Cuba tours & holidays

Travellers from most nationalities require a ‘Tourist Card’, similar to a tourist visa. These can be obtained through travel agents in your own country or directly from Cuban Embassies and consulates. Depending on your nationality and the airline you are travelling with to Cuba, you may also be able to purchase the tourist card at the airport from the airline the day of your departure.

US citizens are required to obtain an e-visa and travellers from the UK also have an online option. Australians and Canadians still need a tourist card.

We recommend travelling to Cuba via Canada, Europe and South or Central America. Travellers who have been to Cuba are ineligible to participate in the ESTA Visa Waiver Program and must apply for a tourist visa to enter or transit via the United States.

For more information, please visit the Government of Cuba's website or the Essential Trip Information.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

Leaving a tip for good service is a great idea and welcomed but not mandatory. 

There is almost always free entertainment in bars and restaurants; the musicians are usually not paid by the venue, so we encourage you to tip when you have enjoyed the performance.  

Tour leaders, restaurant workers, hotel porters, cleaning staff and taxi drivers will appreciate a tip –While you are welcome to tip in Cuban pesos, US dollars or Euros are preferred.  

It’s important to carry around small denominations of currency to leave tips during your holiday so you can tip an amount you feel comfortable with. We suggest stocking up on one- and five-dollar bills.  

Cuba is generally pretty relaxed about dress code, so casual and comfortable attire is the way to go.

It is a tropical climate, so high temperatures, humidity and cool evenings will be in the mix, so packing lightweight, breathable clothing while also having a light jacket or sweater is recommended. Think cotton linen shirts, shorts, dresses, a pair of pants or two, comfortable walking shoes and definitely a rain jacket (just in case).

Since scheduled power cuts are common, we recommend bringing a couple things to ensure your comfort: rechargeable personal fan, power bank and flashlight/head lamp.

Learn more about what to pack for Cuba

It’s not recommended to drink water from the tap in Cuba. We recommend filling a reusable bottle or canteen with filtered water – your group leader will provide larger and less disposable water containers for refills on private transport days when they have the resources available.  

It’s also best to avoid ice in drinks and to peel fruit and vegetables rather than eating washed or unwashed produce.  

Internet access isn’t widespread throughout Cuba but availability is improving. The internet can sometimes be accessed from government departments and larger hotels, and main squares in many cities now have wi-Fi accessibility.  

You will need to purchase an internet card from certain hotels and outlets to gain access in many locations, including public areas. Please note that although connectivity is improving, the connection may still be slow, some websites may be censored and the cost is typically quite high.  

Occasionally a guesthouse will have wi-fi that does not require purchasing an internet card but accommodation is not guaranteed to have wi-fi.  

Whether your phone will work or not in Cuba depends on what type of phone and carrier you have. Before leaving your home country, ensure roaming is activated with your provider but be aware that your phone may not get reception due to Cuba having the lowest mobile phone network penetration in Latin America. There may be some casas and tourist restaurants that have wi-fi but be prepared to be disconnected at times.  

If you intend to activate global roaming, be sure to check with your service provider to find out about any fees you may incur, as sometimes this can be expensive. You also have the option to pre-arrange a local SIM card to have wireless and data while in Cuba.  

Free public toilets are rare in Cuba but western-style flushable toilets are available in hotels, bars and restaurants. If you do find a public toilet, you will typically be asked to pay a small fee. Bringing your own toilet paper and hand soap or hand sanitizer is recommended because they aren’t always provided.  

Due to import restrictions, toilet seats can be considered a luxury and may be missing from some facilities.  

Cuba has made some significant steps in recent years to ensure LGBTQIA+ rights in the country. Homosexuality is legal and accepted in Cuba, and there are some anti-discrimination laws in place for employment, service provisions and gender identity. However, same-sex marriage recognition is still pending, and stigma still remains in some parts of society, especially in rural areas. 

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel. 

If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room. 

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone.  

We recommend discussing your travel plans with your doctor well before your trip to Cuba. Many travellers choose to consult their doctors about preventative health measures, including whether a prescription for antibiotics might be appropriate. Medicines and treatments are available at the international clinics for foreigners but not at the small local clinics – medication is available, not guaranteed and very expensive.  

Tip: Take a full medical kit with you and leave it behind when you go: antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, allergies, gastro, bandages, creams, etc. That way, you have it if you need it and then you can leave it for the locals.  

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries. 

As Cuba has not had the same infrastructure development as other countries, you may find some mobility challenges when travelling. Havana’s streets are often crowded, and sidewalks can at times be rugged or even nonexistent. This is the same with other cities and towns around the country. Also, a lot of public transportation isn’t geared toward travellers who use a wheelchair, so private travel may be the only option to get around. 

If you do live with a visual, hearing or other impairment, let your booking agent or group leader know early on so they’re aware and suitable arrangements can be made. As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.