What you should bring to Cuba

On this tour of Cuba, you will be on the move a great deal, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack (whatever you find easiest to carry), or even one of those cases with wheels will be fine as long as it's not too big. Keep in mind however, that you will normally have to carry your own luggage on and off buses and along cobblestone streets. A good size daypack is essential. If you need to store some things in Havana and pick them up at the end of the tour, this is definitely possible and you can ask the tour leader.

Documents

An image of a man wearing a backpack
  • Passport (with photocopies)
  • Travel insurance (with photocopies)
  • Airline tickets (with photocopies)
  • Cash and travellers cheques (see Money in Cuba)
  • Visa or MasterCard credit card (with bank outside of the US)
  • Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required

Clothing

It can get very hot and humid in Cuba throughout most of the year and especially in the summer months of June, July, and August, when lightweight clothing is recommended. In the winter months of Cuba - in December, January, and February it can get colder, particularly during the evenings. It is recommended to bring a fleece top, jacket, or the like, for these months. A fleece top can also be useful on some public buses in Cuba where it can be quite cool due to the airconditioning, even in summer months. Although the temperatures don't get very low in Cuba (the all-time record in Cuba is -1 Celsius), because of humidity levels and the fact that Cuban houses are not set up for cold weather, the cold can be hard to escape from. In general however, during the day, the climate in Cuba is hot and tropical.

As far as footwear, some people can get by with just a pair of sandals. In the summer, because of the temperatures in Cuba, open footwear is definitely preferable, even in the evenings. There are some interesting day-walks in Cuba that you may want to do. These involve walking over some steep and rocky terrain, so it would be advisable to bring footwear that you would feel comfortable doing this in, if you are interested in such activities.

For going out in the evenings in Cuba, casual dress is acceptable everywhere you go, so there is no need to bring footwear especially for this, although some people may be more comfortable doing so. Despite their low income levels, Cubans love to dress up smartly whenever they can. There will be plenty of opportunities for swimming in Cuba (beaches, rivers, pools) so be sure to bring your swimwear.

Checklist

  • Fleece top or similar
  • Sandals and footwear for walking
  • Small towel and swimwear
  • 4 shirts/t-shirts
  • Sun hat
  • 1-2 pairs of shorts
  • 1 pair of long trousers
  • Watch or alarm clock
  • Water bottle
  • Toiletries
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunblock
  • First-aid kit**

**First aid kit should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, and prescription drugs you may be taking.

Optional

Camera, reading/writing material, binoculars, cover for backpacks, pocket-knife, flash-light, money-belt, and gifts for Cubans*.

*Gifts for Cubans
Cubans are delighted to receive gifts from foreigners even if they are items that you would consider throwing out at home. Second hand clothes are warmly accepted as gifts as they can be distributed among family members and friends. Soap, shampoo, perfumes, and pens or pencils are also very popular with the Cubans. Inexpensive soap is readily available in Cuba if you intend buying some as gifts. Though they would be most happy to receive them, it is not necessary to bring gifts for your host families, as they are probably some of the more well-off families in Cuba and will be happy enough with just your good-natured presence.