Of course! We have compiled some general History & Facts About Cuba for you to learn from.

Also, we recommend two NETFLIX Originals, The Cuba Libre Story and Cuba and the Cameraman.

With Spanish, African and Creole influences, Cuba is home to a fascinating tapestry of cultures. This is evident in the music, dance, and food that the charismatic Cuban people are happy to share with visitors. It’s well known that Cubans love life, and it permeates the atmosphere of clubs, bars, restaurants and street corners everywhere. Living in a Communist country, Cubans often go without luxury items like certain foods and products. Despite, special events like birthdays, holidays and marriages are celebrated with gusto in Cuba. This love of life is evident in the street parties, festivals and fiestas celebrated throughout the year. Coffee, cigars and rum are consumed freely and people dance with confident grace. Visitors quickly get enamored with this uniquely infectious way of life and culture, seen nowhere else in the world.

Gardner Tours is committed to traveling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It’s important to remember that what may be acceptable behavior, dress, and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep the following in mind while on your tour:

• Be considerate of Cuba’s customs, traditions, religion and culture.
• Always dispose of litter thoughtfully, including cigar and cigarette butts.
• Learn some local language and don’t be afraid to use it – simple greetings will help break the ice.
• Don’t be afraid to greet Cubans with a hug and a kiss, especially after your have already met them.
• Shop for locally made products. Supporting local artisans helps keep traditional crafts alive.
• Please ask and receive permission before taking photos of people, including children.
• When in the community, please refrain from giving gifts or tips without speaking to your guide first.

Yes, you can customize a tour for any of our available destinations. Please begin thinking about how you would like your custom tour to be structured and then submit a Custom Tour Request.

No, it’s not necessary to be accompanied by a Gardner Tours representative if you have proper documents in possession. The way Gardner Tours works is that you book with us and we will serve you while you are in Cuba. In some cases, detailed on each tour page, you may be picked up at the airport (multi-day tours) or you may be met by your guide at a predetermined location (day tours, etc).

Not necessarily, but it is highly recommended as a tour guide can be very resourceful. A tour guide can provide cultural insight and help you navigate the island, as well as to assist you with any changes, needs, or last-minute issues that you may encounter while in Cuba. Our guided tours are also amazing because our guides are trusted and ensure that you are well taken care of in numerous ways such as refusing to let you be taken advantage of by locals when you are purchasing souvenirs, arranging transportation (on all excursions or tours with Gardner Tours, you will never have to worry about bartering for transportation because all of our prices are pre-set with our trusted partners), etc.Nonetheless, we understand that you may choose to travel Cuba without a guide. If you choose to do so, please use wisdom in your travels, do your research, and be sure to browse our excursions and day tours for your best options, because we guarantee that we can increase your travel satisfaction and safety by serving you.

You will find the location to meet your guide under “Beginning Location” on each tour page and also in your tour documents that you receive via email after booking. Also, you will be informed of your guide’s name, information, and you may also view their photo on our About Us page so you know who to look for.

The average Cuban makes between $12 and $25 per month depending on their position and job. However, all Gardner Tours professional guides start at a minimum of $10 per hour because they are honest, hard-working, and great at serving our travelers! We take delight in being able to create a win-win situation where they can make an honorable living and create an incentive for them to serve you well, which also gives them the opportunity to earn a raise!

You will need a valid Passport, a Cuban Customs Form (filled out online before boarding your flight), and if you are a citizen of the United States of America or are traveling to Cuba from the USA, you will also need an OFAC License Affidavit that qualifies you for a Cuba Visa (see the 12 OFAC licensed categories below). All excursions or tours booked with Gardner Tours qualify under the "Support for the Cuban People" (see §515.574) category and will be selected at the time that you purchase your flight. Some citizens of other countries are not required to have a visa to enter Cuba, but to confirm, please check iVisa.com.

If you are a US citizen, please visit this official US webpage on how to apply for a passport. If you are a citizen of another country, please consult the process of your home country.

That is correct, in order to travel to Cuba, all persons traveling from or through the USA must travel under one of the 12 licensed categories (last updated March 12, 2020). To help you, we have ensured that all excursions and tours purchased from Gardner Tours qualify you under the Support for the Cuban People (see §515.574) category. This means that with Gardner Tours, you are legal to travel to Cuba and you are to select either for your reason of travel to Cuba when prompted to choose. It’s that easy!

The 12 licensed categories include:

1. Visiting Family (see §515.561);

2. Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments & certain intergovernmental organizations (see §515.562);

3. Journalistic Activities (see §515.563);

4. Professional Research & Professional Meetings (see §515.564);

5. Educational Activities (see §515.565);

6. Religious Activities (see §515.566);

7. Public performance, clinics, workshops, athletic or other competitions and exhibitions (see §515.567);

8. Support for the Cuban People (see §515.574);

9. Humanitarian Projects (see §515.575);

10. Activities of private foundations, research or educational institutes (see §515.576);

11. Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials (see §515.545); and

12. Certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing Department of Commerce regulations and guidelines with respect to Cuba or engaged in by U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign firms (see §§515.533 and 515.559).

Yes, we ask that you keep a copy of your day-to-day tour itinerary to avoid any issues with the US Government upon your return to the USA.Keep a copy of your passport on your person while traveling in Cuba as a form of ID and leave your actual passport in a safety box or simply locked in your room at your accommodations. You will only need your passport in Cuba when checking into your accommodations or if you need to exchange money/accept money wire transfers.Your visa comes in two halves. Ensure that you retain your visa after entering the country and keep it in a safe place with your passport. Cuban Customs may keep half of your visa or they may let you keep the entire visa upon entry.

There is a Cuba departure tax but it is included in the ticket price, therefore you will not need to pay a departure tax before exiting the country.

Yes, you can legally visit Cuba. Cuba considers all persons born in Cuba, regardless or current nationality, to be Cuban citizens. You will need either a valid Cuban passport or HE-11 visa prior to entering Cuba if you were born in Cuba and left Cuba prior to December 31, 1970. If you were born in Cuba and left Cuba after January 1, 1971, you will need to obtain a Cuban passport regardless of holding US citizenship and a US passport. You don’t have the option of applying for an HE-11 visa.

No, if you have a valid passport with a habilitacion and valid prorroga, you won’t need to obtain a visa prior to entering Cuba. Your Cuban passport has a validity of six (6) years, but a prorroga must be obtained every two years to keep it valid until the expiration date.

A Habilitacion is an entry permit stamped on your Cuban passport for Cubans who have emigrated to the United States or to another country. A request for an habilitacion needs to be made only once for Cubans who have left Cuba to emigrate and for those who left Cuba for tourism or any other reason and have not returned to Cuba for at least 24 months.

A prorroga is a passport extension and must be obtained every two years from Cuban authorities in order to keep your passport valid until the passport expires. Note: This only applies to those with a valid Cuban passport.

Please view our Visa Information page and click on the Cuba tab. There you will see a lot of important information regarding obtaining a visa. When you scroll down, you will see "The Process of Obtaining Your Cuba Visa". Click "Fill Out Your Visa Correctly" to view a photo of your visa and how to fill it out. Be aware that the date is your birthday and that the day comes first when filling it out. If you fill it out incorrectly, you may be asked to purchase another.

We recommend purchasing your visa at the airport on the day of your flight to Cuba. Don’t worry, it’s a simple process that we’ve helped guide our travelers through hundreds of times without any hiccups. Please visit our How to Obtain A Cuba Visa page to review the simple process. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.  Note: If you’re flying into Cuba from the USA, no matter your nationality, you will need a Cuba Visa. See below for more details.

Everyone traveling from the United States to Cuba, including international citizens residing in the USA or flying out of the USA must self-qualify under one of the 12 licensed categories of authorized travel and have a visa. You may view the 12 licensed categories on our How to Obtain A Cuba Visa page.

Your Cuba Visa is valid for 30 days. However, if you must, it may be extended twice for up to 90 days. If you request an extension, it must be done so in Cuba and you must pay for the extension in Cuban CUP.

Some of our tours include and exclude different amenities, so please refer to the details found on each tour page.

Yes, the more people in your booking, the better price you get, to the point it doesn’t affect operating costs. However, you must book all of those persons under the same booking to receive our tier pricing discounts. On each tour page, you may select a booking package with varying costs per person, and if your group is larger than the options viewed, please contact us using the form just below the booking sidebar.

Yes, since we offer tier pricing, the more people in your booking, the better price you get. All that to say, we are happy to offer large group pricing for groups larger than 15 persons. We have smoothly served groups of up to 26 people in the past, so your group will not be too much for us to handle. Please contact us for special group pricing.

You can exchange money at the airport (just outside the exit door on the ground floor there are two money exchange locations) or at some hotels or banks in the major cities of Cuba. You may also find small locations in Cuba called Cadecas where you can exchange money.We suggest that you do not expect to use Travelers Checks because they are not insured and may not be accepted. That being said, be aware of what is “Included” and “Not Included” in your excursion or tour and know that it is essential to travel with enough cash for your entire stay in Cuba. Once you book, we provide a "Budgeting for Cuba" page to help you know how much souvenirs and other personal expenses might cost. This will aid in planning how much cash to bring.

Note: With the constant changes in the economy and the competing black market in Cuba, we suggest that you ask your guide if you should exchange money upon your arrival or not. Most businesses, other than government-owned businesses, will accept USD, Canadian Dollars, and Euros. Your guide will be your best help in knowing what to do.

Yes, that is true, however, you may want to consider the exchange rates between your currency to Euros / Canadian Dollars and then to Cuban Peso (CUP). If your native currency is not the Euro or Canadian Dollar, you will have to exchange twice on the front end and twice on the back end, so it is likely not that much of a difference between converting USD to CUP. Long story short, count your conversion fees and add them up to see if they are greater than 13% and weigh whether it is worth it to you or not.

Note: With the constant changes in the economy and the competing black market in Cuba, we suggest that you ask your guide if you should exchange money upon your arrival or not. Most businesses, other than government-owned businesses, will accept USD, Canadian Dollars, and Euros. Your guide will be your best help in knowing what to do.

How much spending money should I bring to Cuba?

How much money you bring depends entirely on your personal spending habits and financial situation, however, if possible, we recommend budgeting at least $85 USD per day. Being that our tours include almost everything you need while in Cuba, this amount of cash may cover lunches (about $15-$20 on average depending on your choices), alcoholic drinks (about $4 on average), guide tips, souvenirs, or any other item/service you may want to purchase in your travels. You’ll probably want to budget more if you’re considering buying gifts such as cigars, coffee, and rum. To help you formulate a budget, we provide a page with numerous examples of what items cost in Cuba, and you will receive that in your booking confirmation email.

Notes: Travelers must declare how much cash they are carrying to customs if it exceeds $5,000 USD per person. Also, we recommend bringing bills in your currency (USD, CAD, EURO) that are unmarked and un-torn. If they have marks and are torn, they will be rejected.

In January 2021, Cuba changed from two currencies to one. They used have a tourist currency (CUC) and a local currency (CUP), but now they only circulate CUP. As of June 2021, CUC is no longer valuable. Although CUC is no longer valuable, we want you to know the difference so that you don’t receive change in old CUC, which is non-valuable.

The old and now non-valuable currency for Cuba is the Cuban Convertible Peso, CUC. One way to determine if you are receiving CUC is by noticing the monuments on the bills. Monuments determine that they are CUC.

As of January 2021, the only in-circulation and legal currency in Cuba is the Cuban Peso, CUP. It’s what you exchange your foreign currency for and make all your purchases with in Cuba. For international exchange purposes, 25 Cuban Pesos = $1 USD, give or take a few in view that each day’s exchange rate may vary a small amount. The way to determine if you have CUP is by noticing the faces on the bills. Faces determine that they are CUP.

Yes, you may do so at the airport, but keep in mind that a conversion fee may apply.

US-issued credit cards, debit cards, and ATM cards are not yet usable in Cuba. However, this is changing with new regulations and more places will begin to accept them, but not yet! It is advisable to bring cash to make any purchases in Cuba. Most places will not take USD, so you must exchange currency upon arriving at the airport. Tips however can be given in any currency. Traveler’s Checks may also be difficult to cash while in Cuba, so we do not recommend them.

ATMs are accessible in large cities like Havana or smaller cities with a large amount of tourists like Viñales, but are rare/non-existent in other parts of Cuba. Please note that you won’t be able to use cards that are linked to US banking institutions. Ensure you have other payment options available in case you can’t access an ATM while traveling in Cuba. The ATM restrictions are another great reason to budget properly and bring the proper amount of cash.

Considering that the average Cuban monthly salary is the equivalent of somewhere between $12 and $25 USD and the average cost of living is much higher than that, tipping is appreciated. Outside of included meals, other tips are not included in the tour price and tipping is entirely at your discretion.

We often encourage our travelers, "If you feel that they went above and beyond to elevate your experience, it's always a great encouragement to tip them, especially if you tell them why they were great when you tip them."

The magic number for tipping in Cuba is 10%. In this case, it is a great idea to carry a few small bills or coins with you each day for tips. If you are unsure if you should tip or how much you should tip, you may ask your tour guide and they will guide you in the right direction.

Tip Recommendations: Meals: 10%, Transportation: $1 to $2, Bellhops: $2 to $3, Restrooms: .50¢ to $1, Entertainment: $1 to $2, Guides: $20-$30 per day

You may view a daily itinerary by clicking on the “Itinerary” tab on each tour page, but you will receive a fully detailed itinerary (including suggested times to help with structure) directly after booking.

Gardner Tours heightens the traveler’s experience of each culture and country by intimately inviting them into the stories and lives of its people and history via our trusted partnerships. We best connect our travelers to the country’s past, present, and future via storytelling and exercise each of their senses to give each traveler the best possible experience of a country while allowing them to dip their toes in relaxation and comfort all at the same time.

Please view the “Itinerary” tab on each tour page to get more details for your chosen tour. If you do desire, you are free to adjust your itinerary at any time, but before you get too carried away, see the “Included” and “Not Included” sections and the “Itinerary” tab on each tour page for more understanding on exactly what your tour will look like. Remember, all itineraries are flexible and modifiable. This is your holiday and Gardner Tours is here to serve you and deliver the best experience for you and your travel companions.

We utilize hand-picked accommodations in central locations of interest with our trusted partners to ensure that we deliver you the most comfortable and accommodating experience of Cuba. These local Bed and Breakfasts (American travelers are required to stay in Cuban BnBs by law) are all operated by a Cuban host or host family. Many of the homes are mid-1800s classic-style Cuban homes with ornate columns and decorations. Some are more modern with a stylish Cuban touch. In each, you will enjoy the space of a private room with a private bathroom and air conditioner. You will also receive an immaculate Cuban breakfast in your BnB each morning, served by your host. To view photos of a few of our partner BnBs, visit Our Valued BnBs in Cuba page. If you would like to upgrade your housing, please contact us.

Yes. If you desire to upgrade the accommodations for your tour, please contact us in advance and we will make the necessary adjustments for you after additional payments have been received. Our accommodation upgrades are available on each tour page. To view a few of our upgrade options, visit our Our Valued BnBs in Cuba page.

If you desire your family to sleep in one room during your travels, please note that in the comments section of your booking, as we are glad to accommodate your request and know that if you make this request, we will do everything we can to accommodate it to your expectations.

Yes, in most cases we can arrange additional accommodations at the beginning or ending location of your tour. Please contact us directly to arrange an extended stay. Note: Extra accommodations must be booked 30 days prior to your departure.

You may get to Cuba either on an international flight or a cruise line. The international airport in Havana as well as the cruise terminal is as easily navigable as other international terminals around the world.

It depends on the location of your accommodations. Typically from the José Martí International Airport in Havana to Old Havana, it’s approximately 30 to 45 minutes via car. If your tour takes you to Viñales first, the drive is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours.

The good news is that all Gardner Tours excursions and tours include pre-reserved transportation and you will never have to barter for or arrange any transportation unless you choose to venture out on your own. If you choose to do so, depending on where you go, pricing varies. A typical one-way trip within a city may range between $10 and $20.

Yes, as you are flying commercial flights, you may always utilize your advantage member number as normal.

Global Entry is not yet accepted in Cuba, but you may use it at airports on all other connecting flights such as returning to your home country.

Of course, and not only is it safe to eat but it is delicious! Gardner Tours only partners with restaurants that are known for great hygiene in the way they prepare their foods, but also unique touches to ensure their food and service is above and beyond that of other restaurants. We guarantee that you will greatly enjoy each one of our restaurant selections!

It is not recommended to eat food from street vendors due to hygiene reasons. However, your tour guide can recommend on-site accordingly.

All of these foods can be prepared in different ways, but common foods found in Cuba are pork, chicken, seafood, fish, and occasionally, beef. Garnishes include rice, beans, salad, or other vegetables like onions, mushrooms, garlic, etc. In general, Cuba has a great and tasty variety in their cuisine.

It is best to drink bottled water while in Cuba. You will find that both still and sparkling water are available for your purchase at almost any location. Water is purified in the hotels and restaurants, and it is ok to drink beverages with ice wherever we take you on the tour. It is not necessary to use bottled water to brush your teeth, but if you prefer, it is always best to be safe rather than sorry. Salads and fruits are also acceptable to eat at all included or recommended restaurants.

We recommend advising Gardner Tours in advance so that all parties involved (your guide, restaurants, BnBs, etc) are conveniently informed on your dietary needs or restrictions. Also, we recommend that you always remind your tour guide to advise each restaurant on this issue. We will do our best to ensure that your dietary needs or restrictions are taken care of, yet please remember that in Cuba, not all menu items are available at all times and Gardner Tours can not be responsible for these inconsistencies.

Travelers must declare how much cash they are carrying to customs if it exceeds $5,000 USD per person.

Americans or other citizens traveling into the USA are allowed to bring unlimited amounts of items such as artwork, music, or informational material if purchased from independent Cuban entrepreneurs that have obtained a license from the Cuban Government to operate as an independent Cuban entrepreneur.

If you are a citizen from a different country, we advise that before you return home with a mass amount of goods to contact your home country’s customs officials to ensure you’re able to import certain items into your home country, as each country may differ.