All you need to know about travelling to Cuba
There are not too many destinations on Earth where pre-60s American classic car are a common day-to-day sight.
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Cuba is a fascinating place to say the least. There are not too many destinations on Earth where pre-60s American classic cars are a common day-to-day sight.
A former Spanish colony, Cuba has a character quite unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. Colourful colonial cities, vintage cars, live music and a strong sense of history sit alongside beautiful beaches and a culture that is unmistakably Cuban.
Best known for Che Guevara, fine cigars, pristine beaches and the sounds of the Buena Vista Social Club, Cuba remains on the bucket list of many travellers. Before you head off, though, there are a few important things worth knowing.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently advises against all but essential travel to Cuba due to ongoing fuel shortages, power outages and disruption to essential services.
Travel advice can change, so we recommend checking the latest FCDO advice before making travel plans or travelling to Cuba.
Yes, British passport holders visiting Cuba as tourists need a tourist visa before entering the country. This can be arranged through the Cuban Embassy, your travel agent or tour operator, or you can apply for an electronic visa online.
If applying for an eVisa, you’ll receive a code which needs to be entered when completing Cuba’s D’Viajeros online arrival form. This form must be completed within 72 hours before entering the country and will generate a QR code which you’ll need to show on arrival. It’s worth downloading or printing a copy before you travel in case you cannot access WiFi at the airport.
Your passport should have an expiry date at least six months after the date you arrive in Cuba and three months after your planned departure date. You’ll also need proof of your onward or return travel.
There are no standard mandatory vaccinations for most travellers arriving in Cuba from the UK, although there are some vaccinations you may want to consider before you go.
As with all health-related matters, it’s best to check the latest advice before travelling. The NHS and TravelHealthPro provide up-to-date information on recommended vaccinations and any current health risks in Cuba.
Ideally, check what you may need at least eight weeks before you depart, particularly if you need vaccinations or booster jabs.
Getting your holiday money for Cuba is a little different to many other destinations. The official currency is the Cuban Peso, known as the CUP, and it cannot normally be bought outside Cuba.
Cash is particularly important when travelling in Cuba. International Visa and Mastercard cards are currently not accepted and you should not rely on being able to withdraw money from ATMs. It’s therefore important to take enough cash to cover your spending during your stay, as well as a little extra for emergencies.
US dollars and euros are widely accepted and can also be exchanged into Cuban Pesos once you arrive. Money should only be exchanged at official Cadeca exchange houses rather than through individuals offering unofficial exchange rates.
It’s worth checking with your hotels and other suppliers before travelling to see which payment methods they accept, particularly as arrangements in Cuba can change.
One important thing to be aware of is that visiting Cuba can affect future travel to the USA.
If you have travelled to or been in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021, you cannot normally use the ESTA visa waiver scheme to enter the USA and will instead need to apply for a US visa.
This is particularly worth considering if you are planning a wider multi centre holiday involving both Cuba and the USA, or have plans to visit America at a later date.
Cuba boasts wonderful sub-tropical weather all year round, which means you can visit at pretty much any time of the year and still enjoy your travels.
However, due to the fact that the hurricane season occurs between June and November, many choose to visit outside of this period. Having said that, even during this time, hurricanes are infrequent and the county is set up to deal with them; it’s just not something you usually want to have to go through on holiday if one does happen!
Throughout November and April, Cuba’s dry season is in full swing and tourists flock to Havana, Trinidad and Santiago de Cuba to sample the unique heritage of the country. The main rainy season is between May and October. Peak travel times are the Christmas period, Easter, July and August.
Whatever time of year you do decide to visit, you are pretty much guaranteed a party! Cubans love a good fiesta and the calendar is packed full of festivals, carnivals and all manner of colourful celebrations.
Religion, culture, film, music and dance; there’s always something going on in Cuba so grab yourself a cold Mojito and join in the fun!
At Eshores we pride ourselves on the in-depth knowledge we have gathered on each destination. For any advice on the best places to visit in Cuba, just get in touch with one of our agents.
Christmas in Cuba is a little different to the festive season in the UK, swapping cold weather for sunshine, palm trees and warm Caribbean evenings. Christmas celebrations were restricted for many years following the Cuban Revolution, before Christmas Day was restored as a public holiday in the late 1990s.
Today, celebrations tend to centre around family, food and Christmas Eve, known as Nochebuena. Families often gather late into the evening for a feast of roast pork accompanied by dishes such as rice, black beans, plantain and yucca. Churches hold Christmas Eve services, while decorations are generally more understated than you might find at home, with lights and traditional nativity scenes common.
Presents are exchanged in some households at Christmas, although 6 January, Three Kings Day, also remains an important date in the festive calendar. Hotels and resorts usually mark Christmas too, making Cuba an appealing option if you fancy spending the festive period somewhere warm while still enjoying a little seasonal atmosphere.
Levels of crime in Cuba are generally lower than in the UK, although opportunistic crime does occur and visitors should take the usual precautions when travelling.
Keep valuables secure, avoid displaying expensive jewellery or electronics and take extra care with your belongings in busy areas and at night. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur, particularly in tourist areas such as Old Havana.
If you need a taxi, make sure you use an officially registered service rather than accepting lifts from unofficial drivers.
Conditions in Cuba can change and visitors should always check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice before travelling.
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