Ok! May be you’ve just booked your travel to Cuba! Congratulations! So, you are now searching on Google the things to bring with you for your travel to Cuba.

Wise move! 🙂

Yes, because even if Cuba is a safe and easy-going country, you won’t find exactly everything you need in the stores. That’s why I have created a checklist of the most useful things to bring with you for your travel to Cuba. So, take a screenshot of this post and keep it with you when you’ll be out for shopping before leaving.

What it’s easy to find

Below is a quick list of the personal care items (relatively) easy to find in Cuba:

• Toothpaste
• Toilet paper ( in the hotels but not always outside)
• Soap

These are pretty easy to find, unless you are traveling without any tour operator.

What is NOT easy to find and it’s better to bring with you for a travel to Cuba

Ok, even if you won’t have particular problems to find everything you need in hotels or resorts, here is a list of things to bring with you. These things are particularly useful especially if you are backpack travelers or you are going to travel housing in casas particulares and multiple cities in Cuba:

• Aspirins, antibiotics and tablets against diarrhea – International hospitals service is pretty good, but prevention is better than cure
• Dental floss and mouthwash – supermarkets usually don’t have these products
• Condoms – both if you are a couple or single traveller it’s better for you to buy it before your departure
• Sun screen and body cream – you can find it in certain places but prices are way more expansive than in USA or Europe.
• Insecticides – based on the season and places you have planned to visit, you might find mosquitos and other insects
• Liquid for contact lenses 
• Washing powder – if you are traveling on your own.
• Patches 
• Hand sanitizer 
• Umbrella – If you are traveling in the period from July till December it’s better to have one with you.

Also, bring clothes with the idea that you won’t buy anything there. Maybe just a Che Guevara t-shirt as a souvenir, but nothing more. There are just a few clothes stores and the quality is not exactly the best. So be sure to put in your luggage:

• Swimsuits 
• Flip-flops and sneakers – especially if you are visiting Havana, be sure to bring with you close shoes. The city is dusty and dirty in certain area and will be safer for you.

Other useful items are:

• Snorkeling kit – If you are going to Cayo Largo or in a beach resort you’ll need it.
• Electric torch – Sometimes electricity is down and it’s better have it with you
• Food and snacks – Food in Cuba is good, but during the day isn’t easy to find snacks except pizza, fried chicken and not really good ice-cream. You might consider to bring snacks bars, peanuts and walnuts, or any kind of food light but with an elevate energy content.

-> ALSO READ: WHAT TO EAT IN CUBA

What is better NOT bring with you

Here the things it’s better you don’t carry in your luggage to avoid any problem at the custom check:

• walkie-talkies
• satellite phones,
• hand-held GPS equipment
• televisions
• freezers
• air conditioners
• stoves
• water heaters
• electric frying pans
• toasters
• irons
• any other item that draws heavily on electricity
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Pornographic material

For other things see this post on TripAdvisor.

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Additional things to bring with you

The list above is good enough for you to be covered and pass a quite stay in Cuba. Here are some additional things you might consider to bring with you for your travel to Cuba

• GoPro HERO4 KIT – Great to film everything keeping your hands free
• External Battery – internet data connection is not yet available everywhere, but you’ll use a lot your smartphone to take pictures. An external battery was very useful to me. I always recharged my GoPro, my smartphone and other tech devices.
• Cuba Travel Guide – a must have!

Conclusion

This post was made to help you prepare the best way possible for your trip to Cuba. Of course, also bring the basic things you would for any other travel in the Caribbean.

If you have any questions drop a comment below, I’ll be happy to help!

Hasta pronto!