Traveling to Cuba as an American (2026 Update): Rules, Visa & Travel Guide

Updated November 2026: I originally wrote this guide after my trip to Cuba in 2019, and a LOT has changed since then, on both the US side and the Cuban side. I’ve updated everything below to reflect the rules as of fall 2026. The rules for Americans have been changing quickly, so please double-check the official sources linked here before you book (and as always, I’m a travel blogger, not a lawyer!).

Cuba is one of those places that completely stays with you: the colorful classic cars, the music spilling out of every doorway, the mojitos, and the warmest people. I spent my trip between Havana and Varadero, and I still get asked all the time: can Americans still visit Cuba? Here’s everything you need to know.

Can Americans Still Travel to Cuba in 2026?

Yes, but not as a tourist. US law still doesn’t allow pure tourism to Cuba. Instead, every trip has to fit into one of 12 travel categories authorized by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). You don’t need to apply for permission ahead of time for these. You choose (self-certify) your category when you book or check in for your flight, and you’re expected to actually follow it while you’re there.

What Changed in 2025 and 2026

• In June 2025, the Trump administration reissued its stricter Cuba policy (National Security Presidential Memorandum 5).
• A new, separate Cuba sanctions program (Executive Order 14404) took effect on May 1, 2026.
• On September 30, 2026, OFAC tightened the travel rules. Group “people-to-people” educational tours are no longer authorized (unless you’d already paid for part of the trip before that date), and the general authorization to attend professional meetings or conferences in Cuba was removed.
• Also since September 30, 2026, Americans can’t make direct or indirect payments to businesses on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. Before, only direct payments were off limits.

For the official details, see OFAC’s Cuba FAQs.

The 12 Categories of Authorized Travel to Cuba

1. Family visits
2. Official business of the US government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
3. Journalistic activity
4. Professional research (professional meetings and conferences are no longer covered by the general license)
5. Educational activities (group people-to-people tours were removed in September 2026)
6. Religious activities
7. Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions
8. Support for the Cuban people
9. Humanitarian projects
10. Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
11. Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials
12. Certain authorized export transactions

Support for the Cuban People: What Most Independent Travelers Use

This is the category I used on my trip, and it’s still the one most independent travelers use. I wasn’t questioned at all and it was the easiest fit. It requires a full-time schedule of activities that support Cuba’s independent private sector and lead to real, meaningful interactions with Cubans. For example:

• Staying in a casa particular (a privately owned guesthouse or home stay)
• Eating at privately owned restaurants (paladares)
• Taking classes with local teachers, like salsa, music, cooking, or Spanish
• Meeting local artists, musicians, tobacco farmers, and small business owners
• Booking tours with independent local guides and drivers
• Shopping at independent markets, galleries, and artist studios

Staying at a casa particular alone isn’t enough. Your days should be filled with these kinds of activities, and you’ll want to avoid spending money at government-run businesses on the Cuba Restricted List.

Save ALL your receipts and keep a written itinerary. OFAC requires you to keep records of your travel transactions for five years, so have proof of what you did in case you’re ever asked.

Cuba Visa and Entry Requirements (2026)

Back in 2019, I flew JetBlue and bought my pink Cuban Tourist Card right at the gate for $50. That paper card is gone now. Cuba has switched to an electronic visa (e-Visa). Here’s what you’ll need today:

• Passport valid for at least six months.
• Cuban e-Visa: Americans traveling under one of the 12 categories can get it through their airline or on the official portal, evisacuba.cu. Apply a few days ahead.
• D’Viajeros form: Cuba’s mandatory online entry form, completed within 7 days before you arrive. It generates a QR code, and your e-Visa number needs to be on it or the visa isn’t valid.
• Travel medical insurance: mandatory for all visitors. Check that your policy specifically covers Cuba.
• Return or onward ticket.

Tip: save PDFs of your e-Visa, D’Viajeros QR code, and insurance on your phone AND print copies. You can’t count on having internet when you land.

Not American? Here’s How It Works for You

Good news: if you’re not a US citizen or resident, the OFAC rules above don’t apply to you. You can visit Cuba as a regular tourist, stay at any hotel or resort, and book whatever tours you want.

• Same entry checklist: passport valid for six months, the Cuban e-Visa, the D’Viajeros form, travel medical insurance, and a return ticket. The tourist e-Visa costs around €22 and covers a stay of up to 90 days, which can be extended once.
• Canadians: on direct flights from Canada, the e-Visa is usually included in your plane ticket.
• Big heads-up if you ever plan to visit the US: if you’ve been to Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, you can’t use an ESTA to enter the US, and an already-approved ESTA can be revoked. You’re not banned from the US, but you’ll need to apply for a US visa at an embassy or consulate instead. This applies even if you were in Cuba purely as a tourist, and even for a short layover in the US. If a US trip is on your horizon, plan ahead!

Money Tips for Americans in Cuba

1) Bring all the cash you’ll need, plus extra. US-issued debit and credit cards still don’t work in Cuba, and ATMs are unreliable. Bring more than you think you’ll need, and keep some emergency cash stashed separately.

2) Cuba now has just one currency. When I visited there were two (the tourist CUC and the local CUP), but the CUC was eliminated in 2021. The Cuban peso (CUP) is now the only official currency, and you can only get it once you’re in Cuba.

3) Exchange rates are complicated. There’s an official rate and a much better informal “street” rate, and both change constantly. Check the current informal rate on elTOQUE before you exchange. US dollars and euros in cash are widely accepted at private businesses, so bring clean, untorn bills in small denominations.

4) Always count your change, and spend or exchange your pesos before you leave, since they’re worthless outside Cuba.

Internet and Phone Service

When I visited, getting online meant buying an ETECSA wifi card and finding a hotspot in a park or hotel lobby. Hotspots still work that way, but now you can also buy a tourist SIM card from ETECSA (Cubacel) or use a travel eSIM that covers Cuba for mobile data.

That said, expect slow connections and frequent power cuts, and some US-based websites, apps, and banking services may not work. Download offline maps and anything else you need before you go.

Where to Stay in Cuba

I split my trip between Havana and Varadero. Important 2026 update: the Cohiba Hotel (formerly Meliá Cohiba) is on the US State Department’s Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List, which means Americans can’t legally stay there, and Hotel Saratoga has been closed since a gas explosion in 2022. I’m keeping my reviews up for my non-American readers, but if you’re traveling from the US, scroll down to casas particulares, which is what I’d recommend now anyway. Always check the current list before you book anywhere.

Havana

1) Cohiba Hotel (formerly Meliá Cohiba)

The Cohiba is in the El Vedado district, with spectacular views of both the ocean and the city. As soon as you walk into the lobby, it has that WOW factor, with a modern feel and beautiful decor that runs throughout the hotel.

The hotel features:

• Pool
• Buffet and à la carte restaurants
• Cocktail bar
• Fitness center
• Gallery
• Cigar room
• Spa
• Free Wi-Fi

While I was there, I got to experience their Level service, a members-only private floor with highly personalized service. It was such a treat!

Check rates and availability at the Cohiba Hotel here.

2) Hotel Saratoga (closed)

Update: Hotel Saratoga has been closed since a gas explosion in 2022. I’m keeping my memories of it here, but you can’t book it right now.

This 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of Old Havana was a beauty, with the best 360° rooftop views of Havana and absolutely stunning decor. What I appreciated most was the hospitality: compared to the other hotels I stayed at, the service was top-notch and the staff was WAY friendlier, which is something I always look for when staying anywhere.

Other Havana hotels to look at (non-American travelers)

• Iberostar Grand Packard: a five-star on the Paseo del Prado with a rooftop infinity pool overlooking El Morro and Havana Bay.
• Iberostar Parque Central: a reliable, central classic right by the Capitolio and the Gran Teatro.
• Hotel Nacional de Cuba: the iconic grand hotel in Vedado, steps from the Malecón. Go for a mojito in the garden even if you don’t stay.
• Paseo 206: a small luxury boutique hotel in a Vedado mansion.

My recommendation for Americans: casas particulares

These are private homes and guesthouses run by Cuban families. They’re affordable, your money goes directly to local people, and staying at one is a key part of a Support for the Cuban People trip.

Varadero

About 2 hours from Havana, Varadero is Cuba’s most popular beach resort town, with a string of all-inclusive hotels and spa complexes along the coast, plus a golf course. You can easily catch a cab from Havana. When I went, it cost about $100 for the 2-hour ride.

Be Live Experience Las Morlas

This one wasn’t as luxurious as the others, but it’s right on the ocean with direct beach access and free water activities. If you’re looking for a more casual and affordable resort in Varadero, this is the place for you!

The hotel features:

• Swimming pool
• Beach access
• Bar and restaurant
• Fitness center

Wi-Fi was NOT free when I stayed. You could buy a Wi-Fi card at the front desk for about $1 an hour.

Check rates and availability at Be Live Experience Las Morlas here.

Heads up: most of Varadero’s resorts are state-owned, and many are on the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List, including some of the hotels I mention here. Americans should check the list before booking anything in Varadero.

Other hotels I looked at in Varadero

• Meliá Varadero
• Blau Varadero
• Meliá Las Américas
• Iberostar Varadero

Things to Do in Havana

Out of the two places I visited, Havana is a MUST for your bucket list. Its vibe is like none other, from galleries and museums to tours and, of course, mojitos. Here’s what I’d put at the top of your list:

1) Take a classic car tour

This is the most popular thing to do in all of Cuba, especially Havana. Who can pass up riding around Havana in a brightly colored classic car? When I went, tours started at around $35 depending on time and the number of people. Book directly with a private driver to keep it in line with Support for the Cuban People. You can arrange one through your casa or hotel, or book online here.

2) Bar hop and drink lots of mojitos

Mojitos should obviously be at the top of your list, you’re in Cuba after all! I lost count of how many I had. If you find yourself wandering Old Havana, try La Bodeguita del Medio and El Chanchullero de Tapas.

3) Get lost in Old Havana

Every corner of Old Havana is a photo opportunity, and walking around is the best way to find them. Don’t forget to check out the markets, where you can bargain your way to some amazing Cuban finds.

4) Take a salsa class

You can’t leave Cuba without dancing! Private salsa lessons with local teachers are easy to find in Havana, and they’re a fun way to meet locals (and they count toward Support for the Cuban People).

5) Watch the sunset on the Malecón

Havana’s seaside promenade is where everyone gathers in the evening. Grab a spot on the wall and watch the sun go down over the water.

6) Visit Callejón de Hamel and Fusterlandia

Callejón de Hamel is a colorful alley full of Afro-Cuban murals and live rumba on Sundays. Fusterlandia, artist José Fuster’s mosaic-covered neighborhood in Jaimanitas, is like stepping into a real-life art installation.

7) Take a day trip to Viñales

About three hours west of Havana, Viñales is all green valleys, limestone mogotes, and tobacco farms. Visit a family-run farm to see how cigars are made and meet the farmers.

And that’s IT! If there’s one last tip to pencil in, it’s to HAVE A BLAST!

Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Cuba and what your favorite moment was, OR if you want to go, what you dream of doing first!

Until next time, loves! Thank you for following me on this journey!

XO,
NANCY