A practical guide to Public Wifi in Cuba in 2026

It may be the first thing you question about traveling to Cuba. Is there WiFi in Cuba?   The good news is that there are more than 1100 public places where you can get public WiFi in Cuba in 2026.  The bad news – it’s still government-run, it’s not free, and there are a few hoops that you need to jump through to get online in Cuba.  You can access Cuba’s internet through WiFi at your hotel, at (some) casa particulars, via a Cuban SIM card, an eSIM, via mobile data roaming on your phone if it’s allowed, and at public WiFi spots.  This guide is about public WiFi in Cuba.  Read on for my other guides to the internet and how it works in Cuba.

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You can generally get WiFi in Cuba at public parks, at navigation rooms in some public spaces, and in other public places. Plus, you now have the option of WiFi in hotels, some casa particulars, and then there’s mobile access – a Tourist SIM card that you can use for up to 30 days inside Cuba, or an eSim too.

TLDR: WiFi in Cuba 2026

Yes, there is WiFi in Cuba. It’s available. But it’s not free (unless your hotel or casa provides it as part of your room rate).  You can easily buy access to get on the Internet.  It’s not fast, you shouldn’t rely on it, and you will find that some sites that you try to access are blocked, simply because you are in Cuba. (More on this soon, or you can read my guide to what apps are blocked in Cuba here.)

In 2026, it is WAY more efficient to buy either a physical tourist sim card or an esim. There’s no need to go and hang around parks to get expensive internet.

Best eSIM for Cuba – Our top pick for an eSIM for Cuba is from GigSky, which is easy to install and allows you to access the internet when you arrive in Cuba. Get 100MB for free + 10% discount with code CUBASBEST at checkout. Buy your eSIM NOW

However. This article is about WiFi and general internet access, not mobile data, so let’s carry on.

WiFi Access in Cuba in 2026

You will find WiFi hotspots in most towns and cities in Cuba in 2026.  Internet access in Cuba is provided by ETECSA, owned by the government (there’s more general information on the internet in Cuba here)

There are two types of services provided for Cuban internet access.  ETESCA provides for internet access:   temporary and permanent accounts.  Permanent accounts are only available to Cuban residents. However, you might end up using one of them (read on for more on this).  Temporary accounts are what the vast majority of Cubans visitors end up using.

Temporary Internet Access in Cuba for Visitors

A temporary internet account allows access to the internet through prepaid non-rechargeable cards.  You might hear these referred to as the Cuba Internet Card, the NAUTA card, or the WiFi Card.  These are valid for 30 days from the first date of use. You do not have to use all the time purchased at one time; you can log off and use your minutes at a later date.

Permanent Internet Access in Cuba

A permanent internet account isn’t really a permanent account; it’s an annual contract.  It gives access to cheaper rates for access than the temporary account.  However, that said, it won’t be available to you as a visitor unless you seek it out on the black market.  (see more below).

What’s the difference between ETECSA and NAUTA

You may hear others using the terms ETECSA and NAUTA interchangeably.  ETESCA is the company that provides Internet access in Cuba.  NAUTA is the name of both the permanent account and the temporary card that you buy to give you access to the Internet.

Where to Buy WiFi Cards in Cuba, aka the NAUTA Cuba Internet Card

There are FOUR primary places to buy a NAUTA Cuba WiFi card.

Buying WiFi Access in ETECSA Offices

This is where the NAUTA internet cards will be the cheapest.  They will be the standard government-listed price.  The Cuban Government listed prices are here. You will pay the same price in these offices as Cubans do.   There will always be a line to buy your cards here.  Mostly, the line will be outside the office, as only a few people are allowed in at a time.   You WILL need your passport to buy the card.

Most ETECSA offices are open 7 days a week from 0830 until 1900, although there may be some differences as you move across the country.  You can find an up-to-date list of ETECSA office locations on their website here.  There are several offices of ETESCA in Havana and Varadero.  Note that while many ETECSA offices have computers where you can access the internet and many have WiFi access at the office, not all of them do!  You can ask for a NAUTA internet access card or NAUTA WiFi card – it’s the same thing.

Buying Cuban WiFi Access in Hotels

Many hotels will sell you a NAUTA WiFi access card; simply ask the concierge.  You will NOT need your passport to buy a card, this way.  For instance, the Hotel Seville in Havana sells NAUTA Cards. The hotel also has WiFi access, and its lounge is generally full of tourists accessing the internet.  The WiFi here at the Hotel Sevilla can be accessed with ANY NAUTA card, not just one bought from the hotel itself. 

Buying Cuba WiFi Access in ETESCA outlets

You’ll also find some ETECSA outlets, where customers can buy a recharge for their mobile phones. These are more like hole-in-the-wall shops.  These places also sell NAUTA cards.  They will be more than the standard government rate per hour, but usually not a great deal more.   You’ll need to take your passport with you to buy the NAUTA Card this way.

Buying a NAUTA Card on the Black Market – i.e., buying a NAUTA card in the park or on the street.

You’ll always be able to find someone willing to sell you a price-marked-up NAUTA card.  Cubans will go to the ETECSA store, buy their allowance of cards, and then come to a WiFi hotspot and look for visitors to sell them to.  It’s certainly simpler than finding an ETECSA store, and likely cheaper than the seriously marked-up hotel prices. And it’s way easier than lining up to buy one.  You may also be able to buy Cuban internet access WITHOUT a NAUTA card.  This means accessing someone’s permanent account. The cost differential between temporary internet access accounts and permanent internet access accounts is HUGE.

What’s the Cost of WiFi in Cuba in 2026

Cuban citizens pay different rates for internet access than tourists. You can see the tourist rates here.

To get on the internet in Cuba, you need to buy an ETECSA WiFi card – the NAUTA card. 

• 30 minutes:  12.50 CUP
• 1 hour: 25.00 CUP
• 5 hours: 125.00 CUP

These are the prices from an ETECSA office.  Some hotels, especially in tourist areas, will charge up to 10 times the cost of the ETECSA fee to get online; some include it in the cost of your room.  In most hotels, you will be able to use the NAUTA card that you have purchased elsewhere.

Where to get Public WiFi in Cuba

In 2026, there are more than 1245 WiFi hotspots to get Internet Access in Cuba.  In September 2016, there were 200 locations. Some ETECSA offices also provide “internet terminals” where you can log on using your NAUTA card and access the internet.  You can find the locations of these rooms here. Be very wary about inputting your personal details into these PCs.

You’ll find that Havana has the most internet and WiFi hotspots in Cuba. The entire list of hot spots and public internet access can be found here. This page usually takes an AGE to load, and you can use the drop-down to find public access rooms and hotspots in each province.

The ETECSA navigation/surfing rooms that are in telepuntos and service centers are open seven days a week from 0830 until 1900.  Other surfing rooms may have different opening hours that are displayed locally.

Where are Cuban WiFi Hotspots?

• Airports – Havana, Cienfuegos, Camaguey, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, and Varadero now provide internet access.  It might not, however, always be working.  And it might be overwhelmed with demand. Read more here about what to expect when arriving in Cuba.
• Hotels and Resorts – you can find WiFi in Havana or Varadero in higher-end resorts and hotels.
• Some Casa Particulars have WiFi – read more about Casa Particulars here.
• Public Parks throughout Cuba
• At ETECSA offices/stores.

How to Find WiFi Hotspots in Cuba

The most accurate and up-to-date location to find details of where you can get Internet access in Cuba is the ETECSA website. 

When you’re in Cuba, we highly recommend that you take a full download of the Cuban maps on maps.me. They’re excellent for finding your way around, and they do mark SOME WiFi hotspots (simply search for WIFI, and you’ll get a list of places). We found it about 70% accurate.  You will generally get WiFi access at the main park in each town or city.

How to Use WiFi in Cuba

Getting online is simple.  The screens are available in English and Spanish.

Turn on WiFi on your device.

Connect to the ETECSA WiFi network. This will force open a browser window on your device and direct you to the login screen.

If it does not, then you can open a browser and attempt to search for anything; it will force a redirect to the above page.

Input the username and then the password from your NAUTA card.

Note that as soon as you log on, your one-hour access starts counting down.  Your card is valid for 30 days from the first use.   When you disconnect, the clock stops.  It only starts again when you log on again.

Each time you log on, the browser window will advise you as to how many minutes you have remaining on your card.

Regardless of how you access the internet in Cuba, please do consider using a VPN. If you plan on making online bookings (say for the Viazul Bus, or a Casa Particular), checking details of your return flight, or even using some social media sites, then you’ll need a VPN in Cuba. I use and recommend NordVPN.

There is now no requirement (there hasn’t been since 2017 onwards) from ETECSA to log out.  Simply shut down your ETESCA WiFi connection.  The clock will stop. 

FAQS on WiFi in Cuba

Got questions about WiFi in Cuba? Or want to know more about internet access in Cuba, and we haven’t answered your questions?  Check out our frequently asked questions about Cuban WiFi and beyond below, or ask us your own in the comments.

How fast is Cuban Public WiFi?

WiFi speed in Cuba is variable in different locations and at different times of the day. ETECSA says that each location, depending on the size of the connection, should allow 50 consecutive users for smaller locations and 100 consecutive users for the larger locations.  It gives no details as to which locations are large and which are small.  The speed of connection in ETECSA offices, where you access via a cabled connection using one of their computers, is up to 2MBps.

Can I use the NAUTA card for ETECSA Office and Cuban internet in public spaces?

Yes. When you buy the access card, it has credentials, and you log on at any of the available spaces, using your credit.

How do I check how much credit I have left on the NAUTA Card?

The user information portal includes details of your time used and time available. Checking this part of your account does NOT account for your usage – i.e., it’s free.

Do hotels have WiFi in Cuba?

Yes, you will find that many hotels in Cuba have WiFi.   However, you may be limited to a certain amount of time.  Access to WiFi in Cuban hotels is via the same type of NAUTA card that you use when accessing WiFi in public places in Cuba.  These cards are time-limited.  You’ll likely find that hotels provide an hour of free WiFi per day.  You can always buy more time.

Do Casa Particulares have WiFi in Cuba?

Some Casa Particulares in Cuba do have WiFi.  They’re able to provide this by using a WiFi booster to amplify the signal from an ETECSA hotspot.  You can see some of these extended on rooftops in Havana – they look like white cylinders.  Before these became legal in 2019, they were smuggled into the country.   And no, you can’t tell which are legal and which are not.

Can you get mobile data in Cuba?

Mobile data is available in Cuba.  And 4G is available in some places.  But it can be expensive if you use roaming. You’re better off buying a tourist SIM card for mobile data. Some worldwide providers have agreements in place with Cuba, so you *may* be able to use your mobile sim from home. Check here to see if there is an agreement – and then check with your provider to see what the costs are.

What is the 1.1.1.1 logout?

There used to be a requirement to log out of your ETECSA session. There is no longer a 1.1.1.1 logout requirement, and there hasn’t been since 2017. Many old articles tell you that you have to type 1.1.1.1 into your device to log out of your ETECSA WiFi hotspot (and so stop using your precious minutes. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS. Just disconnect from the WiFi. And yes, I’ve tested this REPEATEDLY.

Final Words on Public Wifi in Cuba in 2026

The lack of ubiquitous internet access in Cuba probably marks it out as one of the more unique places that you’ll visit.  Even when there is a WiFi hotspot, the chances are that it will be oversubscribed, or you won’t want to sit around in the hot Cuban using it.  Or the sites that you want to visit are blocked.   We hope that our guide to WiFi in Cuba gives you some sense of what to expect and how to manage some of the challenges of Cuban internet access. 

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