Safety and security

Most visits to Cuba are trouble-free but you should take sensible precautions:

• Don’t carry your credit card, travel tickets and money together - leave spare cash and valuables in a safe place. 
• Leave a copy of your passport (and travel and insurance documents) with family or friends at home.
• Avoid showing large sums of money in public and don’t use ATMs after dark, especially if you’re alone. Check no one has followed you after conducting your business.
• Avoid dark and unlit streets and stairways, and arrange to be picked up or dropped off as close to your hotel or apartment entrance as possible.
• Keep a close eye on your personal belongings and hold on to them in public places such as internet cafés, train and bus stations.

Petty theft

Theft from luggage during baggage handling at airports can occur both on arrival and departure. You should remove all valuables, lock suitcases and consider having them shrink-wrapped before check-in.  

Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching occurs, particularly on public transport, intercity buses and at major tourist areas including in Old Havana, El Centro, Vedado and the Malecon, as well as on the beaches of Playa del Este and Varedero. You should take all necessary precautions if you are in Centro Havana at night and take a taxi to your accommodation rather than walk, even if your accommodation is only a few blocks away.

Thefts from hotel and guesthouse accommodation occur. You’re advised to ensure that valuables are held securely and to exercise due caution at all times. 

Serious crime

Car-related crime and muggings can occur from time to time in areas including Havana, Santiago and other areas less frequented by tourists. There have been attacks on foreigners using hire cars after staged punctures and by bogus hitch-hikers. Don’t pick people up. If you get a puncture in a lonely spot, drive on several kilometres, preferably to a town, before stopping.

Lost or stolen passports

If your passport is lost or stolen, getting a replacement can take up to two weeks so keep your travel documents secure at all times. Getting a replacement passport will be easier if you are able to provide a copy of the lost or stolen one, so keep photocopies of your passport.

Reporting crime

If you’re a victim of a crime while in Cuba, report it to the local police immediately. And you can contact us at the Irish Embassy in Mexico City.

Driving

Many vehicles, including public transport, suffer from lack of maintenance and roads are poorly lit and sign-posted. If you want to drive:

• Bring your full Irish driver’s licence and your international driving permit and make sure you have adequate and appropriate insurance
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is against the law and you risk being detained, fined or banned from driving if caught
• Keep your vehicle doors locked and your bags kept out of sight to prevent opportunistic bag-snatching if you’re stopped at traffic lights
• Beware of cyclists, potholes and cars that stop without warning to pick up hitchhikers

Traffic accidents

If involved in an accident, you are likely to be detained, regardless of who is at fault. If you have a traffic accident where someone is killed or injured, the police investigation may take several months during which time the driver will normally not be allowed to leave Cuba. In some cases the driver may be imprisoned during this delay.

Public transport

• Only use established tour operators and regulated taxis
• Avoid using mopeds or three wheel Coco-Taxis for travel around Cuba

Hiring a vehicle

If you’re hiring a vehicle, we advise you not to hand over your passport as a form of security. If you’re allowing your passport to be photocopied, keep it in your sight at all times.

Check that you have adequate insurance and read the small print of the vehicle hire contract (particularly any waiver that will come into effect if the vehicle is damaged).

Hurricanes

The hurricane season in Cuba extends from June to the end of November.  Always monitor local and international weather updates for the region by accessing, for example, the Weather Channel, or the US National Hurricane Centre website.

In some areas, adequate shelter from a severe hurricane may not be available to all who may choose to stay. You should familiarise yourself with your hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans and identify your local shelter. Carry your travel documents at all times (ie passport, picture IDs) or secure them in a safe, waterproof location. You should also contact friends and family in Ireland with updates to let them know you’re safe.

Local laws and customs

Remember, the local laws apply to you as a visitor and it is your responsibility to follow them. Be sensitive to local customs, traditions and practices as your behaviour may be seen as improper, hostile or may even be illegal.

While in Cuba, you should avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings, keep yourself informed of developments and follow the advice of local authorities. During periods of tension, access to the internet may be blocked in some areas.

Personal identification

You must carry personal identification with you at all times in Cuba and you could be detained if you can’t produce it to the authorities on request. We advise you to carry a photocopy of the relevant page of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.

Illegal drugs

Cuba is increasingly used as a transit country for drugs destined for Europe. Cuban law allows for the death penalty and courts are handing out very severe penalties (in excess of twenty years) for all drug related offences. Avoid any contact with prohibited drugs. Always pack your entire luggage yourself and never carry any items that do not belong to you in or out of the country.

Additional information

Note that it can often be difficult to access basic supplies (toiletries, medicines, household goods, snacks) in Cuba. You should therefore make sure you are prepared in advance of travel.

Entry requirements (visa/passport)

A valid passport is required for travel to Cuba, and Irish passports should have a minimum validity of 6 months.

Irish citizens do not require a visa to enter Cuba but will need to acquire a tourist card. Further information on tourist card can be found here.

Health

Check with your doctor well in advance of travelling to see if you need any vaccinations for Cuba.

Medical facilities

Generally, Cuba’s medical services are acceptable, although basic medicine and equipment aren’t always available. You should bring any prescription drugs you take regularly. A copy of the prescription and a letter from your doctor explaining your condition can be helpful at customs.

The medical facilities in Havana are better than those available elsewhere in the country, but it’s sometimes necessary to medically evacuate those who require urgent specialist care. This can be very expensive so you should ensure that your medical insurance covers you for this. If you need medical treatment you will be expected to pay in hard currency; a basic hospital stay can cost as much as €250 per day plus medical expenses.

Malaria

Malaria and dengue fever are endemic in low-lying rural areas of Cuba and outbreaks can occur throughout the year. If you plan to visit these areas, before travelling there you should consult your doctor about suitable anti-malarial medication and on arrival take adequate precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes. Mosquito repellent and clothing covering as much skin as possible provides some protection, and swampy water should be avoided.

Zika Virus

There have been outbreaks of Zika Virus (a dengue-like mosquito-borne disease) in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Irish Citizens especially those with a weakened immune system or women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant are advised to follow guidance available on the website of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

Money

Irish citizens in Cuba most frequently need consular assistance due to difficulties using debit/credit/cash point cards and exchanging money so please be aware of the following:

• Check with your bank before you travel to confirm that your debit, credit and ATM cards will work in Cuba. If you do not receive confirmation from your bank, then you should bring euro in cash.
• You should only change money in Cadeca exchange houses, large hotels or banks. Always exercise caution, check transactions carefully and ask for small denomination bills.
• Credit cards and travellers' cheques drawn on American banks are not accepted in Cuba. You should confirm with your bank before departure that your credit card will be accepted in Cuba
• There are virtually no ATMs available for drawing cash against debit cards in Cuba
• While Western Union operates in Cuba, only Cuban nationals can access its services – foreign tourists can’t. There is no other way of transferring funds to Cuba
• Northern Irish and Scottish sterling bank notes/coins cannot be exchanged in Cuba