What To Pack

Luggage Restrictions:

You are allowed to take personal effects with you up to a weight of 25 kgs in the suitcase and 5 kgs in the hand luggage. Personal effects are considered clothes, shoes etc.

Another 20 kgs are allowed if you carry additional things for your personal use - these will be taxed 10 CUC per kg.

You are allowed to take up to 10 kgs of medicine with you however packed in a separate suitcase.

Make two photocopies of your ID, credit cards, traveller's checks, plane tickets, and insurance. Leave one set with someone you trust at home, and keep the other set with you, in a separate place from the originals.

Make sure you have: tickets – passport – birth certificates – insurance docs – health cards (make photocopy of passport, leave one at home for family, just in case). There is an exit fee to leave Cuba of $25 US (cash only), keep separate with your passport or airline ticket so it does not get "spent". Depending on airline, most charter flights from Canada, allow for one bag (44 kilos weight) and one carry on (plus maybe a camera bag and carry on) BTW - pack your tweezers, nail scissors, razors, and cigar cutter in your CHECKED baggage. I take an extra lightweight backpack in my suitcase and use for my camera, dictionary etc when walking around sightseeing or bike riding.

Because climate is hot and humid, a variety of tshiirts, as you change clothes alot in humidity. Walking shorts with lots of pockets, zippers, makes it easier to 'not' carry purse, wallet around when site seeing. Good walking sandals or runners (tennis socks) for sweaty feet (and bandaids for blisters). Bring a light jacket/sweater, it can get cool in evening or very cool on air conditioned train/bus. An umbrella, there are downpours at about 4 pm on most days, build up of humidity and heat producing thundershowers etc.

Shampoo, conditioner, hair brush, toothpaste, shower gel, deodorant, razors, shave cream, feminine hygiene products, GOOD SUNSCREEN, take a washcloth and handtowel, extra toilet paper for out of the way trips, handi wipes, baggies or zip lock bags for dirty laundry (various sizes) Prescription medicine, if needed and a note form doctor that this is for your use (if you hand out antibiotics to Cubans, make sure they confirm with their doctor that they can use it (ie Penicillin (allergies possible etc) and even anti histamine or medicine for asthma etc. , gravol, Advil, Pepto Bismo Advil - Tylenol - Advil Cold & Sinus, band aids - Polysporin, tensor bandage for sprains (I sprained my foot in Havana my second day in Cuba and could have used this bandage, believe me) thermometer – Pepto Bismol, Imodium and AFTER BITE in case you get bitten by anything to control the itch, or have an allergic reaction.

Extra batteries and if you need special batteries (I need a special cell battery for small camera) take along extra, you won't find them in Cuba. Have good camera case/bag, as it is hot and humid, to protect your camera. Don't get on plane with film in camera, wait till you get to your destination, it will go through lots of x-ray machines.

One or two bathing suits, cassette tapes blank, Dictionary (Spanish/English) FLASHLIGHTS (Spare bulb/batteries) Drinking glass (insulated)

A bandana, soaked in water, helps you cool down regularly. Also, many funky restaurants have no napkins!

Take pictures of your family, friends, home, etc. They make for great conversation, and the Cubans are starved for any and all uncensored information about America and Americans. They really do love us over there.

The Swiss Army can always be called upon to slice that ready to be eaten mango or avocado, and help fix that perpetually broken down “whatever”.

Pepto Bismol taken every day, whether one needs it or not, is great insurance. Kaopektate will be needed, regardless of how much Pepto one consumes. Along the same lines, bring moist baby wipes. 99% of Cuban bathrooms have no toilet paper, and the wipes, carried in a small zip lock bag, are compact, convenient, and oh so cool…

Zip lock bags help keep the moisture out of your expensive camera, CD player, etc.

Good walking shoes, a good sense of humor, and a good attitude, as things are very different in Cuba!