Try the Grand Circle Foundation. They are starting trips.

But just realize there are relatively few of these trips, and because they are new, they are booking up fast. It's not likely you'll get many last-minute booking opportunities, so look a little further out, and I'm sure you'll find some availability.

thanks for the info re grand circle. they do have many trips to cuba but none available in the spring. any other groups?

Adventure travel and tours by G Adventures. Unforgettable small-group travel experiences in the world's greatest destinations. www.gadventures.com/trips/cuba-libre/CCL
Intrepid is from Oz as far as Iknow ok too. tucantravels.com UK might have something. Folks use cubajet.com also sometimes.

Happy Planning!

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tucantravelofficial.blogspot.com/2009/04/travellers...in-cuba.html

Here are a few options:


http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/travel/tours/additional-resources/cuba-3.html

http://www.cubaupdate.org/travel-to-cuba/upcoming-trips

http://www.insightcuba.com/cuba-tours

http://www.witnessforpeace.org/section.php?id=109

It's incredibly difficult to book these trips at the last minute. They are the kind of trip that people plan for months (and sometimes a year) in advance.

I have a question about these new licensed trips to Cuba:

Are all of them group tours, which require payment in advance of travel?

For travelers wanting to visit the island on their own, is there any option of taking one of the legal charters form the US?


For those US citizens who have visited the island on their own, how did you handle the money issues? (Take cash necessary for your stay and carry it with you?)

No, the very definition of these legal trips is that they are cultural and group tours. However, there are quite a few trips, particularly those that are religiously oriented, that give you free time after the mission service. Both Christian churches and Jewish synagogues arrange such trips. But everyone has to go in a group as far as I know. Only people with Cuban national relatives can take charters individually for family trips.

Americans have to carry cash. That's the only option.

Thanks for the quick reply, Doug. I was afraid that that was the case, as you described.

Are we allowed to discuss independent travel on the island on this forum? If so I would love to hear from anyone who has done this..

ekscrunchy, we traveled under an "educational" group license in 2001, when the regulations were much like they are today for American citizens--although back then we weren't required to change U.S. money into Cuban money. The group consisted of about 15 people.

We stayed at the same hotel and traveled by small chartered bus to a couple of cities. Otherwise, people came and went from the "tour" activities as they wished. Some only traveled with us, some ate no meals with us, etc.

So though it is a group, with a schedule, it wasn't demanding and we had plenty of time to do what we wanted on our own. One of the group actually traveled by local bus to join us a day after we left Havana. Our charter took about 3 hours--his took much longer. So there was an advantage to having transport planned.

I am not a group tour person but with a small enough group, there are some advantages, in that you may go to places that aren't ordinarily open to the public.

It is also possible for certain individuals to apply for a license to travel to Cuba through the US Treasury. A food or travel writer for example, could request permission to research an article or book. Don't know if you fit those categories.

Thank you for the comments! I will do a bit more reading and return to ask further questions.


I've always been interested in a visit and my current enthusiasm comes from hearing about a recent trip taken by an acquaintance (from the US), who traveled with her family (via Mexico) to Havana and a few other places, getting around outside the city by rental car. I borrowed a copy of Frommer's Cuba from the local library.

Hey dkscrunchy, how are you?

I just got back from two weeks in Cuba. It was my second trip. I went with a photography group and had a fantastic time. There was a total of 14 of us with LOTS of free time to wander about by ourselves and take photos of everything that moved and everything that stayed still : ) . I had last been in Cuba in 2003 and there are lots of changes while many things remain the same.

I wish it were easier. I'd love to just go back by myself for a long weekend.

Will be posting photos here soon. If you have any specific questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer them--although I am far from a Cuba expert.

correction "ekscrunchy" Keyboards!

Boston: Hello!! Long time since I've "seen" you! I just noticed that you had responded here.

I would absolutely LOVE to see those pics, and to read anything and everything about your trip.
Where did you visit?


I have the trip on the back burner but thinking about next winter. Met a vendor at my local farmer's market who recommended Vinales very highly (she had just returned from an independent trip; rented a car and drove themselves)..... really piqued my interest!

Resurrecting this thread because I am based in south Florida for the next month or so and am considering a trip to Cuba from here. Interested in hearing from anyone who has traveled to the island independently...I believe there are flights from US to Havana via Cayman Islands (??)

But it's illegal for American citizens to take such flights without a proper license to travel from the state department. I can't promise the moderators are not going to take this down now since we don't normally allow our users to discuss how to take illegal actions.

I think it's Treasury, not State, that issues the license.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html

You are correct. Sorry about that.

Thanks, Doug..sorry about that!

ekscrunchy, I am so bad about following up. They should have a notice system at Fodors that you get "pinged" when someone posts to a forum.

Anyway, here are my photos from my 2012 trip to Cuba. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150894989862959.478118.589287958&type=1&l=8e38cf7c50


I'm returning in late April to photograph the May Day celebrations in a few weeks. I go legally with a small photography group (People to people license). This will make my 3rd trip to Havana and it is feeling like home now. I just love Havana--and it is the best place for street photography in the world (and you know that I try to photograph the whole world : ).

All of my trips have been with a treasury department OK, but I know many people who have traveled independently without any issues at all. That being said, it is still illegal (although the chances of anything happening even if "caught" are very slim ) However, one caveat. If you ever want to enroll for the US "Trusted Traveler" program (where you can skip lines at security and self process yourself through customs internationally), an illegal trip to Cuba would keep you from getting clearance. I assure you, they will know. I wasn't able to get my clearance until I found and submitted my visa from the Treasury dept. However, if that is not of interest to you, then traveling independently from Toronto, Mexico or an island should not be a problem and will save you thousands of dollars.

Hotels? In Havana I love the Park Central or Telegrapho for their location and quality. Park Central is more luxurious and has wi-fi, but the Telegrapho is just as convenient--it is right across the street. Do NOT stay at the National--it is a bad location and pretty run down--but a great place for sunset cocktails. In trinidad, the Iberostar. You can also arrange homestays if you are adventurous and love feeling the culture a bit more (I'm into ensuite bathrooms, so it is not my style)

Anyway, I'm happy to ask questions about Eastern Havana--from Trinidad to the west, but again, my travel has all been with a visa, so I'm not much help about traveling independently. Im sure the Canadians in the group can help you out.

Lastly, yes, there are at least five flights a week from Grand Cayman to Havana.