I am an American, can I go to Cuba legally?
Yes, you can travel to Cuba as a US citizen! Although, the United States is the only country that restricts its citizens from traveling to Cuba for touristic reasons, however, the U.S. does allow travel to Cuba under one of 12 permitted travel categories. Of these categories, most of our travelers are traveling under either "Support for the Cuban People" or "Educational People-to-People" travel.
For more information on Cuba travel entry requirements, please see here and our Support for the Cuban People and People to People Educational Travel page.
What about security and comfort in Cuba?
Cuba has good structure in place for visitors coming to see the island. Cubans are naturally open and friendly and there is a remarkably low crime rate in comparison to other relatively poor countries. Travel to Cuba does require a flexible attitude as there may be a lack of hot water at your Bed and Breakfast, schedules may not run exactly on time, and finding many things we take for granted (soap, toothpaste, snack foods) can be a challenge. That said, the people of Cuba are kind and welcoming, and they want us to get to know their people, culture and island! Because many of our tours are active with sea kayaking, hiking, cycling and transport, there are inherent risks which would be the same regardless of where you are traveling. Several people on our staff have visited Cuba recently so feel welcome to contact us with any concerns or questions.
What is the weather like? When should I visit Cuba?
Our favorite time to visit Cuba is the dry season, between November and April, when the high temperatures are generally between 75 and 80 degrees F, lows generally in the 60's F, and the average rainfall is at its lowest. This is also the time of year when you will avoid the summer crowds and the worst of the Caribbean humidity. The rainy season runs from May through October, and these months see the highest temperatures and humidity. The most active tropical storm months are September and October. For a complete month-to-month guide on Cuban travel weather, go here.
Do I need a VISA to travel to Cuba?
You need what is called a Cuba Tourist Card (aka Cuba Tourist Visa). Cuba is currently transitioning from paper visas to E-visas. Paper visas can be used until June 30, 2025. The visa is just as important as your passport and is required when you go through customs and immigration upon arrival in Cuba and if you use a paper visa, it must also be presented upon departure. Commercial airlines departing from the US have paper visas for sale when you check-in at the airport or they will have a “Cuba Ready” kiosk near the departure gate where you can purchase one for a price that ranges from $50 to $100. Some airlines connect you with a service where you can purchase the Tourist Card online ahead of time. Cuba Unbound includes your Visa or E-Visa in the cost of any tour booked directly with us.
What is the D'Viajeros Form that is required for entry into Cuba?
This is a simple form you complete between 0-7 days prior to your departure for Cuba that replaces the need for any sort of paper customs form. You will find complete instructions here.
What are my flight options to Cuba?
There are now many options for commercial flights between the US and Cuba! It is also possible to fly via Mexico or other countries. While the vast majority of travelers will fly in and out of Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport, there are ten cities with international airports on the island, so there are many possibilities. Airlines with direct flights from the US include American, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue. American Airlines serves more Cuban airports than any other US airline. The right airline for you will depend on your home location and preference.
What is the luggage allowance? Are there weight limits?
It is always best to check with the airline(s) that you will be traveling with for specific luggage allowance policies. Most airlines charge for checked bags, and we recommend avoiding checked bags whenever possible.
I heard Travel Protection/Health Insurance is mandatory. Is that true?
All travelers to Cuba must have Cuban-specific health insurance as required by law in Cuba, and the company providing your insurance plan must have the ability to make payments from a non-U.S. banking institution. The mandatory level of insurance required to travel to Cuba is likely included in the cost of your commercial flight to and from Cuba, although we do recommend verifying this with your airline. Guests may purchase supplemental coverage at their discretion and we highly recommend it, as the mandatory level of coverage included with your ticket is quite low, both for medical coverage in case of illness/injury while on your trip, as well as for emergency evacuation or repatriation. In addition, some guests will want a travel protection plan that protects them in case they must cancel their trip for any number of reasons. We have partnered with Travel Insured International for supplemental coverage. The cost of this additional coverage will vary based on coverage amount, age of traveler, and length of travel.
What is the currency in Cuba? Can I use the US Dollar?
The CUP, "Cuban Peso" is the single currency of Cuba. US dollars are also widely accepted. Visit our Cuba Currency page for additional information regarding money in Cuba.
Can I use a Credit Card or ATM/Debit Card in Cuba?
Any credit or debit card issued by a US bank will NOT work in Cuba. It's possible that cards from other countries may work, but it is best NOT to count on debit and/or credit cards working in Cuba. Very few businesses accept credit cards, so they are not that useful.
Plan to bring enough cash to cover all your expenses in Cuba – and then bring plenty of extra for incidental spending as well as unexpected events. You can always bring home what you don’t spend.
What is a Casa Particular?
This is something you'll hear in Cuba a lot. Casa particular is a phrase meaning private accommodation or private homestay in Cuba, very similar to bed and breakfast. Some casas have just a simple room in a family’s home, while some are more similar to a boutique hotel. There are thousands of casas in Cuba and we use a mix of these privately-owned places and hotels on our tours. For a more detailed understanding of casa particulares see here.
Can I stay in hotels while in Cuba?
Yes, U.S. Citizens and "Persons of U.S. jurisdiction" are allowed to stay in certain hotels in Cuba as long as they are not on the U.S. Department of State Cuba Restricted List. On our tours we use a mix of hotels and casa particulares (Bed & Breakfasts) depending on group size, guest wishes and other factors.
What is the food like in Cuba?
Cuba's food has not generally been known as its strongest attraction in recent decades, as trade embargoes and the general economic situation has limited access to ingredients. However, things are rapidly improving as the political situation changes and restrictions ease, and foodies often love Cuba for the overall culinary experience, spices, and variety of dishes served. Traditional Cuban cuisine is a unique and interesting blend of African, Caribbean, Spanish, and Native American food. Seafood, rice, beans, and local fruits are likely to be common items on your plate. You may encounter very simple meals along the way, but even these simple dishes can be a memorable experience when prepared by a traditional Cuban chef or owner of a casa particular. We have carefully selected unique and authentic restaurants that will give you a taste of this varied and authentic cuisine. We are sure that along the way on your Cuba Unbound tour, your taste buds will be doing the rumba!
What electrical outlets are used in Cuba? Will I need an adapter or converter?
The electrical current in Cuba is 110V with a current of 220v (same as the U.S. and Canada). Therefore, you should not need a converter. However, while most outlets are of the same type as those in the U.S. and Canada, there are a few rare places that have the round two-prong type like those in France.
Let's talk about Cuba Cigars and Rum. How much can I bring home?
US Travelers are not allowed to bring any Cuban alcohol or tobacco products to the U.S.
Will my cell phone work in Cuba? What about internet access?
We strongly advise you to approach your Cuba Unbound tour as an opportunity to completely unplug. If you embrace that attitude, we believe you will have a most authentic Cuban travel experience. While cell phones are not uncommon in Cuba, there are only a few US cellular companies that have service in Cuba including Verizon and AT&T. Texting is the best communication method if you do need to talk to anyone in the US. With Verizon and AT&T, incoming texts are currently (November, 2024) 5 cents and outgoing are 50 cents. Check with your provider to see if they have coverage in Cuba.
Internet service is also very limited but has expanded greatly in the past few years. Whenever you see groups of people gathered in one location and staring at their phones, you can bet there is WiFi. Often this is in town parks, and sometimes in hotel lobbies. Some of the Casa Particulares and hotels do have free internet access. Others have WiFi, but connecting to the internet is not free. In this case, you also need to have an Internet card. Your Cuban guide will help you purchase these if you so desire.
WhatsApp - We highly recommend you download WhatsApp before you leave home and use this in Cuba when you do have internet service. It allows you to call other WhatsApp users. All of our guides use WhatsApp.
If there is an emergency, our guides are equipped to communicate using phones and internet as needed.
Which mobile phone or cell phone companies have service in Cuba?
Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile all have a roaming agreement with ETECSA, which is Cuba's state-owned telecommunications provider. Verizon was the first US-based wireless company to offer roaming connectivity in Cuba. If you have a different provider be sure to check with them before you leave home to see if they have coverage in Cuba or not.
What are the best gifts to bring to the people of Cuba?
Cuba is a poor country and many people are struggling in their day-to-day lives. We find purpose in our work knowing that our tours support the Cuban people because we are spending money at many private businesses and contributing to meaningful employment. We encourage our travelers to also contribute to the well-being of the Cuban people. Many Cuba Unbound travelers truly enjoy sharing their bounty and we believe there is an appropriate and conscientious way of doing so that reinforces dignity and respect rather than the flawed image of a charitable savior.
Charitable Organizations: One good way to help the Cuban people is to support one of the charitable organizations that are working there. Several that we support are: Caritas, CARE and Give2Cuba.
Gifting Responsibly: We are very sensitive to the idea that we don't want to contribute to a culture where children see tourists and immediately think "I'll go ask for candy or a pen." Or where adults view tourists as if they are a vending machine. Our goal is to provide meaningful interaction with people and establish genuine relations across a diverse world. That said, iit is certainly appropriate to bring gifts. If you want to give these to people you meet along the way, in the manner in which you might give a token of appreciation to a friend. However, the giving needs to be done in a sensitive way and after some sort of relationship is established between you and the local people you are meeting. Our guides can also help facilitate this giving.
The Best Gift: Medicine and health care supplies are in short supply in Cuba, so gifts of non-prescription drugs such as pain-killers (ibuprofen, acetaphetamine, aspirin, naproxen sodium, etc. ) are very appreciated. Allergy medications, diphenhyramine (Benedryl), laxatives, etc. are also needed. Adult and children's vitamins are appreciated as are bandaids, sterile gauze and other first aid supplies.
Other Useful Items: You've likely ready about the blackouts in Cuba and for this reason, small solar lights like "Luci Lights" are an excellent gift. Travel umbrellas, crayons, colored chalk, rubber playground balls, inflatable globes, quality kitchen gloves and sponges, etc. can also be meaningful gifts for families you meet along the way. Please don't bring things that will simply end up in the landfill because they are cheap and break. Things that require batteries are not a good choice as batteries are expensive for Cubans and they have no recycling system for them.
Your Hosts at Casa Particulares: Many of our trips stay in Casa Particulares, which are private homes set up like a Bed & Breakfast. These are great places to meet a local family and get to know more about Cuba. At the same time, these people are already more well off than most Cubans as they are renting rooms in their homes. The most appropriate gifts for your hosts might be small souvenirs from your home town such as postcards to show them what it looks like, or some specialty product from your region.
Musicians: Along the way you'll meet many musicians and they always have tip baskets set up. We encourage you to contribute to those, but you might also think about bringing guitar or bass strings, or saxophone reeds.
Tip Generously: Remember that the service industry in Cuba is just like anywhere else in the world. Hotel bellhops, taxi drivers, servers in restaurants and bars all depend on tips as part of their wages. Cuba Unbound includes most all incidental tips on the trip (at group restaurant meals, hotel baggage handling, etc.) but you are always welcome to add your own tip over and above this. This money makes its way into the economy and in the end also is a big help to the locals. Again, your guides are happy to help navigate what an appropriate amount might be.
Buy Souvenirs: Another way to support the economic empowerment of Cuba’s people is to purchase locally made products and support small businesses along the way.
Should I have a VPN on my phone or laptop?
If you think you will need to do any purchasing, or check bank accounts, etc. while you are traveling in Cuba, we recommend that you install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your phone and/or laptop prior to coming to Cuba. Read more about this on our page about phone and internet connections.
What are some good apps to have in Cuba?
Maps.me is a great app for having a map available when you are offline. Simply download the app and then the map for Cuba and no matter where you are in Cuba, you will have a map. It also shows your location since it's connected to satellites.
Google Translate - Or a similar translation app. Be sure to download the Spanish dictionary before you leave so you can use the app offline.
WhatsApp - This is the best app for communications within Cuba as well as with those back home. Get your friends and family to download it too!
Ding or CubaTel - These are apps that allow you to recharge or "top up" phones around the world. If you meet a Cuban and want to help them out, you can give them a recharge of $10 or $20 with this app. The recharge has to be done from outside of Cuba, so you'd have to use a VPN if you wanted to provide a recharge to someone while you were in Cuba. Or you could do it for them when you return home.
Remember, data from a US cell phone will be expensive. So try and only use apps that require data when you are connected to the internet.
Can I drink the Water in Cuba?
Generally it's best to drink filtered tap water or bottled water. In an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastic, we encourage you to pack a wide-mouth water bottle with a filter built in. There are many brands available.
Is ice safe to have in my drinks?
If you are getting a drink at a hotel bar, or other bar establishment, the ice is most likely made with filtered or bottled water, so should not cause any issues.
Can I eat salads in Cuba?
Cubans pride themselves on proper hygiene and food handling. The restaurants we use on our tours are very good and eating any salads or raw vegetables that are served is fine.