I’m an American that just traveled to Cuba and I’m here to tell you that every blog you’ve read about traveling to Cuba is wrong. Check out my Cuba trip here. I’m detailing how to travel to Cuba in 2024 as an American, safely, and answering all of your questions. You’ll learn; how to book your trip (you do not need to book through a tour company), how to exchange currency, where to stay, and all the Dos and Don’ts. I traveled with my husband and another couple.
Anything you read prior to 2024 is outdated. I watched travel documentaries, YouTube vloggers and I even talked to people who’ve been to Cuba. The only thing these knowledge nuggets had in common was that they were all inconsistent.
The country and its people have changed so much and continues to change making everything before this date irrelevant.
What Currency Does Cuba Use?
As of 2024, the Cuban currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP). Our host tells us “it’s complicated”. This was used several times to describe something that Cubans could not explain so that we (Americans) could understand.
US credit cards do not work in Cuba. But if you’re looking into traveling to Cuba, you already knew this. You must bring enough cash for meals and excursions. We’ll get into that.
You can spend your USD anywhere. Cubans love USD. However, you will get a horrible exchange rate if you spend in USD and you’ll receive CUP as your change.
How To Exchange USD To Cuban Pesos
If you change your USD at the airport or the bank the approximate exchange rate is 80 -100 CUP (Cuban Pesos) to $1 USD. On the black market you can exchange for 275 – 285 CUP for $1. This rate changes every day.
You can pay with USD anywhere but, the establishment determines the exchange rate and you will only get Cuban Pesos (CUP) for change.
If you book experiences with Airbnb you’ll be asked to pay either on the app or in cash in person. Bring some extra USD.
How Much Money Will You Need?
You can easily stay under $50 USD per person per day. The two of us spent $300 USD for food and drinks on our 7 day trip. Our excursions totalled $125 with tip (food tour in Vedado and sunrise hike in Viñales).
Pro tip: you should tip 10% for your excursions and at restaurants. Sometimes the service is included with your meal.
Is A Visa Needed To Travel To Cuba?
You will need to have a visa to enter Cuba as an American. Special visa requirements apply to Cuban-born travelers, regardless of citizenship. You will also need health insurance. American Airlines includes health insurance with the purchase of their ticket. I also bought a travel insurance policy with Allianz, but I do that for every single international trip I book. You can buy your visa in advance but we bought ours at the gate in Miami prior to boarding. It is $100 per person at the gate and you can pay with a credit card.It’s so easy to do that we did it even though we got to the gate when they were boarding group 8. Talk about a panic attack.
Using Your Cell Phone In Cuba
I have an iPhone 15 so this statement is only for iPhone users but similar for other OS. If you have an iPhone that is 15 or newer you won’t be able to use a SIM card. iPhone 15 or newer have E-SIM built in which is not available in Cuba.
Accessing The App Store On An iPhone While In Cuba
You will not be able to use the App Store without a VPN. You will want to have WhatsApp on your phone before you arrive in Cuba or have a VPN on your phone. We use Nord in case you’re curious but YouTubers use Surfshark.
If you have a vpn you will be able to download the La Nave app which is like Uber in Havana. La Nave is only for use in Havana.
Don’t worry though, it’s easy to grab a taxi. Especially if you look lost. Taxis will find you. I promise.
How To Book Accommodation In Cuba As An American
We’ve found that booking through Airbnb is the easiest way to book your accommodation. You can absolutely walk up to a hostel and offer to pay them in cash if you’re into spontaneity. It’s not hard to do. All hostels, apartments and hotels (do not stay in hotels) are labeled well on Google Maps and labels are available offline as well. However, pics, prices and ratings are not available offline. My husband couldn’t get his Google Maps app to work so he used maps.me.
Pro tip: When booking your Cuban accommodation through Airbnb you’ll be asked your reason for travel to Cuba. Our reason was “To support the Cuban people”. You’ll be asked this by the airline and customs before and after your trip. Remember to give whoever is asking the answer you gave when booking.
Where To Stay In Cuba
When you’re looking for accommodation in Cuba you want to take a few things into consideration. Do you have good mobility? Do you want to walk a lot or a little? What is your price point? We opted for great views and private bathrooms and we walked about 7 miles a day. You can walk more or less.
We stayed in Central Havana (just outside of old Habana), Vedado and Viñales.
Pro tip: No matter how far you plan to walk, wear comfortable shoes. Don’t buy a new pair of kicks to try out on this trip. I wear Altra Zero Drop.
Central Havana
Central Havana is west of the Paseo del Prado and old Habana is east of the Prado. The Prado is the main road that splits the two neighborhoods. There is a lovely tree lined walkway down the center that you have to take a stroll down.
You’ll want to stay in Central Havana if you want to experience the culture and don’t mind a bit of a further walk to old town. Prices are a bit less here and it’s completely safe.
This is where you can get a bottle of water and a Cuban personal pizza for $1 USD. A bottle of Havana Club will run you about $5 USD in Central Havana.
Vedado
The Vedado means “forbidden”. Vedado used to be the neighborhood where the government officials and the Cuban mafia lived.
This area is walkable and you’ll find food and drinks everywhere. Walk down a dark alley to find a $.05 espresso. You’ll have a feeling of making your own version of Hostel but I assure you it’s quite safe.
In Vedado, you will find that one street may look a bit nicer (government buildings) than the next (trash and stray dogs) but it’s all part of the experience. Cuban people cannot afford to maintain their homes in many cases but you are quite safe.
Viñales
The town of Viñales is so special. If you only have a few days in Cuba you should plan a day in Viñales. I will warn you it’s a bit touristy but only from a cleanliness and price point. You can book a sunrise hike (us!), cave tour, afternoon hike and lunch or horseback ride. Personally, I’m against any form of animal exploitation for tourism but some people are into it.
We booked our sunrise hike with Boriso on Airbnb. He just owned the experience but there are various guides. Our was William who is an Opthimologist for his day job. It was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had in all my travels, despite having to use a very primitive potty.
Is There Internet In Cuba?
The internet and WiFi in Cuba does exist but is unreliable. Sometimes it works but not always. And if the power is out, which will likely happen at least once during your stay, you obviously won’t have access to WiFi. We relied on the wifi because the old iPhone we brought needed to be updated which was a detail we missed prior to traveling. You do have 30 minutes of free wifi at the airport, which will give you enough time to message your host, etc.
What To Wear And How To Pack In Cuba
We traveled to Cuba in early February and the weather was completely unpredictable. It was hot, it was cold (upper 60s) and it was during the Pineapple Express so we had insane rain for two days. But we felt we brought everything we needed. We wore pants, tank top, long sleeves and a scarf to the airport then stripped the top layers when we arrived in Cuba.
In my backpack was 1 wicking romper that I wore once (not great for bathrooms without locks on the doors), 5 pairs of shorts with a lining, 2 short sleeve shirts, 3 tanks, 4 bras and plenty of underwear for all 7 days. If you don’t have access to a washer, wear dark colors and bring plenty of underwear. You will sweat through it at least once a day. I wore my Altra’s everywhere and Birkenstocks if I was planning to walk less than a mile like to get coffee or a quick run to the grocery for water.
Pro tip: don’t drink the water. Buy all bottled water. Do not eat the pasta either. One from our group did get food poisoning and we think it was from the pasta.
Should You Travel To Cuba As An American?
Yes!! You should absolutely travel to Cuba. It’s the most beautiful country. The people are so lovely and the history is really incredible. Please book tours with local guides, do not eat in restaurants or stay in hotels owned by the government. Rule of thumb is, if it looks fancy, it’s run by the government.