Travel insurance for Cuba

Cuba’s an incredibly popular location with thrill-seekers and adventurers. As a result, many holiday-makers visiting this beautiful island choose to snorkel or scuba dive in Maria la Gorda or hike in Viñales. Thankfully, when you choose our travel insurance, you’re covered for a number of sports and leisure activities as standard. If you’re taking part in something a little more adventurous, you may need to purchase additional Sports and Leisure cover.

To understand exactly which activities you’re covered for, please visit the policy information hub, where you’ll find more details. 

For your holiday to Cuba, every member of your family (including any children travelling) will need a Tourist Card. You’ll need to apply for a Tourist Card before you arrive in Cuba, which can easily be done online.

A Tourist Card is valid for 30 days. If you plan on staying in Cuba for longer than 30 days, you’ll need to extend the Tourist Card during your stay. Please be aware that you can only extend it for another 30 days. 

Before you travel to Cuba, you’ll need to make sure you’re up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters, such as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. In addition, most travellers visiting Cuba will require a tetanus vaccination, while some travellers will require hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid vaccinations, according to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).

In addition, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue are present in Cuba, so you should use mosquito repellent and nets during your trip. These will help you avoid getting ill while you’re away.  

Under US law, you cannot travel directly from the USA to Cuba for tourism reasons. This law applies to US nationals and all foreign nationals who are residents of the USA or travelling through the USA en route to Cuba.

If you’re travelling to Cuba from the UK directly, or via other countries excluding the USA, then you’re unaffected by this US legislation.

You can travel directly between the USA and Cuba for 12 permitted reasons, but tourism is not deemed a ‘permitted reason.’ If you’re visiting Cuba for non-tourist reasons, then see the US State Department’s travel advice for Cuba to see whether you’re eligible to travel directly from the US to Cuba.  

When travelling to Cuba, there are some additional things that you should be aware of:

• Currency: Both Cuban currencies are unavailable in the UK. As a result, you’ll need to exchange English notes into Cuban convertible peso (CUC) when you arrive. You’ll also need to convert money back to pounds sterling before you leave. However, when you convert your currency back, you may not get a good rate. As a result, you should only exchange the money you need.
• Spending Money: During your holiday, you can use traveller’s cheques, but it’s much easier to pay for things in cash. Although ATMs are available in busier areas, many places are cash only. If you’re planning to use your card while you’re in Cuba, you should check whether your card will be accepted with your bank before you travel.
• Tipping: Tips are encouraged in Cuba, so you should always try to travel with change or 1CUC notes. Generally, a tip of between 10% and 15% is expected in restaurants, while a porter at a hotel will expect 1CUC per bag.
• Wi-Fi: You can access the internet via ETECSA hotspots, but Wi-Fi isn’t as widely available as it is in the UK.
• Customs: There are limits to the produce you can bring back from Cuba. You can bring back 1 litre of rum and up to 50 cigars without paying duty or tax.