Cuba, it seems everyone wants to go. Plus there are a lot of emotions surrounding the new relations with the U.S. I grew up only 90 miles away in Jamaica and never made the voyage over. I actually seen it a few times from my hikes to the Blue Mountain Peak which sits at 7,402′. You have to get up really early in the morning to see it.
Cuba – How to legally visit
Most of the rest of the world is able to travel to Cuba without issues, but the relationship, as you may know, between the U.S. and Cuba is different, but changing, so that restricts travel by its citizens between the two countries.
As a U.S. citizen, you cannot visit for the sake of tourism at the time of this writing. There are twelve categories under which you can visit. If you satisfy these, then you can go ahead and make your voyage. American and United have been operating charter flights for some time now and just recently, JetBlue and American Airlines received permission from the DOT, but still subject to Cuban government approval, to operate scheduled service from the U.S. Alaska Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Silver Airways, Southwest, Spirit and Sun Country and United have also received permission and will also start service in the very near future so check your Intranets on how you can book these flights:
- Family visits
- Official government business
- Journalistic activity
- Professional research or meetings
- Educational activities or people-to-people exchanges
- Religious activities Sports and public events
- Support for the Cuban people
- Humanitarian projects Research Informational materials
- Authorized export activities Non-immigrant Cuban National
- Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
- Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials
- Certain authorized export transactions.
Citizens from other countries do not have this restriction. However, you should check with the Cuban Embassy/Consulate for your particular country. You may also find additional information here.
Each of the U.S. airlines have setup specific pages to address their travel to Cuba. Ensure that you read these in their entirety before embarking on your trip. Here’s a roundup:
- – Alaska Airlines – https://www.alaskaair.com/content/cities/flights-to/cuba.aspx
- – American Airlines – https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/destinations/cuba.jsp
- – Delta Air Lines – http://news.delta.com/delta-serve-havana-cuba-new-york-jfk-atlanta-and-miami
- – Frontier Airlines – https://www.flyfrontier.com/news/posts/2016/septemeber/frontier-airlines-announces-schedule-to-havana-cuba/
- – JetBlue – https://www.jetblue.com/flights/cuba/
- – Silver Airways – https://www.silverairways.com/destinations/region/cuba
- – Southwest – https://www.southwest.com/html/promotions/new-service-cuba.html
- – United Airlines – https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/destination/international/cuba.aspx
At the moment, Cuba has no shortage of air service from airlines around the world as you will see from the information below. It’s just that U.S. carriers could not operate a scheduled service.
Here’s some information about Cuba you should know.
- – Currency: Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC). You will have to take your local currency and convert it once you arrive. Credit cards are not used here.
- – Language: Spanish.
- – Internet Connectivity: Service is limited and chances are your phone service will not work. Check with your carrier.
- – Visa Information: as a U.S. citizen, you must qualify under the current 12 reasons to be able to go to Cuba. Use this link to check visa requirements. Here is some additional information for U.S. Citizens. Ensure that you have read this carefully as you are required to have medical insurance (not issued in the U.S.) before you go and procedures are listed there. There is also a special page set up by the Department of Treasury to help you. If you have U.K. citizenship here’s some info – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba.
- – Health Information: Here’s some information from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA – http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cuba
- – National Airlines: Cubana Airlines (CU)
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Camagüey (CMW): Air Transat (TS), American Airlines (AA), Cubana Airlines (CU), JetBlue Airways (B6), Silver Airways (3M), Sunrise Airways S.A. (S6), Sunwing Airlines (WG)
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Cayo Coco (CCC): Air Canada (AC), Air Transat (TS), Condor (DE), Cubana Airlines (CU), Silver Airways (3M), Sunwing Airlines (WG), WestJet (WS) and XL Airways France (SE).
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Cayo Lago del Sur (CYO): Air Transat (TS), Cubana Airlines (CU), Silver Airways (3M), Neos Air (NO), Sunwing Airlines (WG)
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Cienfuegos (CFG): American Airlines (AA), Cubana Airlines (CU) and Silver Airways (3M)
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Havana (HAV): Aeroflot (SU), Aeromexico (AM), Air Berlin (AB), Air Caraibes (TX), Air France (AF), Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), Austrian Airlines (OS), Avianca (AV), Bahamasair (UP), Cayman Airways (KX), Condor (DE), Conviasa (V0), Copa Airlines (CM), Corsair International (SS), Cubana (CU), Delta Air Lines (DL), Eurowings (EW), Evelop Airlines (E9), Iberia Airlines (IB), interCaribbean Airways (JY), interJet (4O), KLM (KL), LAN (LA), Links Air (W2), Meridiana Airlines (IG), Neos Air (NO), Pan Am World Airways Dominicana S.A (7N), Spirit Airlines (NK), Southwest (WN), TAME Linea Aerea del Ecuador (EQ), Tara Air (TA), United Airlines (UA), Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS)
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Holguin (HOG): Air Canada (AC), Air Transat (TS), American Airlines (AA), Condor (DE), Copa Airlines (CM), Cubana Airlines (CU), JetBlue (B6), Neos Air (NO), Silver Airways (3M), Sunwing Airlines (WG), TUI Netherlands (OR) and WestJet (WS).
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Manzanillo de Cuba (MZO): Cubana Airlines (CU), Silver Airways (3M), Sunwing Airlines (WG)
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Santa Clara (SNU): Air Canada (AC), Air Transat (TS), American Airlines (AA), Bahamasair (UP), Condor (DE), Copa Airlines (CM), Cubana Airlines (CU), interJet (4O), JetBlue (B6), Silver Airways (3M), Southwest (WN), Sunwing Airlines (WG), TUI Netherlands (OR), WestJet (WS) and XL Airways France (SE).
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Santiago de Cuba (SCU): Air Caraibes (TX), Cubana Airlines (CU), interCaribbean Airways (JY), Silver Airways (3M), Sunrise Airways S.A. (S6), Sunwing Airlines (WG)
- – Scheduled Service Airlines Serving Varadero, Cuba (VRA): Air Berlin (AB), Air Canada (AC), Air Europa (UX), Air Transat (TS), American Airlines (AA), Bahamasair (UP), Condor (DE), Corsair International (SS), Copa Airlines (CM), Cubana Airlines (CU), Eurowings (EW), interJet (4O), Jetairfly (TB), Silver Airways (3M), Southwest (WN), Sunwing Airlines (WG), TUI Netherlands (OR),Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS) , WestJet (WS) and XL Airways France (SE).
- – Airfare Tip: If looking for a low fare, book at the Web sites for the low cost carriers as you’ll more than likely get the best value there. Try my partner SkyScanner.
- – Airport To The City: This will vary from airport to airport You will have to check with your travel arrangers before heading down.
As I’ve not been to Cuba just yet, here are some articles you may find useful:
- – 5 Essential Places to Visit in Cuba from Lee Abbamonte
- – 11 Fun Things To Do in Cuba from Deb and Dave at the planet D
- – 27 Things you need to Know Before you Visit Cuba from Caz and Craig at y Travel Blog
- – Fresh Look Travel Show on Cuba from Jeremy
- – Hostal Florida Center Shines in Santa Clara, Cuba from Seth Miller at Wandering Aramean
- – How to do Cuba on $50/Day – Rachel from Rachel Travels
- – How to visit Cuba for Americans from Linda and David at Divergent Travelers
- – Santiago de Cuba
- – What to do Outside of your Varadero Resort from air Transat
- – Where to stay in Cuba from CNTraveller
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Cuba: How To Legally Visit As A U.S. Citizen