This is a great place to visit if you are adventurous and can go with the flow. Please confirm all current US government rules and restrictions before booking or embarking on any travel to Cuba. These views are my own and anecdotal only.
Can Americans go to cuba?
Yes, Americans are more than welcome to go to Cuba. Cubans are welcoming and excited to have tourists. Many Cubans rely on tourist dollars as part of a side gig they may have.
Is Cuba Safe?
While I only spent my time in Havana, the city felt very safe. Like any city, why would you go down a poorly lit street at night that you don’t know? Stay in your group, don’t get too drunk and don’t bother anyone.
How to get there
Reason
There are 12 approved reasons by the US government to go to Cuba, found below. Most likely you will be going to “Support the People”. You will have to make this declaration when you purchase your plane ticket and again when you get your Cuban Tourist Card.
Family visits
Official business for the US government, foreign government and certain intergovernmental organizations
Journalism
Professional research
Religious activities
Public performances
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
Educational activities
REquired Documents to Enter Cuba
Passport
This is obvious. Ensure you have AT LEAST 6 months left on your passport before expiration, counting back from the time you will return to the US. You will likely not be able to check-in to your flight and you will not be allowed to enter the country.
Cuban Tourist Card
This can be ordered directly from your airline. This is the site American Airlines directs to, they will FedEx it to your house. Order it no more than two weeks before your travel. You are able to purchase it at the airport, but it will be more expensive.
- Head to this site.
- Under OFAC category, hit ‘Support for the Cuban People’
- Fill out the other three fields accordingly.
- Do NOT forget you need one for each traveler
- When you get the form CAREFULLY fill it out in all CAPS with a pen. There are two identical sides, they both need to be populated. There are no crossouts or use of white out.
CUBA D’VIAJEROS TRAVEL FORM
This is a declaration of who you are, where you are staying, and what your business is in Cuba.
*** You can only do this 48 hours before your arrival to the island ***
- Head to this website.
- Select English from the top right corner
- Hit ‘Form Request’
- Fill out all the info about yourself
- On the next page you fill our your travel info, flight, airline, travel dates etc. Here you will list Tourism as the reason for travel.
- Next is Sanitary information, which is info about your stay
- You do not need to fill out the Covid info anymore
- Just fill in as much as you know about your accommodation
- On the next page is Customs Info
- Select ‘No’ for unaccompanied baggage
- You should have nothign to delcare at customs
- You can leave the rest of this blank
- After you prove you are not a robot the form will be sent you via email.
- Open the form on this site, and donwload it.
- Open the email and save it to your phone’s files
- You will NOT have internet in the airport and this form is required to go through customs.
Health INSURANCE Form
This is typically included in your ticket purchase. They will confirm this at the desk when you head to the Cuba ready kiosk (more on that below). If not, you will just purchase it for $25.
What to Expect When Departing for Havana
You will need to locate the Cuba check-in booth for your airline. For Miami, it was in the American Airlines area under section 7, which is the complete opposite area from the pre-check line.
Use the kiosk to pre print your bag tag then head to the desk. Ensure you have your passport and tourist card for review. The gate agent will print your ticket(s) for you.
After security, you will see a small “Cuba Ready” desk next to your gate. This person will review your passport, tourist card, and stamp your ticket verifying that you have health insurance. You are good to board!
What to Expect When Arriving In Havana
When reading other blogs, I will fully prepared for a nightmare experience. This can be case-by-case, but my experience was extremely positive.
Upon walking off the place you will see multiple people with VIP signs, this is a lounge you can wait in while you wait for your bags. Our Airbnb host said that it was not necessary as we only had one bag.
You will head to customs are where your D’VIAJEROS TRAVEL FORM will be collected/scanned first.
You will then proceed to the customs officer’s desk to have your passport and tourist card reviewed. They will take your picture as well. DO NOT LOSE THE TOURIST CARD you need it when departing.
Upon being waived through, you can put your carry on through security and then wait for your bag.
This whole process took about 10 minutes.
What to expect when Departing Havana
Get here no more than two hour sin advance. The airport was pretty dead when we arrive, but the check-in (which cannot be done online) took almost 40 minutes with 8 desks open.
Be prepared to get called out for a security check, otherwise it is relatively normal.
You will then go through customs again where they check your
What to expect when Arriving Back in the us
Just like arriving from any other country, you will need to go though customs and immigration. This took about 3 minutes total, most of was walking. If you have global entry, they will pick your face up on the scan and you can breeze through.
You do need to recheck your checked luggage and go through security again. This line will not be short and you cannot use pre-check here. DO NOT wait in this line.
If you have a checked bag you can re check it quickly before entering the security line. Head for the exit, which will spit you out near the regular baggage claim. Walk upstairs to the departure area and go through regular pre check security. You’ll save 40 minutes.
RESTAURANTS (Paladars)
These are privately run/owned restaurants that Americans can visit and patronize. Try a lot, tip well. You can usually message the restaurants on Whatsapp or Instagram before heading there, which isn’t a bad idea as google can be unreliable in Cuba.
Cha Cha Cha
San Cristobal Paladar
Located in Chinatown. Very interested decor. They provide a shot of rum and a cigar after your meal. Try the Crepe.
O’reilly 304
Antojos
A great rooftop restaurant tucked away on a side street. Great croquettes.
El Bleco
Great views of the Malecon, unreal pizza. It turns into a club around 10.
Yarini
Bars
Both of the bars listed are government owned. While Americans are unable patronize them, I recommend you take a look around.
Floridita
Hemingway’s favorite spot for a daiquiri.
La Bodeguita Del Medio
Hemingway’s favorite spot for a Mojito.
coffee and breakfast
Fonda al pirata
Casa Lili included breakfast and coffee here. A great way to start the day. There are two options included with your stay.
things to do
Classic Car Tour
Take a walking tour
Visit Cubas many plazas with a tour to get a local’s perspective and learn some history on the way.
Walk the Malecon
I recommend this if you are going to El Bleco. Walk there around sunset and take a cab back. You’ll see people walking, fishing, partying, and just taking it all in.
Head to the Almacenes San José Artisans’ Market
There are artists and vendors selling all the souvenirs you could want for your friends and family back home. Head to the second floor for some amazing art. Don’t be afraid to haggle.
DO some Good
The Cuban people are in pretty dire need of a lot of basic necessities that we have readily available: OTC medications, IV starters, reading glasses etc to name a few.
We got hooked up with Carolina from Corazon Con Cuba, an NGO that she runs. Carolina is a half Cuban, American citizen studying medicine in Havana. In addition to being a great resource for what to bring for the people, she also helped arrange our car and walking tours!
Visit the Havana Club Museum
While Americans cannot buy anything or take a tour, it is free to enter the lobby area and look around. You can even catch a free demonstration of the sugar cane extraction process.
Check out the Hotel Nacional de Cuba
This is another gov’t owned hotel. While you cannot order a drink or stay here, it is a piece of history worth checking out. It was part of our car tour. Make sure you check out the room with all the famous faces on the wall that have visited.
accomodations
Casa Lili
Americans can only stay in Casa Particulars, or Airbnbs. Lili was great to work with and prompt in answering messages about any questions we had. A few other reasons her place is great:
- A/C in the bedroom
- Coffee/breakfast included
- Great location on Obispo – a very popular and busy tourist street that does not allow cars and is very centrally located.
- She will coordinate your aiport pickup/drop off as well as any other rides you may need
- She will provide a phone for you to use as a hotspot during your stay ensuring you have connectivity everywhere you go. This was helpful as it did ntoreuire us to buy a jailbroken phone ahead of time and purchase a SIM card at the airport.
Tips/FAQ and Know Before you go
- Bring baby wipes or toilet paper in your carry-on as the bathroom at the airport has little to no toilet paper.
- Bring ANY medication you will need. I ended up getting conjunctivitis. Foruntaley I had a first aid kit and drops to clean and treat it until I got home. There are no pharmacies to get these items.
- Pain relievers, upset stomach meds, snacks, power banks etc. Assume you can get nothing
- Do NOT drink the water. Water is sold on most street corners in small shops for about 80c USD/bottle
- On that note, keep your eyes and mouth shut in the shower.
- Change a few hundred USD to CUP with your host, otherwise you will be fine using USD.
- Do not change it at the airport or a bank. You will wait for a long time and get a crappy rate.
- Bring about $100/person/day plus another $200/person for any emergencies. Remember, your credit/debit cards WILL NOT WORK.
- Smaller bills like $5s and $10s are ideal. If you are doing any tours, $20s and $50s are good.
- You CANNOT patronize any Cuban gov’t or military run owned institution. That is the deal with declaring ‘Support for the Cuban People’ when traveling.
- While we had a pleasant airport experience in and out, be prepared to wait, a long time.
- Taxis will be readily available, but your host should be able to arrange one for you
- Conversational Spanish is helpful. We got by on knowing almost none, but it would have been helpful to have practiced on Duolingo first
- Download google translate and add the Spanish file BEFORE you arrive so you can use it offline
- Make sure you have Google maps installed as Apple maps for directions DO NOT work.
- Dress down and wear comfortable clothes
- Bring a lot of sunscreen and bug spray
- A good rule of thumb is that if a restaurant or bar is ugly/not colorful and it is empty, it is government owned.
- Get receipts where you can, the Treasury can audit you for up to 5 years.
Rock Hard Traveler 
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