7 things an American Should Know Before Visiting Cuba
By Alexis Molina
Despite the US embargo policy, more than 140,000 Americas are expected to visit Cuba by the end of this year, according to ABC News. Cuba is a vibrant country full of color, history and culture. It’s architecture, classic vehicles and vintage lifestyle takes you back in time. Salsa music, cigars and rum draw travelers to the island nation. Cuba has become a hotspot for travel amongst Americans. However, visiting a country like Cuba, one so different from your own, a place that is seemingly trapped in the 1950’s with such a distinguished political climate, poses challenges. What do you need? What is okay to talk about? What is not? How do you not absolutely offend everyone? We have all the answers, including advice from experienced travelers as well as experts . Here are seven things an American should know before visiting Cuba.
- You must have a visa.
Raul Colon Pastor of Cruzada Evangelica Misionera Church in Long Beach New York and organizer of the church’s 2019 Cuban Missions outreach campaign titled “Awaken’’, suggests that the most important thing to remember is that you must have a visa. You may apply for it under 12 different travel categories that reflect the activities travelers will do while in Cuba. There’s no “tourism” category, but there are categories that will allow you to have an incredible trip. These categories include:
- Educational activities (schools, students, teachers)
- People-to-people group travel
- Humanitarian projects
- Professional meetings and professional research
- Support to the Cuban people
- Journalistic activities
- Religious activities
- Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic or other competitions, and exhibitions
- Visits to family in Cuba
- US government business, foreign governments, and intergovernmental affairs
- Activities of private foundations, research or educational institutes
- Exportation of certain Internet-based services
In 2017 US President Donald Trump put restrictions on the ‘’person to person’’ category. Americans are no longer allowed to travel independently under this category and must travel with a US based tour organization that puts together full time programs for travelers.
Anyone traveling into Cuba needs a tourist card. It should be treated as your passport while in Cuba. American tourist cards are pink and is a different document then the visa. Colon says you can purchase both documents through your local Cuban embassy or before check in at a Cuban Air desk. Some Airlines may include the documents on the price of your flight tickets. Prices of the documents can range depending where you are traveling from but are usually somewhere between $50-$85.
There is one golden rule that you should abide by while in Cuba. Colon says the golden rule is:
- While in Cuba your activities must focus on full-time engagement in the category of travel you choose.
While it may be tempting to wonder off and explore during your stay remember it is important to stay on track . All activities you engage in while in Cuba must pertain to the category of your visa.
2. Make sure you have EVERYTHING
Before heading to Cuba it is a good idea to double, even triple check that you have absolutely everything you need. Helen Beniquez is a traveler and missionary from Far Rockaway NY, she participated in the Cruzada Evangelica Misionera Church’s “Awaken’’ campaign . She suggest that you do not skip on anything.
“ Bring things you even think you wont need. You can not bet on buying anything while your out there.’’ she says. This is due to trade restrictions. Cuba does not get many imports so access to your favorite products may be limited.
Beniquez recommends even bringing extra of what you need. ‘’ It is better to have what you don’t need then to need what you don’t have and if worse comes to worse you can leave things behind. I always leave my soaps and things behind for my host to use.’’
3. Let family and friends know you may not be able to check in everyday-
Milton Caban is a Pastor at Assembly Christian Church John 3:16 in the Bronx New York. Caban is also a missionary of many years and has traveled to several different countries with financial and political conditions to similar to Cuba’s for example El Salvador. He suggests you give your loved ones a heads up that you may not be able to check in every single day especially of you only plan to communicate using your smartphone. Wifi is subject to where you are. In larger cities like Havana there are a few internet cafes and hotels that have Wifi. However, the strength of the signal is usually dependent of the time of day. Some service providers offer international roaming services, you may also rent a phone to use with the purchase of a call card. Using a call card or roaming services can get pricey. Caban suggests using free messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook messenger and a Wifi signal when you can find it. “I warned my family before leaving that I would not be able to get in contact with them every day. I told them if they did not hear back from me every day not to panic. The hotel I stayed at had Wi-Fi but the signal was only good during the morning. I used WhatsApp to make calls or send text.’’
Caban also recommends having one designated person to communicate with and then have them spread the message among other family and friends.
“I entrusted my granddaughter I called her about every other day, and she spread the word amongst family and friends to let them know we were okay. There just wasn’t enough time to call up everyone.’’ he says.
4. How to help the Cuban people-
Colon believes that if you can help the Cuban people in any way while visiting you should. ‘’They have this amazing energy, they are so bright and full of joy and yet they have this humbleness a them. ’’ he says. Gift giving is allowed in Cuba and is actually a tradition widely embraced by the people. Some things you could give as gifts include:
- Tooth brushes , mouthwash, floss
- Deodorant, antiperspirants
- Hair scrunchies
- Feminine hygiene products
- Vitamins — both adult and for kids
- Reading glasses, sunglasses
- Toys
- Shoes
- Soap, shampoo, conditioner
- Gardening/utility gloves
These seems like everyday items, but to most of the locals in Cuba, these are highly coveted items. Since Cuba is a communist country most of these items are rationed out to ensure that everyone is equal. More often than not these rations do not suffice. “ Each Cuban is given a half a bar or soap a month. That is not enough for anyone.’’ says Colon.
Since these basic materials are so scarce, Cubans deeply appreciate anything you can offer them. Haydee Caban, a traveler and missionary from Rockville Centre New York visited the island as also participant in the ‘’ Awaken’’ campaign for Cruzada Evangelica Misionera Church. She says ‘’ I brought packs of scrunchies to give out to the women on the island. One lady I gave them too was so excited it was like she hit the jackpot. I was mad I did not bring ore. It blew my mind dow something so simple, something I could buy at the dollar store could be of such value to someone. It made me not want to complain about not having something ever again.’’
5. Eating and Drinking in Cuba-
While the food in Cuba is not all good, it’s not all bad either. However, it does tend to sometimes be bland. Due to trade restrictions and the embargo act Cuba may not have access to your favorite brands, herbs and spices, or even meats. In Cuba cows are only for providing milk, and chicken is hard to come by. Expect to eat a lot of rice and pork as this is what most Cubans have access to. You also might find the food to be a bit bland. Cuba does not receive imports of many different spices, likewise you won’t find many familiar brands in stores. Caban Suggest suggests you bring your own. She says it may even be a good idea to bring alternatives. “I brought my own salt, pepper and sauce packets. I also packed some instant noodles and protein bars. They came in handy when I got tired of eating rice.’’ As far as bringing food over to Cuba anything goes as long as it is not fresh.
When drinking water in Cuba you should be wary. You just cannot be too sure of what the water contains or how your body will react to the different materials. Traveler Marleny Delarosa from Freeport New York visited the island with her husband and friends in 2018. She recommends bringing along a filtered water bottle. We just poured our water into the water bottle before drinking. It kept us from getting sick and it was just convenient to always have a water bottle especially in that heat.’’ If worse comes to worse while in Cuba and you leave your water bottle in the hotel room, you may just want to opt for a cold beer. Delarosa says ,‘’Even the bottled water can be suspect, grab a beer instead, it’s a safer bet.’’
6. What you can and can not bring back home-
I know what your thinking, ‘’cigars and rum’’, luckily you can bring back these items from Cuba into the US as long as you are 21 years of age and the total dollar amount of items you are bringing back does not surpass $800. Also you must not have any intent on selling what you bring home. Alcohol and Tobacco must only be for personal use.
Besides rum and cigars there are many other souvenirs you might consider bringing home. Beniquez raves about the handmade art and jewelry you can purchase off Cubans in the street. “Every piece is unique, no one else will own anything like it and the money really helps the people selling the stuff out.’’
Here are a few items you may want to take home as souvenirs according to Beniquez:
- Art
- CDs
- Jewelry
- Dominoes
- Perfume
As Beniquez states most of these items are handmade adding to their uniqueness and value. “I feel like I am bringing a part of Cuban culture home with me.’’she says. On the flip side you may find yourself wondering what can’t I bring home? Here it is:
- Animals
- Animal products
- Fruits and vegetables
- Chemicals
- Drugs
- Firearms
7. Book all tours and print out all documents at home-
Booking tours and printing out your documents at home is important due to the lack of internet. Access to a computer or printer may be limited. In this case is it is best to prepare ahead of time . “You don’t want to get stuck with nothing to do, or worse show up to a tour you paid for and not be able to get in. ‘’ says Beniquez. It is best to have a plan when traveling in Cuba as it is a difficult place to be spontaneous in. You may not be able to read reviews quickly or google places to eat. Also public transportation can be tricky, there are few buses however they don’t run often and are not consistent. For this reason it is best to plan around bus schedules.
However this does not apply to were you stay. You may want to book one night if you arrive in Cuba super early or super late, from that point forward you can wing it. Many Cuban people rent out rooms in their home and if you are planning to move from town to town most host are happy to set you up with a friend. This is a alternative to staying in a hotel. Beniquez says there’s just one thing to remember when looking for a place to stay, ‘’The orange houses are strictly for Cubans the bluish green houses are where foreigners are allowed to stay.’’ This is an important detail as both you and your host can get into trouble if you are found to be staying where your not supposed to.
Printing out important documents may be a good idea. Especially documents pertaining to your returning flight. Remember you may not be able to pull up information on your phone or computer, again due to lack of internet. ‘’Better safe than sorry,’’ Beniquez says. ‘’ these issues seems small, however could really be the defining factor in you having a good time or not. Planning especially when going to somewhere you’re not familiar with is always a good idea.’’
‘’Better safe than sorry.’’ Seems to be the running theme when it comes to visiting Cuba. Much like visiting any other foreign country preparation is key. Making sure you have absolutely everything you have can really make or break your trip. Cuba’s additional travel obstacles can be avoided as long as proper adjustments are made , everything is planned out properly and you come in knowing what to expect. Cuba is a beautiful island with a deep heritage that should be embraced by others. Hopefully these tips help anyone planning to visit the island soon.
Side Bar-
What Not to do While in Cuba
Being culturally aware when visiting another country always gives you the upper hand. Knowing what is acceptable and what is not can help you blend in, seem more like a local and less like a tourist. It could also help with interactions with others. “ There’s nothing worse than unknowingly offending someone.’’ says Haydee Caban. Here are a few things to avoid doing/ talking about while in Cuba:
- Tanning- Tanning on cuban beaches is forbidden by law.
- Spitting/ Blowing nose in public- Both are considered extremely rude.
- Talking about politics- Just avoid this one at all cause.
- Do not photograph police or soldiers- Photographing police and soldiers is forbidden by law.
List of Sources-
Haydee Caban- traveler and missionary, Rockville Centre NY, (516)662-1914 haydeec526@gmail.com
Milton Caban- traveler and missionary , Rockville Centre NY, (516)532-5809 cabbymil@yahoo.com
Raul Colon- organizer of Cruzada Evangelica Misionera Church’s 2019 Cuban Missions trip, Long Beach NY, (516) 431-7122
Marleny Delarosa- traveler, Freeport NY , (516)992-1875
Helen Beniquez- traveler , missionary, Far Rockaway NY , (516)491-4591
Alexis Molina is a New York based Adelphi senior and freelance writer.
Assembly Christian Church John 3:16 