A Step-By-Step Guide for Americans Traveling to Cuba
Cuba is an amazing country. I cannot express how much I loved my time there. However, Americans traveling to Cuba are generally afraid. When you tell someone else that you are traveling to Cuba, you will inevitably hear one, if not all, or the following phrases. Each of which we will take in turn.
“Why are you going to Cuba? It’s not safe.”
“I’ve heard the food is terrible.”
“How can you go? Americans aren’t allowed.”
“Why are you going to Cuba? It’s not safe.”
When you say you are traveling to places like Belize, Costa Rica or the Dominican Republic, people never ask, “why?” Because it makes sense to travel to these amazingly beautiful and affordable places. Yet, with Cuba, there is a fear that makes other Americans question your travel judgement. Fear of the political climate, yes, but more so a fear of the lack of tourist infrastructure. What I found while traveling in Cuba is that the people are some of the warmest people I have ever met. And their kindness makes up for any convenience the typical tourist has to give up.
My family and I walked all over Habana Vieja, we walked to the seashore in Miramar at night, and took taxi’s everywhere. We never once felt unsafe or unwelcome. Most Cuban people I ran into try very hard to speak as much English as possible. Some even speak some French as they get so many French tourists. However, I could see joy, and some relief, wash over their faces as I spoke in my broken Spanish. Because who doesn’t like communicating in their native language? I highly suggest learning some basic Spanish prior to going.
Travel Tip 1: I recommend learning some basic phrases in any language where you are traveling. It’s a deep sign of respect and always goes a long way with the locals.
As far as infrastructure goes, it’s not much different than other Latin American countries, and unplugging for a week was highly refreshing.
Some “Let It Go” comments for Americans Traveling to Cuba
- You cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet. This is pretty common in Latin America. Plumbing isn’t the same. Throw your toilet paper in trash, and let it go.
- Boats cannot go very far offshore. There are strict boating regulations in Cuba, and a snorkeling Catamaran excursion is not going to be the same as it is in other countries. Guess what? Other countries charge more than $20 a person also. Let it go. Enjoy the pristine beaches and the $3 mojitos.
- Wifi is only available in certain places, and only available if you have a Wifi card. Download Google Maps offline, download some Netflix offline for night time watching, and look up from your phone. If you must have some connection, then buy a Wifi card for no more than $2 and have a drink in a Wifi zone for an hour, and call it a day.
“I’ve Heard the Food is Terrible”
This was by far the most common criticism I heard. If someone tells you the food sucks in Cuba, it’s because they were eating at an Italian restaurant. There are a lot of European tourists which Cubans are trying to cater to. When in Cuba, eat traditional Cuban food, and you will not have a bad meal. I had life-changing black beans in Cuba. Which I had to admit to my mom, and if you know anything about Brasilians and their feijoada, you know that my mom will likely never forgive me.
It’s also really important to remember that Cuban people still don’t have access to all ingredients all the time. They have to buy what is available on the day it is available and alter their menus as such.
Ceviche at Vistamar in Havana, Cuba 
Mango Chicken at El Chanchullero in Habana, Cuba 
Chocolate ice cream available at almost every restaurant in Cuba 
Chicken “El Aljibe” at El Aljibe in Havana, Cuba 
Fancy Ropa Veija at Vistamar in Havana, Cuba 
Flan drizzled in honey at El Chanchullero in Havana, Cuba 
Mojito 
Pork tacos at Cine Cafe in Vinales, Cuba 
Best black beans in the world at El Aljibe in Havana, Cuba
As a side note for Americans traveling to Cuba. The water is potable. We drank coffee, juices, and ate the fresh veggies which are served with every meal, and didn’t get sick.
Travel tip 2: Due again to the boating regulations, Cubans have to import most of their seafood. When picking out what to eat, stick to Chicken, Pork, and Beef.
“How can you go? Americans aren’t allowed”
This is where I give you my step-by-step guide for Americans traveling to Cuba. However, for full information consult the U.S. Department of State website.
Step 1: You are asserting the “support for the Cuban people” category on your Visa/Tourist Card.
Supporting the Cuban people is the charity category. You will assert this when you book your flight. It is not difficult to qualify for this category. Book your accommodations through Airbnb and eat at family owned restaurants called Paladares. Most restaurants are Paladares, so they are easy to identify, just don’t eat in the hotels. We also took a small suitcase full of school supplies, which our Airbnb host helped us coordinate the donation to a local school. However, based on my experience, this was not needed (though it was nice to visit the school). Remember to answer “supporting the Cuban people,” upon re-entering the U.S.
Step 2: Have an itinerary
In order to formally qualify for the supporting the Cuban people category, you must have an itinerary that supports this category. I have linked the itinerary I put together here. Nobody asked me for it, but technically you have to have it.
Step 3: Purchase Visa/Tourist Card at the Airport
You will purchase your Visa for about $50 per person at the airport prior to boarding your flight for Cuba. It will be pink to signal that you are leaving from the U.S. There will be a dedicated counter for the Visa purchase. We didn’t get asked any questions while making our purchase, likely because we had already asserted our travel category when purchasing our flight online. After the purchase of the Visa, your boarding pass will be stamped with “Cuba docs verified,” and you’re good to go.
Travel tip 3: The airline will tell you that you need plenty of time as there is usually a long wait for the Visa/Tourist Card. It took us 30 minutes to get our card.
Step 4: Cash is King, Take Euros
Finally, when you are getting ready for your trip, you will want to take cash. ATMs are normally out of money, and credit card machines are essentially non-existent. Take cash. A good rule of thumb is $500 per person going on the trip. Also, convert your cash in Euros before leaving. This is because there is an extra 10% fee when converting dollars into the convertible Cuban peso or CUC. Americans traveling to Cuba will only use CUC, so don’t worry about the non-convertible Cuban peso, you won’t be using them. You can exchange at the airport, but be prepared for a long wait. Our taxi driver was able find another place for us to exchange our money on the way to our Airbnb.
Travel tip 4: Most major banks will let you buy foreign currencies from them with a minimal fee, and a decent exchange rate.
Travel tip 5: When exchanging Euros to CUC, get small bills. Nothing over CUC $20. Things are inexpensive in Cuba. You will need more small bills in order to make change.
Last but not least, have a great time in Cuba. Americans traveling to Cuba have nothing to fear. Go for it.
Have you traveled to Cuba? What did you think of the country? Let me know in the comments!
