Your “Must Haves” in Cuba – basic tips

Cuba tips defined by me.

In my first post, we talked about the mindset shift you need to really get Cuba. We talked about taking off the “regular life” filter from your eyes and just focusing on the human connection.

But let’s be totally real for a second – even if you have the absolute best mindset in the world, if you show up without a few items I list below you may have a rough, stressful time.

Cuba takes real preparation. Cuba needs tips. You cannot just wing it, and you can’t just stroll into a local supermarket to buy what you forgot. If it’s not in your suitcase when you land, just assume you won’t find it there.

After two trips last year – splitting time between resorts and living with my Cuban family (❤︎) for a month – I made this zero-BS checklist. It’s the zero-BS guide of what you actually need to pack before you get on that plane.

The Legal & Tech Lifelines

• Travel Insurance: Not only Cuba tip buy anywhere tip! And, this isn’t just a safety tip, it’s a legal requirement to get into the country. I am a person who always travels with the insurance and never used it for years until…I was in Cuba ;). It wasn’t serious, but having it for sure reduced my stress!
• A good VPN: Download and pay for this before you leave home. Because of all the restrictions, you won’t be able to open the App Store, banking app or even Airbnb once you touch down in Cuba.
• SIM Card / eSIM: I tried both and they were working fine but the physical SIM card wins. Pre-order a tourist eSIM online or grab it at the Havana airport. Trust me, you don’t want to spend your first day hunting for those Wi-Fi scratch cards.
• Maps.me (Offline Maps): Download the entire map of Cuba completely offline before your flight. The internet will cut out, but this app’s offline GPS works perfectly for finding local spots and navigating streets. Trust me, first days navigating in Havana are not easy but you will get used to it. This is one of the tips to travel in Cuba that will make your life easier!
• Power Bank & a small Flashlight: Power cuts happen. Keep a high-capacity power bank in your bag so your phone doesn’t die. I also recommend having a small flashlight when your accommodation power is down or even for walking down unlit neighborhood streets at night. I had a camping lamp like this from Decathlon and it was perfect to use at night in my room.

Money Matters (The Golden Rule)

• CASH IS KING: Put away your credit and debit cards – especially if they’re from US banks, they won’t work at all. Bring every single dollar or euro you think you’ll need for the whole trip, plus a safety cushion.
• Euros or USD: Check a travel forum right before you fly to see which foreign currency locals prefer at that exact moment. I recommend checking in advance with your host – they will give you the best information about this!
• Keep your bills perfect: This is a huge insider secret. Make sure your banknotes are clean, crisp, and don’t have any small tears, marks or writing on them. Local places and banks will literally reject foreign bills if they look damaged.

Health, Comfort and Leaving Things Behind

• First-Aid Kit & Medicines: Pack everything you think you might need. Painkillers (Paracetamol/Ibuprofen), stomach meds (Imodium, Pepto), rehydration packets, band-aids and your prescriptions. Pharmacies there have major shortages, so don’t expect to buy a single pill locally. I really recommend taking more than you think you may need. Why? See the last point of this list. Make sure there leaflet is included.
• Filtered Water Bottle: You really want to protect your stomach here. Getting a bottle with a built-in purification filter (like Water-to-Go I used while travelling Cuba) is the smartest investment you can make for this trip. I love the idea of not buying bottled water in a country that does not need more plastic (to be honest, no country needs that!) and I got sick zero times while drinking the water from the tap.
• Mosquito Repellent & Sunscreen: The sun is incredibly intense, and the bugs are relentless, especially if you travel out to Viñales. Bring high-SPF sunscreen and the strongest repellent you can find. I really must emphasize on the repellent – you do not wanna loose 3 days from you trip due to Chikungunya infection like I did 😉
• Hand Sanitizer: A lot of public restrooms don’t have running water or soap. Always keep a sanitizer in your pocket.
• Snacks: Toss protein bars, nuts or dried fruit in your bag. Because of the supply chain, you can’t just pop into a corner store for a quick snack when your energy drops during a long day of exploring.
• Leave it all behind on your last day: Before you pack your bags to head to the airport, look through what you have left. Any leftover (or extra) painkillers, band-aids, half-empty bug sprays, or extra toiletries – leave them with your casa particular hosts or local friends. It is one of the most practical, real ways to say thank you and it means the absolute world to them.

The Analog Stuff

• Paper copies: Print out your flight tickets, insurance and the exact addresses of your casas particulares. If your phone dies or you can’t get a signal, digital files won’t help you. I always recommend to have a copy of your ID/Passport as well.
• Basic Cuban Spanish: You don’t need to be fluent, but trying is a huge sign of respect. Learn the local words – like knowing a shared taxi is a colectivo or a máquina, and that resolver means finding a genius, creative solution to a daily problem. A couple of local words instantly changes a vibe from touristy to a warm, personal interaction.

So yeah, Cuba takes some work before you even get to the airport. Cuba has some crucial tips. It’s not the kind of place where you just throw a few t-shirts in a bag and wing it. But once you have all this boring logistical stuff out of the way, you’re free to actually open your eyes and experience the magic of the island without the stress.

If you’ve already been to Cuba, what’s the one item you were incredibly glad you packed? Or the one thing you totally forgot and regretted? Drop it in the comments below!