Travel to Cuba in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide for Americans
A practical, OFAC-compliant checklist for U.S. travelers going to Cuba in 2026 — flights, visa, hotels, money, insurance, and the rules you cannot skip.
Key takeaways
- Americans can travel to Cuba in 2026 under one of 12 OFAC general-license categories — tourism is not one of them.
- You need a Cuban tourist card ($50–$100), compliant travel medical insurance, and a record-keeping plan for OFAC.
- U.S.-issued Visa/Mastercard cards do not work on the island — bring USD or EUR cash.
- Hotel choice is the single biggest compliance risk: verify every property against the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List before booking.
- Keep documentation for 5 years — OFAC can audit any trip retroactively.
Table of contents
1. Is it legal for Americans to travel to Cuba in 2026?
Yes — with caveats. Tourist travel to Cuba has been prohibited for U.S. persons since the Trump administration removed the “people-to-people” category in 2019, and the 2026 sanctions environment has tightened further under Executive Order 14404. But travel itself is legal under any one of 12 general-license categories defined in CACR §515.560 through §515.575.
You do not need a specific OFAC license for most of these categories — you self-certify by selecting the category on your tourist-card application and at airline check-in. You do need to keep records that prove your trip fit the category.
2. Pick your OFAC travel category
Most American travelers in 2026 use Support for the Cuban People (§515.574). It requires a full-time schedule of activities that meaningfully interact with private Cubans and that result in “humanitarian benefits” to Cuban people independent of the regime.
| Category | Typical traveler | CACR section |
|---|---|---|
| Family visits | Visiting a close Cuban relative | §515.561 |
| Journalism | Working journalists | §515.563 |
| Professional research | Academics, researchers | §515.564 |
| Educational | Faculty-led study trips | §515.565 |
| Religious | Faith-based delegations | §515.566 |
| Humanitarian projects | NGO field staff | §515.575 |
| Support for the Cuban People | Most independent travelers | §515.574 |
For the full breakdown and which one fits your trip, see our Can Americans travel to Cuba guide and the OFAC Cuba general-license tool.
3. Documents and visa
- Passport valid 6+ months past your return date.
- Cuban tourist card (tarjeta del turista) — $50–$100 depending on airline; pink for U.S. departures, green for other origins. Sold at U.S. departure airports by airline check-in counters.
- Proof of compliant travel medical insurance (see below).
- Return-trip itinerary — sometimes asked for at the boarding gate.
- D’Viajeros health-and-customs form — complete the online form at
dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cuwithin 72 hours of arrival.
4. Flights to Cuba from the U.S.
Six U.S. carriers fly direct to Cuba in 2026: American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and a limited Spirit schedule. Hubs include Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Tampa (TPA), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Atlanta (ATL), and New York (JFK). The most-served Cuban airport is Havana’s José Martí (HAV); secondary options include Santa Clara (SNU), Varadero (VRA), and Holguín (HOG).
Flight time MIA–HAV is ~50 minutes. There is no ferry between Key West and Havana, despite occasional press speculation.
5. Where to stay: CPAL compliance is non-negotiable
This is where most American travelers get into trouble. The U.S. State Department maintains the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List (CPAL) under CACR §515.210 — a roster of every property where U.S. persons are barred from staying or paying for related expenses. The list is updated frequently and currently contains hundreds of properties.
Province-specific CPAL-cleared lists for the major destinations: Havana, Varadero, Holguín. Casas particulares (licensed private homes) are almost always the safest compliance choice — they support the Cuban People category by design.
6. Money, cards, and exchange rates
- U.S.-issued Visa, Mastercard, AmEx do NOT work in Cuba. Bring sufficient USD or EUR cash for the entire trip.
- Exchange USD or EUR at official CADECA windows or licensed casas. The official rate (tasa oficial) is set by the Banco Central de Cuba; the daily-life rate is the elTOQUE TRMI informal rate, several multiples higher.
- Budget $50–$120/day for a Support-for-the-Cuban-People itinerary — casa particular + private restaurant meals + transport.
For the full breakdown of the three-rate system, see our Cuba official exchange rate guide. If you are also sending money to family or friends in Cuba, see the 2026 remittances to Cuba guide for the caps, channels, and the FINCIMEX block.
7. Mandatory travel medical insurance
Cuba has required all foreign visitors to carry travel medical insurance valid in Cuba since 2010. U.S. health-insurance plans do not work, and many U.S. travel-insurance providers exclude Cuba due to sanctions. See the Cuba travel insurance guide for compliant providers and minimum coverage.
8. Records you must keep (5 years)
Under CACR §515.601, U.S. travelers must retain records of all Cuba-related transactions for at least 5 years. OFAC can audit retroactively. The minimum record-keeping checklist:
- A written full-time itinerary describing the activities that supported your category.
- Receipts for lodging, meals, transport, guides, and entrance fees.
- CPAL / CRL / OFAC screenshots dated to your booking day.
- Names and contact info of Cuban entrepreneurs / NGOs / families you engaged with.
- Your tourist card, boarding passes, and D’Viajeros confirmation.