From “Cuba is now open for tourists” to “the new administration has shut down travel to Cuba,” for the past several years there has been incredible levels of confusion and misunderstanding around the regulations for legal travel to Cuba for US travelers.
International Expeditions first took American travelers to Cuba in 2003, and our experts know more than a few things about navigating the complexities around this intriguing island. The fact is, very little has actually changed, and travel to Cuba is still legal, safe, fun and easy.
Here are four facts you need to know.
Not much has REALLY changed: The bottom line is, International Expeditions is an official sponsoring organization for legal travel to Cuba. When the regulations changed recently, those most impacted were travelers planning to travel to Cuba on their own – with just a personal promise they would obey the rules. No longer can you buy a ticket and do your own thing without anyone ensuring you are complying with the regulations for legal travel. Americans can absolutely still travel legally to Cuba; you just need to travel under the auspices of a sponsoring organization which plans compliant itineraries, provides leadership and issues documentation. Learn more about Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of Treasury (OFAC) regulations here.
You can still enjoy PRIVATE escorted travel: Regulations don’t specify the number of people in a group for people-to-people travel options (or for any of the other categories of approved travel, such as Support for Cuban People). What DOES matter is that your itinerary includes a full schedule of activities designed to having you engaging meaningfully with Cuban people – artists, entrepreneurs, naturalists and more – and not merely lounging on a beach. International Expeditions offers a variety of authorized private travel options that are getting rave reviews!
International Expeditions takes care of all the PAPERWORK & travel arrangements: Hearing horror stories about trying to get a visa or about individuals booking hotels online to find out the confirmation number is meaningless? Don’t want to hold onto your supporting paperwork for five years? That is one of the huge advantages of traveling with IE! Guests on our small-group journeys or privately escorted options receive a Letter of Authorization that states which category of license they are traveling under as well as an affidavit… and we keep copies on file. This paperwork is being frequently requested when applying for Global Entry. We also issue the Cuban visas so that you have it in-hand well before traveling.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about mistakenly popping into one of the businesses or hotels on the new list of prohibited organizations for American travelers in Cuba. Our guides, drivers and support staff in Cuba help you avoid any possible oversights.
2018 is a FANTASTIC time to travel to Cuba: Storms, mysterious illness, and confusing rule changes may have been the recent headlines on Cuba, but those of us who have known this island for more than a decade may tell a different story. Our guests and staff have long been welcomed in Cuba. These industrious, vibrant and giving people have welcomed us into their homes and lives, inspiring us with their joy and tenacity.