Touring Cuba is still an option for USA Citizens!
See below for links to available Cuba tours and travel details.
USA TO CUBA TRAVEL UPDATE
June 24, 2019: Revised USA Cuba Travel Rules
Our Cuba travel programs are legal for USA citizens.
All tours traveling in October 2019 and onward will operate under the “Support for the Cuban People” category. The programs will feature small groups of 8 to 12 participants, accommodations in casas particulares (private bed and breakfasts operated in private homes) or carefully selected hotels, meals at paladars, operated by private Cuban citizens and all services arranged to benefit individual Cuban citizens. Your activities will continue to feature the wonderful art, music, creative design, agricultural initiatives and community programs that have always been the mainstay of our programs to Cuba since 2011.
While the new policies prohibit boat cruises to Cuba of any type, our programs to Cuba remain completely legal and compliant, and they remain the best and safest way for Americans to visit the island.
Even though Cuba is only 90 miles from Key West, Florida, for many in the USA the island has remained mysterious. Closed to most travel by US Citizens for nearly 50 years, the island is an enigma in the Western Hemisphere. New regulations by the US Government, while complicated, do allow for USA passport holders to visit and tour Cuba. There is no longer a reason to “sneak” to the island.
US tour operators with the proper US License can offer tours to Cuba under US Government’s sanctioned licenses. You can even legally bring back $100 worth of the famed Cuban Cigars to the USA! All that is needed is a valid passport good for 6 months after return date and a Visa from the Cuban Government. Our Cuba tours are appropriate for the proper USA travel license and letter of authorization, which we obtain for you.
Click on photos or links below for details on each Cuba tour. Contact us for current promotional discounts and verify available departures!
DISCOVER HAVANA
5-Day Tour from Miami to Miami
Explore in Havana, Regla, Cojimar Las Terrazas, visit Ernest Hemingway's Finca Vigia, dine in a “paladar”, and much more.
Highlights include:
- Interaction and meaningful exchanges with locals
- Non-stop round trip flights from Miami to Havana via U.S. Government-licensed charter service
- U.S. Treasury Department license and letter of authorization
- Cuba Entrance Visa
- All land transportation, transfers & porterage in Cuba
- 1st night Crowne Plaza Miami Airport Hotel with Pre-tour introductory briefing
- 4 nights accommodations in Cuba at a well-located & completely renovated 'casa particular' (Cuban bed and breakfast)
- 11 meals: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 dinners
- Comprehensive educational exchange program, including entrance fees
- Professional tour manager escort
- Local, English-speaking guide, who will facilitate the educational exchanges with Cubans
- Health insurance in Cuba (mandatory)
- Explore Old Havana’s architectural treasure trove with a specialist from the Office of the City Historian
- Learn how Cuban masters hand-roll cigars at a famous Cigar Factory
- Visit the fascinating Afro-Cuban neighborhood of Regla
- Tour the Rum Museum to trace the history (and taste) Cuba’s national drink
- Meet young, up and coming Cuban artists in a private studio
- Walk in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway at Finca Vigia
CAPTIVATING CUBA
8-Day Tour from Miami to Miami
Explore in Havana, Trinidad, Santa Clara, Cojimar, Cienfuegos and enjoy an authentic Rumba block party, Ernest Hemingway's Finca Vigia, and a dinner in a local "paladar". Features a 2-night stay in Sancti Spiritus, a 2-night stay in Varadero, a 3-night stay in Cuba’s capital city of Havana.
Highlights include:
- Non-stop flights from Miami to Santa Clara & Havana to Miami, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
- U.S. Treasury Department, OFAC License Certification and Authorization Letter
- Cuba Entrance Visa & Departure Tax
- All land transportation, transfers & porterage in Cuba
- 7 nights superior first class hotel accommodations in Cuba
- 17 meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners
- Comprehensive educational exchange program, including entrance fees
- Friendly Planet escort
- Professional, English-speaking local guide, who will facilitate the educational exchanges with Cubans
- Health insurance in Cuba (mandatory)
- Explore the charming, Spanish Colonial towns of Sancti Spiritus and Trinidad
- Learn about the Afro-Cuban religion, Santeria, at Templo de Yemaya
- Step back in history at the Che Guevara Mausoleum
- Meet a talented fashion designer and a woodcraft expert at their home workshop near Varadero
- Walk in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway at Finca Vigia
- Take a ride in Classic cars to a workshop where the antique treasures are maintained
HAVANA & VINALES VALLEY
7-Day Tour from Miami to Miami
Explore in Havana and the scenic Viñales Valley.
Highlights include:
- Non-stop flights from Miami to/from Cuba, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
- U.S. Treasury Department, OFAC License Certification and Authorization Letter
- Cuba Entrance Visa & Departure Tax
- All land transportation, transfers & porterage in Cuba
- 4 nights accommodations in Havana at a well-located 'casa particular' (Cuban bed and breakfast) & 2 nights at a new, superior hotel in Viñales
- 13 meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners
- Comprehensive educational exchange program, including entrance fees
- Friendly Planet escort
- Professional, English-speaking local guide, who will facilitate the educational exchanges with Cubans
- Health insurance in Cuba (mandatory)
- Enjoy your home away from home at a casa particular, located in the Centro Havana neighborhood, where you will gain an authentic and friendly Cuban experience.
- During free time, wander along the nearby Malecón to see where locals love to meet and for an expansive view across the sea
- Walk in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway and marvel at his beautiful mansion, Finca Vigía.
- A trip to Cuba isn't complete without touring a tobacco farm! Visit Finca Quemado de Rubi, one of Cuba's beautiful tobacco farms in the Pinar del Río province, and learn about their specialization in growing and harvesting the highest quality tobacco in the world.
- Experience a cigar rolling demonstration while sipping on some exquisite Cuban rum and enjoying a Cuban cigar.
Cuba Food Tours
8 & 5 Day Culinary Itineraries
Cuba Culinary Tour Experiences:
◦ Exclusive access tourists rarely get
◦ Bustling markets & organic farms
◦ Renowned chefs & mixologists
◦ Deluxe, privately-owned lodging
◦ Travel by classic car, no buses
◦ Intimate & fun groups of 10 or fewer like-minded guests
◦ Cuban cooking demonstration at a renowned paladar
◦ Mojito class by master mixologist
◦ Happy hour and daiquiri class in a local’s home with home-cooked tapas
◦ Visit an agricultural market, ration store and supermarket for true insights into the daily lives of Cubans
◦ Tour a sustainable farm and enjoy an organic farm-to-table lunch
◦ Connect with local fishermen and select fish to grill
◦ Dine at Cuba’s top private restaurants
Cuba Jazz Festival
7-Day Tour from Miami to Miami
January 14 - 20, 2020
Take in the heart & soul of this colorful, cultural island and enjoy the 35th Havana International Jazz Festival,
** Book by July 25th and save $400**
The current price is $3,899 per person in double occupancy.
Why you'll love it:
- Surround yourself with the colorful sights and upbeat sounds of the 35th Havana International Jazz Festival!
- Have the special opportunity to witness a private jazz concert in one of Cuba's top jazz venues, "La Zorra y el Cuervo". Afterward, enjoy conversing with the young jazz artist about his fan-worthy music.
- Feel the Cuban rhythm of soulful jazz as you show off your best moves in a dance lesson and later visit the Abdala Recording Studio.
- As you explore Old Havana’s architectural treasure trove, learn about this World Heritage Site and the restoration of its classic buildings, efforts to attract tourism and the improvement of social services.
- Witness hundreds of Cuban workers mastering the art of hand-rolling cigars at a famous Cigar Factory.
- Visit Cuba’s top art academy, Instituto Superior de Artes, the leading school for Music, Visual & Performing Arts.
- Walk in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway at Finca Vigia, his once Cuban retreat turned into a museum. Enjoy viewing the interior of the stunning mansion through the large, open windows around the property.
CUSTOM CUBA: Explore Cuba with private guide and transportation on a customized tour. Based on your interests, you can choose the travel dates, activities, and accommodations. Custom itineraries designed for two or more people:
- Cultural interaction and meaningful exchanges with locals.
- Stay in downtown Havana or the Miramar and Vedado neighborhoods.
- Day tours and overnights in other Cuban cities.
- Daily activities arranged based on your interests.
- Meals included or arranged.
- Private, daily local guide service.
- Transportation including airport transfers.
- Cuban visa acquired and appropriate forms supplied and copies kept as per USA regulations.
- Round-trip airfare from USA to Cuba can be arranged.
- Mandatory Cuban medical insurance (included in air ticket).
- Great accommodations in major hotels, small Boutique hotels, and private apartments and villas.
Click here or on the photo for more information.
CUBA
Cuba is the largest island in the Antilles and the Caribbean. It is an ontrincate archipielago comprising the main island (about two thirds the size of Florida), the Isle of Youth, and about 4,195 key (cayos) and islets.
Much treasure lies beneath the unpolluted waters of the Cuban archipelago, which offers through-water visibility of 30 to 40 metres. Home to more than 500 varieties of fish, crustaceans, sponges, mollusks and coral, Cuba’s ecosystem is one of the most treasured in the Caribbean. And the wrecks of several 17th- and 18th-century Spanish galleons carrying valuable cargo provide treasure-hunting of a different sort.
Cuba has well preserved ecosystems, variegated landscapes and a vast array of flora and fauna make Cuba an exceptional Caribbean destination for nature lovers. Four per cent of the world’s land species live on the Cuban archipelago. It is home to some 6,700 species of higher plants (about half of which are native) as well as 14,000 species of invertebrates and 650 vertebrates—including 350 bird species. Among Cuba’s countless gems are the world’s smallest frog (Eleutherodactylus limbatus, only 12 millimeters long) and tiniest bird (Mellisuga helenae—the bee hummingbird, some 63 millimeters long).
From the ocean, enormous fortresses welcome a visitor; and once walking the streets a traveler can see the vitality, in addition to the usual noise, its cobble stone avenues, its columns, balconies, arches and its different constructions. All of these areas have become a space for a photo or simply a stop in front of such well conserved beauty. It is a trip back in time where each stone and construction has much to say, many secrets to unveil.
Speaking of the culinary, Cuban food is a combination of African, Spanish, Chinese, Italian and indigenous or native ingredients and recipes. A true mix of cultures for the palate. The geographical features of the country favor the abundance of seafood, cattle and sheep or pig meat. Various fresh vegetables, legumes, tubers and fruits are also available. The national dish is rice, black beans, seasonal salad, roast or juice pork and fried plantains. Throughout the island there are also the "Paladares", or private restaurants and cafes assuring visitors unforgettable moments.
TRAVEL REGULATIONS FOR USA PASSPORT HOLDERS:
The Cuban government requires all US Citizens traveling to Cuba to obtain a Cuban visa prior to their arrival into Cuba. A Cuban visa is also known as a "tourist card.” The Cuban visa is valid for a single entry and allows the holder to stay in Cuba for 30 days.
Our tours to Cuba include obtaining your Cuban visa which is included in the purchase of your flight package. We will handle all the paperwork for your Cuban visa. Your flight documents including your Cuban visa, charter flight ticket, People-to-People travel license and letter of authorization will be prepared and sent.
The Cuban visa is a two-part card. Cuban immigration officials will take one half upon arrival in Cuba, and guests will surrender the other half upon departure. Make sure to keep your Cuban visa in a safe place with you throughout your trip so you have it with you when you depart the country.
NOTE: Your US passport must also be valid for six months after your return date from your Cuba tour. Please verify your expiration date to avoid having to incur expedited service fees. If you are a Cuban American born in Cuba, you may need a special visa for entry to Cuba.
CUBA FAQ
PASSPORT & VISA
Previous to arriving in Miami you will be sent an application (with instructions) that is MANDATORY for ALL travelers to fill out. Once all travelers have filled out the application you will send them back to us with copies of your passports, to which we will forward to the Cuban ground operator to be processed. When you have sent back your completed visa application, your visa will be shipped to you.
Participants holding all other passports should check with the consulate for regulations and instructions.
HEALTH REGULATIONS
No vaccinations are required for entry into Cuba or return to the USA.
WEATHER
The Cuban climate is mild subtropical. Thanks to its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and its narrow configuration, Cuba receives a refreshing action of trade winds and marine breezes. Average Fahrenheit temperatures are as follows:
PACKING & CLOTHING
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS
Please travel as lightly as possible so as not to restrict space in your cabin. Soft bags are more practical than hard suitcases. Sports or casual clothes are more useful. Plenty of swimwear is required and a pullover or cardigan is recommended for cool evenings. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested when ashore. It is not necessary to bring such items as cutlery, cups, plates, glasses, etc., as vessels are fully equipped.
Be sure not to pack sharp items in your hand luggage. Pack things such as scissors, nail clippers, pocketknives or knitting needles in your checked luggage.
Always carry your travel documents, medication, jewelry, traveler's checks, keys and other valuables in your hand luggage. Items such as these should NEVER be packed in luggage that you plan to check.
Bring all personal-care items with you. Many products can be bought, but purchasing them can be inconvenient. We suggest you carry toilet tissues with you on excursions.
CLOTHING
Dress is very casual, however the “usual practice” for men is to wear long pants to meetings, exchanges and nicer restaurants. Ladies may want to bring a dress or pantsuit for special affairs, and men may bring a sports jacket for high end restaurants.
Special Note: Monasteries and churches do not admit people in shorts or bathing suits, shirtless men, or even women wearing sleeveless blouses. For women rules may even be stricter, a skirt or dress is a must, as you may not be allowed to visit some of the monasteries and religious sites in shorts or pants. These rules are not always followed to the letter. Bathing suits are prohibited from being worn on all archaeological sites.
VALUABLES
Jewelry, money, documents etc., should be deposited in the mini-safe in your cabin. The company and its personnel bear no responsibility for valuables kept by passengers.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
For safety reasons it is requested that physical disabilities of any kind be advised at time of reservation. It is understood that passengers requiring special attention or treatment will be traveling with their personal escorts. We retain the right to refuse embarkation to any pregnant woman beyond the 6th month of pregnancy.
CURRENCY
The currency in Cuba is Cuban Pesos. It is possible to convert dollars to Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUCs) at the airport. There is a kiosk before leaving the baggage area where money can be converted. If you do not convert then, there are many places to convert money - for example, hotels, and the local Cuban guide will assist in this.
Under the new (Jan 16, 2015) regulations, American travelers to Cuba will be able to use an American credit card. However, it is not clear how long it will take for banks to begin offering the service. There are few ATMs in Cuba, and many establishments do not have the means to process credit card payments, so cash will be king for some time to come. You may also take pounds and euros, which get a better exchange rate in Cuba than the United States dollar.
LANGUAGE
The primary language in Cuba is Spanish and your tour guide is fluent in both Spanish and English.
ELECTRICITY
Most all Cuban power outlets are suited for use with the US American flat pin type electrical plugs and are 110Volts AC, 60Hz. It is recommended to use a surge protector for electronic apparatus, laptops, portable videoplayer etc. Cubans use surge protectors on every electrical equipment of value, TV set, video, fridge to protect them against the frequent electrical surges and spikes. The complete power grid in the country is an aging and deteriorated structure. Therefore Cubans are facing repeated black outs and power outages, the so called APAGONES that can last several hours and sometimes even days, it's a part of the life in Cuba. Each family that can afford it, has a fluoresent battery powered lantern in the house, the less affluent citizens use candles in case of a power outage. So, don’t forget a flashlight or better yet bring two and give one away.
COMPUTERS & WIFI
There is WIFI and prices are posted onboard. Note however the speed is limited and also isn’t always available when in open sea.
TIME ZONE
Cuba is on Eastern Standard Time. When it is noon in New York and Miami, it is also noon in Havana, Cuba.
FOOD & DRINK
Is usually excellent and can be a real treat. Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Native American Taino food, Spanish, African, and Caribbean cuisines. Some Cuban recipes share spices and techniques with Spanish and African cooking, with some Caribbean influence in spice and flavor. This results in a unique, interesting and flavorful blend of the several different cultural influences, with strong similarities with the cuisine of the neighboring Puerto Rico and some dishes familiar throughout Latin Ameria.
GRATUITY / TIPPING GUIDELINES
Tipping is completely discretionary, however, a range of reference would be a total of $10 to $20 a day per traveler - with most going to the main local guide. Even small tips to others that have been helpful to you are appreciated.
OTHER QUESTIONS
1. Given the spending restrictions, how much money do you recommend bringing?
We suggest about $100 a day just in case, but of course, everyone is different. If you plan to purchase a lot of art, for example, the amount will be different. If not, you will mostly likely not spend that amount as many of the meals in the program are included.
2. I have heard that "licensed U.S. travelers" are allowed to bring back from Cuba $400 of merchandise of which $100 can be tobacco/alcohol. Does this apply to us?
Under the new (Jan 16, 2015) regulations, American travelers to Cuba may now bring back up to $400 worth of souvenirs, including $100 worth of cigars.
3. Is the 44 lbs baggage limit for checked & carry-on combined or just checked?
Combined.
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