Traveling To Cuba
While relations betwixt Republic of Cuba & the the States were improving, at that spot are nonetheless locomote regulations inwards place. Here’s how you lot tin terminate legally locomote to Republic of Cuba equally an American!
JUNE 2019 UPDATE: President Trump announced novel changes inwards locomote rules for Cuba. You tin terminate no longer locomote to Republic of Cuba nether the People To People category similar you lot could nether Obama.
However, you lot CAN nonetheless locomote to Republic of Cuba if you lot acquire through a unusual solid ground first. Keep reading below for to a greater extent than details!
Back inwards 1960, the the States imposed a severe merchandise embargo against Cuba. The Blockade was created after Republic of Cuba nationalized American-owned crude refineries without compensation.
As component subdivision of this embargo, locomote to Republic of Cuba past times Americans has been restricted for over one-half a century. Or to a greater extent than specifically, it’s technically illegal for U.S. citizens to accept transactions (spend coin or have gifts) inwards Republic of Cuba nether most circumstances.
Basically, this regulation has prevented most Americans from considering Republic of Cuba equally a locomote destination.
Due to economical sanctions, air locomote to Republic of Cuba from the the States was almost impossible. American credit & debit cards don’t go inwards Republic of Cuba either.
However rules for traveling to Republic of Cuba were in conclusion outset to change…
Can Americans Travel To Cuba?
Even though locomote to Republic of Cuba for Americans is restricted, that doesn’t brand it impossible to visit. For many years some intrepid Americans were traveling to Republic of Cuba anyway. Initially, at that spot were 3 ways to arrive at this.
Special License
You could register for a special license amongst the US Government if the argue for your locomote fit a sure category. These include menage unit of measurement visits, professional person reasons, journalism, religious or cultural programs, as well as humanitarian projects.
While you lot no longer demand pre-approval for such a license, technically your see should nonetheless fit i of the categories to rest legal. Just inwards instance someone inwards the US decides to enquire later on (which doesn’t happen).
12 CATEGORIES OF AUTHORIZED TRAVEL TO CUBA FOR AMERICANS
- Family visits
- Official concern of the U.S. government, unusual governments, as well as sure intergovernmental organizations
- Journalistic activity
- Professional inquiry as well as professional person meetings
- Educational activities
- Religious activities
- Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic as well as other competitions, as well as exhibitions
- Support for the Cuban people
- Humanitarian projects
- Activities of individual foundations or inquiry or educational institutes
- Exportation, importation, or transmission of data or data materials
- Certain export transactions that may survive considered for ascendance nether existing regulations as well as guidelines.
People To People Tours
These are organized tours that involve some sort of educational experience amongst local Cuban people. It’s never been defined officially, but basically, your trip can’t exactly involve sitting on a beach.
Travelers would verbalize amongst a school, volunteer for a community project, or collaborate amongst artists. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sort of legal loophole that tour companies work to sell tours inwards Cuba.
As of June 2019, the “people to people” loophole has officially been closed.
Foreign Gateway Cities
The other alternative is to locomote to Republic of Cuba “illegally” through a unusual gateway city. This agency flying yourself to Canada or United Mexican States first, therefore traveling to Republic of Cuba on your ain from i of those countries.
Because for the residuum of the world, Republic of Cuba has been a pop locomote finish for many years.
It’s exclusively us Americans who haven’t been able to see Cuba!
Independent Travel To Republic of Cuba In 2019
As of June 2019, the Treasury Department has ruled that the the States volition no longer permit grouping educational as well as cultural trips known equally “people to people” tours to the isle unless they were booked before June 5th, 2019.
Nor volition it allow cruises, individual yachts or line-fishing vessels to halt inwards Cuba.
The Trump administration’s novel restrictions accept been position inwards identify to fulfill the president’s get pledge as well as to punish Republic of Cuba for its back upwards of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Personally, I’m pretty angry nearly this novel change. It’s both bad for Americans who desire to experience Cuba, as well as devastating for everyday Cubans who rely on tourism to brand a living.
If you’re feeling naughty, you lot tin terminate only locomote to Republic of Cuba through a unusual gateway metropolis similar Toronto or Cancun similar thousands of other Americans have, including me.
Cuban immigration won’t postage your passport, as well as the US Government volition never know you lot visited Cuba.
While the US authorities has never asked me nearly my fourth dimension inwards Cuba, as well as other Americans’ trip reports seem to conclude the same, I can’t guarantee it won’t come about inwards the future. I’m only sharing my experience amongst you.
Cuban Visa Process
In Apr 2016 I traveled to Republic of Cuba equally an American amongst my girl Anna from Anna Everywhere as well as our friends Hannah & Adam from Getting Stamped.
We traveled through the pop unusual gateway metropolis of Cancun, Mexico.
We bought 30-day Cuban tourist visas at the airdrome inwards Cancun for $20.
Visas were purchased at the cheque inwards counter (or spell waiting inwards line) before your flight. The visa is a separate bill of fare you lot buy the farm on amongst your passport, but it’s non attached.
We flew into Havana from Cancun on the Mexican budget airline Interjet for $240 USD circular trip, as well as the flying took nearly an hour.
Entering & Cuban Immigration
The Cuban immigration physical care for was super simple. I told the officeholder inwards Havana that I was traveling to Republic of Cuba for tourism, as well as he offered to postage my visa bill of fare instead of my passport. This has been criterion operating physical care for for years.
Cuba WANTS American tourism, therefore they offering to postage your visa bill of fare instead of your actual passport, therefore you lot don’t acquire inwards problem amongst the US authorities later.
This way, when you lot render to the United States, it exactly looks similar you lot traveled to Mexico. Or Canada. There’s no passport tape of your locomote to Cuba! They volition never know you lot were there.
However, I asked the Cuban immigration agent to postage my passport directly. I was curious nearly what would come about when I returned to the United States. Would anyone enquire me nearly it? Would I acquire fined or arrested?
Nothing happened. When I returned to the United States, immigration didn’t fifty-fifty enquire me what countries I’d been to, as well as they didn’t hold off at my passport stamps either.
Exchanging Money In Cuba
Credit & debit cards issued past times American banks nonetheless don’t go inwards Cuba. So a trip to the isle involves bringing lots of cash. How much? Please read my total budget locomote guide to Republic of Cuba here. To give you lot an idea, you lot tin terminate locomote at that spot comfortably on $50 – $100 per day.
Bring to a greater extent than than you lot demand to survive safe. If you lot run out, you’re out of luck!
Cuba truly has ii dissimilar currencies. The Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) is the “tourist” currency, pegged to the American dollar. The Cuban Peso (CUP) is what locals use, as well as worth a lot less. So when you lot central coin equally a tourist, you’ll have CUC.
$1 USD = 1 CUC = 24 CUP
You tin terminate central US dollars for CUC, but at that spot is a special 10% penalization fee for this service. So it’s cheaper to central Euros, Canadian Dollars, British Pounds, or Mexican Pesos for CUC instead.
There’s an official currency central exterior the airdrome inwards Havana. You tin terminate central your leftover CUC dorsum to US dollars (or whatever) before you lot leave of absence the solid ground too.
Accommodation In Cuba
You’ll uncovering some hotels & resorts inwards the most pop tourist cities similar Havana, Trinidad, as well as Varadero. But they mostly aren’t cheap. To locomote on a budget inwards Cuba, you’ll desire to rest amongst locals inwards casas particulares.
A “casa particular” is similar a homestay or guesthouse inwards someone’s home. They sometimes include breakfast as well as run betwixt $20 – $30 per black for a double room. To operate a casa particular, local families demand to register & pay special taxes to the Cuban government.
Most casa’s don’t accept websites, therefore you lot exactly walk some as well as enquire nearly availability when you lot acquire there. If i is booked, the possessor volition normally aid you lot uncovering some other nearby.
AirBnB is at nowadays operating inwards Republic of Cuba too! We booked our initiatory of all ii nights inwards Havana through AirBnB.
Transportation In Cuba
Cuban Bus System
Cuba has a authorities run bus companionship for tourists called Viazul that covers most of the country. Tickets aren’t real expensive, but you lot can’t mass them online yet, as well as pop routes sell out fast. Which agency you lot mightiness demand to purchase your ticket inwards somebody at the station the 24-hour interval before.
Renting Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
We rented a modern auto inwards Republic of Cuba for vi of the 10 days nosotros were there. Renting a auto inwards Republic of Cuba isn’t like shooting fish in a barrel or cheap. There aren’t many vehicles available yet, therefore you lot mostly accept to mass a auto at to the lowest degree 2 weeks inwards advance past times calling or emailing the company.
When nosotros arrived inwards Havana, nosotros tried to rent a auto conduct at the airdrome amongst no reservation as well as were told repeatedly at that spot were no cars left. Eventually Anna institute a guy who said he had two, but from the same companionship who before said they had none, Via Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car (they accept no website, but you lot tin terminate mass online through other sites similar Cuba Junky).
So it seemed a flake shady/strange… but nosotros ultimately got one.
Renting a auto inwards Republic of Cuba amongst insurance is going to cost you lot betwixt $70 – $90 USD per day. It’s non cheap! Luckily nosotros split upwards the cost betwixt iv of us. There’s also a $200 cash deposit required.
Vintage Taxi
The other alternative for traveling some Republic of Cuba is to rent a vintage American auto amongst driver. This isn’t inexpensive unless you lot split upwards the cost amongst a few people.
Hailing a vintage taxi for a brusque ride inwards town volition cost you lot $8 – $10. Renting i for a longer 2-3 hr trip tin terminate cost some $60 -$70 USD depending on your bargaining skills.
Split betwixt iv people, our 3-hour vintage taxi ride from Havana to Viñales cost $60, nearly the same equally iv bus tickets, but nosotros could halt anytime nosotros wanted for photos or snacks. The cars are super cool too!
I’ve also heard it’s possible to rent i for a total 24-hour interval for $100 – $120.
Internet/WiFi In Cuba
Despite pop opinion, at that spot is some network access inwards Cuba. That wasn’t ever the instance though. For many years Republic of Cuba was i of the to the lowest degree connected countries inwards the world. The authorities does censor some stuff though, similar access to Snapchat or anti-government blogs.
These days you lot tin terminate acquire connected through Cuba’s state-run ETECSA telecom company. Tourists tin terminate purchase ETECSA prepaid wifi cards at special kiosks for $2 – $3 per hr of service.
These scratch-off type cards furnish a username as well as password for ETECSA wifi networks, which tin terminate survive institute at major hotels or inwards populace parks some the country.
You tin terminate frequently purchase additional cards from locals inwards the commons or at a hotel front end desk for nearly $6. The network isn’t blazing fast, but you lot tin terminate for sure upload web-sized photos to Facebook & Instagram.
Cuban Exit Fee
As of May 1st 2015, Republic of Cuba no longer charges the $25 CUC acquire out fee to travelers leaving the country, this fee is at nowadays included inwards the toll of your airline.
Drinking Water In Cuba
Tap H2O inwards Republic of Cuba is non prophylactic to drink, as well as bottled H2O tin terminate sometimes survive hard to uncovering depending on where you lot are. If you lot conception on traveling to Cuba, I recommend picking upwards a LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle. It’s meliorate for the environs too!
Can You Bring Back Cigars?
I thought you’d never ask! So officially, if you lot are traveling to Republic of Cuba nether i of the 12 special categories, you lot are at nowadays allowed to convey dorsum $400 worth of souvenirs, including upwards to $100 worth of Cuban cigars. Yay!
I managed to convey xxx Cuban cigars dorsum into the United States. I was never questioned nearly tobacco, as well as it’s non listed on the customs shape equally something I accept to declare anyway.
Is Traveling To Republic of Cuba Ethical?
Good question. While it’s in all likelihood impossible to completely avoid giving some of your tourist dollars to the Cuban Government, traveling to Republic of Cuba does aid the local economic scheme there, which has been pain badly for years.
Everyone seems to survive worried that Cuba is going to acquire “destroyed” past times American tourism, which seems ridiculous to me.
Sure, things volition like shooting fish in a barrel modify over time, equally they do. Old buildings volition acquire repaired, newer cars volition fill upwards the roadways, etc. But those changes volition IMPROVE the lives of Cubans — which is a goodness thing.
It’s truly pretty arrogant as well as egotistical for tourists to wishing Republic of Cuba remains inwards a perpetual province of decay for their personal entertainment.
Cubans deserve progress as well as a meliorate life, exactly similar the residuum of us!
Most Recent Changes
To acquire to a greater extent than nearly the legality of traveling to Republic of Cuba equally an American, cheque out the Treasury Department’s Republic of Cuba FAQ. ★
Bonus Travel Video! 10 Days In Cuba
(Click to lookout adult man 10 Days In Republic of Cuba – Havana, Trinidad, Vinales, as well as More on YouTube)
Cuba Trip Planning: Get aid planning a legal trip to Republic of Cuba amongst ViaHero
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to aid you lot start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a locomote backpack, photographic television receiver camera gear, as well as other useful locomote accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to uncovering deals on airlines. Also brand sure to read how I uncovering the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a keen site for comparison auto prices to uncovering the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than nearly how I mass inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget locomote insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than nearly why you lot should ever behave locomote insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Cuba
Suggested Reading: The Other Side Of Paradise
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READ MORE FROM CUBA
Fun Things To Do In Trinidad, Cuba
Horseback Riding & Tobacco Farms In Vinales
Best Things To Do In Havana
My Complete Republic of Cuba Tourism Guide
Have whatever questions nearly how to locomote to Cuba? Are you lot planning a trip there? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
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