Thinking about visiting Cuba? Here’s everything you need to know — from visas and health precautions totransportation and safety tips, so you can plan with confidence.

Visas and Entry Rules

• Tourist Card Requirement: All nationalities, including Americans, need a tourist card to enter Cuba. These are often available through airlines or travel agencies. Make sure to confirm visa requirements before departure.
  
• American Travelers:
  • U.S. citizens cannot travel to Cuba for tourism. You must qualify under one of 12 authorized categories, like family visits, educational activities, or humanitarian projects.
  • Certain financial transactions with Cuban entities (like military-related businesses) are prohibited. Review the U.S. State Department Restricted List to avoid non-compliance.
  • Keep activity records (e.g., receipts, itineraries) for at least five years, as U.S. authorities might request documentation upon return.

Pro Tip: Before you go, check your eligibility and documentation carefully to avoid fines or penalties.

Best Times To Travel

Deciding when to visit? Consider these seasonal factors:

• Peak Season (Dec–Apr):
  • Dry, sunny weather (75–85°F)
  • Higher prices and larger crowds
• Shoulder Season (May–Aug):
  • Warm with occasional rain
  • Smaller crowds, better deals
• Rainy Season (Sep–Nov):
  • Heavy rains and potential hurricanes
  • Fewer tourists and lower costs

Pro Tip: If you want to escape both crowds and high prices, aim for the shoulder season.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Trip

1. Health and Medications

• Bring all necessary medications in their original packaging, since Cuban pharmacies often face shortages. In addition, essentials to pack include:
  • Pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medicine, insect repellent, and sunscreen.
• To stay safe, drink only bottled water and avoid tap water as well as raw or undercooked food.
• Stay current on routine vaccinations, and consult your doctor if additional precautions (e.g., dengue fever measures) are recommended.

Pro Tip: Adding probiotics like yogurt to your diet two weeks ahead can reduce digestive issues.

2. Navigating Currency

• Cuba operates on CUP (Cuban Peso). Currently, U.S. dollars cannot be exchanged on the island; therefore, bring alternative currencies.
• Exchange euros or pounds into local pesos at official banks or CADECA bureaus.
• American credit/debit cards don’t work. Plan to bring enough cash for your entire trip. While traveling around the island, try to keep small bills on hand. Oftentimes, stores will have a hard time cashing anything over CUC10, so it’s wise to have a wad of smaller bills with you.

Pro Tip for Americans: Convert U.S. dollars to euros or pounds before traveling to save fees and hassle when exchanging locally.

3. Internet and Connectivity

• Unfortunately, internet access in Cuba is often limited, expensive, and slow.
  • Best connections are typically found in hotels or resorts.
  • Download offline tools like Maps.me for directions, as Wi-Fi isn’t always available.

4. Safety and Security

Cuba is generally considered safe, but like any destination, some precautions are wise:

• Petty Theft:
  • In particular, stay alert in busy areas.
  • In addition, keep valuables out of sight and use a money belt for cash and passports.
• Transportation Caution:
  • For your safety, use licensed taxis or booked rides. Avoid unregulated “coco” taxis, which often lack safe driving standards.
• Driving at Night:
  • If self-driving, avoid roads at night due to poor lighting, unmarked hazards, and wandering animals.

Pro Tip: To protect yourself while traveling, carry copies of your passport and leave the original locked in a secure hotel safe.

What to Pack

Packing smart can help you avoid unexpected headaches. Before you hit the road, here are the essentials to bring:

• Make sure you have small bills on hand to simplify transactions.
• Don’t forget to pack portable chargers for power backups, especially given frequent outages.
• Be sure to pack snacks and shelf-stable food items in case of unexpected shortages.
• Toilet Paper! We learned the hard way, many bathrooms are paperless. Highly recommend that you bring a small supply of your own or a packet of travel kleenex.

Electricity: A/B/C/L