A tourist visa, known as a tourist card, is required. It allows you to stay in Cuba for 30 days (90 days for Canadian visa holders) and is valid for a single entry. You must provide proof of confirmed return flight and booked accommodations.

Ask the airline company once you purchase your flight ticket about tourist visas. On the flights from Cancun, Nassau, Toronto and Frankfurt, airlines often sell them and the price varies from $20 to $50.

If you use airlines from the U.S.A., check the links in Question 3. Tourist cards will be available for purchase and distributed to passengers at the gateway departure gate prior to boarding their flight. You can call Cuba Travel Service and check the information.

Some trustworthy agencies can help you get a visa as well. You can go to their office directly or ask them to send it to you by mail.

*FDV Travel & Service

The Cuban tourist card is divided into two parts. On entry to Cuba, the left half will be retained by immigration, and the right half is yours. You will return your half to Cuban Immigration when you leave.
DO NOT LOSE YOUR TOURIST VISA CARD !

If you lose your tourist card it will need to be replaced, resulting in extra costs, delays and the possibility of missing your flight home.

You also need proof of travel insurance. We will discuss this below.

President Obama loosened the restrictions substantially, but once again the administration of President Trump’s government has imposed sanctions on Cuba related to travel to the island. However, the CACR (Cuban Assets Control Regulation) has 12 categories approved and American travelers have at least variants to travel to Cuba. Selecting any of these 12 categories it is no longer difficult to travel to the island.

You just need to submit a document called OFAC certification. Airline company usually give it to you when you board an airplane.

This document ask you the purpose of your trip to Cuba. You have to be traveling for one of 12 specified purposes:

• Family visits
• Official business or the US government, foreign government and certain intergovernmental organizations
• Journalistic activity
• Professional research
• Educational activities
• Religious activities
• Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic, and other competitions and exhibitions
• Support for the Cuban people
• Humanitarian projects
• Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
• Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials
• Certain export transactions

This is strictly a U.S. requirement. Check here for more details.

CACR

OFAC

Department of State

9 cities in the U.S. from which you can take a flight to Cuba:
New York (JFK), New Jersey (Newark), Los Angeles, Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, and three in Florida—Miami, Orlando, and Tampa.

6 American airlines that offer flights to Cuba:
American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and Swift Air

You can choose 6 destinations to arrive at Cuba, but the majority of flights arrive at Havana, Varadero, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba.

More detail:

Check the links of each airline company’s website below.

For now, most industry sources recommend that you carry cash.

The most convenient currencies to exchange for the current Cuban currency are the Euro (EUR), Canadian Dollar (CAD), United States Dollar (USD), the British Pound (GBP), among others.

No card issued by a bank with any connection with the United States will be accepted in Cuba, including the list below.

・Travelex

・Citibank

・Westpac

・St George

Credit or debit cards are the most convenient way to access money in Cuba, and Visa is accepted at all BFI/Banco Metropolitano banks and most CADECAS and ATM machines. However, you can find ATMs only in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey, Trinidad, and Cienfuegos, and many of them are out of service, so we still recommend that you carry cash.

At the check in, when you arrive at the airport, you are asked to show your medical insurance. Please take into account that you must have it printed in English or Spanish. In addition, in the case that it is necessary to make any modification in the Visa documentation, renewals for stay of more than 30 days, etc, at the check-in office when you enter the country  it is mandatory to show the medical insurance.

Travel health insurance recommendations by visiting country include the following:

For British visitors, the coverage purchased in Cuba is likely to be less comprehensive than most UK-based policies and could have more expensive premiums.

For Canadian visitors, proof of Canadian provincial health insurance is sufficient for entry, but the provincial plan may only cover a portion of the cost of medical treatment and will not pay the bill upfront. Instead, you will be required to pay upfront and then file a claim for reimbursement. It is therefore recommended that Canadians purchase supplemental health insurance to visit Cuba.

U.S. residents who are able to obtain a visa can purchase an insurance policy before they arrive in Cuba or once they arrive in Cuba (at the airport, port, or marina where they enter the country). However, we recommend to buying travel insurance before your trip.

Travelers who arrive in Cuba without any travel health insurance will be able to buy a policy from a Cuban insurance company, Asistur, at the airport that costs about $4 a day. U.S. citizens need to choose the “special” plan.

In case of a medical emergency, the Cuban health system guarantees the necessary medical care through a network of polyclinics and hospitals, covering every corner of the island. Primary health care is provided at most hotel facilities.

“ETECSA” is Cuba’s state-run telecom company and manages all outlets in the country. Tourists are allowed to use the Internet at these facilities, but to use their service, you have to show your passport. Ask the guide where you can find those outlets in each town. In Havana, more and more official Wi-Fi corners and large facilities have been opening including the airport. To connect to the Internet, you need to purchase a scratch card (simply remove the covered card and get your own access code). Tourists can buy ETECSA prepaid Wi-Fi cards at special kiosks for 1 CUC per hour of service.

In hotels there is also internet service. Both the price and the way of connection must be confirmed once the check in is done.

In addition, mobile data service on the island (3G/4G) are being implemented and improved. Mobile data can be accessed as long as you have a Cubacel phone line and buy the corresponding package.

A casa particular (plural casas particulares) is like a homestay or guesthouse, similar to a bed and breakfast. Usually, it is a private house or apartment run by a local family who register and pay special taxes to the Cuban government.

The merits of a casa particular are as follows:

• You will have a chance to interact with Cuban locals.
• You can stay in a clean and cozy room in a convenient location at a reasonable price.
• Depending on the casa, you can enjoy Cuban home cooking with local food.
• Some casas have hotel-like amenities such as gardens, patios, minibars, bed-making services, etc.

In Cuba, approximately half of the hotels are totally owned and operated by the Cuban government and run between $100–200. Another quarter are structured as joint ventures between the government and foreign companies, and the remainder is owned by Cubans and managed by foreign hotel operators. Prices vary between $150–600.

Besides its goodness, here are some tips that you should know about casa particular:

• In Cuba, water pressure is vey weak and hot water is not very hot. Please don’t expect that shower facilities are not same as ones in developed countries.
• Most of casas are two or three stories, but usually don’t have any elevator because the buildings are 50 to 100 years old. Since you have to use stairs up and down, please contact us in advance if you have problems with your legs.
• Cuba is a country with poor supplies. Depending on casas, amenity may not be enough. Please bring necessary items for yourself (including dryer).
• Some casas have laundry service.

We choose only casas whose hosts we trust to provide good service!

Cuba is a very safe place in many ways. Crime is nearly unheard of; Cuba doesn’t have the same level of crime as other countries do. There are specific places to avoid as long as you’re smart and play by the rules. There are virtually no guns in Cuba—even police officers have to check their weapons at the door when they leave to go home every night.

The majority of Cubans only know Spanish. Although English is more commonly spoken in tourist areas, we encourage you to learn simple words and basic phrases to maximize your experience with the Cuban people.

Cuba, you can enjoy the tropical climate throughout the year.

The best seasons are from March to April and from October to November because there is little rain and temperatures are comfortable.

The tourist season lasts from December until mid-April; during these seasons, tour prices are slightly higher, and many tourists visit.

Tropical storms occur frequently from June to November, including hurricanes. However, Cuba has fewer tropical storms and hurricanes than other Caribbean countries and a comprehensive evacuation system to prepare for them. If you plan a trip during hurricane season, keep eyes on the weather forecast and bring a raincoat with you.