What to do before going to Cuba

Cuba is a neat destination just about 45 minutes off the coast of Florida. Despite its proximity to the United States, it is not one of those places that you can just “wing.” If you want to enjoy Cuba, you must be prepared, there is no getting around it.

First things first, if you’re an American you have to obtain a visa to go to Cuba. According the United States Department, in order to be granted permission to enter Cuba, you must qualify under one of the following 12 categories:

1. Family visits;
2. Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations;
3. Journalistic activity;
4. Professional research and professional meetings;
5. Educational activities;
6. Religious activities;
7. Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions;
8. Support for the Cuban people;
9. Humanitarian projects;
10. Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes;
11. Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials; and
12. Certain authorized export transactions.

From what we read on other blogs and websites, these categories are not strictly enforced, especially the ones in bold. Photography is journalism right? And aren’t selfies photographs? Anyways, you get the idea. The visas are issued at the airport by the airlines right before boarding for Cuba. The agents ask you a couple of simple questions, charge you a fee and you’re good to go! No one drills you or even asks for proof that you qualify for one of the 12 approved categories. Nevertheless, you want to at least have some type of proof just in case. Once granted your visa, make sure you keep it somewhere safe. You’ll need it when you enter Cuba, stay at some of the casa particulares, and when you leave Cuba.

If you have been to Cuba and have any suggestions, please feel free to leave them below in the comment section. Stay tuned for our next post where we’ll give you guys more first-hand tips and pointers on how to prepare for Cuba and make the most of it too!