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Cuba: Things to Pack

 

Travel Advisory!... Pack all valuables with your carry on!

Things you should not pack:

Refer to Cuba's official Prohibited List at the Cuban Customs website for articles prohibited from entry into Cuba. They are routinely seized on arrival, without compensation. Here is a partial list:

• walkie-talkies

• satalite phones,

• hand-held GPS equipment

• televisions

• freezers

• air conditioners

• stoves

• water heaters

• electric frying pans

• toasters

• irons

• any other item that draws heavily on electricity

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

• Pornographic material

 

Permitted items:

• Photo and video cameras, camping tent, fishing gear, bicycle, sports equipment, laptop computer, equipment for recording and reproducing sounds. 

• Check out the Cuban Customs website at: http://www.aduana.co.cu/index.php?opt...

 

Things you should consider packing:

Money: 

• Currency (Bills only, no coins) from your Country of origin (US dollars subject to a 10% surcharge)

• Parallel Currencies CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos) and the CUP (CubanPeso) 1 CUC = 24 CUP .  You are unlikely to come across, or need, the CUP if you are staying at a resort hotel.

• Proof of travel insurance.  (It is recommended to carry insurance that includes adequate medical coverage and repatriation.)

 

Electronic Items:

• Battery-powered alarm clock, in case one is not provided at the hotel. You don't want to miss bus or plane times.

• Extra Batteries (any type of battery is expensive in Cuba.)

• Battery Charger & Rechargeable Batteries 

• Flashlight if you want to trek the beaches at night or find that romantic spot for you and your loved one at night.

• Camera (bring Ziploc bags to prevent camera & extra batteries from getting wet on outings.

• Headphones  [2.5mm (1/8") jacks] for the plane ride (they charge you $5 dollars on the plane if you want to buy them)

• Electric Shaver 

 

Clothing:

• Socks & Underwear (You should bring at least 1 pair of socks, you never know when it might get a bit chilly!)

• Sandals/ flip flops (maybe a pair of gym shoes if you want to play tennis

• Sea shoes (good if you're going to other nearby beaches with stones) 

• Sea Socks (good for Catamaran Trips and exploring the island)

• Baseball Caps

• Muscle- tanks (anything light, it's gonna be hot!)

• Shorts gym

• Swimming suits or trunks

• Sundresses 

• Cardigan/ sweater (for the cooler nights) 

• Dress Shirt, Pants and Shoes (for A La Carte Restaurants and local Disco clubs...Cubans always dress their very best when going out in the evenings)

 

Toiletries & Medications:

• Face Cloth (surprisingly, many hotels in Cuba do not have facecloths) For scrubbing down in the shower

• Mosquito Repellent (DEET is the most common ingredient at a maximum of approx. 30% solution...In Canada 100% solutions have been outlawed due to their toxic effects....however there are some Herbal/Natural alternatives...not sure how well they work)

• Beach Towel (if you lose your own there is no charge...some hotels charge $25 dollars if you lose theirs)

• Medications (ensure you have a doctor's note and leave medications in original bottles - do not mix them to save space)

• Tampons / Pads (very expensive to buy in Cuba)

• First Aid Travel Kit (Immodium, Band-Aids, PolySporin, etc.)

• Advil / Tylenol (always great for a hangover....these items are expensive in Cuba)

• Q-Tips

• Toothpaste, Toothbrush & Mouthwash

• MultiVitamins

• Hand / Skin Lotions

• Shampoo & Conditioner (some hotels supply)

• Leave-In Conditioners (great for battling the Sun and the Salt all day)

• SunTan & Sunburn Lotions

• Electric shaver, Razors & Shaving lotion

• Deodorant 

 

Miscellaneous:

• Hip Sack (for carrying your camera and other small items around with you on outings). 

• Thermos (w/keyring & travel clip)...cups tend to be too small at all resorts

• Cigarettes (if you prefer to stick with the brand that you are used to)

• Lighters (again...lighters are very expensive in Cuba)

• Kroakies for Sunglasses (so you can hang your shades around your neck if so desired)

• Plastic Bags (for packing wet bathing suits prior to departure)

• Plastic Bags (for packing shampoo & lotions in as they may explode/leak during the flight due to compression & decompression)

• Ziploc Bags for your Camera (to prevent from getting wet)

• Cheap Nylon Wallet (may not want to bring your leather wallet and remove all unnecessary cards/documents from your wallet)

• Nicorette Gum (for the Plane ride...if you're a smoker, you may find it eases your nerves in flight)

• Insulated mug. Their cups are small and your drink gets warm very quickly.

 

Things to Bring to Cuba to Give Away as Gifts

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• Kids toothbrushes (fun stuff like Superman or Dora)

• Tooth paste, mouthwash, floss

• Deodorant, antiperspirants

• Hair scrunchies — a lot of them. I took a bag of scrunchies and gave them to our housekeeper on day one, along with the Spiderman toothbrush and toothpaste. She was so happy she was nearly in tears as if she’d hit the jackpot. That’s when I realized I probably could have shared the wealth of those scrunchies around a bit more!

• Feminine hygiene products

• Vitamins — both adult and for kids

• Reading glasses, sunglasses

• Toys for kids (crayons, coloring books, yo-yos, anything really!)

• Flip flops or Crocs — bring down some shoes you’ll use while you’re down there, but leave them behind when you go.

• Bubba mugs! This is a fun one I didn’t realize until I arrived. All the Canadians at the pool had Bubba mugs — which they used for the entire week then left behind for staff.  What a great idea!

• Soap, shampoo, conditioner — again, bring down small bottles you can give away, but also bring down larger bottles you’ll use while you’re there, then leave it all behind.

• Gardening/utility gloves. The landscaping staff is often forgotten, and they were oh so grateful when we gave them all clean, heavy-duty gloves to work with. We saw them all week with bright (maybe not so bright by the end of the week) white new gloves.

 

These seem like everyday little items to us, but to most of the locals in Cuba, these are highly coveted items. In the greater scope of our wallets, it’s really nothing for us to spend $50 to $100 at a dollar store buying things to bring to Cuba. But it can really mean the world to hard-working Cubans, who just don’t have access to the things you and I take for granted.

 

Aside from gifts to bring for the locals, we’ve created a list of what to bring to Cuba to include documents, clothing, and more.

 

Now it’s your turn — what have I forgotten? Please feel free to share your thoughts and add to the list of things to bring to Cuba!