Preparing for a trip to Cuba is quite different from planning a vacation to other parts of Latin America or the Caribbean. As Canadians, we’ve discovered several important steps to take before heading off to this tropical destination:
Firstly, travel insurance isn’t just recommended for Cuba; it’s mandatory. You’ll need to show proof of your insurance policy at the airport. We found that World Nomads Insurance offers coverage for many countries, but not for Canadians traveling to Cuba. Instead, we had to opt for a policy through Travel Cuts with TIC Insurance, which is more expensive.
Interestingly, upon arrival, some travelers from countries like Japan were asked to show proof of insurance. If they didn’t have any, they had to purchase an expensive policy at the airport. Regardless, it’s wise to get insured ahead of time.
When flying to Cuba from Latin America, consider airlines like AeroMexico, Interjet, Cubana, Avianca, Copa, or Taca. North American and European travelers have options like CanJet, Air Transat, Air Canada, WestJet, Aeroflot, and Air Berlin, among others. For American travelers, direct flights from New York, Tampa, and Miami are available, but you must fall under one of the twelve authorized travel categories. Booking websites like eDreams, Kayak, and Skyscanner can help you find the best flights.
It’s a good idea to clear your cache or use an “incognito” tab when booking flights to avoid price hikes. For instance, our flight to Cuba initially showed a price of $481, but it jumped to $606 the next day. Opening the booking site in a private window brought the price back down.
If your bank or credit card is tied to the United States, it won’t work in Cuban ATMs. Our TD Canada Trust debit and credit cards managed to work, though, with a 3% fee for using ATMs. Make sure you have enough cash in your account and notify your bank about your travel plans to avoid any account freezes.
For exchanging money, Euros, Canadian Dollars, and British Pounds are best. Avoid bringing US Dollars due to an extra 10% fee for conversion. ATMs will charge fees, and some currencies like Australian Dollars aren’t accepted. Bringing a mix of currencies is safest; we took Euros and US Dollars to exchange as needed.
Budgeting is crucial. We planned for $100 Canadian dollars per day, which turned out to be ample. Tools like the Trail Wallet App help track your spending efficiently. We averaged $67.75 USD per day for two people, excluding accommodation.
Cuba uses two currencies: the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) for most tourist purchases and the Cuban Peso (CUP) for more local transactions. As the conversion rate is 1 CUC = 1 USD and 1 CUC = 25 CUP, we planned to carry about $10 USD worth of CUP for street food and small market items.
During our stay, we preferred staying in Casa Particulars, which are private homes offering rooms, meals, and local hospitality. Sites like HostelsClub.com help find such accommodations, since popular booking platforms don’t have listings for Cuba.
To enter Cuba, you’ll need a Tourist Card, typically costing $20 or $25 USD. It can be purchased at the airport prior to departure, but it’s safer to get it in advance. Always keep your half of the card safe as losing it incurs a fee.
Packing for Cuba involves typical travel essentials, but consider bringing small gifts for your hosts. Although we carried everything in our backpacks, we wished we had more substantial gifts for the families we stayed with.
Overall, preparing for a trip to Cuba requires careful planning, but it’s part of the adventure. We’ll update this guide with more tips when we return. If you’ve visited Cuba, feel free to share your insights with us!