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I recently spent a week in Havana, Cuba with a couple of girlfriends — and it’s now one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited. The people are warm, the culture is vibrant, the architecture is stunning, the streets feel safe, and the history is both rich and complex.
But perhaps the most surprising part? Traveling to Cuba as an American isn’t nearly as hard as people think.
In fact, when I returned, I was shocked to hear how many of my friends didn’t realize they could legally visit Cuba. So I put together this Cuba travel guide specifically for Americans — to answer all those pre-trip questions I had myself.
Yes, major airlines like American, Southwest, JetBlue, and Delta all fly to Havana from hubs like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Houston, New York, and Newark. But there are a few key things to know before you go — especially regarding internet access, cash, and government regulations. So if you’re an American planning a trip to Cuba, here are 10 important things to know before you go.
And if you’re looking for ideas of what to do in Cuba, and not how to get there, check out my other post: 10 Things You Must Do in Havana, Cuba.
The top 10 things to consider when traveling to Cuba as an American
1. Choose an Authorized Travel Category (Hint: “Tourism” Isn’t One)
To legally travel to Cuba from the U.S., you’ll need to declare one of 12 “authorized reasons for travel” — and no, “tourism” isn’t one of them.
This is a U.S. government rule, not a Cuban one. Cuba welcomes American tourists with open arms.
Most Americans travel under the “Support for the Cuban People” category. This just means you’ll need to engage in activities that benefit local businesses and individuals (and not the Cuban government). It’s largely an honor system, but it’s smart to keep your receipts and itinerary on hand for up to 5 years in case the U.S. government follows up.
Pro tip: You can find a list of prohibited Cuban businesses you’re not allowed to support on the U.S. State Department’s website.
Need help staying compliant? Hiring a planner is probably the best decision you can make when visiting Cuba. I’ll do for you what we found most valuable during our trip: get you a private guide on the ground who can meet you airport, coordinate day-of transportation or restaurant reservations, etc.
2. Stay at a Casa Particular — Not a Hotel Chain
If you’re traveling under “Support for the Cuban People,” you’ll need to stay in a privately owned home or apartment, also known as a casa particular. These are widely available on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Hotels.com, and many hosts offer extras like breakfast, transportation help, and bottled water.
We stayed in a stunning Airbnb in Old Havana with a private rooftop and ocean views. The host stocked the fridge with water and beer, arranged taxis, and even brought us breakfast for $5/person.
Where to stay:
- Old Havana: Walkable, historic, and central — but noisy and busy
- Vedado: Quieter and more spacious (sometimes with pools), but farther from the action
Pick what fits your travel style.
3. You’ll Need a Pink Tourist Card (Not a Traditional Visa)
Americans traveling to Cuba don’t need a full visa — just a pink tourist card, which you fill out yourself. You can:
- Order it online at onlinetouristcard.com ($85 + shipping)
- Or buy it at the airport (check with your airline for pricing)
You’ll need this card when checking in for your flight and again at Cuban immigration. Don’t lose it — it will be stamped again when you leave.
4. Health Insurance is Required — But Often Included
This may have been a post-COVID thing, so double-check at the time of reading this article, but the Cuban government usually requires all visitors to have travel health insurance — but in most cases, this is automatically included with your airline ticket (which is likely why they never asked us for proof).
Still, I recommend purchasing separate travel insurance (especially if you travel often). I use Allianz, and it’s saved me more than once due to trip delays and cancellations.
5. Yes, Cuba Has Internet — But It’s Complicated
Don’t expect fast or reliable Wi-Fi in Cuba. Most internet access requires:
- Purchasing Wi-Fi cards (with data limits)
- Using a mini modem/router provided by your B&B host
- Logging on only in certain areas (like your casa or a café claiming to have internet)
Most of the time, it’s slow and spotty. My best connection was at Yarini Rooftop Bar — and even that was limited. If you’ll need access to certain American apps or websites, don’t forget to set up a VPN in advance.
6. Cell Service Is Pricey — Use WhatsApp or Get a Local SIM
Check with your provider before going. For example, T-Mobile charged $0.50/text and $2/minute for calls from Cuba, and data roaming was expensive and often didn’t work at all. Just don’t expect a lot from your phone service provider — or get a local SIM card to avoid fees (your B&B host can maybe help with this). Remember to turn off roaming and use WhatsApp when you have Wi-Fi!
7. Download Offline Maps Before You Go
Since real-time GPS won’t work consistently, download offline maps of Havana in advance.
- Google Maps lets you save areas offline
- The Maps.me app is fantastic — I built a custom map with saved locations and used it to navigate around Havana all week
This is a must if you want to avoid getting lost or wandering into the wrong part of town without signal.
8. American credit cards and ATM cards don’t work in Cuba, so bring cash.
This is probably the hardest part for Americans who are used to just being able to swipe a bit of plastic everything. Due to U.S. restrictions, American bank cards aren’t accepted in Cuba. No credit cards, no debit cards, no ATMs. Bring enough U.S. dollars in cash for your entire trip.
- Small bills ($20s, $10s, $5s) are best
- Request new, clean bills from your bank — torn or worn bills may be refused
It may feel odd carrying cash all the time, but we never felt unsafe, even at night.
9. You Don’t Really Need Cuban Pesos
Almost every place we visited accepted U.S. dollars, with prices already listed or quoted in USD. The only time you may need Cuban pesos (CUP) is for some museum entrances, bus fares, beach chair rentals, or some smaller local purchases. I recommend arranging a small currency exchange with your B&B cost and never doing it on the street.
10. Cuba is Very Safe — Even at Night
Despite what you may have heard, Cuba is one of the safest countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, especially for tourists.
- We walked around Old Havana at night and always felt safe
- There’s a visible police/military presence on many streets
- Crime against tourists is taken very seriously, with severe penalties
Yes, men may flirt or try to chat — but we never felt harassed or threatened.
Final Thoughts
Traveling to Cuba as an American may take a little more prep, but it’s absolutely worth it. The culture, warmth, beauty, and resilience of the Cuban people left a huge impression on me — and I can’t wait to go back.
If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Havana or beyond, I’m always happy to help. Reach out and I’ll help you create the perfect, seamless Cuban adventure — from itinerary planning to casa bookings to local experiences.
