Travelling to Cuba requires a bit of pre-planning, especially regarding entry requirements and health-related aspects, but do not worry, we are outlining all you need here.

Please kindly also independently research specific entry requirements according to the requirements set by your country of residence.

If you have any questions or queries, please always reach out to us, we're here to help.

Every traveller who wants to enter Cuba needs the following:

1.   Valid passport
All travelers visiting Cuba must have a valid passport, must be valid for over 6 months and with an expiration date that exceeds the duration of their stay in the country.

2.   Visa (also named "Tarjeta de Turista")
You need a "Visa" or also called "Tourist Card" to enter Cuba. They are both named interchangeably, but please note that "Visa" and "Tarjeta de Turista", translated to English "Tourist Card", mean the same. The Visa/ Tourist Card is an entry document that allows tourist stays of up to 30 days and can be obtained at the Cuban embassy in your country of residence, or at airports before you board your flight. Tourist Cards are valid for 180 days after purchase, which means you will need to travel within six months of obtaining the document.

Be sure to check the specific requirements for citizens of your country before traveling. We advise you to get the visa/ Tourist Card in advance.

3.   Health Insurance
It is mandatory to have valid health insurance that covers medical care in Cuba to enter the country, and that covers medical emergencies and evacuation by air. A proof of your personal health insurance is also mandatory on tova travel tours. This insurance must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Cuba. Some airlines automatically include health insurance in the cost of the ticket, while others require passengers to purchase separate health insurance. Be sure to check the details with your airline or insurance provider before traveling to Cuba. The health insurance must be in Spanish.

For European travellers or non-US-American travellers, please note that your insurance mustn't be a US company.

4.   Arrival Form (also named "D'Viajeros")
You must provide information on your arrival in Cuba via an online form within 72 hours before entering the country. Once done, you will receive a QR code by email. You must then show an electronic or printed version of the QR code to authorities upon arrival in Cuba. The same applies for leaving Cuba. You can request and edit the form here.

Other entry requirements:

Customs officials may ask you to show them:

• a return or onward ticket

• proof that you have a place to stay if arriving with “air only” tickets

Please note that it is the traveller's responsibility to check with changing requirements of your country of residence, tova travel tours cannot be hold accountable for any changes. We will update the information here should there be changes, but we ask you to check back with the authorities in your country, or the country you fly from.

The Visa/ Tarjeta de Turista (Tourist Card in English) is a visa-like entry requirement to enter Cuba and every traveller, regardless of your passport or citizenship needs this document to be able to enter Cuba.

Don't worry, it sounds more complicated that it is.

What is the visa/tourist card:
Don't be confused, visa and tourist card (in Spanish: tarjeta de turista) are the same, they are simply used interchangeably. The Visa/ Tourist Card is an entry document that allows tourist stays of up to 30 days and are valid for 180 days after purchase, which means you will need to travel within six months of obtaining the document.

How to get your visa/tourist card:
You can obtain your visa/tourist card at the Cuban embassy in your country of residence in advance, or at airports before you board your flight. Be sure to check the specific requirements for citizens of your country before traveling. Prices vary depending on where you travel from or where you live. We advise you to get the visa/ Tourist Card in advance.

How is the process:
Once you have arrived in Cuba, you will have to present the visa-like "Tarjeta de Turista" with your passport when you pass the check points and it will be stamped. You will be given part of this "Tarjeta de Turista", which you keep with yourself and which you will present again when you leave Cuba. Therefore it is a very important document, please keep it with your passport and take good care of it. It can get very costly if you lose it.

Differences in visas:
If you are a US-American passport holder, your Tourist Card will be pink, while the Tourist Card of non-US-American passport holders are generally green.

For US travellers specifically: When booking your flight, you will need to tick one the 12 motives/ specific purposes defined by the United States Treasury Department, from an online list that pops up when you purchase your air ticket, and please tick and select “support of the Cuban people”. This is the license we travel to Cuba.

Political rifts have caused travel restrictions, imposed in the 1960s, made it difficult for US-Americans and US-American passport holders. The restrictions were widely lifted in 2016, and it is absolutely possible and legal for US-American passport holders to travel to Cuba.

There are some differences that apply to US individuals/ passport holders, we have gathered them here for you:

• As an US-American passport holder/ US traveller wanting to visit Cuba, you can travel on one of the many daily commercial flights to Havana, which mostly depart from Miami for instance.

• When booking your flight, you will need to tick one the 12 motives/ specific purposes defined by the United States Treasury Department, from an online list that pops up when you purchase your air ticket, and please tick and select “support of the Cuban people”.

• The US government requires that US travelers must spend their US Dollars supporting private businesses in Cuba, not companies that are government-owned or operated. At tova travel, we support locals directly and choose accommodations in small, private-owned Boutique Hotels or premium Casas Particulares, so we support Cuban locals 100% directly and fulfill the requirements.

• The regular entry requirements applies before you travel to Cuba. Please see "What do I need to enter Cuba?" above for detailed information.

• Your Tourist Card will be pink, while the Tourist Card of non-US-American passport holders are generally green.

• Please note that US credit and debit cards are still not valid in Cuba. Bring cash. We recommend you bring more than you think you will need, so you don’t run out. These days, US dollars are accepted in most places in Cuba.

If you have any questions, queries, or doubts, please contact us here, we're here for you.

While in Cuba, we lay our heads and put down our suticases in high-end Boutique Hotels, or premium Casas Particulares, all exuding lovely local charm. Depending on your nationality, there might be special requirements. US-American travellers for instance are not allowed to stay in Cuba state hotels. We also make sure upon your booking to find the right type of accommodation for you, depending on the size of the group for our small tour groups or your wishes if you book a custom-design tour with us.

During all of our Cuba tours, we stay in premium and high-end private owned boutiques or casas, which are all audited by our tour host herself and locally. We maintain contact with the owner of these accommodation, so we can ensure the quality for you and also build personal rapport. For us, it always about connection and people.

Casas Particulares are private homestays, so private homes of Cubans who have gained a licence to host travellers and provide hotel-like acommodations. It is the Cuban equivalent to Bed and Breakfast accommodations.

We adore Casas Particulares and private owned Boutique Hotels for many reasons, some we have listed here:

• You have the most genuine contact with locals, while they welcome you warmly in their own home. These casas are enchanting, lovingly decorated and exude local charm. You get the most local and genuine insight and perhaps even make new friends. Do you know a bit of Spanish? That's super, that's a fantastic way to practice it if you would like. (Please do not worry if you don't speak Spanish, you might even pick up a few sentences?)

• In Cuba's current economic situation, these accommodations are an important income source for locals. We would like to give back on our travels, so choosing staying in private owned accommodations is a beautiful way to give 100% of the price directly to the owners.

Cuba's currency is Peso Cubano, in short CUP.

Up until January 2021, there was the Peso Convertible (CUC), that was used for tourists. Please note, that the CUC can now no longer be used.

ATMs in Cuba are unreliable and do not always store cash, and drawing money usually comes with 10% taxes. Most ATMs can be found in Habana and Santiago, sometimes in smaller cities, too. Should you have troubles with your credit card or any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your tour host or the Centro de Tarjetas Fincimex SA at Hotel Habana Libre (Phone: 0053 7 554466).

We recommend therefore that you carry cash with you. Please kindly check the regulations in your country about how much cash you are allowed to enter Cuba with. We always recommend checking at your local embassy as a safe source of information.

Cuba is a tropical country, its climate is semi- or subtropical and therefore all-year around hot and moist.

There are generally speaking two seasons, while there are regional differences: wet season (May to November) and dry season (December to April).

The traditional travel high season is during winter time from mid-November to February/ March with degrees around 25°C-28°C, and water temperatures around 25°C. Expect higher prices and more tourist traffic.

Between November and March, you will get a nice insight into the tabac harvest as the season is at high peak.

Sun and beach lovers may consider November and the period from March to May, when it is warm enough for swimming.

During the hurricane season from June to November, Cuba experiences heavy torrential rains, tropical storm, as well as landslide. Hurricane season comes also with oppressive heat.

Our tours to Cuba take the different seasons into considerations, while curating different itineraries for different seasons to ensure that you get the most of it.

Our curated 5-days group tour starts and ends in Habana, so we recommend flying into and from Habana. If you would like to extend your stay after our tour ends, please let us know. Our custom-design Cuba tours may start and end in different cities, depending on your wishes, so it might be recommendable to fly into and from different airports if your flight connections allow.

Cuba has 8 international airport, while the most important are the following:

• Habana (HAV): Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí

• Varadero (VRA): Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Gualberto Gómez

• Santa Clara (SNU): Aeropuerto Internacional Abel Santamaría

• Holguín (HOG): Aeropuerto Internacional Frank País

When you travel with us on our Cuba tours, you are legally obliged to partake in any of our activities included in our tour itineraries. Please do not worry, we have included lots of free time so you can decompress and recharge your social batteries.

We travel with the license "support of the Cuban people", which also literally aligns with what we do at tova travel.

Cuba is still experiencing shortages of certain goods, so it might be a good idea to

• Pack some good and comfortable shoes for trekking in Viñales, that may get a bit dirty, too. It might also be a good idea to pack some comfortable trousers for either biking or horse back riding, that are not too tight or short, so they are comfortable to wear.

• Do you usually travel with granola bars? Bring some from home with you, as these are not available in Cuba.

• Some toiletries might be tricky to find, so pack razors and tooth brushes for instance.

• We always recommend biodegradable sunscreen that is friendly to coral reefs and these are hard to find in some destinations, so if you would like to pack that, it's best to bring it from home.