We all thought that with the arrival of 2021, we could travel again without having to worry about wearing a facial mask or maintaining a safety distance … but far from the reality we find ourselves in the middle of summer having to take PCR tests to enter some destinations, even after being fully vaccinated and with the facial mask as our travel companion.
All countries have taken measures to guarantee the safety of their citizens and tourists, and Cuba is no exception. With the opening of its borders last November 2020, the government published the sanitary measures that should be followed to enter Cuba and has updates the during the year. The question Espíritu Travel is going to answer today is: Can Americans travel to Cuba now?
Americans traveling to Cuba
Can Americans still travel to Cuba in 2021? The short answer is yes. It’s perfectly legal for Americans to travel to Cuba, except for explicit tourism purposes. However, you will need to meet some requirements:
- Your trip to Cuba has to be under one of the 11 authorized categories to travel legally to Cuba. You need to plan your trip to Cuba based on activities inside one of this category.
- Your Passport needs to be valid and can’t expire in less than 6 months prior your departure.
- You need a Visa to enter Cuba, although it is actually a “Tourist Card” that must be processed in advance of your trip.
- You need to purchase health insurance.
And that’s it? That is all you needed to travel to Cuba before the pandemic but unfortunately there are new entry restrictions for all international travelers.
New measures and entry requirements to Cuba
Cuban authorities have designed a COVID protocol to prevent the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of the citizens and all passengers arriving at the airport:
- You’ll need a negative PCR test taken 72 hours earlier.
- You’ll also need to take a test at the airport.
- Upon arrival you will have to fill in a Sanitary Statement.
- Travelers must quarantine in a hotel for up to six days at your own expense.
- Before leaving the hotel, you must take another PCR test.
What is open in Cuba?
Hotels, attractions, and restaurants are open but with new safety measurements in place.
Only the hotels that have been inspected and have The Hygienic and Safe Tourism certification can operate. These hotels have implemented strict sanitary protocols and the staff has been trained to follow the new safety measures.
International tourists can also stay at casas particulares. In that case, the owners will be in constant communication with the family’s doctor and nurse to inform them about the health status of their guests.
Restaurants and cafes in Cuba have reopened but with a capacity limit of between 30 and 50%. In addition, all tables must be 1.5 meters apart.
All international airports in Cuba are open. This includes Cuba’s most important airports, José Martí International Airport (Havana) and Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport (Varadero).
Current situation in Cuba – Covid – 19
As of July 26, 2021 there are 7,903 new confirmed positives and 42,354 active confirmed positives with 75 daily deaths.
The use of face masks is mandatory in all public areas in Cuba. Bring plenty of soap, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes with you as these supplies may be limited in Cuba.
If you are looking for more information about if Americans can travel to Cuba now, contact Espíritu Travel to get an updated information. Our local team of experts will give you their personal view from Cuba.
Despite the rest of the Caribbean being open to tourism from all countries right now, Cuba has always been a special case. Since last fall, they’ve slowly reopened from a strict lockdown, allowing international travelers back in October and finally opening Havana airport in November 2020, but from Espíritu Travel we don’t expect everything to be back to normal until the end of summer 2021. At Espíritu Travel we have adapted our customize trip plan to this “new normality” so that you travel safely to Cuba.
