Cuba has been an interesting country for many years. The island’s history is fascinating, the culture is unique, and there are plenty of things to see and do in this Caribbean Island nation. However, if you want to visit Cuba,you must have a good plan in place before you go. Below you can find all the information you need to know about how to get to Cuba from the United States. Cuba is a long way away from the United States, which means that traveling there will involve some planning and a lot of travel time.
It’s also important to remember that Cuba is not a very safe destination. There are several different ways to travel to Cuba, including by air, sea, or land. By Air, The main airport in Cuba is called Jose Marti International Airport. This airport has two terminals: one for domestic flights and one for international flights. The international terminal has a number of connections to major cities worldwide, such as New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Barcelona, and Frankfurt.
How to Travel to Cuba on A US Passport
Americans can travel to Cuba. However, not as easy as in other countries. There are some additional steps to be taken.
Even though Americans are restricted from traveling to Cuba, it’s still possible to visit. In fact, you can usually fly directly to Cuba from a handful of international airports in the United States, including New York City, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale
Cuba can also be accessed through “foreign gateway” cities such as Toronto, Canada, or Cancun, Mexico – like we did. Before U.S. airlines restarted flights to Havana a few years ago, this was the easiest way to travel to Cuba.
Due to the Cuban Trade Embargo, the United States has tried to impose special restrictions on tourism there, preventing Americans from visiting.
Independent travelers in Cuba aren’t too much of a priority for government officials. You probably don’t have much to worry about unless you’re an American business making money in Cuba or you’re overly loud about your trip!
Categories of Valid Travel
If you are an American, you may travel to Cuba if the reason for your visit fits a certain category. There are a variety of reasons for visiting family, including professional reasons, the pursuit of journalism, the pursuit of religious or cultural programs, and humanitarian acts.
It is not necessary to obtain preapproval for such a license, but technically your visit must fall into one of the categories to remain legal. I just wanted to be prepared in case the U.S. Government decides to ask later (which is not common).
12 Categories of Authorized Travel to Cuba for Americans
- Family visits
- Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
- Journalistic activity
- Professional research and professional meetings
- Educational activities
- Religious activities
- Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions
- Support for the Cuban people
- Humanitarian projects
- Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
- Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials
- According to existing regulations and guidelines, certain export transactions may be considered for authorization.
Gateway Cities Abroad
A foreign gateway city is another option for traveling to Cuba. Essentially, you would fly yourself to either Canada or Mexico, then travel by yourself to Cuba from either of those countries because Cuba has been a popular travel destination for the rest of the world for many years. We Americans are the only ones who haven’t visited Cuba!
Some risks are associated with traveling to Cuba via a foreign gateway city as a tourist. I was subpoenaed by the Treasury Department years later and was warned. The Treasury Department has fined several people in the past.
Depending on who’s in charge and how public you are with sharing your trip, this rule seems to be enforced differently.
If you choose this route, you won’t usually have to flaunt your Cuban citizenship. As long as Cuban immigration does not stamp your passport, you will not be able to tell that you took a “side trip” to Cuba when you return to the U.S. through Mexico or Canada.
