Cuba travel checklist: what to do before you go

Start with the decision, not the packing. Read your own government's Cuba page and confirm the current level: in September 2026 the UK advises against all but essential travel, Canada says avoid non-essential travel, Australia says reconsider your need to travel, and the US keeps Cuba at Level 2 (exercise increased caution). If that changes your plans, stop here and pick another destination.

If you are going anyway, lock the two things that are hardest to fix later: a legal way in and a way home. US passport holders must travel under one of the OFAC categories (family visit, journalism, professional research, support for the Cuban people and similar); ordinary tourism is not one, so choose a category and keep records of what you did. Everyone else needs a tourist card, usually bought from the airline or a consulate before departure. Passport validity and entry-document rules vary by nationality, so confirm both with your airline or consulate before paying for anything.

Check current flight options before you book. Direct routes from the US, Canada, Mexico, Spain and Panama exist but schedules are thin and airlines drop Cuba routes with little warning, so prefer a carrier that is still flying and a ticket you can change. Build in two buffer days at the end: power cuts, fuel shortages and cancelled flights are the normal failure modes, not rare ones.

Sort money before you land. Cuba runs on cash. Bring euros or US dollars in clean, unmarked notes and plan to fund the whole trip from that; verify with your own bank and card issuer what will and will not work in Cuba before you rely on a card. Work out your budget from the trip cost pages, then add 20–30% for the cash you cannot withdraw.

Book accommodation for Havana and Trinidad early in high season (November to April). Casas particulares are the usual choice and take direct bookings by email or message; a few nights in a hotel for the first arrival is easier if your flight lands late.

Re-check the advisory and your flight status; both can change in a week. Print or download offline copies of your passport, insurance policy, tourist card and bookings, because internet access in Cuba is limited and expensive. Tell your bank you are travelling, even though cards are of little use, and set a separate cash stash in a second bag.

Health: see a travel clinic four to six weeks before if you can, and check current vaccine guidance for Cuba with a clinician rather than assuming. Mosquito-borne illness circulates at times, so pack repellent. Tap water is not drinkable; plan on bottled water. Pharmacies in Cuba are poorly stocked, so bring your own basics: oral rehydration salts, painkillers, antiseptic, diarrhoea treatment and any prescription medicine in original packaging. Check the health page for current guidance (check).

Download offline maps, a Spanish phrasebook and a currency converter. Learn the emergency numbers: 106 police, 104 ambulance, 105 fire.

Carry your documents on you, not in the hold: passport, tourist card or OFAC paperwork, insurance proof, return ticket and the address of your first night, which immigration may ask for. Customs limits on cigars, rum and cash apply; check the current rules with Cuban customs or your airline before you pack (check).

Have cash accessible for the airport taxi and the first night. Expect to pay in cash for almost everything, and keep small notes for tips: about 10% in restaurants and a dollar or two for musicians and guides. If your flight is cancelled, go straight to the airline desk and ask for the next available service.

On arrival, agree the taxi fare before getting in and confirm your casa's address with the driver. Buy a local SIM or data plan only if you need connectivity and the vendor is clearly official (check). Then slow down: the first day is for settling in, not for a full itinerary.

The core set is passport, visa or tourist card, proof of medical insurance, and a return or onward ticket. US travellers add their OFAC category paperwork and a record of the itinerary that supports it. Keep a paper copy of everything and a photo on your phone.

Entry rules differ by passport and change with the advisory, so confirm the passport validity window, tourist-card requirement, insurance proof and return-ticket rule with your airline or the Cuban consulate before you book. Check the visa requirements page for your nationality.

Cuba is a cash economy for visitors. Bring euros or US dollars and assume you cannot withdraw more once you arrive. Budget from the trip cost pages, then add a margin for the days when nothing works: a broken ATM, a closed bank, a card the terminal refuses.

Tipping is expected: about 10% in restaurants, a dollar or two for musicians and guides. Keep a mix of small notes. Card acceptance in Cuba changes often, so verify with your own bank and card issuer before you fly rather than assuming any card will work (check).

Medical insurance is required to enter Cuba, and the practical reason is evacuation: hospitals lack supplies and serious cases are flown out. Buy a policy that covers treatment and evacuation, and carry the certificate. Confirm the current entry requirement with your airline or consulate (check).

Vaccine recommendations, mosquito-borne disease risk and tap-water safety change over time, so check current guidance with a travel clinic or your government's health page before you go (check). Tap water is not for drinking; use bottled or boiled water. Bring your own medicines, including oral rehydration salts, because Cuban pharmacies are poorly stocked.

Pack for heat, power cuts and a cash economy. Plugs are types A, B, C and L, and both 110 V and 220 V are in use, so a universal adapter with surge protection helps. Bring a power bank: outages are common and your phone is your map, camera and booking record.

Clothing should be light and quick-drying, with one warmer layer for winter evenings and air-conditioned buses. Add a refillable water bottle, a small padlock for bags, a torch or headlamp, and a money belt. Leave space for coffee, rum or cigars if you plan to bring any home within customs limits.