Arriving

and Customs

Step-by-step guide that will help you through the process of arriving to Cuba and your first hours in the country.

Airports:

Cuba has 15 airports, 10 international airports servicing more than 85 airlines from 73 different countries and 8 locals airports offering domestic flights and air taxis service.

Seaports:

Travelers in their own vessels are accepted to get in the coutry through the following seaports:

North Shore:

     •     Marina Hemingway, La Habana.

     •     Marinas Dársena, Chapelin and Gaviota, Varadero.

     •     Marina Cayo Coco-Cayo Guillermo, Archipiélago Jardines del Rey.

     •     Marina Gaviota Bahía de Naranjo, Holguín.

South Shore:

     •     Centro Internacional de Buceo María La Gorda, Pinar del Río.

     •     Marina Cayo Largo del Sur y Marina Punta Gorda, Santiago de Cuba.

Procedure for sea travellers arrival:

Crew has to communicate with cuban port authorities before entrering Cuba's national waters, wich are 12 nautic miles offshore insular platform. Use the following channels:

     •     Channel HF (SSB) 2760 de la Red Costera Nacional.

     •     Channel HF (SSB) 2790 de la Red Turística.

Port authorities will ask for:

     •     Name of the vessel.

     •     Flag.

     •     Port where the boat is registered.

     •     Last port before entering Cuba.

     •     Arriving port.

     •     Estimated time of arrival.

     •     Type of vessel.

     •     Colour of the vessel.

     •     How many persons on board.

You most follow the intructions given by the Cuban port authorities and remain on board until legal formalities have ben completed.

Getting to Cuba on a private plane:

You most send an operational request for your flight route to be accepted. Aplications must be sent via telex and addressed to:

- Régimen de Vuelos de Aeronáutica Civil de Cuba, La Habana. Telex: 51727 ACVCU

Aplication must specify:

     •     Status of the plane (private or commercial)

     •     Number and registration type.

     •     Airport from where the plain took off.

     •     Pilot's name.

     •     Date, place and estimated time of arrival.

     •     Porpuse of your trip.

Key Information.

Cuban customs prohibits to import any pornographic material, narcotics, live animals and fire guns unless authorithed when hunting is the porpuse of visiting. Possesion, consuming and trafficking of narcotic drugs and other substances are penalized, in case your using any medical prescription is required.

Arriving travellers:

Along with personal jewellry, cameras and other valuables items, visiters are allowed to bring, tax free, two bottles of any licour, a full cigarretes pack and up tu 10kg of medicins. Aditional gifts up tu $250.00 usd are tax free and rest will be subject to tax.

Thre's no restrictions about how much money a traveller can carry but cuantities above $5000.00 usd most be declared.

Tourists can bring personal use items as sport equipment, photographic camera, video recorders, cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, videogames, hair dryers, electric razors, binoculars, radio receptor, portable music instrument and audio recorder devices.

Bringing VCRs and DVDs is permited:

Cuban customs had eliminated restrictions for VCRs and DVDs importing. Mandatory May 1rst 2007, travellers are allowed to carry these items.

Walkie-talkie devices are allowed:

From december 20, 2007 bringing walkie-talkie devices are allowed in Cuba. These devices must be registred at landing and owners must take them out when leaving the country.

NOT ALLOWED:

Narcotics, explosives, pronography, any document, article or book including literature with the intention to be use against national security are not allowed, plants and animals subject to regulations, GPS devices, wireless domestic phones operating on 40-49 Mhz and 2.4-5 Mhz.

Refrigerators, air conditioners, ovens, water heaters, irons (exepting travell irons) and toasters are not permited.

Departure:

Make sure to save $25.00 cuc in cash for airport tax. Visiters leaving Cuba are allowed to take up to 23 cigars and 1.14 litters of alcohol with no documentation required. Exceding amounts most come with proof of purchase.

A permission issued by Registro Nacional de Bienes Culturales is required for exporting art and antiques. Most legit sellers can provide permissions.

Find more Information at www.aduana.co.cu