everyone. Because I think it is incredibly important for tourists to return to Cuba, not only to support the people here but I think this is a beautiful place that people should be able to experience."
