Cuba is an amazing country. It boasts a unique culture, is home to some of the most amazing food in the world, and is overall like nowhere else in the world. It’s no wonder why so many Americans want to travel to Cuba.
The question is, can Americans travel to Cuba? The U.S. and Cuba have a history of bad ties. The Cold War in the ’60s left the two countries at odds with each other for decades. In addition, oil disputes continued this oppression.
Diplomatic relations were restored in 2015. But the U.S. and Cuban relations is still a touchy subject. If you’re American and want to travel to Cuba, here’s what you need to know.
Can Americans Travel to Cuba?
The short answer is yes — Americans can definitely travel to Cuba! But travel is certainly restricted.
This is mainly due to the Cold War, oil refineries and how ties were only restored a few years ago. Here’s a history of U.S. travel to Cuba and how it affected Cuban tourism today.
Why There Was a Blockade Against Cuba
This isn’t a history class, so we’ll only give you a quick briefing.
The U.S./Cuba embargo first started in 1960. An American-owned oil refinery refused to provide oil to the Soviet Union. This oil refinery was on Cuban land. The Cuban government responded by nationalizing all three oil refineries.
The U.S. launched a trade embargo, which prohibited trade to Cuba except for food and medicine. Cuba responded by nationalizing all American businesses on Cuban land, including private businesses.
Tensions got worse during the Cold War. The Cold War wasn’t actually a war, but a period of tension between the Soviet Union, the United States, and both countries’ allies after World War II.
Cuba came in with the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was a 13-day standoff about the installation of Soviet’s nuclear arms on Cuba, which is only 90 miles from the U.S. coast.
President John F. Kennedy informed the U.S. citizens about these nuclear arms and stated the U.S. was prepared to use military force, if necessary.
This increased the blockade. Not only was trade and aid prohibited but it also prevented Americans traveling to Cuba.
Even after Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles off Cuba, the blockade was still enforced for decades.
This embargo lost the U.S. $1.2 billion per year in lost sales and exports. At the end of 2014, the Obama Administration and Raul Castro announced they would end the embargo.
How to Travel to Cuba
While the blockage is no longer enforced, change is slowly occurring. There are a few facts to know before traveling to Cuba.
Visa
As of now, traditional tourist visas are still prohibited. But you can receive a special license to travel to Cuba. You need to fit one of the following categories to enter Cuban land:
- Family visit
- Journalistic activity
- Official U.S. business
- Education
- Professional research
- Performance work (clinic, workshop, athleticism, etc.)
- Religion
- Humanitarian
- Cuban support (charity, etc.)
- Exportation or importation of information
- Private foundation
- Export transactions
Americans no longer need pre-approval to obtain these licenses. However, your visit must fit one of these categories to legally go to Cuba.
Other Ways to Travel to Cuba
Since pre-approval isn’t required for a license, there are many ways you can still legally enter Cuba. Here are a few popular methods.
Tours
There are many organized tour options that are popular among Americans. Since tours enter the “education” category, a Cuban tour provides insight into Cuban history and Cuban culture. There are also many tour niches such as vintage cars.
Foreign Gateway Cities
If you want to spend your Cuban getaway lying on the beach, there’s a way independent travelers can still achieve this. You’ll just have to fly in from another city. Canada is a popular option. Keep in mind; this is technically illegal.
Additional Rules for Independent Travelers
One of the requirements for Cuba travel is to travel with family. But what if you’re a solo traveler? You can still enter Cuba, but you have to abide by additional rules.
The easiest way to enter the country is by selecting “Support the Cuban People.” This ensures you’re not just a tourist, but you’re someone who’s there to support Cuba’s local economy and culture.
But this means you must only stay at local hotels, eat at local restaurants, and buy any goods at local businesses. In other words, don’t support American-owned or other foreign businesses on Cuban soil.
This isn’t always the case, but you may have to prove you’re there to support the Cuban economy.
Keep a detailed record of your visit. Keep all receipts, save pictures, and hold on to all documents to prove you only supported the local Cuban economy.
How the U.S. Is Reacting
Now you know Cuba’s reaction to the diplomatic restoration, how is the U.S. responding? If you remember, ties with Cuba were restored by Obama. Is current U.S. President Donald Trump supportive of American travel to Cuba?
In 2017, President Trump set new regulations banning U.S. businesses from doing business with Cuba. These regulations cut back on U.S. tourist visas to Cuba.
Entering and Exiting Cuba
Now that you know how to get your Cuban travel license, you can finally enter Cuba. How do you go through Cuban immigration?
Honesty is the best policy. When you meet with the Cuban officer, say why you’re there and which license you have. If your reason is accepted, they will stamp your passport.
Exiting Cuba can also be difficult. As mentioned, the U.S. is now stricter with Cuban travel. Be honest when going through U.S. immigration. Tell the U.S. immigration officer the same reason you told the Cuban immigration officer.
Are You Ready to Go to Cuba?
Today, Americans can travel to Cuba. But there’s a specific process Americans need to go through. Signing up with a tour is the easiest method for solo travelers. If you love vintage cars, take a look at our tour.