★ Cuba Travel Guide

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Laws & Customs in Cuba

June 17, 2015

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Escape Hunter

Cuba is a communist country with strict rules. Make sure you get documented about what's legal in the country before traveling there.
I summed up a number of things you should take account of and respect when you're traveling to Cuba.

Important Laws and Rules to Know

Cuba prohibits entering with meat products and fruits. Expect them to be confiscated from you if you take them into the country.

Never go near military zones and never photograph military equipment or personnel - unless you're attending a public national day parade photographing parading equipment or, when you're at a museum photographing exposed objects (and only after asking whether it's allowed).

Under no circumstance should you overstay. There were reports of foreign travelers being detained and interrogated.

No more than 50 cigars can be taken out of the country.

Topless sunbathing is illegal in Cuba!

It is forbidden to take precious metal objects or gemstones out of the country. It is also forbidden to take numismatic and philatelic collections out of the country.

No historical objects or objects of cultural value, books printed before 1940 are allowed to be taken out of the country.

If you enter Cuba, you have to declare sums of cash exceeding 5,000 USD.

Don't take printed items (such as books, magazines, newspapers) with political or religious content. Even if they're merely news.

Local Customs

Men should be addressed as "señor" and women as "señora".

Never discuss politics in Cuba and be respectful of local personalities like Fidel Castro and Ernesto 'Che' Guevara. Avoid any protests, demonstrations, group gatherings that involve politics.

Tipping: 10 % is generally the norm. Not only at restaurants, cafés and bars, but also for taxi drivers.

About the Author:

Escape Hunter, the young solo traveler in his early 30's explores the World driven by curiosity, thirst for adventure, deep passion for beauty, love for freedom and diversity.
With a nuanced, even humorous approach to travel, an obsession for art and design, Escape Hunter prefers to travel slowly, in order to learn and "soak up" the local atmosphere...