Health & Packing List

Health

• Travel health insurance: Mandatory! Without proof, you may be denied entry.
• Vaccinations: No mandatory vaccinations. Recommended: Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Diphtheria. Yellow fever only when entering from an endemic area.
• Tap water: DO NOT drink! Always buy bottled water (agua purificada). Ice cubes can also be problematic — in good paladares, the ice is safe.
• Mosquito protection: Dengue fever occurs in Cuba. Bring mosquito repellent with DEET. Mosquito nets in Casas Particulares are common.
• Sun protection: The tropical sun is intense — SPF 50+, hat, and sunglasses are mandatory.
• Medications: Pharmacies in Cuba are poorly stocked. Bring everything you need — even basics like headache tablets, diarrhea remedies, and band-aids.

Packing List

• Cash in EUR: Enough for the entire trip (€50–80/day). ATMs are unreliable!
• Travel adapter: Type A/B (US sockets) — 110V in many buildings! Some hotels also have 220V with Type C.
• Mosquito repellent (DEET): Hard to find in Cuba — a must-bring.
• Sunscreen SPF 50+: Expensive and hard to find in Cuba.
• Flashlight: Power outages (apagones) occur regularly — a small LED flashlight is invaluable.
• Toilet paper: Not available in many public toilets — always have some with you.
• Host gifts: Cuban hosts appreciate gifts: soap, shampoo, pens, T-shirts, cosmetics — items that are scarce in Cuba.