Cuba People & Culture: Havana, Trinidad & Cienfuegos

• In order to enter Cuba, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• In order to enter Cuba, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must obtain a Cuban Tourist Card (commonly referred to as a visa). You may purchase your Cuban Tourist Card online through Cuba Travel Services—or directly from a gate agent, depending on the airline you are flying and your flight routing. Please check with the airline(s) for more details on what is required at the gate at least 30 days prior to departure if you plan on purchasing your Cuba Tourist Card at the gate (if available).
• All travelers must complete the DViajeros Advance Information of Travelers form a maximum of 48 hours before departure to Cuba. Travelers will receive a QR code by email after completing the form. Travelers must show an electronic or printed version of the QR code to the authorities upon arrival.
• Airline tickets purchased by Go Ahead Tours include the required medical insurance coverage required by Cuba for the duration of tour. Please note required coverage is only for medical-related incidents while in Cuba and does not serve as broader travel insurance (trip cancellation, baggage delay/loss, airline delays, etc.). For more information on Go Ahead Tour’s Travel Protection plans, please visit our website.
• As part of federal requirements, you should keep a copy of your Cuban travel itinerary and airline ticket receipt on file for five years.
• If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must contact your country’s consulate for specific entry requirements.
• The Cuban government does not recognize the dual nationality of those who are Cuba-born or the children of Cuban parents.
• Cuba-born citizens and the children of Cuban nationals may be required to hold a Cuban passport and/or HE-11 visa, and will be responsible for any additional costs incurred. If you were born in Cuba or are the child of Cuban nationals, please contact our Customer Experience Team at your earliest convenience.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code CUB.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Havana.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Havana, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a very high physical activity-level tour. You can expect vigorous activity throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• Most days and evenings full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
• All transportation by motor coach
• Daily drive time varies and can be lengthy

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk 3-5 miles per day over varying terrain- this includes crowded city streets, stone paths, uneven stairs, and steep hills.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.

Climate Considerations

• Travelers can expect year-round temperatures from 80Fs - 90Fs.
• Rainy season is from May through October.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

• Most transportation on this tour is by private motor coach. Private motor coaches have steps required to board and often do not provide access to ramps or lifts.
• Taxis are the best way to get around on your own. However, if you choose to take a taxi, please note that drivers will most likely speak only Spanish. You should make a point to agree on the cost of the fare before getting into the cab. Additionally, cab fare may be paid in USD, or in CUC, a local Cuban currency commonly used by tourists.
• A round trip ferry transfer from Viñales to Cayo Levisa is included in the price of the tour extension.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
• A checked bag may not be included in your airline ticket.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.

• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• In addition,We recommend packing insect repellent, sunglasses, sunscreen, a bathing suit, a sun hat, and hand sanitizer, as well as washcloths, as most hotels do not provide them.
• You may also want to bring your own toilet tissue for use in public restrooms. A small bottle of hand sanitizer may be helpful when other facilities are not readily available while on the road.
• Please note that it is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs or shoulders (entrance may be denied on this basis).
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
• Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in Cuban hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
• Cuba generally operates on 220 volts. However, there may be both 220- and 110-volt outlets in some hotels. The outlets will work with Types A, B, C, or L plugs with two or three prongs. An adapter will be required.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
• We strongly recommend speaking with your doctor prior to your departure to review any medical concerns.
• In order to obtain medical care in Cuba, you will need to show your airline boarding pass which serves as proof of health insurance, as well as your passport (make sure to carry a photocopy of your passport at all times).
• If you take any daily medication, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• Bring a small first-aid kit that includes antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, and any other medications you regularly need.
• Drink bottled water. Aside from the hotels where you will be staying and the restaurants you will be visiting, where water is purified, it is not advisable to drink tap water.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

• This tour includes four dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
• As a result of Spain’s historical colonization of the country, Cuban cuisine is known for its Spanish influences.
• African and Caribbean flavors also play an important part in traditional dishes. Common foods often include pork, chicken, yucca, plantains, beans, and rice. Cuban coffee is also popular and is known for being strongly brewed.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $4USD per person per day for your driver.
• Tips for the Cuban National Guide have already been covered by Go Ahead Tours and additional tipping is not required.
• In Cuba, tipping is an important part of the local economy. Local salaries are extremely low and many Cubans depend on tips for their livelihood.
• For your convenience, your Tour Director will collect tips at the start of tour for the following components of your tour in Cuba: Local guides, speakers, community project staff, musicians, bus drivers.
• Please budget up to the equivalent of $140USD per person in smaller denominations to cover these tips for this tour.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.

• You will use the Cuba Peso (CUP) on tour.
• In Cuba, you can exchange USD or CAD for CUP at the Havana airport, hotels, exchange bureaus, and in some banks. Currently, there is a 8% surcharge fee for exchanging USD to CUP.
• When exchanging currency, your passport will be required at the time of transaction. It is also important to note that most places will not accept torn or marked bills when converting to CUP.
• Credit cards, debit cards, and ATM cards issued by U.S. banks are currently unusable in Cuba. As such, purchases and payments for services must be made in local currency. You should plan on bringing enough cash with you for meals that are not included and anything else you may wish to purchase.
• Although some small businesses and taxi drivers will accept USD, paying in CUP is strongly encouraged.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your Tour Director, local guides, and bus drivers.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• With your Tour Director, a Cuban National guide will be with the group the whole trip to provide local guiding expertise.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
• Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
• This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
• As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.

• Cuba is on the equivalent of U.S. Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s also noon in Cuba.

• Per U.S. regulations, you are allowed to bring back $800USD worth of goods for personal use.
• Travelers returning from Cuba may be asked questions by Customs and Immigration officers. It’s possible you may need to show proof or provide a copy of your DViajeros Advance Information of Travelers form and undergo additional screening in the Customs area.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.