Preparing for Your Trip

Morning & Afternoon Attire

Dress for comfort, not style. You won’t find the need to dress up during the day. From your clothing to your accessories, it is best to keep your attire simple, easy and subtle. The sun can be especially hot in the afternoon so breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen and rayon work best. Light colored clothing are must-haves for staying cool.

Suggested Packing List for Morning & Afternoon Attire

Evening Attire

Cuba is not formal, however, you’ll find the evenings to be a wonderful time to dress slightly fancier. The nights are warm & breezy so light summer fabrics are a good idea.

Suggested Packing List for Evening Attire

Accessories & Shoes

Jewelry
Understated jewelry is classic & timeless. Cubans don’t tend to be flashy so this would be a good time to skip the large statement pieces.

Street crime in Cuba is rare but as any experienced traveler will tell you, it’s always a good idea to limit your valuable pieces while traveling.

Sun & Rain Accessories
You’ll be doing a lot of walking under the hot Caribbean sun. A few items to shield you from the rays are must haves. Quick tropical rain showers are also to be expected so we’ve included a few packing tips for rainy weather as well.

Suggested Packing list for Sun/Rain Accessories

• Baseball Cap
• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Cooling towel that you can moisten with water (if you’re prone to heat sensitivity)
• Small travel size umbrella (if you’re prone to heat sensitivity, plus this will come in use during quick rain showers).
• Rain Poncho. Nothing bulky or elaborate is necessary. An inexpensive plastic poncho that can be folded into your purse or daily travel backpack would be perfect.

Shoes

You’re going to be doing a lot of walking, so you’re going to need a pair of very comfortable shoes. This wouldn’t be the best time to try out anything new, so pack your reliable go-to pair.
Comfort and support are key. Depending on your excursions you will find cobblestone streets in Old Havana, uneven farmland in the countryside, wet sidewalks along the Malecon, and everything in between.

Suggested Packing List for Shoes:
Casual Closed toe shoes with support
Casual Sandals that provide support
For at night, something a bit more elegant but also providing good stability.

Medicine & Toiletries

Basic First Aid Kit

It can be difficult to find medicine in Cuba. So it’s best to pack anything you would need to minor incidents such as cuts, scrapes, blisters, upset stomach, and headaches.

Suggested Packing List for Basic First Aid

• Band-Aid
• Neosporin
• Antiseptic wipes
• Asprin/Ibuprofen
• Digestive medicine

Prescription Medicine

It can’t be stressed enough that all travelers need to pack any prescription medication that they require. Medicine is difficult to come by in Cuba and even more so for prescription meds.

Important Note: Pack all your prescription medication in their ORIGINAL individual pharmacy bottles. The prescription bottles should have the pharmaceutical label, which details the name the medication, the patient’s name and the proper dosage.

Toiletries

Many Cuba travelers ask if the hotels or casa particulares provide basic toiletries like shampoo and soap. The answer is that some do and some don’t. There are also times when establishments that have offered toiletries in the past, may find themselves out of stock. So the best rule for packing toiletries is to pack it all.

Suggested Packing List for Toiletries

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body Soap
• Tooth Brush
• Tooth Paste
• Mouthwash
• Dental Floss
• Deodorant
• Baby Powder (you may find it usual to prevent chaffing)
• Contact Lens
• Contact Lens Solution
• Sunblock
• Insect repellant
• Hair Styling Products
• Comb/Hairbrush
• Shaver
• Shaving Cream
• Fingernail Clippers
• Lip balm
• Perfume/cologne
• Vitamins
• Travel sized sewing kit
• Contraception
• 1 roll of toilet paper. (You may not need to use this but better safe than sorry)
• Premoistened towelettes
• Antibacterial hand sanitizer
• Hair Dryer (Some hotels may have this attached to the wall but if you’re particular about drying your hair, it suggested that you pack it.)

Cosmetics

As your Cuba summer wear will be easy & subtle, so can your makeup. Who wants to spend time on their makeup when there is so much to see in Cuba? Pack your quick 5 minute makeup routine.

Adapters & Small Electronics

Adaptors: Electricity in Cuban hotels is often 220 volts. We advise you purchase a Type ‘C’ European Travel Plug Adapter for electrical devices you bring to Cuba. These adapters can be purchased on Amazon, Walmart or at any electronics store. Some hotels use 110 volts, 60Hz (same as the US and Canada), but don’t count on it.

Laptops and tablets: You can take your laptop or tablet to Cuba without complications, but connecting to the internet is difficult and even when successful, the connection is slow. WiFi is available at five-star hotels. Rates vary between 5.00 and 12.00 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos) per hour. Most hotels have computer terminals to rent from 5.00 to 10.00 CUC per hour. They operate at slow dial-up speeds.

Cellular phones: If you want to use your cellular phone in Cuba, first check with your US carrier and ask if they provide service. Verizon offers roaming services in Cuba. Alternately, you can rent a SIM card for your unlocked cell, or a cell phone and SIM card from ETECSA at the Havana airport upon arrival. The cost to rent a SIM card is 3 CUC per day. Rent for a phone and SIM card is 9 CUC per day. You must prepay a minimum of 10 CUC for calls. You can add more money for more calling time. The process takes about an hour on arrival and again on departure.

Pack it or not, what is permitted in Cuba

Permitted items: You can take photo and video cameras, personal DVD, PDA, CD and game devices, cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, a hair dryer, electric shaver, binoculars, radio receivers, musical instruments, and sound recording devices for personal use. If you take more than one of the above items, Cuban customs may ask if you intend to leave them on the island. If you intend to do so, duty may be charged.
If you take more than the equivalent of $5,000 USD in cash, you have to declare it or risk confiscation.
Prescription medicines must remain in their original containers with labels intact.

Prohibited items: Narcotics, explosives, pornography, anti-Cuba literature, aerial drones, stand-alone GPS devices, walkie-talkies, and items considered to be weapons.

Cubans warmly welcome gifts however small. Everything you contribute is an overture of friendship – and a great ice-breaker. Cubans lack many basic items we in North America take for granted.

Cubans warmly welcome gifts however small. Everything you contribute is an overture of friendship – and a great ice-breaker. Cubans lack many basic items we in North America take for granted.

Gift giving to your new island friends is a most wonderful gesture. Go for it!

Donations for schools. Most needed items are pens, pencils, erasers, memory sticks, calculators, flashlights, markers, note pads, stuffed animals, games, dolls, toy trucks and cars. Also appreciated is toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo and good quality used clothing and shoes. Baseball bats, balls and gloves are very popular.

Personal gifts. During your excursions you’ll make many new friends. Consider small gifts such as aspirin, multivitamins, makeup, manicure and sewing kits, perfume, chocolate, watches, wallets, keychains, purses, scarves, jewelry, pen sets, flash drives, and other things you’d like to receive.

Bringing donations to Cuba. Luggage inspections rarely happen unless you bring excessive amounts of baggage or prohibited items. Cuba allows you to bring 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of medicines and medical items as gifts without duty.

Internet in Cuba

Internet and WiFi. You can take your laptop or tablet to Cuba, however, connecting to the internet is difficult and when a connection is successful it will be slow. WiFi is available at five-star hotels. Rates vary between 5.00 and 12.00 CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos) per hour. Most hotels have computer terminals to rent from 5.00 to 10.00 CUC per hour. They operate at slow dial-up speeds.

Phones in Cuba

Cellular phones. If you want to use your cellular phone in Cuba, first check with your US carrier and ask if they provide this service. Verizon offers roaming services in Cuba. Alternately you can rent a SIM card for your unlocked cell, or a cell phone and SIM card from ETECSA at the Havana airport upon arrival. Cost to rent a SIM card is 3 CUC per day. Rent for a phone and SIM card is 9 CUC per day. You must prepay a minimum of 10 CUC for calls. You can add more money for more calling time. The process takes about an hour on arrival and again on departure.

Landlines. The least expensive way to make international or local calls is on public ETECSA blue phones using ETECSA calling cards you must buy in Cuba. To call the US or Canada you must dial 119+1+(area code)+phone number. The cost is about $2.50 per minute. For calls inside Cuba, you must dial 0+(area code)+phone number for about 5 cents a minute. If you plan use your hotel room phones consult with the front desk for rates.

Money Matters in Cuba

Carefully plan your spending before arriving in Cuba.

US credit and debit cards don’t work in Cuba. You need to bring cash.

Carefully evaluate daily spending needs prior to departure. A minimum of $100 per day is recommended. It is better to take more money than you think you’ll need rather than get caught short of funds.

The Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) is the main currency used by island visitors. It can only be obtained in Cuba and has no value outside of Cuba.

The purchasing power of the CUC is similar to that of the US dollar. The CUC is benchmarked to the US dollar at one-to-one.

However, changing US dollars into CUCs carries an additional 10 percent (10%) fee. This fee does not apply to other currencies. Some travelers take Euros, Canadian dollars or Swiss francs – currencies for which there is no additional conversion fee. The overall savings is about seven percent (7%).

Travelers Checks can be redeemed but it’s difficult and can possibly takes hours. Western Union can dispatch funds to American visitors in an emergency.

Be sure to exchange CUCs back into US dollars at the Cuban airport before passing through immigration. There is no extra fee for converting CUCs into US dollars.

Don’t forget about gratuities. Cubans who serve you need and expect tips.

Money Safety and Security

• Change your money into CUC at the airport on arrival, at a Cuban bank, CADECA (exchange bureau) or at your hotel. Your passport is necessary to exchange money. Never exchange money on the street or with an individual Cuban.
• You do not have to convert all of your cash upon arrival. You can convert half at the beginning of your trip and more as needed during your visit.
• It’s recommended that visitors should keep extra cash, important documents, identification and other valuables in their hotel room lock box.
• When leaving your hotel only take the amount of money you plan on spending during that outing plus a photocopy of your passport. Leave your passport in your hotel lock box unless you plan to exchange money.
• Keep valuables firmly secured to your person.

Tipping in Cuba

Treat tipping in Cuba as you do at home. Be generous with those who assist.

Here’s the amount of tips most Americans give. You can always leave more.

• Tour guide 5.00 to 7.00 CUC per day per person.
• Tour bus driver 3.00 to 5.00 CUC per day per person.
• Restaurants staff 1.00 CUC or 10% per meal per person.
• Hotel porters $1.00 per person or more if you have lots of luggage.
• Chambermaids 1.50 CUC per day per person.
• Museum guides and special guides 1.00 per person.
• Taxi drivers 10% of fare.
• Musicians at restaurants 1.00 CUC per person.

What about “gifting” in lieu of tips?

Cubans in the service industry need money they can spend on the things they really need.

However, if you make a special friend, then a nice gift is always appropriate, together with personal things you don’t need to take home.

Bringing Things Home

There is no monetary limit to the quantity or value of items you can bring home to the United States for personal use.

U.S. travelers can bring home Cuban goods such as artwork, music, informational material, alcohol, and tobacco when purchased from licensed independent Cuban entrepreneurs.

However, when returning home, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may charge duties on excessive amounts products.

Original works of contemporary art require an export permission seal and letter to leave the country. The artist or gallery must provide this documentation. Souvenirs and touristy handcrafts are not considered works of art.

Key:

* HTSUS = Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States

** The U.S. Department of State Section 515.582 List identifies items that are NOT eligible for importation from Cuba. See Section 515.582 List at: https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/cuba/515582/237473.htm

*** The term “informational materials” includes: Publications (newspapers, magazines, books); films and microfilms; posters; records, tapes, CDs, and DVDs; photographs; and “artworks.” The term “artworks” includes paintings, drawings and pastels, collages, original engravings, prints and lithographs, and original sculptures. Ceramics and hand-painted manufactured items are not informational materials.