5 Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Cuba

Cuba is one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world, but before you book your flight, there are important things to know before traveling to Cuba. This Caribbean island offers stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and a rich history, but it also comes with unique challenges that first-time visitors often overlook.

First, Cuban travel restrictions vary depending on your nationality. While most countries allow tourism, U.S. travelers must comply with authorized travel categories set by the government. Next, Cuban currency is different from most destinations—you can’t use U.S. dollars everywhere, and credit cards linked to U.S. banks won’t work. Instead, you’ll need Cuban Pesos (CUP) or a prepaid travel card.

Internet access is limited, with WiFi in Cuba available mainly in public hotspots and select hotels. If you rely on Google Maps, be prepared for offline navigation or apps like Maps.me. When it comes to accommodation, you can choose between government-run hotels or Casa Particulares, which offer a more authentic experience.

Additionally, packing is crucial since basic necessities, including medications, toiletries, and snacks, can be hard to find. Health insurance is mandatory for entry, and travel scams targeting tourists are common in Havana and Varadero.

With the right preparation, traveling to Cuba can be an unforgettable experience. Keep reading to learn everything you need for a smooth and hassle-free trip!

1. Cuba Visa

You probably already know that in order to enter Cuba you have to apply for a visa . You can do this at the Cuban embassy or consulate in your country, but they take a long time, so most travellers go to one of the agencies specialising in processing these documents, to speed up this process which can be very tedious. Allow around €20-25 (to which you have to add the cost of postage)

Once in Cuba, remember to keep your “ tourist card ” (which corresponds to your visa) safe, just like your passport, and be careful not to lose it, since they will also stamp it when you leave the country and we understand that if you don’t have it, you could get into trouble.

almendrones in Havana

2. Do you want to travel to the USA? Be careful…

The bureaucratic issues do not end here... it is very important to know that if your future plans include trips to the United States (or even stopovers in that country), after visiting Cuba you will not be able to apply for the convenient ESTA , but rather you will have to apply for a visitor visa at the U.S. Embassy. A bureaucratic mess, long, annoying and expensive.

What's more, this was a retroactive measure that affects all those who traveled (and will travel to Cuba) from January 12, 2021. And why is that? Well, because the US government has included Cuba in the list of countries that support terrorism . Anyway!

Update : Good news. This declaration of Cuba as a country sponsoring terrorism has been removed, hopefully permanently, so in principle we should no longer have to take this into account. However, we recommend that you look for updated information to see the situation at the time you travel.

pretty character in havana cuba

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3. Best time to go to Cuba

In these times of climate change it is not easy to give weather advice, but in general terms we can say that the best time to travel to Cuba is the months from November to April (dry season). It should be noted that these are also the months of high season, so there is more tourism and prices are higher.

The rains begin in May and continue until October, but can become more intense, with the risk of major storms and even hurricanes , in August and September. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.

We went in July and the truth is that we hardly had any rain, so it depends a bit on the year and luck.

Varadero beach Cuba

4. Bring a good first aid kit from home

This is one of the best recommendations we can give you and that you should know before traveling to Cuba. Unfortunately, the political and health situation in the country is precarious and there is often a lack of medicines , even the most basic ones such as aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen... So it is necessary to put together a small first aid kit with a little bit of everything , to be well prepared for any circumstance, ailment or illness.

And obviously, don't travel without travel insurance , which, in the case of Cuba, is not only recommended: it is mandatory. The one we always recommend is Iati Insurance (with a 5% discount already applied in the link).

Horse and tobacco farm in Viñales Cuba

5. Internet in Cuba

This is one of the serious problems that Cuba has dragged along in the digital age. Until not long ago, it was barely possible to get a connection in the country, limited to very specific places, such as public squares, or in important hotels. But since we went in 2018, things have improved a lot and it is no longer so complicated or expensive to access the Internet. Although don't think that you will have it for free 24 hours a day.

What you need to know is that the state provider of this service (and only one) is the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) , which offers 2 different ways to access the Internet:

Public Wi-Fi hotspots . To connect you need to get the famous Nauta cards, which you can buy at ETECSA offices.
Internet on your mobile phone by purchasing a Cubacel tourist SIM card, which you can also purchase at ETECSA offices.

As for prices, the 5-hour Nauta card currently costs around 125 CUP (about €5 at the current exchange rate). The SIM, on the other hand, costs 34.99 USD and entitles you to a temporary mobile line, valid for 30 days during which you can enjoy 6GB + 100 Min + 100 SMS. You can buy it at the airport or reserve it online at Suena Cuba .

There are no eSIM options at the moment, so the options are limited to the two already mentioned.

Fields in Trinidad, Cuba

And obviously, another thing you have to do before going to this peculiar little island is to read our article full of tips for traveling to Cuba (and not screwing it up) in which we talk about our trip, itinerary, places to visit, how to organize yourself and a lot of extra useful information so that you go well prepared.

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