Current News on Tourism in Cuba
This guide will help you prepare for your trip to Cuba. We strive to keep the information current.
Advice on Money
US Dollars and Euros are the best currencies to bring to Cuba, in that order, plus a non-US credit card and debit card as back-up. Canadian dollars are a distant third and are only useful near all-inclusive resorts.
Cash is king in Cuba, you cannot realistically use credit or debit cards to get money from a Cuban ATM or bank. Plan to bring cash to cover all your costs while in Cuba. I know this sounds scary, but it works fine. For the airline portion of the trip keep your cash on your body or in your closely guarded purse. Our bus is secure for daytime storage, and you can keep your money with you at other times.
Our general recommendation for bike tours is to bring to Cuba the equivalent of $50 USD per day per person in cash. This is very conservative as most people would only spend about $20 for lunches and drinks and incidentals. Consider your personal spending habits including tips.
Bringing about 30 US one-dollar bills per person as tips for hotel staff, etc. because foreign coins are worthless in Cuba, and CDN/Euros bills only come in $5 plus. Do not bring any bills that are marked or torn, they will not be accepted. Bills of $20 or $50 work well for exchanging to Cuban Pesos. Also lots of $5 bills are very handy for meals, tips, and small purchases like drinks, as you will generally get change in pesos.
Tipping
Our Cuban tour staff (guide, bus driver, bike mechanic) will greatly appreciate a tip of $2-4 each day/staff/client paid at the end of the tour. I recommend putting this money aside in three envelopes and placing the envelopes in your carry-on bag before you leave home so you won’t have to think about it during the trip.
Everyone in Cuba appreciates a tip for services. It is a major source of income for many Cubans.
Making Purchases
In government owned businesses like hotels, excursion companies, and grocery stores the prices are listed in US$. But you can only pay with a non-US issued credit card or an MLC card (more on that below). Generally, they will not accept any form of cash. At the time of payment, you will need to have your non-US credit card or MLC card, your PIN, and your passport (or an image saved on your smartphone of the page with your photograph and passport number).
In private restaurants, private stores, and private souvenir shops, prices may be in either Cuban Pesos (CUP) or US$. You should ask what form of payment they will take and what the prices are in the currencies you are carrying as you may get a much better price (randomly) with one currency over another. Also, confirm what currency they will give you change in. It will most likely be CUP.
Exchanging your Money to Cuban Pesos
Exchange your money while in Cuba on the informal market with reputable people we meet at casas, restaurants or bars. Do not exchange your money at a bank, the airport or other formal places as you will get the “bank rate” which can be one-third the street (informal) rate.
See below for typical exchange rates for Cuban Pesos (CUP) which have portraits of Cuban heroes. The old CUC currency had pictures of buildings. Do not accept CUC as change, as they are worthless since about 2022.
The informal exchange rate varies daily and from place to place so take these values broadly. For a current rate see: https://eltoque.com.
Cuban MLC Cards
This section is only of interest to our American clients, and even with that, I do not recommend this option as its not really necessary if you have a Canadian client or our Tour Guide with you.
In June of 2021, Cuba created new Cuban debit (MLC) cards for tourists, primarily useful for Americans who hold credit/debit cards issued by American banks, as such cards cannot be used in Cuba. Enhancements to the program have happened periodically, most recently in April 2023, US Dollars can now be used to load money onto a card, and the expiry period increased from 2 to 5 years.
The new Cuban MLC cards can be purchased for a fee of 5 USD from CADECAs money exchanges (not banks, hotels, or stores) and come loaded in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 & 1,000 USD. Payment for a loaded debit card and the fee can be paid for in any MLC currency including as of April 2023 US Dollars, which makes this a far better option for Americans than in the past. Still, for people with non-US bank credit cards, you are better off just using your credit card.
Such cards are valid for 5 years, up from 2 years when the cards were first introduced. You can access the money on the debit card at a Cuban ATM and will receive funds in CUP, or pay by debit at businesses where the card is accepted.
You cannot have any remaining balance paid out when you leave Cuba, so do not load more money on an MLC debit card than you expect to use.
Travel Insurance
Cuba requires valid travel health insurance. Cuba is offering health insurance for $30 USD (this only provides for basic health needs). It is strongly recommended that you have more comprehensive insurance beyond this. But if you choose, this insurance will be available at the airport. Anticipate customs officers may ask for proof of health coverage upon arrival.
US airlines include travel medical insurance in the price of the flight for $25, keep your boarding pass as it is proof of this insurance that you need for Cuban immigration and any medical treatment. Again, it is strongly recommended that you have more comprehensive insurance beyond this including medical evacuation.
It is also recommended to get trip cancellation & interruption insurance for the tour and airfare costs, the best policies are CFAR “Cancel for Any Reason”.
There are many options for obtaining travel health insurance and/or trip cancellation and interruption insurance. One method you may want to consider to check for the lowest price is this online insurance aggregator https://www.insurancehotline.com.
For American travellers you can try Yonder (it doesn’t have options for Canadians). Yonder is the Bicycle Breeze insurance provider and offers rates based on best available prices. They also have excellent and current information on travel restrictions/advisories/rules. Here is a link for our Bicycle Breeze affiliation to get quotes, and travel insurance advice Yonder Travel Insurance
Mobile Phones
There are two options if you want to have the added benefit of a smartphone with data and call/text ability.
Before you leave home you may be able to get a roaming package for your phone from your provider (usually about $15-20 per day only on the days when you use it); or buy a Cuban Tourist SIM card. For $35 USD you can purchase a Cuban Tourist SIM card valid for valid for 30 days maximum, best to buy it online before you leave home at the link below that way it will be waiting for you at the airport upon arrival. You get 6Gb of data, 100 SMS texts, 100 minutes of international and national phone calls.
Internet
Most hotels and some casas will have wifi available either free or for a small fee such as $1 per day. Unfortunately, the wifi in smaller hotels especially can be sporadic as any power blips can upset the system and staff often rely on specialist to reset the router.
You will most likely be able to connect via wifi every few days so enough for keeping in touch back home, but not good enough if you want to be connected more regularly. In that case consider the above options to use your smartphone.
You will find that some websites do not work in Cuba, such as Amazon, banking, and other sites that may block connections from Cuba. If this is an issue for you (it is for me), you should get a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that will enable you to connect as if you are still at home. I use NordVPN which is generally regarded as the best, there are some free versions of VPNs but I have no experience with them. I use a VPN even at home so I have a mult-year subscription, but monthly rates are available. You can use this link to purchase NordVPN via my account to get up to 3 months extra service as a bonus (but up to you, no pressure).
Link to purchase NordVPN: https://refer-nordvpn.com/ylaUESdmKNW
Maps and Getting Around
Smartphones with GPS and maps installed are useful. The app “Maps.me” is great, you can download a full map of Cuba at home while you have wifi and it will work offline in Cuba. I have also been using “Map-Factor Navigator” and “Organic Maps” which have some advantages..
Remember, GPS devices such as Garmin are not allowed in Cuba and may be confiscated upon arrival.
Fitness
Try to keep riding your bike for a few weeks prior to the tour. You only need to ride for say 20 minutes at a time, a few times per week. It’s more about keeping your butt used to a bike seat, but of course more recent miles in your legs will make it easier on your legs, back and neck.
What can Americans Bring Home from Cuba?
You can bring home souvenirs, but no rum or cigars.
What else do Americans Need to Keep in Mind?
US bank-issued debit cards and credit cards will not work in Cuba for example at some businesses that do not accept cash such as government hotels, grocery stores, or restaurants. Best option is to get help from a Canadian to pay by credit card and reimburse the Canadian with US cash. There is also an option for Americans to buy what is called an MLC debit card at the airport upon arrival, but it is a hassle, easier to travel with Canadians you can avoid this.
What can You Bring into Cuba?
Almost anything right now except GPS including a Garmin Bike Computer (as an example of a GPS device). If they find it at customs, they will take it.
Final Countdown – Last few weeks:
1 – Make sure you have all the cash you will need.
2 – MANDATORY NEW STEP CUBAN E-VISA: at least a week before departure you MUST obtain a Cuban e-visa (electronic visa). You can obtain this earlier as it is valid for one year after purchase.
Cuba is introducing a new electronic visa which is mandatory for entry to Cuba as of January 1, 2025. It replaces the old paper-based visa we used to get at the airport (Americans) or on the plane (Canadians).
You should complete this form a week before travel as there is a 72 hour turn around time for a review after which you will get an email with your evisa, plus any time for other steps.
For Canadians/Europeans:
This is a link to the evisa website. This website will work well for Canadians/Europeans as they can pay with a credit card (currently $24 per person). The price for Americans is $50 and they must mail a cheque or money order to the Cuban Consulate in Washington.
The general link: https://evisacuba.cu/en/inicio
For Americans:
To avoid having to mail a cheque to the consulate which could cause delays if the mail is lost, Americans can use this link to a company that for a fee can facilitate the purchase with a US credit card avoiding mailing a cheque. The cost is $85 ($50 for the evisa plus a $35 fee)
The link to a private company for the evisa: https://cubavisaservices.com/product/e-visa/
3 – MANDATORY SECOND STEP CUBAN IMMIGRATION FORM D’VIAJEROS: Within 7 days of departure complete the mandatory online Cuban Immigration Form. It must be completed online and is in addition to the e-visa. You will need to know the arrival city and province (either Havana/Havana, or Varadero/Matanzas), check with your tour leader. You will need to input your e-visa code to this online form, so get the e-visa first.
Do not declare anything on the form, the only items on the declaration are commercial importation or illegal products.
You will receive an email with a pdf form and a QR code that you will need to show to immigration officials upon arrival in Cuba. This form will include your e-visa code. It is a good idea to print this form and have the paper copy with you.
Pro Tip, there is a toggle switch at the top of the website to switch the form to English from the default (Spanish). Click on the button “Form Request” to begin the process.
Use this link: https://dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio
Within 24 hours of departure complete the online booking with your airline to make things easier at the airport when you check in
On Arrival in Cuba:
1 – At the airport on arrival in Cuba if your are in a group, I recommend you all stay together to collect your baggage and support each other to be sure everyone has their luggage, then together go through customs so once again you can navigate the process together.
2 – Within the airport you will be directed to customs and then immigration. It can take a while for your bags to appear on the carousel, so no need to rush there. If you are asked about your cycling donations, I am told the preferred answer is that they are “gifts” for Cubans vs donations.
3 – If the tour bus is picking you up, there will be a tour guide waiting just outside the airport in the parking lot. Similarly, if Bicycle Breeze has booked a transfer for you there will be someone at the same place with your name on a board.
4 – If you have made other arrangements to get to the first hotel/casa, you will need to take a taxi. Look for someone who is friendly and has an appropriate vehicle for your needs that is labelled “TAXI” so its a legitimate ride. Always agree on the fare before getting into the taxi. The prices are pretty well set and about $1/km.
I do not recommend that you exchange any money to Cuban pesos at the airport as you will get the government rate. It will be more favourable to do an exchange with hotel, or restaurant staff. If you do exchange money, don’t exchange a lot, as USD/Euros will work fine at many places. So perhaps $20-50 at a time.