What to Bring to Cuba in 2025 [Cuba Packing List]

I’m going to split this article on what to bring to Cuba into two sections.  The first is the Cuba Packing list that you’ll need for your own use.  And then I’ll cover what to bring to Cuba for the locals.  I’m assuming, also that as you’re reading Cuba’s Best, you’re interested in visiting Cuba somewhat independently, so you’ll be traveling around the country a little.  If you’re planning on a resort holiday and not moving far from a sunbed, then I’ll point you to the sunscreen section.  Otherwise, keep reading. I’ll also cover what you can take to Cuba to support the Cuban people.

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Packing lists for Cuba are very different from what you’ll take to other countries.  Because while you can likely find what you need *somewhere*, it will be on the black market, you probably won’t find it quickly and it will cost you.  Best to be prepared.

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Let’s also consider the current world situation when you’re packing as well.  Depending on when you are traveling to Cuba you may experience power outages – you should plan ahead and assume that you will get a power cut at some point during your trip.  So plan around that.  Think power blocks for your phone or camera, think snacks if you’re going to want to eat between meals. Think of a flashlight or head torch for walking home at night.

If you’re staying on a resort, then they will have a generator and you’re unlikely to experience outages, if you’re traveling independently, and staying in casa particulars, then some of them may have generators.

Additionally, depending on how you normally travel you might be used to getting free toiletries in your hotel.  Plan on taking everything you need.  If you take too much you can always leave it behind, it will be well received.

So here we go.  Here’s a personal packing list for Cuba. I’ll start with a plug for an essential tool to help plan your visit to Cuba. It’s called Cuba by Bus.

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• Detailed fully planned out itineraries.
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Now. Here’s what else you should take to Cuba.

Personal Packing List for Cuba

I’ve split these items that you should take to Cuba into logical sections.  If you’d like these as a downloadable checklist then click here and I’ll email it to you.

Think I’ve missed something?  Drop me an email or mention it in the comments.

Essentials you will need to enter Cuba

These are the items that you’ll need to either get on the plane to Cuba or through immigration to Cuba.

• Passport with the appropriate number of months left (check our Cuba checklist here)
• Medical insurance – it’s a mandatory Cuban government requirement
  • get a quote here from Visitors Coverage
  • Get a quote for insurance from Civitatis here
  • Read more here

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• A Cuban Evisa my guide to getting one is here
• A completed health declaration form — complete it with the D’Viajeros form online here – our guide to completing the D’Viajeros form in is here.
• Our partner for the Cuban eVisa is EasyTouristCard. If you buy your eVisa with EasyTouristCard then they will prefill the D’Viajeros form for you.

Our guide to the best time to visit Cuba is here.

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Basics to Take to Cuba

Here are a few items to bring to Cuba that I’d count as essentials, and I’ve explained why

• A face mask (make sure you’re prepared for any local changes to COVID rules)
• Hand sanitizer (not all bathrooms have soap, and most public toilets don’t have paper) – this is a scarce commodity in Cuba > get travel sized sanitizer here
• Toilet Paper / Packets of Kleenez (most public toilets and toilets in restaurants don’t have paper)
• Mosquito Repellent (whether or not there’s a dengue outbreak bites are irritating, and you’ve best off just not getting them)
• Paracetomol, immodium, etc – you will be unlikely to be able to buy them in Cuba. If you do find them they will be at a hge premium
• A filter water bottle – escape the bottled water trap – buy a filter water bottle and save the planet.  (read our guide to drinking water in Cuba here). An alternative to a filter water bottle is a Steripen, which uses UV light to fix the problems in bad water – but doesn’t remove the chlorine taste.
• A flashlight or torch for power cuts – either a rechargeable one or bring enough batteries to power it.

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• Buy an eSIM for Cuba, they’re seriously easy to use. I wrote about them here.
• A VPN – if you plan on using the internet in Cuba, then use a VPN to protect your digital presence.  Get ExpressVPN here – or read more in our VPNs for Cuba guide here.

• A flashlight, torch or headlamp/
• Cash – Cash is king in Cuba.  Read our guide to Cuban Currency here.  You can bring in the equivalent of US$5,000.
• ATM Card
• A Cuban Spanish Phrasebook

Luggage to Take to Cuba

If you’re traveling around Cuba you’ll want something lightweight and easy to move around.  Packing is also so much easier with packing cubes, and these have revolutionized my packing over the years.  As well as hand luggage that you can keep your valuables in and with you at all times.  If you’re planning on leaving valuables anywhere – like a hotel room, or in a casa particular, we’d also recommend using a portable safe.  Here are our recommended bags, packs, and safes.

• Easy lightweight case for Cuba
• Packing cubes
• Easy lightweight backpack for Cuba
• Portable travel safe for valuables for Cuba – there’s more on why we travel with a portable travel safe here.

Clothes to take To Cuba

It’s going to be hot.  And sweaty.  If you’re staying in Casa Particulars they will offer a laundry service, but you’ll need to factor in if you have rain it might take a while to dry.  You won’t find laundromat-type facilities here, but if you plan on washing things out in the sink overnight, then you’ll need to bring your own laundry soap.  There’s very little need to dress up in Cuba, and take comfortable clothes – if you’re heading to somewhere special, then smart casual is the way to go. 

Please read my guide to mosquitoes in Cuba. It covers the current issues with mosquito-borne diseases and make suggestions about how to avoid getting bitten. Be sure to take medical advice if you do believe that you’re suffering from one of these diseases, some over the counter drugs can cause more harm than good (I’m looking at you ibuprofen and Dengue fever specifically – check with your doctor!)

And comfortable shoes for walking around too.  I’ll leave you to add in what clothes you want to take, but consider these items are necessary

• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Comfortable shoes for Walking / Walking Sandals
• Flip flops (although I detest flip flips, and love these crocs sandals instead)
• A quick drying towel – great for the beach
• An umbrella – I learned this from extensive travel in Asia – brollies are amazing for rain, they’re even better as really strong sun protection!

If you plan on snorkeling, then bring your own snorkeling gear – and if you prefer to use a shortie wetsuit then you should bring that with you too. You may be able to rent snorkeling gear, but it may not be in the greatest condition.

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Toiletries to take to Cuba

While you will be able to buy some basics like soap and shampoo while you’re in Cuba, items like menstrual products are hard to come by, so if you need them, bring them with you.  Equally, if you normally travel with condoms, then bring them too, as they’re in short supply in Cuba.

• Soap/shower gel
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Toothpaste / Toothbrush / Floss
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers/Tweezers
• Face cream/moisturizer
• Razor/shavers
• Tampons/Pads/Menstrual Cups (< the best invention ever!)

Medication to Take to Cuba

You won’t be able to buy much over-the-counter medication in Cuba, so it’s wise to take a stash with you.  You can buy some international medication here, but it’s more expensive.  And you’re unlikely to find any US brands, so you’ll find a brand made in other countries.  So if you prefer Tylenol to paracetamol or Ibuprofen, then take it with you.  Over the counter medication is also in much demand in Cuba, they don’t have much. Read on for what you can take to help the regular Cuban in the street.

If you need prescription drugs, then bring them all with you and bring the prescription too, in case you have any issues.

Here are suggestions for a basic medication kit to take with you

• Tylenol / Ibuprofen / Paracetomol
• Immodium
• Sea sickness pills if you plan to take any catamaran rides
• Electrolytes/rehydration salts – go easy on the super strong mojitos or you’ll need a lot of these!
• Band-Aids / Plasters
• Antibiotic Cream
• Antihistamine Cream (for when the mozzies get through the Deet!)

Electronics to take to Cuba

• A power converter – so you can charge all your electronics – our guide to the best power converters for Cuba is here.  While Cuba is mostly 110 volts (the same as the USA and Canada), the word you need to look at there is “mostly”, especially if you’re staying in casa particulars, then be prepared for different sockets and different voltages.

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• Camera
• Phone (you can get an eSIM or local SIM to put in it – read our guide here)
• Portable charger/battery
• Memory Card for Camera – PLUS A SPARE
• A hard drive to back up photos to
• Kindle or EReader (download all your books before you go) – don’t forget Cuba by Bus

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If you normally upload your photos to the cloud, then plan on doing that when you get home and bring either spare memory cards or a hard drive to back up your photos.  Read our guide to the internet in Cuba here, but plan on not using it for this purpose. And consider using a VPN while you’re here. We use ExpressVPN and have for years. It works REALLY well in Cuba. Get up to 6 months for free here.

What to Bring to Cuba for the Cubans

Let me start by saying that you don’t need to bring things for the locals if you don’t want to.  However, even in 2025 there are many items that are either unobtainable or very expensive to obtain in Cuba.

How does the US embargo affect what you can take to Cuba?

The US embargo does not apply to food and medical products. You can bring food to Cuba. You can bring frozen food if you want.

What import tax is there to pay on food and medical equipment to Cuba?

If you bring food and medical equipment or over the counter medication there is no import tax to pay. This import tax was cancelled in January 2022 and the “end” date keeps being pushed back. The official page (which is also usually out of date) is here. As of 31st January 2025, its been pushed back to the end of April 2025. Expect it to continue being pushed back.

What do Cuban’s Need taking to Cuba?

And that the best way to understand what the Cubans need is actually to ask them directly. So if you’re staying at Casa Particulars, (which 80% of the readers of Cuba’s Best do), then ASK BEFORE YOU GO. “Is there anything that I can bring from home that will be of help?”

You might encounter the odd person in the street asking for handouts, but they are few and far between, and I most definitely don’t support begging.  And you shouldn’t go around giving out candy or dollars to kids, but if you do want to bring things to Cuba to help those in need, then consider this.

1. If you know people, then ask them what they want.
2. If you leave things for your maids in a hotel, then they’ll likely sell them, which is fair enough, but they’re also probably better off than a lot of people in the country.
3. Tipping with either pesos or hard currency (US Dollars, Canadian Dollars and Euros are best – ALL NOTES – no coins) means that the person you tip can buy what they want. So long as its available.
4. Consider bringing items that Cubans can’t get and that are of immediate use. This includes the following.

Take these items to Cuba for Cubans in 2025

Generally useful items for Cubans include

• Decent Coffee
• AA batteries
• Rechargeable flashlights.
• Clothes for children – you can drop them off at a church or orphanage
• Over-the-counter medication (in its boxes) – like Ibuprofren or paracetomol or Tylenol
• Powdered milk
• Toilet Paper
• Hygiene products like deodorant, toothpaste (esp female hygiene products)
• Pantyhose/Tights
• Pens/Paper etc – school supplies
• Guitar Strings are ALWAYS useful
• Condoms

If you want to help the Cuban people, then I’d recommend considering asking a couple of organizations in Cuba that items would be useful.

The folks at Cuba Solidarity regularly publish items that would be of us, and these include specialist medical equipment – like sterile gloves, or disposable syringes.  You can check other items that they recommend taking here.

Cuba Libro in Havana is an English-language bookshop and coffee house in Havana – it’s a good idea to contact them and ask what’s needed specifically and then drop it off when you arrive in Cuba.  Contact at [email protected]

Saint Elvira’s Church in Varadero can distribute clothing, medication, and other items. The address is 47th street and 1st avenue.

Let me know – either by emailing me or by commenting below – of any other organizations that you recommend for distributing assistance.

What NOT to Bring to Cuba

Now that we’ve covered what you should bring to Cuba, and what would be a good idea to take to Cuba, let’s take a look at what not to take to Cuba because there are some banned items that shouldn’t be anywhere near your luggage.

What value of Gifts can you bring into Cuba?

You can bring up to the equivalent of US$50 worth of gifts into Cuba before they’re taxable. you can bring a maximum of US$250 of gifts in. Of course that relies on someone finding them in your luggage to tax them.

You can bring in up to US$5,000 of cash into Cuba as well as non-personal items up to US$1,000 in value.

What items are hard to get in Cuba?

The following items are difficult (and expensive) to get in Cuba and are good examples of what you might bring to Cuba.

• Basic Medicines, Medical Supplies and Toiletries
• Over the counter medications like ibuprofen, paracetamol, gastrointestinal medications and diarrhoea medications. Plus antacids like Pepto-Bismol and sticking plasters or Bandaids.
• Mosquito repellent. Read my guide to mosquitoes in Cuba.
• Sunblock

Cuba bans the following items

• Drugs – Cuba is a zero-tolerance society
• Satellite phones
• Firearms
• Anti-Cuba literature
• Pornography
• GPS Units – although phones with GPS are ok
• Walkie Talkies
• Drones – if you try and bring one in, it WILL get confiscated. You may get it back when you leave. Or not.
• Agricultural products and plants
• Fresh meat

Final Words on our Cuba Packing List

A packing list for Cuba is somewhat different from planning a trip anywhere else, and bringing the right things with you will definitely help you have a better holiday.  But some of the things that you can bring to Cuba will also help make someone else’s life better too. 

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