Apagón
A power outage, common on the island because of the state of the grid and worse since 2017. It can last minutes or hours and hits entire neighborhoods with no warning. Hotels and many businesses run generators, which is why visitors usually feel it less than residents do.
Example
A charged power bank and offline maps solve ninety percent of what an outage means for a traveler.
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Frequently asked questions
Should it affect my booking?
Ask whether the property has a generator and a water cistern. At mid sized and large hotels it is usually standard.
Does it affect ATMs and card payments?
It can. Carrying some cash avoids being stuck when a business loses connectivity.
