We are here for your Cuba trip and want to help you with your packing experience, as that is what we do best. We know you are trying to consolidate your packing list so you remember everything. We have covered you with all the essentials you will need on your trip to Cuba. 

Cuba is a destination you don’t want to travel carelessly to because of its civil and cultural rules. For example, in Cuba, shops only stock water, tinned goods, alcohol, and basic hygiene essentials. That means you need to go along with all your essentials. Let’s take this ride as we discuss your travel essentials to Cuba.

What Not To Pack On Your Cuba Trip

Before we dive into your essential packing list, let’s talk about items that are not allowed in Cuba based on their custom law.

• Hard drugs (medications without prescriptions are included)
• Pornographic material
• Firearm 
• Live animals
• Any publication that represents Cuba negatively 
• Fruit and meat
• GPS (your gadgets are allowed, but you would need to turn off your GPS)
• Walkie-talkie (or any other item with an antenna)
• Drones 
• Not more than two bottles of liquor
• Not more than one pack of cigarette 
• Household appliances such as kettle
• Not more than two gadgets per person

You can have up to two pieces of checked-in luggage in Cuba, with 32kg as the maximum. We know Cuba has a lot of customary laws.

Travel Documents 

Get all your travel document ready in your hand luggage. Ensure to keep your documents far away from the reach of liquid spillage. Here are the documents you need:

• Passport
• Tourist visa: you can get this from E Cuba Visa, selected airlines, or the Cuba embassy 
• Travel insurance: this is very important
• Flight booking details
• Accommodation, car hire/transportation, and tour bookings

Clothing Essentials 

Cuba doesn’t have strict rules regarding how you dress, but if you want to fit into the culture, you would consider long clothes and floaty as a woman, long, short, and top as a man. Cuba is hot, so breathable clothes are the best. Note this, please, from 2020 till this moment (2023), in Cuba, your face mask must be worn in public spaces including by tourists. Cuba is quite a conservative place, so dressing too flashy may not cut it for you and maybe insensitive. Here are the clothing items you should travel with:

• Underwear
• Swimsuit
• Rain jacket: Cuba experiences tropical rainfall sometimes
• T-shirts and tops: lightweight and breathable ones 
• Shorts 
• Skirts 
• Jeans and long pants
• Kimono
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Sock 
• Sandals and flip flops 
• Hiking shoes 
• Trainers: you will need a shoe with a good grip
• Sea shoes: for rocky beaches  
• Towels 

Travelling to Cuba is highly recommended travel with a backpack instead of a suitcase; this way, you can navigate the rough terrains quicker and easier. Moving around Cuba will require you to take a walk between bus stations and your accommodation. Backpacks are always better.

• Backpack or suitcase: ensure that the weight of your luggage doesn’t exceed the required limit. If you go with a backpack, getting the professionally fitted one is advised to avoid back pain.
• Theft-proof bag: you need this if you are worried about pickpocketing. However, that isn’t rampant in Cuba. 
• Laundry bag: it is always better to separate your dirty clothes from your clean clothes. If you are on a tight budget, plastic bags could work. 
• Money belt: you need this!
• Camera bag: if you are going with your camera, you should go with a bag. 

Cash  Essentials

Yes, going to Cuba with cash is as important as you think. One mistake you don’t want to make is leaving your money behind. Cuba operates mainly with cash. The government in Cuba imposes an expensive exchange rate on cash withdrawals at ATMs. This means that you get less than expected when you want to withdraw a particular amount of money. Coupled with that, ATMs in Cuba can be unreliable; they don’t function half the time. It can be painful, frustrating, and annoying, so taking as much cash as possible is always good.

The best currency to go with to Cuba is euros; US dollars are accepted on the black market. When you get to Cuba, you will need to exchange your cash for their CUP (Cuban National Pesos)

Valuable Essentials

If you are planning on travelling with your valuables, one question you must be able to answer is if your accommodation is safe and secure. If it isn’t, go with the bearest minimum valuable, but if it is, you can go with your essential valuables, but it is always best to keep it minimal.

• Credit or debit card: cards related to the US are blacklisted in Cuba, so it is better to go with travel cards instead
• Purse with cash
• Camera 
• Jewellery  
• Prescribed medication 
• ID card

Electronic Essentials 

Here are the electronics you should remember to pack on your trip to Cuba.

• Phone (better with a phone case)
• Earphones: they are more lightweight than headphones. You could also go with Airpod or Bluetooth earphones. 
• laptop(if you need it extremely)
• Chargers 
• Type A adaptors
• Camera 
• Power bank

Tolietries Essentials

As mentioned earlier, you might only find some of what you need in Cuba, so you must pack everything. Most shops hardly sell anything aside from water and alcohol. So if any toiletries are essential to you, pack them with you.

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Shampoo and conditioner 
• Shower gel and face soap
• Moisturiser
• Comb and hairbrush
• Deodorant 
• Perfume and body spray 
• Sanitary towel
• Shaving cream and razor 
• sunscreen( this is very important)
• facemask : remember the facemask rule. Go with as many face masks as possible, preferably disposable ones. 
• Hand sanitiser 
• Makeup and makeup remover 
• Face wipes
• Tissues 

Other Essentials 

First aid kit

Go with your prescribed medications and painkillers. Cuba has no free healthcare, so if you need any medical treatment, it will come from your travel insurance or money.

• Plasters
• Bandages 
• Small scissors 
• Tweezers 
• Antiseptic wipe 
• Diarrhoea tablets
• Antibacterial cream
• Painkillers 
• Mosquito repellant 

Here are other essential items

• Books
• Water bottle: don’t drink tap water in Cuba! Their tap water could be safer. Buy bottled water and transfer it to your water bottle.
• Padlock 
• Map of Cuba: this will help you navigate better
• Dry line: if you plan to do your laundry, you will need a place to try your clothes. The dry line will come in handy. 
• Dittergent 
• Travel Journal

Conclusion 

When planning for a holiday in Cuba, it is crucial to curate a comprehensive packing list that caters to the specific needs of this tropical Caribbean destination. Lightweight and breathable clothing made from natural fibres, swimwear, and sun protection essentials is essential to staying comfortable in the heat and enjoying the beautiful beaches. Additionally, including items like a guidebook, phrasebook, and camera will enhance your cultural experience and capture lasting memories. Remember to pack necessary travel documents, some cash, and any essential medications or toiletries, considering Cuba’s limited availability of certain products. By preparing a well-rounded packing list, you can ensure a delightful and hassle-free holiday in the captivating country of Cuba.