What is the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List (CPAL)?

The CPAL is a list maintained by the U.S. State Department under §515.210 of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations identifying specific hotels, hostales, casas, and resorts in Cuba at which U.S. persons are prohibited from lodging or paying for related accommodations expenses, regardless of whether the booking is made through a U.S. or third-country travel agent or platform. Inclusion is based on the property being owned or controlled by a Cuban government entity, party official, or prohibited party.

Is the CPAL the same as the Cuba Restricted List (CRL)?

No. They are separate lists, both maintained by the State Department but published under different sections of the CACR. The CRL (§515.209) lists Cuban entities U.S. persons may not engage in direct financial transactions with (e.g. GAESA, CIMEX, Gaviota, Habaguanex). The CPAL (§515.210) lists specific lodging properties. A property may be on CPAL because its operator is on the CRL, but the lists are structurally distinct and you must check both. Neither overlaps fully with the OFAC SDN list.

What if I book through Booking.com, Airbnb, or a non-U.S. agent?

The §515.210 prohibition follows the U.S. person, not the booking channel. A U.S. citizen lodging at a CPAL-listed property is prohibited even when the reservation, payment, or platform is foreign. Airbnb and similar platforms operate under separate authorisations (§515.578 telecoms / general internet services) but the underlying lodging prohibition still applies.

What about casas particulares?

Genuine independently-owned casas particulares are generally permissible under §515.574 (“support for the Cuban people”) and are the canonical U.S.-traveller compliance pattern. However, the State Department flags two subcategories on the CPAL: properties marketed as casas but actually state-owned (* marker), and genuine private casas that nevertheless meet CPAL inclusion criteria (^ marker). Both are prohibited.

Cuba Prohibited Hotels Checker — CPAL Lookup (State Department)

Coral Level at Iberostar Selection Esmeralda

Province: Camagüey · Zone: Cayo Cruz

Cayo Cruz, Archipielago Jardines del Rey, Camaguey, Cuba 72 200

Iberostar Daiquiri

Province: Ciego de Ávila · Zone: Cayo Guillermo

Cayo Guillermo, Jardines del Rey, Morón, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba 69 410

Iberostar Playa Pilar

Province: Ciego de Ávila · Zone: Cayo Guillermo

Playa Pilar, Cayo Guillermo, Jardines del Rey, Morón, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba 67 210

Habana Riviera By Iberostar

Province: Havana · Zone: Vedado

Ave Paseo y Malecón, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Habana, Cuba 10 400

Iberostar Grand Packard Hotel

Province: Havana

51 Paseo de Martí, Habana, Cuba 10 100

Iberostar Parque Central

Province: Havana · Zone: Habana Vieja

Calle Neptuno e/ Paseo del Prado y Zulueta, Habana Vieja, Habana, Cuba 10 400

Iberostar Selection La Habana, (also “Torre K”)

Province: Havana

Calle K Entre 23 Y 25, Havana 10400 Cuba. Effective July 14, 2025

Coral Level At Iberostar Selection Holguín

Province: Holguín · Zone: Playa (Havana municipio)

Estero, Playa Pesquero, Rafael Freyre, Holguín, Cuba 80 100

Iberostar Selection Holguín

Province: Holguín · Zone: Playa (Havana municipio)

Estero, Playa Pesquero, Rafael Freyre, Holguín, Cuba 80 100

Iberostar Bella Costa