| Tips on what to pack for a trip to Cuba, posted by real travelers and Cuba locals. Map |
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I travelled with a rucksack, which was fine. I had heard about security problems, but didn't hear of anyone who actually had any problems when I was there. Take the usual precautions - carry cash and passport in a money belt and make sure this is over your hips and inside your trousers. Don't carry them in backpacks or your wallet in your back pocket! Take a photocopy of your passport which you should carry with you as the police may stop you and ask to see proof of ID.
The weather is mild throughout the year, but it can rain, so take a lightweight rain coat with you. Cuban shops don't carry many clothes and what clothes there are are completely out of budget for most of the population. I took clothes that I left with people I met and stayed with and they were very gratefully received. Underwear is particularly difficult to get, but you may feel a little awkward giving your casa owner underwear!
Because of the US embargo they cannot get pharmaceutical drugs. I took what I thought was lots of packs of paracetamol and ibuprofen. I should have taken lots more and I would take mostly ibuprofen next time. Any pharmaceutical drugs you can take will be welcome, but I tried to give them to doctors I met. I was a bit unnerved when I saw people had left antibiotics with no information, but that I knew to have loads of contraindications, sitting out of date with one of my casa owners!
Soap is hard to get and what is there is poor quality so that is always very gratefully received. I took loads of toothpaste and toothbrushes (just take the basic square ones as they are the most effective anyway) and should have taken more deodorant. Hand creams are always a luxury. Cuban shampoo is notoriously horrid, so take enough for yourself and any extra will be very welcome. Nail clippers also welcome.
Tampons are difficult to get and condoms are Chinese imports, so both of these are also very welcome if you take extras
Take enough film (if applicable) and batteries for your own use. I took spare memory cards which were very handy. Batteries are very hard to come by so if you have some space in your luggage take some extra to your own requirements and make someone's day.
I took one Spanish-English dictionary, but everywhere I went, in schools, libraries and even in the casas where I stayed they were crying out for a current dictionary and were usually working with one that was falling apart and about 40 years old. (the Collins, Easy Learn, dictionary is a really good one, but quite heavy).
Herbs and spices are difficult to get - best are cumin, coriander (celantro), turmeric.
Car parts, of any sort, will be put to good use. THe Cubans are amazing in the way they keep their cars on the road. If they can't get the parts, which usually they can't, apparently they just make them.
Guitar strings are another winner.
I took about 50 pens and pencils and also some note pads and gave them to a school at the beginning of my trip. I wish I had taken a lot more pens and handed them out as I went. For the children I took a big bag of balloons and they went down well, though not so much in Havana where the kids, even the very young ones, were after money alone.
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Visiting Cuba?
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Lock your luggage securely in order to avoid that items get stolen out of your luggage at the airport.
Old clothes to give away
No special vaccination is needed. Due to the embargos there is a lack of medicine. Bring your own.
soap to give away
Bring your own films and good batteries since they are rare and also expensive in Cuba.
Bring an adaptor if equipment is not 110 Volt and american standard. In the better hotels you can find 220 Volt.
Make a copy of your passport and drivers licence and keep the originals in your hotel safe during day trips.
pens, pencils to give away Leave a Comment
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You will need a passport (valid for at least another 6 months when leaving Cuba) and a tourist card (valid for 30 days). You can buy the tourist card at the Cuban embassy in your country or via your travel agency. This card must be filled in and kept together with your passport during the whole stay in Cuba.
For the tourist card you will need to provide a hotel address for your first 3 days in Cuba. If you are not planning to stay in a hotel, just give a hotel address but don't tell them you are staying at a casa. Leave a Comment
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 Cuban Buildings by PremaMarie
There are always people willing to carry your bags for you and take you to a Casa Particular. You need to have your accomodations booked before you get there and the people you are staying with usually have a car service to pick you up from the airport.
Good walking shoes. I recommend Dansko or Tevas. Sandals are okay but the streets can be dirty.
Bring everything you think you might need and stuff that you don't. Whatever you don't use you can give to the locals. TAMPONS are scarce or expensive to come by as are most feminine products. Alka Seltzer... bring extra the locals will take what you don't use.
Bring extra film and put it in an x-ray proof bag. Or a small digital camera with extra memory cards.
Pens are a hit with the locals and kids. Leave a Comment
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 Beach in Cuba by russian_yaz
Don't need to carry anything, but if U plan to move a lot inside Cuba, better take with U some toilette paper and some basic medical supplies. At the end of the trip U can leave it to anyone in Cuba, it will be welcomed.
Cuba is passing through a hard economical period so take with U anything U think U may need. If U're using analogical cam, take lot of rolls and if using digital camera don't forget to take batteries and a battery charger.
If U plan to do camping, trekking or any other outdoor excursion always remember that cubans don't this a lot so U'll not find easly establiments where to buy something related to that. Is U go in dry season to the eastern mountains, Sierra Maestra, take lot of water as this particular zone can be very dry.
Don't U ever forget a Mosquito Repellent !! Specially if U plan to stay nearby the beach or in country side places. Mosquitos can be really annoying and bad if U are not well prepared. Leave a Comment
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 on the road by YanetT
tickets – passport – birth certificates – insurance docs – health cards (make photocopy of passport, leave one at home for family, just in case). There is an exit fee to leave Cuba of $25 US (cash only), keep separate with your passport or airline ticket so it does not get "spent".
Depending on airline, most charter flights from Canada, allow for one bag (44 kilos weight) and one carry on (plus maybe a camera bag and carry on)
BTW - pack your tweezers, nail scissors, razors, and cigar cutter in your CHECKED baggage.
I take an extra lightweight backpack in my suitcase and use for my camera, dictionary etc when walking around sightseeing or bike riding. Because I don't drive, I ride bikes alot and take a padded bike seat, bike gloves, tire pump and bike gloves.
Because climate is hot and humid, a variety of tshiirts, as you change clothes alot in humidity. I wear sportswear tops or bathing suit or bikini tops, then you are ready to give in water at any time. If not in area of beach or pool, sports tops are good for women.
Walking shorts with lots of pockets, zippers, makes it easier to 'not' carry purse, wallet around when site seeing.
Good walking sandals or runners (tennis socks) for sweaty feet (and bandaids for blisters).
Bring a light jacket/sweater, it can get cool in evening or very cool on air conditioned train/bus.
An umbrella, there are downpours at about 4 pm on most days, build up of humidity and heat producing thundershowers etc.
shampoo, conditiioner, hair brush, toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant, razors, shave cream, feminine hygiene products, GOOD SUNSCREEN, take a washcloth and handtowel, extra toilet paper for out of the way trips, handi wipes, baggies or zip lock bags for dirty laundry (various sizes)
Prescription medicine, if needed and a note form doctor that this is for your use (if you hand out antibiotics to Cubans, make sure they confirm with their doctor that they can use it (ie Penicillin (allergies possible etc) and even anti histamine or medicine for asthma etc. , gravol, Advil, Pepto Bismo Advil - Tylenol - Advil Cold & Sinus, band aids - Polysporin, tensor bandage for sprains (I sprained my foot in Havana my second day in Cuba and could have used this bandage, believe me)
thermometer – Pepto Bismol, Imodium and AFTER BITE in case you get bitten by anything to control the itch, or have an allergic reaction.
Lots of film (they only have ASA 100 even in Habana (I looked). Extra batteries and if you need special batteries (I need a special cell battery for small camera) take along extra, you won't find them in Cuba.
Have good camera case/bag, as it is hot and humid, to protect your camera.
Don't get on plane with film in camera, wait till you get to your destination, it will go through lots of x-ray machines.
one or two bathing suits, water shoes for snokelling (for walking on rocks or if you step on coral etc
Bring your own snorkelling mask if possible and flippers (no cost in baggage).
I took a bicycle (no extra cost) but I left it behind, they have different rules now and you may have to pay on return home if you have no bike with you.
Scuba gear (no extra cost) or golf clubs, but there aren't many golf courses in Cuba (Varadero and Cayo Coco)
Cassette tapes blank
Dictionary (Spanish/English)
FLASHLIGHTS (Spare bulb/batteries)
Drinking glass (insulated)
Gifts for Cuban:
Guitar picks
Guitar straps
Guitar strings
Hair ornaments/accessories
iron (travelling)
Kitchen gadgets (non-electric)
Juice powder (to mix with cold water)
Make-up (especially for eyes)
Manicure accessories
Milk - powdered
plastic kitchen utensils
Razors & blades (decent ones for special friends - pack in checked luggage)
School supplies
Shampoo
Scouring pads
SOAP
Socks for men & kids.
Spices (packets of cumin, cinnamon, garlic powder etc.)
Stomach remedies
Tea towels
Teething gel for babies
Toothpaste (Can be bought at resort)
Toothbrushes (decent)
Tap lights (with batteries)
Underwear!
VITAMINS (Especially E) Leave a Comment
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 My packing list by Luchonda
Walking shoes - preferable red or blue colored - shirts
Be advised by your doc
As much as possible - analoge and digital
A nice travelmate and friend - speaking and writing spanish - with a heart and especially a soul for Cuba - blue shoes - wearing blue jeans - preferable from the opposite sex.
I was lucky - i had it all Leave a Comment
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Luggage - including carry-on - limitations are as follows. From Cancun, traveling via Mexicana: 44 lbs + $.1.25 per lb overweight up to maximum total weight of 66 lbs. There are no restrictions on bringing in cameras and tape recorders as long as these items are for your own use. Remember that all carry-on luggage must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you and its weight must be under 11 lbs. Additional Cuban customs regulations taxing additional baggage may apply.
Prohibited: No food items may be brought into Cuba
Essentials: what to have in your carry-on luggage or on your person:
· Passport
Be prepared for warm weather, with a chance of brief periods of rain. However, bring a light jacket or sweater for cool evenings. From November to April the temperature averages 75-80 F.
In general, clothing should be casual, but note that most Cuban men and women do not wear shorts around the city of Havana.
Be prepared too for moving around in a real city: it will be hot, sometimes congested, with a good deal of energetic car, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic
· Comfortable walking shoes (you'll walk a lot, and the streets can be dusty and muddy)
· Flipflops, shower or pool shoes.
· Bathing suit (our hotel does have a pool)
· Light sweater, or sweatshirt
· Jacket (light, preferably rain proof)
· Light weight long pants or skirts (2, preferably cotton so that they can be washed by hand)
· 1 pair of jeans
· 1 pair of shorts
· Short sleeve shirts/blouses
· Long sleeve shirt for layering
· At least one week's worth of underwear and socks.· Long pants/shirt for sleeping
· Hat · Sunglasses
Bring all toiletries and medication you think you may need; don't assume you can buy it there. If you bring prescription drugs, be sure the pharmacy identification label is on the container.
· First aid items (over the counter cold, allergy, headache medicine; aspirin, band-aids; antibiotic ointment). It will be great to leave these in Cuba for those who need it when we leave.
· Anit-diarrheal or indigestion medicine. Stock up on immodium.
· Prescription medicine (leave in original container)
· Mosquito/insect repellent
· Sun screen
· contact supplies, or extra pair of glasses
· bath soap
· Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
· Shampoo
· Antiperspirant/deodorant
· Toilet paper (most public restrooms will not)
· Tissues
· Wet towels (packs of antiseptic wipes are a great idea, as is a bottle of antiseptic gel).
· Razor - to be packed in your checked luggage
· An extra towel - for the pool or bath
· Detergent for personal laundry
· Flashlight/s with batteries (the power will go out!)
· Water bottle (so you don't have to carry a 2 liter bottle around)
· Camera, film (do not pack in checked luggage) and batteries
· Ziplock bags - good for everything
· Clothes pin and durable string (to hang laundry)
· Small travel sewing kit - (goes in your checked luggage)
· umbrella Leave a Comment
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 by rachel_sun
During the day you will only need swimwear and t-shirt.In towns wear long trousers.At night in winter,take a light jacket and in upmarket hotels,you are expected to dress smartly.
Do bring all the film you need,as film is hard to get and do ask permission before taking a picture of someone.
Do bring all toiletries you will need with you. Leave a Comment
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Have a rucksack, even if you're not planning to travel around. Even a suitcase with very good wheels is difficult to carry around in badly maintained streets.
Summer gear: shorts, short sleaved shirts and t-shirts, skits for the girls (don't worry if your skirts are rather short, what the Cubans wear will probably be shorter).
A pair of good walking shoes if you are planning to hike inland.
Mosquito repellent and cream.
Water resistant sun cream.
Aspirin or paracetamol.
Medicine for diarrhea is always useful.
Small plasters for blisters.
UV and polarising filters.
Wide angle lens for landscapes.
100mm lens for portraits.
Have as much film with you as possible. It is difficult to find anything more than the standard 100 or 400 ISO 35mm film. Don't even think about buying locally if you use APS.
The standard beach gear is essential.
If you are planning to go snorkeling or diving, try to have your own mask, fins and snorkel as the local equipment can be of very poor quality. Leave a Comment
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