Planning a Trip to Cuba? - Don't Miss These Tips

Are you deciding on whether to plan a trip to Cuba or not?

Cuba, once an island out of reach for many travelers due to its complex history, has become increasingly accessible over the years.

Interestingly, Cuba is one of those destinations that many dream of visiting but rarely make the effort to experience in person.

Many people I spoke to were intrigued by my idea to go backpacking through Cuba because back then, it was a country not often talked about.

I didn’t 100% know what to expect by traveling here, I knew cigars were popular and the rum was superior, but what else was there to learn?

Content in this guide:

Planning a Trip to Cuba Guide

Sit back, because in this guide I’ll give you a hand with planning your trip to Cuba. This guide is packed with useful advice designed to help you out.

Let’s drop the idea of smoking cigars and rum drinking for a second and look at other reasons why you might want to consider traveling to Cuba.

Some of the bureaucracy you have to pay attention to can be tedious but I aim to keep it fun and insightful.

Here are some reasons to visit Cuba over other Caribbean islands:

3 Reasons to visit Cuba

Culture: Few nations make it easier for you to engage with society and a different kind of lifestyle than the tremendous people of Cuba.
History: With so much history to enjoy, you can take in a part of the world which plays such a unique role in the modern political climate
People: The people of Cuba are wonderful, friendly, and love to meet people from other backgrounds so they can learn about your culture.

So with these points in mind, I encourage you to keep your eyes open as there are many learning opportunities to be had along your trip.

Cuban Visa Problems

As a citizen of the United Kingdom, I’m pleased to say that I had no visa problems whatsoever. The process just seemed a little long-winded.

However, it was worth it. Don’t let this process put you off visiting Cuba.

If you’re traveling to Cuba as an American and nervous about the whole process, make yourself aware of the differences before booking anything.

Understanding Money in Cuba

Other than the places of interest in Havana Cuba I will also talk more about money in Cuba. I’m currently writing my ultimate guide to Cuba.

It’s worth mentioning here though that there are 2 currencies in Cuba:

CUC’s (Cuban converted currency)

Peso National (The non-tourist currency)

💡Smart Travel Tip
Some Cubans will try to lead you to believe that you can’t spend the Peso National or even better, they’ll say that they don’t accept it!

It’s real! Don’t be fooled, as each CUC (Cuban converted currency) is worth $1USD, and at the time $1USD was equal to 25 Pesos Nationales.

When you start to look at the prices and make the conversions you’ll quickly notice that you are being scammed by the system.

If you’re on a tight travel budget, be sure to check out one of Cuba’s best-rated hostels if you’d like to save on accommodation.

Best time to go to Cuba

If you were wondering what is the best time of year to go to Cuba it’s worth knowing that between November and March is the dry and cooler season.

Bear in mind that it’s the busiest time as many tourists like to take advantage of the lower temperature and less heavy humidly levels.

Outside of the weather, though, knowing when to go to Cuba can be decided by cultural events. For example, you could go for the carnival or tobacco harvest which is during the wet season between May and June.

There are also certain times of the year that I’d personally avoid traveling to Cuba as well. From July to the beginning on November is hurricane season so you can expect a rainy and windy atmosphere worth avoiding.

Travel Safety in Cuba

During this time, I was residing Jamaica which is so close, so I thought I’d do some solo travel in Cuba and see who I could meet along the way.

But it was due to a friend’s recommendation that Cuba made its way onto my travel bucket list and I’m glad that I took his advice.

Did you know that travelers can not enter Cuba (legally) without Travel Insurance? When getting your tourist visa at the embassy, having a vaild travel insurance policy document is mandatory.

You may get so far without, but here’s the thing, even if you make it to the Cuban side without travel insurance, the Cuban authorities who do regular spot checks, may demand you take it out there and then on the spot.

Of course, knowing where to go and what to see when you travel to Cuba can be quite tough.

But where ever you’re traveling to Cuba there are some universal truths that if you can bear them in mind will make your trip smoother.

Cuban Money Safety Tips

Always take cash with you: Just because travel for US citizens has become more relaxed, it’s wise to take some hard currency on your trips to Cuba and make sure you keep it secure at all times.
Avoid using MasterCard: Use VISA card for Cuba. This happened to me before, not just when spending money in Cuba but most places I saw that accepted credit cards in Cuba only had the VISA symbol.
Print out your documents: In an emergency you may want or need to present a crucial document to authorities and having a printout for your documents can be a lifesaver. I printed out a copy of my passport, my visa for Cuba, travel insurance, and all my fight details including my outbound flight just to be on the safe side.

Got Travel Insurance for Cuba?

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Places to Visit in Cuba

Where should you start your journey from, then? I recommend Havana, let’s look a little deeper at what Cuba’s capital has to offer.

Havana: A trip to the city of Havana is an absolute must: a rich tourist spot that will immediately make you feel very welcome.
Trinidad: A trip around Trinidad is always fun, as it’s a very good place for partying and just letting your hair down a little.
Cienfuegos: A trip over to Cienfuegos is a good idea, too. I recommend that you try and stick to the central areas, though, as this is where most of the fun is.
Vinales: From a trip around the stunning Vinales valley to a trip around the Mural de la Prehistoria, there are ample choices for those who love nature and the wider world to have some fun here.
Matanzas: Few places can be quite so fun to come and visit as the unique world of Matanzas. It’s fun, and a place you can easily relax.
Santa Clara: Santa Clara should be quite easy for you to get into the feeling and the way of the area simply because there is so much to do.
Camaguey: Taking the time to come to Camaguey is a lot of fun, and it will make sure you learn plenty about Cuban culture and its history.
Gibara: This hidden little part of Cuba is well worth coming to visit if you like to try out small, reclusive locations.
Baracoa: If you visit Baracoa, then arrive in the morning where the city is at its quietest and you can just enjoy a quiet, happy stroll.
Santiago de Cuba: When you travel to Cuba, it would be remiss to avoid taking part in a trip to Santiago de Cuba. A trip to the picturesque Castillo de San Pedro del Morro is well recommended, as is a visit to the monumental Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia.

Packing for Cuba

Depending on where you’re flying from, it’s worth trying to cut back on your luggage allowance when planning a trip to Cuba.

Put plenty of thought into what you’ll carry. I know that the more we travel we learn what and what not to carry but Cuba is truly special.

You’ll see people arriving with all sorts of electronics in the airport such as TV, microwaves, etc. A friend and I decided to carry some items of clothing that we would offer to the local people we were staying with.

Try to pack accordingly no matter whether you are traveling to Cuba with kids, flying solo, or with a loved one, aim to plan well ahead of time.

Travelling Light: You’ll find backpacking Cuba very challenging when carrying more weight. After a while, lugging bags around tight streets, up tiny staircases, and on public transport whilst in the sun becomes tiring.

I reccommend that you carry some quality t-shirts, swimming shorts and a decent pair of travel pants are my most valuable assets when on the road.

Let’s look at the places in Cuba that I recommend you add to your trip.

Cuba Travel Tips

⤵️ Follow Dan’s travel tips for the Cuba below:

Never surrender your passport and/or give any cash to police officers or port officials. Aim to carry a travel organizer or a small folder so you can keep all your travel papers together in one place.
Check out some of these hostels in Cuba if you’re arriving here on a budget or would like to save money.
Avoid the hurricane season (September to October) as it can make the weather very unpredictable and disrupt local services.
Be very careful when walking around at night, especially if you’re on your own. Ask hotel official on places to avoid walking.
Always be aware of your surroundings when you’re out and about.
Stick to crowded, tourist areas and aim to dress so you blend in.
Don’t forget to use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Sunstroke can last 2 to 3 days and ruin your trip.
Keep your belongings on you and avoid carrying unnecessary valuables. Especially when on day tours.

Follow these tips and they should help you stay safer. Overall, practice common sense and if something doesn’t feel right in your gut, listen to that. It’s always best to err on the side of caution.

Planning a trip to Cuba

In a bid to help you make sound decisions, I suggest that you read through this guide again to make sure you know what to keep an eye out for.

While some parts of Cuba can be a little sketchy after dark, a touch of self-preparation and self-awareness will go a long way in making sure you can enjoy yourself without worries here.

You can see more of my favourite Spanish speaking countries which you can visit (even on budget) to get more Latin America travel inspiration.

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Planning a Trip to Cuba Guide