FAQ'S

United States citizens are welcome visitors to Cuba! Soul of Cuba guests travel under the "Support for the Cuban People" OFAC self-reporting visa category (no formal visa application is required). A simple Cuba tourist card must be purchased for entry.

You must buy a prepaid card for local wifi spots or purchase a Cuban SIM card for mobile data.

Pandemic is well controlled through widespread vaccination (Cuba developed their own highly effective vaccines against Covid-19), and public sanitary hygiene measures. Currently, no vaccination or PCR test is required for entry to Cuba.

Gifts of ordinary useful things such as over the counter medications, personal care items, clothing, toys, non perishable food, and more are gratefully accepted as a relief to the scarcity and expense of such items. We advise our guests on packing suggestions and facilitate donation of gifts in meaningful interactions with Cuban people.

Cuba is a very safe country for visitors. The crime rate is extremely low and the Cuban people are generous and helpful hosts. As anywhere, exercise caution when handling money, cellphones, etc in public, and remain aware of your surroundings. 

For calls and texts only (major US carriers), at international calling rates.  There is no 5G network in Cuba, and coverage is spotty, particularly in rural areas.  Your mobile carrier plan will not support data in Cuba.  To access the most reliable phone coverage and data on the go, a Cuban SIM card (local phone line with data package) is required.

Several US commercial and charter airlines make direct flights to Havana from Florida, New York, and Texas. There is no need to fly into another country to enter Cuba. At present, there is no cruise ship or ferry service to Cuba.

Under the current regime and the constraints of embargo compounded by pandemic, the Cuban economy is depressed and most citizens subsist on low government wages and limited resources of food, clothing, medicine, and other basic needs. Tourism, particularly in the private sector with which we operate, is vital to building economic opportunity for ordinary Cuban people.

The official currency is the Cuban peso (CUP), which has no value off the island. The "street" value of hard currency (USD and Euros) is high- we can assist you in safe currency exchange. Cards connected to US banks are not allowed, therefore cash is necessary. 

Our cultural travel experiences put you in direct contact with private Cuban citizens. We don't patronize government-owned establishments, and under the "Support for the Cuban People" category, we transact with independent entrepreneurs for accommodations, transportation, restaurants, guides and services. In our opinion, this is the ideal way to deeply experience the vibrant, rich culture of Cuba and its people.

We keep our groups intentionally small so we can focus individual attention to tailor the activities and pace of the itinerary to your needs, interests, and comfort level. In a small group, we can access sites and activities not available to large package tour groups. We advise and inform you from the planning stages all the way through your trip to prepare you for a smooth travel experience in Cuba, and our in-home hosts and professional guides open the doorway to a deeply impactful and interactive cultural travel experience like none other.