Final Pre-Departure Checklist
We recommend printing some extra copies of your passport in case you lose it. Please confirm your passport is not expiring within the next 6 months of your trip.
Print off your “Dropbox Sign'' Waivers (Only pages 5 & 6 which are titled "Certificate to Travel to Cuba"). These waivers were sent to you by us in a separate email via Dropbox Sign. Please print these pages and travel with them. *Note: This is a record of Discover Corps license to travel to Cuba under "Support for the Cuban People" therefore immigration going into Cuba / entering back into the US may ask to see this.
Order, fill out & pack your Visa “Tourist Card” and travel with it. Be ready to present to the immigration agent upon arrival. *Note: This visa will come blank & you are to manually fill it out. It is a 2-part entry visa, meaning you will need to present upon arrival and again when departing Cuba, so be careful to not lose it.
Print off your Personal CISI Medical Insurance ID Card and travel with it. You will have received this in a separate email from CISI.*Note this only gets sent to you by our team 7-10 days prior to your trip date.
Print off your Final Itinerary and travel with it. This is helpful for you to have on hand during your trip as it contains important contact information. *Note this only gets sent to you by our team 7-10 days prior to your trip date.
Take out money. We recommend around $75 US dollars per day per person, while your trip indeed includes meals, admissions, transportation, etc. this money can be used for alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, tipping/gratuities, as well as any other activities you would like to do outside of scheduled itinerary that permits. *Note: Yes - USD is widely accepted currently in Cuba. Your cards however will not work in Cuba, nor will any ATM. Also please bring new bills, and lots of small bills ($1's, $5's, $10's) as not all places will have change. We do not recommend bringing bills any larger than $20.
Pack your bags. Check out the packing list for a detailed breakdown. Check out the packing list for a detailed breakdown. It is incredibly important you read through the packing list, due to the embargo and restrictions many products are very difficult to find in Cuba, therefore you need to pack well (ex. Personal toiletries, medications, first aid kit, toilet paper, etc.). It is important to also bring a reusable water bottle as we provide you with safe drinking water during your stay.
Check out some"Gifting" ideas. The Cuban government does not like the word donations, so be sure to call them gifts. Due to the embargo a lot of goods are not available/accessible in Cuba, so it can be nice to bring the Cuban people there something from home. There is no bad gift in Cuba, all things will be appreciated, even used clothes you want to leave behind.
Call your cellphone provider & see if they have service in Cuba. If they do not and you require to be connected (since Wi-Fi is extremely rare and limited) you can look into an eSIM Card. There are some options online that will work in Cuba. Most of our travelers choose to be offline during their Discover Corps trip to Cuba as it is very safe, and we have an emergency line you can share with your family 1-888-230-1452 in case they need to get in touch with you while you are away. By calling that line Discover Corps staff will be able to get in touch with your guide and facilitate a conversation, in case of an emergency.
Download app Map of Cuba Offline & Apple Translator / Google Translator. Since internet connection is not widely available in Cuba it can be helpful to download a map so you can know where you are & additionally a translator so you can communicate with locals since not everyone will speak English).
Complete and print a copy of your D'Viajeros Personal Data Form (QR code) Click on the link and complete the form. Once all done, it will generate a QR code that you will need to present upon arrival to Cuba. You can only complete it within 48 hours of your arrival time in Cuba. To read more about the required information and how to complete the form, please click here
Register for the free STEP program. "Note: use the following address: Casa Hanoi Calle 5ta e/ D y E Vedado, La Habana, Cuba.
Verify Airline Requirements & please allow some time to arrive at the airport. For international flights, you must arrive 3 or 4 hours before departure scheduled time. Please check with your airline about their instructions. Some airlines may require additional affidavits to be filled out before travel. Please double-check with your airlines before traveling.
Verify your flight(s) are accurate! If you notice any changes, please update your Travel Specialist at claudia@discovercorps.com asap.
Educate yourself about Cuba by taking a look at the recommended reading and video list!
Get ready to have a trip of a lifetime!!!