travel to Cuba

Yes, Cuba is a safe destination for visitors: the use of weapons, prostitution, as well as the consumption and trade of narcotics are prohibited. In general, visitors feel free and safe walking the streets of Cuba both day and night. Cubans have a very close relationship with tourists, so you will often find yourself talking to strangers who will treat you very familiarly and make you feel at home. If you have any doubts about an address you can certainly ask any person on the street, Cubans are very used to interacting with tourists and usually help willingly.

Even so, we always recommend taking the same precautions you would take in any other safe destination in the world.

Being such a long flight we always recommend a minimum of 7 days to make the most of your trip and get to know the main attractions of the island.

It all depends on what you want to do on your trip. For example, if you want to rent a car the more time in advance the better, because as the date approaches, the availability of car rentals decreases, and there are even seasons that with months in advance are already sold out.

Likewise, if you want to stay in a specific hotel or do an activity with limited spaces. So, if you are planning to go to Cuba, the sooner you prepare your itinerary the better. Remember that our team of travel assistants can help you from now on.

Yes, this is a mandatory requirement in Cuba, but do not worry, all our travel packages have it included and our assistants provide the one that best suits your trip and that is recognized on the island.

If you have managed it through a mutual or private insurance, you must make sure that it covers your trip to Cuba, for this, you must ask your insurer for a certificate, letter or policy where it specifies the travel coverage to Cuba. This insurance may not be requested at the entrance to the country, but in case of need of medical attention it will be indispensable that you present it. If you do not have it in a rush situation you will have to pay at the moment all the expenses incurred and you may also suffer penalties for breaking the law.

Yes, another indispensable requirement to enter Cuba is the visa or “Tourist Card” corresponding to the purpose of your trip. This is a simple procedure that generally does not represent any problem for the visitor or impediment to carry it out. In this section you will find all the information on this subject.

This is a complex question, since the answer depends a lot on what your travel objectives are, how long your stay will last, the services you will require, and, of course, how much your spending limit is.

You could make an estimate taking into account some elements such as:

Transfers (if you will go in cabs, tourist buses, etc.).

Places of interest (entrance fees, possible services to hire in the place, etc.).

Meals to be taken (if where you are staying includes breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, the expense would not be so significant. Even in such cases, it is important that you consider it because there is always the possibility that you will have to eat out).

Cuba is not an extremely cheap country by any means, although obviously everything depends on how you plan your trip; therefore, the important thing is that you prepare yourself to assume an expense a little above the planned activities and so you do not get scares to your pocket. In our Budget section we talk more about it.

Renting a car has its particularities in Cuba but without a doubt this is a way to save time and have autonomy. The rental prices, the types of cars available for rent, the type of itinerary you will follow during your trip, if you are traveling with children or elderly people who find it difficult to move around by other means, are some of the aspects to take into account to define whether or not a rental car is convenient or not. For example, if your trip to Cuba is a relaxing trip to spend 7 days in an all-inclusive hotel on a wonderful beach, it would not make much sense to rent a car; but if on the other hand you want to visit several provinces of Cuba and go at your own pace, it is surely a good alternative. Of course, renting a car in Cuba is not just a matter of arriving, paying and your car is ready…it is a somewhat different and peculiar process, especially because there are few cars and there is a lot of demand. This article can help you make the best decision for your trip.

Each person has their own travel style and preferences, so even though we are specialists in the destination, it is always very important to get feedback from the traveler to learn more about their tastes and interests. So, according to these and other factors; such as your travel budget, who you are traveling with, etc. we try to recommend and tailor a travel program as personalized and tailored as possible. On our website we have prepared different programs according to different ideas and categories so you can get an idea of what we can offer you.

To clarify this, there are necessary things to do and places not to be missed if you go to Cuba. Havana, the capital of Cuba, where Cuban culture is manifested in all its splendor, is an almost obligatory visit. Visiting some of the wonderful beaches of the island, whether Varadero, a key or any other of the rest of the tourist poles is another must. Cities like Viñales, Cienfuegos, Trinidad or Santiago de Cuba also have a lot to offer. Combining getting to know the cities with living a unique Cuban experience is another of our recommendations: a city tour in antique cars, tasting typical Cuban food in a “paladar”, visiting a cabaret like Tropicana, or just going out to dance and enjoy Cuban salsa; these are some examples that we can include in this long list.

Accommodation during your stay also depends on several factors such as who you are traveling with, the destinations you will visit or your travel budget. There are hotels distributed throughout the tourist areas of the country, of different categories and prices. In general, private houses are more economical than hotels and many have good comfort and all the guarantees for a good stay such as private bathroom, air conditioning and cleaning service. Staying in a private home is a very common modality in Cuba, which will allow you to share your trip with local people, traveling in a more responsible way, boosting the country’s economy and getting to know its people and way of life in more depth. When visiting the keys or Varadero, the vast majority prefer to stay in all-inclusive hotels and enjoy this time of relaxation and comfort.

If there is one thing Cubans and all those who have visited the territory agree on, it is that Cuba has beautiful beaches. Both Varadero and the beaches of any key will give you the opportunity to see this for yourself. In order to choose what is most convenient for your itinerary, it is necessary to take into account several factors, as in almost any choice. Aspects such as the airport of your flight, if you rent a car, the people you travel with, if you want a more quiet and relaxing stay or if you want to do nightlife outside your accommodation, if you can do many hours or not on the road, if you can and want to make connecting flights, if you want to do specific activities such as diving, etc; are several to take into account.

This information can help you define what suits you best and if you need help do not hesitate to contact us.

Varadero is closer to Havana than any other key.

Cayo Largo can only be reached by plane.

Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Coco and Cayo Santa Maria are more than 6 hours by road from Havana.

María la Gorda is one of the best diving centers.

Varadero as a town has a great nightlife with discos, bars and recreational centers.

The keys are only for tourism, they are far from the towns. There are only hotels and restaurants for tourism.

If there is something that really worries us when planning a trip, it is knowing how much money we need, what currency (or currencies) we should bring, what payment methods we should use and how difficult it may be to obtain it. In the case of Cuba, the question gets a bit more complicated, so we recommend that you read here very carefully.

Another attraction in Cuba are the Cuban “cigars”, “tabacos” or “habanos”. If you are a cigar lover, want to give them as a gift to a relative or friend and want to take them on your trip back home, keep in mind that there is a limit imposed by customs, so you must be updated on customs laws at the time of your trip. You may also be asked for proof of your purchase, so we always recommend that you buy them in state institutions (the houses of Habano and the houses of Rum and Habano) and not those offered to you on the street, even if they seem cheaper.

Apart from cigars you can buy accessories, if you have a friend who is a Cuban cigar lover you can bring back home a humidor, a lighter or cutters. You will find some with the flag or icons of the island as decoration.

Here are some addresses of Casas del Habano in Havana, although you can also find them in some hotels.

The best rum brands you can find in Cuba are Santiago de Cuba Añejo, Havana Club and Legendario Elixir de Cuba. Similar to tobacco, there are limitations on the amount of rum you can bring home from Cuba. If you bring a single, one liter, you won’t have to declare it at customs. And if you go alone with your hand luggage, you can buy the rum at the airport. You can find a good selection in the store at the air terminal.

If you are passionate about traveling, but you don’t feel comfortable traveling to such a far away destination alone, you want to meet people or you simply want to share expenses and make your trip a little cheaper, then obviously this modality is one of your favorites. Yes, we also have travel groups for Cuba and you can join one of them.

Knowing a country and going straight to taste its typical food is a classic traveler. Cuba, in turn, has typical dishes according to each region, so if you visit several provinces you will have a tasting trip. From this section you can learn much more about this topic.

Yes, as long as you have applied for the special “pink” visa. Here we leave you more details about it.