Is it possible to travel to cuba

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Please note that neither the U. Embassy in Havana nor the U. Department of State in Washington, D. And you can contact us at the Irish Embassy in Mexico City. Many vehicles, including public transport, suffer from lack of maintenance and roads are poorly lit and sign-posted.

If you want to drive:. If involved in an accident, you are likely to be detained, regardless of who is at fault. If you have a traffic accident where someone is killed or injured, the police investigation may take several months during which time the driver will normally not be allowed to leave Cuba. In some cases the driver may be imprisoned during this delay. Check that you have adequate insurance and read the small print of the vehicle hire contract particularly any waiver that will come into effect if the vehicle is damaged.

The hurricane season in Cuba extends from June to the end of November. Always monitor local and international weather updates for the region by accessing, for example, the Weather Channel , or the US National Hurricane Centre website. In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe hurricane may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should familiarise yourself with your hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans and identify your local shelter.

Carry your travel documents at all times ie passport, picture IDs or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. Remember, the local laws apply to you as a visitor and it is your responsibility to follow them. Be sensitive to local customs, traditions and practices as your behaviour may be seen as improper, hostile or may even be illegal.

We advise you to carry a photocopy of the relevant page of your passport and keep the original in a safe place. Cuba is increasingly used as a transit country for drugs destined for Europe. Cuban law allows for the death penalty and courts are handing out very severe penalties in excess of twenty years for all drug related offences.

Avoid any contact with prohibited drugs. Always pack your entire luggage yourself and never carry any items that do not belong to you in or out of the country.

Note that it can often be difficult to access basic supplies toiletries, medicines, household goods, snacks in Cuba.

You should therefore make sure you are prepared in advance of travel. If you are unsure of the entry requirements for Cuba, including visa and other immigration information, ask your travel agent or contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Cuba.

Check with your doctor well in advance of travelling to see if you need any vaccinations for Cuba. You should bring any prescription drugs you take regularly.

A copy of the prescription and a letter from your doctor explaining your condition can be helpful at customs. One recent show covered President Obama's trip to Havana and what it meant for American travelers:. You can download more episodes on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. There are 11 categories of approved travel to Cuba for Americans, all of which allow you to travel to Cuba legally.

The Support for the Cuban People category is the most common category for independent travel to Cuba. Under this category, you must adhere to a full-time schedule of activities that support the Cuban people. Remember: You can no longer travel under the People to People category or take cruises to Cuba. This 12th category of travel focused on educational activities that put the traveler in contact with the Cuban people. Additionally, you can no longer plan cruises to Cuba under the June regulations.

Prior to this restriction, travelers could take shore excursions as long as they didn't spend any Cuban currency at military-run businesses. If you have existing plans to travel to Cuba that were arranged before June 5, , you can still travel to Cuba without making any changes to your plans. Regardless of which Category of Legal Travel you choose, you will still need to buy a Cuban Tourist Card to enter Cuba not actually a visa , though the two words are sometimes used interchangeably. If you're traveling from the US, this card is pink.

If you are traveling from outside the US, this card is green. There are several ways to purchase a Cuban Tourist Card:. For more info on new regulations, here is the Fact Sheet the Department of the Treasury distributed on June 4, Bookmark this page to stay up to date on Cuba travel policy.