Tutorials
Visit Cuba
TRAVEL TO CUBA Before you go, check the State Dept. Website Reminder: Flying to Cuba from or through the U.S. for tourism is not allowed. There are 13 permitted reasons for travel. The reason "Support for the Cuban people" is automatically chosen for you when you purchase your Card Visa. Download this webpage as a PDF VACCINATIONS All routine vaccinations, COVID, HPV, etc. Consult with travel doctor. CDC recommends: Typhoid and Rabies inoculation. Request Azithromycin or Fluoroquinolones. STATE DEPARTMENT "SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM" Complete STEP the week before you leave at "step.state.gov". Use information from itinerary to complete the application. YOUR BUDGET Meals: $5 — 15 / meal Activities: $20 — 150 each Lodging: $15 — 150 / day Taxis: $5 — $20+ / trip VISA AND PRE-ARRIVAL INFO Two different forms which are required to enter Cuba. Tourist/Visa Card. Actual Visa. Purchase online for $85. Complete in pen (exact info) before flight. Will be mailed to you. Complete carefully — Customs doesn’t like cross outs. D’Viajeros. Pre-arrival "eVisa". Fill out at least 24 hours (but no more than 72 hours) before you arrive in Cuba. Save PDF and print out one copy. Make sure to include your first and middle name when it asks for your "Primary" name. You will present a printed copy of the QR code to Cuban Customs and to the airline at check-in. You will need to skip automated check-in and go directly to the counter when you check your bags. BAGGAGE (American Airlines) CARRY ON: including the handles and wheels, cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9" (sizer at the airport). PERSONAL ITEM: should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8", must fit under the seat, etc." CHECKED BAG: 62" circumference of bag, 50 lbs. Wrap your luggage. Purchase two wraps, pack one, use the other. DON’T FORGET TO PACK Sun screen (expensive!) Flip flops (impossible to find) Grocery bag/carrying bag (you can purchase canvas bag for several dollars from tourist shops if needed) Headphones (FYI — people do not generally engage with content in public) Charger Bring toiletries (shampoo, soap, hair spray, pills, etc.) Recommend books, mini—Spanish dictionary Power bank (power cuts happen) Life straw water bottle (can’t drink the water) SIM CARDS & WHATSAPP You will need a phone which has a SIM card slot. You will not be able to download apps in Cuba. You may not be able to access some email services. More info on the next page. Turn off SMS 2—factor-authentication if you need to. Plan to use WhatsApp to communicate. Your Cuban SIM card will provide data to allow you to communicate using your USA telephone number as your ID. You will probably not use your Cuban telephone number. WhatsApp uses WiFi and Cuban data. When you get your SIM they will give you a plastic card with printed info. Take a photo of the PKU and PIN. You NEED the PIN to open your phone with a SIM card here (this feature is usually disabled in the USA). CASH Cuba has a very complex currency system but you will primarily be using US dollars and "modea nacional" (pesos). Prices are generally given in pesos, and when paying in dollars it is common for a person to show you the calculator as they convert from pesos to dollars. You will always receive pesos as change, never coins. You can always ask someone to write it down the number "escribe por favor". Check ElToque.com for exchange rate. Credit/debit essentially do not work in Cuba. Withdraw cash at bank counter in USA, ask for "new" bills. Recommend splitting bills into smaller packs, distributing around carry-on. Purchase money belt if wanted, carry around chest, not waist. Do NOT exchange money at any official stand. US bills are universally accepted. Change is always given in CUP (pesos). ADDRESSES Much of Cuba was built before modern mail and addresses. Some streets have two names. You will typically receive a cross-street with any address you are given (and you are expected to provide the same). Most buildings have an official number, which comes after the street name. Buildings may have names which prefix the street name and number. Building numbers are written on doors, walls, or plaques. There is little uniformity in signage. Street signs in modern areas are clear. In older areas street names are on brass plaques about 8 feet up, affixed to buildings on the corner of each street. Follow local pedestrians’ example whenever possible Be mindful of cars, animals, bikes, dripping water, and potholes. Watch for traffic always! Sidewalks are uneven universally (when they exist) Traffic lights function as stop signs in power outages. BUILDINGS Only very expensive shops will have signage. You may need to look into each doorway as you get close to your destination. Be aware that some buildings are unstable – avoid construction sites. Do NOT use handrails like we do in the United States. Do NOT lean on any railings or force any doors. Keep an eye out for electrical cables on the ground and exposed high voltage connections. Locks are often triple/double turn (deadbolt has two/three positions of "locked") DON’T FORGET Passport "Card" Visa Printed D’Viajeros QR code check-in sheet Cash Check departure time Download (in the USA) ‣ VPN (log in) ‣ WhatsApp ‣ LaNave (need to be in Cuba to open) ‣ Offline maps ‣ Music/videos ‣ Google Translate (offline mode) Complete STEP with State Dept. TELEPHONE NUMBERS If you need a phone, you can ask to use someone’s cellphone or calling card (payphone are common but use cards). $1 USD will more than pay for your phone call. You can also buy your own calling card. Cuba’s country code is +53. The USA’s county code is +1. On WhatsApp you need to enter the full number. Via a phonebooth or landline you will skip dialing the "+53" Directory Assistance — 113 To call the United States from Cuba: Dial 116. Enter your card number. Press #. Dial 119. Then 1 and the phone number. (ex. To dial the US number 707—555—1212 with a calling card number of 12345678999 1-1-6 , 1-2-3-4-5-6-8-9-9-9-# , 1-1-9 , 1-7-0-7-5-5-5-1-2-1-2 9-1-1 EQUIVALENTS: 1-0-6 for POLICE/EMERGENCY 1-0-5 for FIRE MEDICAL: Flag down a private car to get to a hospital. Ambulance services do not exist. U.S. Embassy Telephone +53 7839-4100 Press "1" for 24/7 operator. Address: Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana, Cuba Past the Grand National Hotel, near the Malecon The US Embassy can: help you find medical care assist you in reporting a crime to the police contact relatives or friends with your written consent provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion provide a list of local attorneys provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S. provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution help you find accommodation and arrange flights home replace a stolen or lost passport

Tutorials

Visit Cuba

TRAVEL TO CUBA

Before you go, check the State Dept. Website

Reminder: Flying to Cuba from or through the U.S. for tourism is not allowed. There are 13 permitted reasons for travel. The reason "Support for the Cuban people" is automatically chosen for you when you purchase your Card Visa.

Download this webpage as a PDF

VACCINATIONS

All routine vaccinations, COVID, HPV, etc. Consult with travel doctor.

CDC recommends: Typhoid and Rabies inoculation. Request Azithromycin or Fluoroquinolones.

STATE DEPARTMENT "SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM"

Complete STEP the week before you leave at "step.state.gov". Use information from itinerary to complete the application.

YOUR BUDGET

Meals: $5 — 15 / meal
Activities: $20 — 150 each
Lodging: $15 — 150 / day
Taxis: $5 — $20+ / trip

VISA AND PRE-ARRIVAL INFO

Two different forms which are required to enter Cuba.

Tourist/Visa Card. Actual Visa. Purchase online for $85. Complete in pen (exact info) before flight. Will be mailed to you. Complete carefully — Customs doesn’t like cross outs.
D’Viajeros. Pre-arrival "eVisa". Fill out at least 24 hours (but no more than 72 hours) before you arrive in Cuba. Save PDF and print out one copy. Make sure to include your first and middle name when it asks for your "Primary" name.

You will present a printed copy of the QR code to Cuban Customs and to the airline at check-in. You will need to skip automated check-in and go directly to the counter when you check your bags.

BAGGAGE (American Airlines)

CARRY ON: including the handles and wheels, cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9" (sizer at the airport).
PERSONAL ITEM: should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8", must fit under the seat, etc."
CHECKED BAG: 62" circumference of bag, 50 lbs.

Wrap your luggage. Purchase two wraps, pack one, use the other.

DON’T FORGET TO PACK

Sun screen (expensive!)
Flip flops (impossible to find)
Grocery bag/carrying bag (you can purchase canvas bag for several dollars from tourist shops if needed)
Headphones (FYI — people do not generally engage with content in public)
Charger
Bring toiletries (shampoo, soap, hair spray, pills, etc.)
Recommend books, mini—Spanish dictionary
Power bank (power cuts happen)
Life straw water bottle (can’t drink the water)

SIM CARDS & WHATSAPP

You will need a phone which has a SIM card slot. You will not be able to download apps in Cuba. You may not be able to access some email services. More info on the next page. Turn off SMS 2—factor-authentication if you need to.

Plan to use WhatsApp to communicate. Your Cuban SIM card will provide data to allow you to communicate using your USA telephone number as your ID. You will probably not use your Cuban telephone number. WhatsApp uses WiFi and Cuban data.

When you get your SIM they will give you a plastic card with printed info. Take a photo of the PKU and PIN. You NEED the PIN to open your phone with a SIM card here (this feature is usually disabled in the USA).

CASH

Cuba has a very complex currency system but you will primarily be using US dollars and "modea nacional" (pesos).

Prices are generally given in pesos, and when paying in dollars it is common for a person to show you the calculator as they convert from pesos to dollars.

You will always receive pesos as change, never coins. You can always ask someone to write it down the number "escribe por favor".

Check ElToque.com for exchange rate.

Credit/debit essentially do not work in Cuba. Withdraw cash at bank counter in USA, ask for "new" bills. Recommend splitting bills into smaller packs, distributing around carry-on. Purchase money belt if wanted, carry around chest, not waist.

Do NOT exchange money at any official stand. US bills are universally accepted. Change is always given in CUP (pesos).

ADDRESSES

Much of Cuba was built before modern mail and addresses. Some streets have two names. You will typically receive a cross-street with any address you are given (and you are expected to provide the same). Most buildings have an official number, which comes after the street name. Buildings may have names which prefix the street name and number.

Building numbers are written on doors, walls, or plaques. There is little uniformity in signage.

Street signs in modern areas are clear. In older areas street names are on brass plaques about 8 feet up, affixed to buildings on the corner of each street.

Follow local pedestrians’ example whenever possible
Be mindful of cars, animals, bikes, dripping water, and potholes.
Watch for traffic always!
Sidewalks are uneven universally (when they exist)
Traffic lights function as stop signs in power outages.

BUILDINGS

Only very expensive shops will have signage. You may need to look into each doorway as you get close to your destination.

Be aware that some buildings are unstable – avoid construction sites.
Do NOT use handrails like we do in the United States.
Do NOT lean on any railings or force any doors.
Keep an eye out for electrical cables on the ground and exposed high voltage connections.
Locks are often triple/double turn (deadbolt has two/three positions of "locked")

DON’T FORGET

Passport
"Card" Visa
Printed D’Viajeros QR code check-in sheet
Cash
Check departure time
Download (in the USA)
‣ VPN (log in)
‣ WhatsApp
‣ LaNave (need to be in Cuba to open)
‣ Offline maps
‣ Music/videos
‣ Google Translate (offline mode)
Complete STEP with State Dept.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

If you need a phone, you can ask to use someone’s cellphone or calling card (payphone are common but use cards). $1 USD will more than pay for your phone call. You can also buy your own calling card.

Cuba’s country code is +53. The USA’s county code is +1.

On WhatsApp you need to enter the full number.

Via a phonebooth or landline you will skip dialing the "+53"

Directory Assistance — 113

To call the United States from Cuba:

Dial 116. Enter your card number. Press #.

Dial 119. Then 1 and the phone number.

(ex. To dial the US number 707—555—1212 with a calling card number of 12345678999

1-1-6 , 1-2-3-4-5-6-8-9-9-9-# , 1-1-9 , 1-7-0-7-5-5-5-1-2-1-2

9-1-1 EQUIVALENTS:

1-0-6 for POLICE/EMERGENCY

1-0-5 for FIRE

MEDICAL: Flag down a private car to get to a hospital. Ambulance services do not exist.

U.S. Embassy

Telephone +53 7839-4100

Press "1" for 24/7 operator.

Address:

Calzada between L and M Streets,

Vedado, Havana, Cuba

Past the Grand National Hotel, near the Malecon

The US Embassy can:

help you find medical care
assist you in reporting a crime to the police
contact relatives or friends with your written consent
provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion
provide a list of local attorneys
provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
replace a stolen or lost passport