Travel Guide

The General Customs of the Republic of Cuba constitutes a control body at the border and inspection in the activity related to foreign trade. It has the mission of directing customs matters, collecting customs duties and responding within its jurisdiction and competence to events that affect international traffic of goods, travelers, postal and the means that transport them, preventing, detecting and confronting fraud and smuggling, as well as contributing to the national and international protection of the environment.

The laws of the General Customs of the Republic of Cuba prohibit, among others, the entry of:

1. Drugs and narcotics.

2. Psychotropic or hallucinogenic substances.

3. Precursor substances.

4. Explosive.

5. blood products.

6. Literature, articles and objects that are obscene or pornographic or that threaten the general interests of the nation.

7. Products of animal origin (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and all species of ungulates) susceptible to being carriers of diseases.

Immigration Regulations to Travel to Cuba 

The visitor must have a valid passport or a travel document issued in their name and the corresponding visa or Tourist Card. The countries with which Cuba maintains free visa agreements are excepted. The Tourist Cards can be requested before the Cuban consular representations. Also, in travel agencies and airlines. They are of two types: for individual tourists or for tourists traveling in a group.

Business trips, journalism, long stays or work, require special visas, so you must go to the Cuban Consulates or Embassies.

Medicines, up to 10 kg in weight, are exempt from payment of customs duties, provided they come separately from the rest of the luggage. When they are mixed with other articles that are part of it, they are valued as a whole and are subject to the payment of customs duties and services. For this reason, Customs recommends that you bring your medicines separately from the rest of your baggage and thus facilitate and expedite the clearance of imported items, thus reducing the time you spend in the air terminal and contributing to greater fluidity in our airports.

Sanitary Regulations

Desde el 1ro. de marzo de 2016 el Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba establece que se debe:

• Strengthen international health control measures and epidemiological surveillance..

• Make the declaration of health at the points of entry to people coming from countries that report Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya and yellow fever.

General Legal Procedures

All citizens of any country can travel to Cuba without any immigration restrictions, including Americans. People persecuted by international justice linked to drug trafficking, terrorism or other crimes are excluded.

To travel to Cuba, for pleasure or recreation, the visitor must adjust their trip to a tourism program contracted with international agencies that maintain an agreement with the Cuban Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) and submit their visa application through the tourist agency to book the trip. You can also contact the Cuban consular offices at the embassy of your country of residence, or the representations of Cuba where there is no embassy.

The air ticket (round trip) is necessary; Valid passport for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the country and a tourist card or visa without which you cannot reach any airport or border post in Cuba.  

Other Procedures and Regulations to Travel to Cuba

• Notary services

• Extension of stay

• Procedures for visas and tourist cards

• Entry and exit stamps

• Foreign investment in Cuba

Preservation of Historical Memory

DECREE-LAW No. 265/2009 “OF THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF ARCHIVES OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA”, regulates and prohibits the extraction from the country of documents that are or should be part of the State Archives Fund, and are deposited in archives, or in other places intended for official conservation or entrusted to the custody of an official, which may be historical, patrimonial and institutional documents. The National Registry of Cultural Assets of the Ministry of Culture is the body empowered to authorize the temporary or permanent export of heritage assets at the border.

Located in the insular Caribbean, at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, the Greater Antilles is a destination that has the preference of potential visitors from different latitudes. There are two access roads to the territory: air and sea. Cuba has 10 international airports and 15 national airports, located in different tourist destinations throughout the archipelago, which allows connection through different airlines, to and between the main territories.

International airports in Cuba:

• Boyeros, La Habana ("José Martí")

• Cayo Largo, Isla de la Juventud ("Vitalio Acuña")

• Matanzas ("Juan Gualberto Gómez")

• Camagüey ("Ignacio Agramonte")

• Holguín ("Frank País")

• Santiago de Cuba ("Antonio Maceo")

• Santa Clara, Villa Clara ("Abel Santamaría")

• Cienfuegos ("Jaime González")

• Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila ("Jardines del Rey")

• Manzanillo, Granma ("Sierra Maestra")

Cuba also has 4 cruise terminals for access to the sea, located in Havana (Avenida del Puerto), Cienfuegos (Calle La Mar), Isla de la Juventud (Punta Francés) and Santiago de Cuba (Avenida Jesús Menéndez); and 15 international marinas or strategic points in tourist destinations where medium and small format boats dock with views of nautical events and activities of interest to the visitor.

What is advance traveler information?

D'VIAJEROS It is a process that facilitates and improves the experience of travelers in their transit through the Republic of Cuba, provides advance information to expedite procedures at the different points of entry. It is obligatory for each passenger to truthfully complete the information provided to the Identification, Immigration and Aliens Directorate, the General Customs of the Republic and the Ministry of Public Health.

You can purchase prepaid cards in the network of CADECA offices, airports, hotels and ports.

It is acquired in the currencies quoted by CADECA: Canadian dollar, pound sterling, Swiss franc, Japanese yen, Mexican peso and euro for values ​​of 50,100, 200, 500 and 1000.

Valid for the payment of goods and services in the commercial network such as hotel reservations, excursions, purchases in stores, purchase of airline tickets, car rental, restaurant and cafeteria services, among others.

At the client's request, the balance of the card is refunded by the Exchange Houses (CADECA) to the tourist in freely convertible currency, upon leaving the country, at international airports, in any of the foreign currencies accepted by the country.

As of Thursday, August 4, the Central Bank of Cuba, implemented the purchase of freely convertible currency (which is quoted in: Euro, American Dollar, Mexican Peso, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Swiss Franc and Canadian Dollar) throughout the office network of Exchange Houses (CADECA) located in international airports as well as in the branches of all banks. 

The new exchange rate that will be applied in correspondence with the market, varies daily and can be consulted on the official website of CADECA, which also has an automatic converter so that you know the cash in national currency that will be delivered to you. With this service, greater security guarantees are provided to the client.

The national currency in Cuba is the Cuban Peso (CUP). One Cuban Peso is equal to 100 cents. Bills of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pesos are in circulation, as well as fractional coins of 1, 3 and 5 pesos and 5 and 20 cents.

The exchange of freely convertible currencies (currency) for Cuban pesos (CUP) is carried out at airports, banks, hotels, exchange houses (CADECA) and shopping centers; always respecting the current exchange rate of the different currencies according to the fluctuations in the world market.

There is also a large infrastructure of banking services throughout the national territory that includes the network of Banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), as well as Exchange Houses (CADECA), which have a wide network of commercial offices, duly located in:

• All international airports in Cuba, both in the passenger arrival lounges and in the departure lounges, prior to immigration control.

• All ports where international cruise ships operate.

• In 60 of the main hotels of all the tourist poles.

• In the areas with the greatest influx or access of tourists.

To know the location of the Banks, CADECAS, ATM with the contact information, you can select one of the destinations shown below.

Exchange rates

Click here  to know the current rates.

What cash currency is recommended to take to Cuba?

To travel to Cuba, the traveler or tourist may enter in cash any foreign currency accepted by the Central Bank of Cuba to be exchanged for Cuban pesos (CUP).

The US Dollar (USD) is also included among the recommended currencies.

The Cuban Peso is not valid or exchangeable outside Cuban territory, so upon departure you must change it to the currency you deem convenient.

Which debit or credit cards work in Cuba?

The debit or credit cards accepted in Cuba are: Visa, Mastercard, Union Pay, Ocean Card, CABAL and American International Service (AIS). However, it is recommended to travelers interested in traveling to Cuba, check with the bank where you have your bank account: if you can use your card in the national territory.

No card issued by institutions of the United States works in Cuba, so it is recommended, first of all, that you verify beforehand that your card is not associated with an American banking institution and secondly, and of great importance, that you always have a backup of cash in any of the currencies accepted in Cuba, to avoid setbacks.

News

• Travelers will have free Internet access via WiFi for a period of 30 minutes inside international airports.

• In the 4 and 5 star category hotels, clients will have free Internet access as part of the services they offer.

• New platforms and various APKs are incorporated to serve customers at the airport, transport and hotel.

• The information will be available digitally, and online payment facilities will be enhanced through QR codes and other solutions

To call Cuba from abroad

• To a landline: Country exit prefix (00 (International exit code)) + 53 (Cuba code) + Locality code + Desired telephone number.

• To a mobile number: Country exit prefix (00 (International exit code)) + 53 (Cuban code) + Desired mobile number

You must know that:

• All mobile phones in Cuba start with the number 5.

• Calls from abroad to cell phones in Cuba are free of cost for the recipient.

To call in Cuba

National teleselection prefix (0 or 01) + Locality code + Desired telephone number.

• 0 (from Havana)

• 01 (from other cities)

To call from Cuba 

119 + 53 (Cuban Code) + Locality code + Desired telephone number.  

Mobile Telephony

The cell phone network in Cuba is operated by Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A (ETECSA), which is available in 900 Mhz throughout the national territory in GSM and in 3G, available only for Roaming IN service in the northern keys. of the country (Havana, Varadero, Keys of Villa Clara and Keys of Ciego de Ávila) and in the provincial capitals. It also has GSM access at 850 Mhz, with limited coverage to: Havana City, Varadero, Ciego de Ávila, Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo and Holguín (Airport and Guardalavaca).

Upon arrival in the country you can contract the services of Cubacel; you can rent a phone or bring your own and activate it.

Roaming

Roaming is the service that allows your mobile line to continue operating when you travel to Cuba.

Cubacel Tur

Cubacel Tur, is the service provided by the Cuban Telecommunications Company ETECSA to tourists who visit the island.

Cubacel Tur is a temporary telephone line, ideal for tourists who visit Cuba for a short time with a cost of $25.00 MLC

This line has a life cycle of 30 days from its activation and includes a basic package of 2.5 GB + 20 MIN + 20 SMS.

CubacelTur can be purchased through the pages of our international vendors:

• www.cubaceltur.com

• www.ding.com

• www.recargasacuba.com

• www.DTOne.com/reloadcuba

• www.csqworld.com

• www.moviles.compra-dtodo.com

• www.globaldsd.com

If the visitor is in Cuba, they can access through the WIFI connection, Roaming Service if they have it, in our Commercial Offices or any other means of access to the Internet.

Once the purchase is made, you can pick up your card at Terminal 3 of the José Martí Airport at the CUBATUR point available 24 hours a day, or at any ETECSA office between the hours of 9 am – 4 pm. With the mobile line already activated, the CubacelTur user will be able to connect to the internet and purchase additional packages for this service.

National teleselection (Cuban province codes)

• La Habana (7)

• Pinar del Río (48), (Bahía Honda, San Cristóbal y Candelaria - 48)

• Artemisa (47)

• Mayabeque (47)

• Las Tunas (31)

• Holguín (24)

• Guantánamo (21)

• Isla de la Juventud (46)

• Cayo Largo (45)

• Matanzas (45)

• Cienfuegos (43)

• Villa Clara (42)

• Santi Spiritus (41) (42 Condado, El Pedrero, Tope de Collantes)

• Ciego de Ávila (33) (32 Mamanantuaba)

• Camagüey (32)

• Granma (23)

• Santiago de Cuba (22)

Through Teleselection you can also make international calls with your own card.

Refills

ETECSA commercial network

Multiservice Telecommunications Centers

They operate from Monday to Sunday, for 12 hours, offering the public telecommunications services such as the sale and recharge of prepaid cards, fast bill collection, sale of equipment and accessories, marketing of mobile services, national and international calls from public telephones, Internet access, among others.

Minipoints

Distributed throughout the cities, they offer the population the most basic telecommunications services, such as the sale and recharge of prepaid cards and quick collection of telephone bills. You can obtain more information about its services, location and schedules, through 118.

Access to Internet and nauta

The public Internet service in Cuba is offered through Nauta access accounts, in the navigation rooms and in the wireless connection spaces (Wi-Fi) enabled in different points throughout the country (prior contracting of the service through prepaid cards). Internet services are found mostly in hotels and main tourist facilities. You will be able to find Internet cafes and Wi-Fi connection in public places, highly frequented, in the main cities of the country. The connection is generally by modem (dial up), it is paid, and it is slow and deficient in some places.

Useful telephone numbers in Cuba

Ambulances: 104 

Anti drugs: 103

National Revolucianary Policy (PNR)/ Emergencies: 106 

Firefighters: 105 

Rescue and Salvage Center: 107

PNR/ Request Information: 18 806

Regarding clothing, you should not miss your bathing suit and sandals, light-colored clothing and light fabrics are recommended for the tropical climate that prevails in the Caribbean region. It is also important to have on hand accessories to protect yourself from the sun: sunglasses, hats and sunscreen. If you consume any medication or specific medical treatment, it is recommended to take it with you during the trip.

Keep in mind that the electric current in Cuba is 110/220 and 60 Hz frequency. Plugs are generally flat pins, so you may need an adapter for certain electrical devices

Of course, you will want to take snapshots of your time in this beautiful country, so don't forget to bring your camera to record the authentic Cuba from your experience.

For more information on what can and cannot be imported, consult the General Customs.

What are considered personal effects?

• Jewelry and clothing for personal use.

• Clothing, footwear and grooming and beauty products, provided they are in amounts that suggest their personal usel.

• A portable photographic or video camera and its accessories.

• A portable digital media player, along with its respective set of portable headphones and accessories.

• A mobile phone (cellular).

• A portable television set.

• A portable personal computer.

• Items for transportation, entertainment, food and care of children, according to age.

• Up to a quantity that does not exceed, per adult person, 400 units of cigarettes; 500 grams of pipe tobacco; 50 units of cigars and 2,500 cubic centimeters of alcoholic beverages.

• Medications, in quantities necessary only for the personal use of the traveler and according to the respective medical prescription, as well as a device to measure blood pressure or blood glucose, as well as other similar portable devices for medical analysis and their reagents.

• Books and brochures, as well as newspapers, printed matter, magazines and musical compositions.

In the case of children under 10 years of age, who can only import their personal belongings, they are also considered within them:

• Toy Units

• Game units or electrical or electronic instruments for your personal use.

In the case of babies, they also include, among others, items for their transfer, grooming and entertainment, and their accessories, such as:

• A chair.

• A portable crib.

• A stroller.

• A walker.

In the case of foreign tourists, personal effects are considered, in addition:

• A portable compact disc (CD) and/or DVD player or similar, along with its respective set of portable headphones and accessories.

• Binoculars or binoculars for personal use.

• A portable television receiver, A laptop for personal use.

• A portable typewriter; A tent and camping equipment;

• Sports items (a set of fishing gear, a bicycle without a motor, a canoe or kayak less than 5.50 meters long, a pair of skis, two tennis rackets, and other similar items).

• A pair of walkie talkies

In any case, if more units are imported than those indicated in the preceding lists of each article, the amounts above them will not be considered personal effects and will be subject to the provisions for definitively imported articles.

When the weight/value valuation method is used to calculate the customs value of the items imported by a traveler, 25 kg are considered as personal effects. of them, which do not pay customs duties.