Our latest news and updates on travel to Cuba is here. There are two sections. You’ll find updates from readers and travelers as and when we get them. Plus latest world news that impacts your travel to Cuba. Send your updates on travel either to hello (at) cubasbest.com or use the comments at the bottom of this section. More than 2,300 people read our weekly updates on a regular basis, let your experiences inform them too.
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Latest Travel News From Cuba
Here you’ll find relevant news from around the world as it impacts Cuba and your visit there.
29 January 2025: Import Duty Exemption Continues
continues for those who bring food, hygiene products, medicines, and medical supplies for non-commercial purposes. It’s covered in Resolution 26 of 2025 by the Minister of Finance and Prices (MFP). It prolongs the exemption until April 30 of this year. The previous extension was set in September last year and was due to expire on January 31.
29 January 2025: Tourism Numbers 2024, down 9.6% year on year
International Tourism numbers at lowest levels for 20 years in 2024. with 2.2 million visitors from abroad in 2024, there was a 9.5% decline from the previous year. The Cuban Government had targered 3.2 million visitors for 2024. Canadian’s made up the largest number of travelers, following by Russia, the United States and then Germany and Spain tying for fourth place. Numbers of visitors from Russia and Mexico were the only ones to increase year on year.
The numbers are reported by ONEI, the statistical authority of Cuba.
28 January 2025 – British Cruise Ship arrives in Havana
The Ambassador Lines cruise ship, Ambition, arrived in Havana for the first time this week. The line, which is based out of Tilbury, Essex, primarily promotes “no fly” cruises with departures from the British Isles. Havana is on a 40 night voyage from the UK.
22 January 2025: No paper tourist cards after June 2025
Gihana Galindo Enríquez, of the Ministry of Tourism announced that the use of evisas will be mandatory from 30 June 2025. Paper tourist cards will no longer be allowed after this date. More here.
21 January 2025: President Trump returns Cuba to the State Sponsors of Terrorism.
20 January 2025 – Iberojet Flights resume Madrid to Santa Clara
Spanish Charter Airline, IberoJet will resume its route from Madrid to Santa Clara, Cuba in June 2025. Flights will be weekly from June 25 to September 10 and the planned planes will have capacity for 388 passengers. The airport at Santa Clara is perfect for visiting Cayo Santa María, Trinidad and Cienfuegos.
14 January 2025 – President Biden Relaxes Cuba Sanctions
On 14th Jan, outgoing US President, Joe Biden removed Cuba from the US list “State Sponsors of Terrorism. The news is here from the archived content from the Biden White House. On the same day he also put on hold the part of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996 (Helms–Burton Act) that allows lawsuits to be filed against those doing business in Cuba. There’s more on the Helms-Burton Act here.
Cuba was added to the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list on January 11 2021 alongside North Korea, Syria and Iran. This meant that travelers who had visited Cuba after January 2021, and who then wished to visit the USA could no longer use the ESTA visa waiver scheme. ESTA previously granted were automatically cancelled. (My guide to the detail is here) Those impacted have been required to obtain a regular tourist visa to the USA. It is unclear whether incoming President Trump will reverse this decision.
On the same day, 14 January 2025, Cuba announced that it would release 552 (mainly political) prisoners in a deal brokered by the Catholic Church. More here.
6th January 2025 – Swiss Airline Edelweiss cancels flights to Cuba from March 2025
Citing a lack of demand, Swiss airlline, Edelweiss has announced that flights from Zurich to Havana will not be operating after 27th February 2025. More here.
1st January 2025 – Cuban eVisas now replace Tourist Cards
In a move announced in May 2024, eVisas are now replacing the paper based tourist cards. eVisas are valid for a period of 90 days initially, with a further 90 day extension allowed. This move replace the previous pink tourist cards and green tourist cards. Read about applying for evisas for Cuba here.
Reader Updates from Cuba
In a new section here on Cuba’s Best we’re hosting updates from travelers here, rather than on our email list. (Bear with me as I get the updates transferred over here!)
19th January 2025:
We all know Cubans are going through rough times. How can we help? One of our favorite presents are reading glasses. We can buy them at various dollar stores. Last trip we gave away 50 pairs. We also bring make up items for the ladies. We do a “collective” from everyone we know, asking for unused make up items. We always get more than we can pack. That is why we come home with empty suitcases.
January 17th 2025:
Our bank cards worked (Canadian), but we struggled to find ATMs that didn’t have a line, or had money. TAKE CASH WITH YOU. You get a much better exchange rate that way too! Everywhere we went people wanted paying in cash as a preference. There were some blackouts while we were there, but nothing too difficult. We took a flashlight for walking at night (and waking in the night), and a spare battery pack that we recharged when we could. But it wasn’t a problem.
November 2024:
- The only currency that worked reliably was USD. EUR works fine, but the reality is only USD works all the time, and provides consistent value. Canadian money is accepted, but not at value, or with resistance. We brought all CND cash, with some usd and this was clearly a mistake.
- Using the ATMs is not an option in most of the places we were due to long lineups or no power, or just closed, plus of course, low value.
- Buy Viazul Tickets ahead of time online. Tickets are nearly impossible to buy at the station ( power outages, no connection to the server).
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4 thoughts on “Latest Cuba Travel News”
Hello there, I’m absolutely heartbroken to have cancelled a trip to Cuba last Nov. This is the 2nd thwarted trip – the first time it was Iberojet cancelling flights to Havana a year ago.
I called off this one due to the nationwide blackouts (and associated issues of water pumps, in-country travel and food storage). I didn’t want to be the kind of tourist who uses up precious resources the locals need, although, not being wealthy, I was only going to stay in small hotels and airbnbs and eat in paladares and on street. This was a huge dilemma given they people also desperately need tourist dollars.
I guess I’d like to know if there’s any point coming in the next year.
Hello there Roie. I totally understand your concerns. Traveling to Cuba now and staying in local casa particulares, eating in paladares and in the casas and spending your vacation money with the Cuban people would very much help. Cuba has had shortages for about 60 years now and while the electricity blackouts can be a pain, they are manageable. Your visit will definitely help the local community and you’ll add more than you subtract if that makes sense. Sarah
HI, I AM GOING TO CUBA IN MARCH. I WANT TO TRAVEL BY BUS FROM HAVANA TO CAMAGUEY. HOW DO I BOOK THIS TICKET ???
THANKS PATRICK WALSH
You can book the tickets at https://viazul.wetransp.com/