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For the latest travel warnings and alerts around the world, read about lockdowns and border restrictions.
How is coronavirus (COVID-19) affecting travelers in Cuba? Read the latest travel warnings and alerts.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions in Cuba – updated 7 December, 2020
Travel to Cuba
Havana Airport reopened to commercial and charter flights at midnight on 15 November. All of Cuba's airports are now open for commercial and charter flights.
There are a number of requirements for international travelers to enter:
- Everyone must complete a Health Declaration, declare where they are staying, and take a PCR test on arrival
- After taking the PCR test, travelers must quarantine at their hotel for a maximum of 24 hours while waiting for test results. Once a negative result is produced, travelers are free to explore Cuba
- Check the Cuban Tourist Card requirements before you travel. Travelers from the US will obtain a pink card. Travelers from outside the US will get a green card.
What to expect in Cuba
Anyone who does travel to Cuba should pack hand sanitizer hand gel, face masks and any sanitary products, as access to these items is not easy once in the country.
Expect long queues at pharmacies. Over-the-counter medicines and pharmacy products are not always available so bring any prescription medication you need with you and consider bringing extra supplies in case you have to stay longer than expected.
Face masks are required in all public places, and people must adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Previous travel alerts for Cuba
Hurricane Michael – 9 October, 2018
Hurricane Michael is currently strengthening as it heads towards the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to become a Category 3 system, before making landfall in the Florida Panhandle (NW of the state) and then tracking across Georgia and the Carolinas.
The hurricane will past the west coast of Cuba en route to the US, bringing heavy rainfall and storm surges.
Please check with authorities for more information, follow any official warnings and listen to local news reports to monitor the situation. Failure to comply with directives from government authorities means you won't be covered by travel insurance.
How to Survive a Hurricane
The absolutely best way to survive a hurricane is to avoid one. Get away from it, but if you make the decision to leave make that decision early. Do not leave it until the last minute because you may find yourself caught without proper shelter.
If you decide to stay and "ride it out" it is advisable to get to an authorized shelter. The locations of these will be broadcast, or locals will know where they are. If there is no shelter, prepare to "shelter in place" in an internal room without windows.
Once a "storm watch" has been issued, make sure you are prepared in the event that the watch becomes a "warning."
- Fill the gas tank of your car.
- Check batteries in flashlights and radios.
- Have extra batteries on hand.
- Secure all doors and windows.
- Close shutters or board up the windows.
- Have extra supplies on hand such as non-perishable food, clean drinking water, a half-gallon of water per person/per day (enough for a couple of days), and prescription drugs.
During the storm
- Never go out during the storm. The winds can send flying debris into you causing injury and even death.
- Stay away from windows and doors.
- Keep on the alert for additional storm warnings. Hurricanes are known to spawn tornadoes so be prepared to take cover if one should strike.
- While the storm is in progress avoid using electrical appliances.
- Stay off the telephone.
- All pets should be secure in carriers. The storm will be a frightening experience for them as well, and they could injure themselves or you if they panic.
- Do not light candles or lanterns; they could get blown over causing a fire.
- The eye of the storm passing over could make you think the storm is over when the worst is still yet to come. Only use this calm in an extreme emergency to make critical repairs.
- Only after an official "all clear" has been issued is it safe to come out.
After the storm
- Beware of downed power lines and gas leaks.
- Stay away from heavily damaged areas.
- Listen to your radio for instructions.
Worldwide 24-hour Emergency Assistance
Need assistance? Find the emergency contact telephone number for you.
So we can best assist you, please be ready with the following:
- Your policy number
- A contact number for where you are now
- The nature of your problem
- If you are ill or injured we will need details of medical consultations you have had
Hurricane Irma - 9 September 2017
Hurricane Irma struck the north coast of Cuba as a Category 5 storm late on Friday, September 8. Many areas of the island, including Havana, suffered severe flooding and widespread wind damage. At least ten deaths have been reported.
If you are traveling in the region you should follow all directions of police, emergency services and city officials. If it is practicable you should call the World Nomads emergency assistance service.
Be aware that now this is a named hurricane and emergencies have been declared in several places it may not be possible to purchase travel insurance to cover this event. To discuss your coverage please contact us at World Nomads.
Before you buy a travel insurance policy, check your government travel warnings and health advice – there may be no travel insurance cover for locations with a government travel ban or health advice against travel.
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8 Comments
Amelia, These updates are great!
I agree but would you travel during this time ? Knowing that all this is going on , I want to go to cuba so bad but.... hesitating due to all this craziness 😥
I have clients booked to Varadero. They are set to fly into Juan G Gomez airport. I spoke with the airline and Varadero seems to be open.
As a solo traveler are you free to circulate all over the country?
Its a lie after arrival in cuba I did the text and I still have to wait 5 days lockdown to repeat the text them you free to go anywhere
^^^ Thanks, Yoldanka!
So if you're traveling from US, get a test in the airport on arrival, and want to leave 5 days later-- can you use your negative test from the airport?
Or do you need to get another test while in Cuba?
Where does one get tested while in Cuba?
How long does it take to get the test results (not from the airport)?
Do the testing centers work on weekends so it's actually 5 days or is it 5 business days?
we are traveling to Cuba on Jan 12 . Do we need to land from Canada with a PCR test in hand good for 72 hr. or 96 hr.