General Advice

Bring adequate supplies of all medications in their original containers, clearly labeled. Carry a signed, dated letter from the primary physician describing all medical conditions and listing all medications, including generic names. If carrying syringes or needles, be sure to carry a physician's letter documenting their medical necessity.

Pack all medications in hand luggage. Carry a duplicate supply in the checked luggage. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring an extra pair. If you have significant allergies or chronic medical problems, wear a medical alert bracelet.

Make sure your health insurance covers you for medical expenses abroad. If not, supplemental insurance for overseas coverage, including possible evacuation, should be seriously considered. If illness occurs while abroad, medical expenses including evacuation may run to tens of thousands of dollars.

Bring your insurance card, claim forms, and any other relevant insurance documents. Before departure, determine whether your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures.

Pack a personal medical kit, customized for your trip (see description). Take appropriate measures to prevent motion sickness and jet lag , discussed elsewhere. On long flights, be sure to walk around the cabin, contract your leg muscles periodically, and drink plenty of fluids to prevent blood clots in the legs. For those at high risk for blood clots, consider wearing compression stockings.

Avoid contact with dogs and other animals. If an animal bites or scratches you, clean the wound with large amounts of soap and water and contact local health authorities immediately. Wear sun block regularly when needed. Use condoms for all sexual encounters. Ride only in motor vehicles with seat belts. Do not ride on motorcycles.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has broken havoc with Cuba’s economy as in most countries whose main source of revenue is tourism. For this reason, almost everything to protect against COVID-19 is in shortage, including basic over-the-counter medications (aspirin, cough medication, etc.), products (thermometers, face masks, etc.) and hygiene items (soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, etc.). So pack those things in abundance, you can always leave them in Cuba if not used. Cubans will appreciate it.

By the end of 2022, over 90% of the population in Cuba was fully vaccinated and the government dropped regular COVID-19 entry requirements such as the PCR Test or the Proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Travelers who arrive at Cuba’s ports of entry will not need to present proof-of-vaccination or PCR-test COVID-19 documents.

However, travelers must complete the pre-arrival D'VIAJEROS: Advance Travel Information form within 48 hours of tour departure. Travelers can be subject to random medical screening (temperature screening mainly) and antigen tests at Cuba’s port of entry.

Travelers testing positive at port of entry, or while on tour, will be quarantine in a designated medical facilities or at the hotel they are staying if possible (usually health authorities will work with the hotel in creating an isolation section in the hotel).

Since face masks are not mandatory in Cuba, it is at the travelers’ discretion to wear them. It always pays off to follow the instructions of your Authentic Cuba Travel® Cuban tour guide and be respectful of those who still do wear them.

Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected. Do not drink unbottled beverages or drinks with ice.

Your tour includes a dedicated bus that will be thoroughly cleaned each day, and high-touch areas will be wiped down throughout the day.

Travel Waiver: please, downwnload our Covid-19 Travel Waiver. Kindly fill it out, sign and return to us before tour departure.

Travellers' diarrhea

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common travel-related ailment. The cornerstone of prevention is food and water precautions, as outlined below.

If diarrhea is severe or bloody, or if fever occurs with shaking chills, or if abdominal pain becomes marked, or if diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours, medical attention should be sought immediately.

Most cases of travelers' diarrhea are mild and do not require either antibiotics or antidiarrheal drugs. Adequate fluid intake is essential.

It is recommended to bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal drug with you. However, you must always consult a doctor before taking any medication.

Food and water precautions

Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected. Do not drink unbottled beverages or drinks with ice. Do not eat fruits or vegetables unless they have been peeled or cooked. Avoid cooked foods that are no longer piping hot. Cooked foods that have been left at room temperature are particularly hazardous.

Avoid unpasteurized milk and any products that might have been made from unpasteurized milk, such as ice cream. Avoid food and beverages obtained from street vendors.

Do not eat raw or undercooked meat or fish, including ceviche. Some types of fish may contain poisonous biotoxins even when cooked. Barracuda in particular should never be eaten. Other fish that may contain toxins include red snapper, grouper, amberjack, sea bass, and a large number of tropical reef fish.

Please, do notice that in our trips, all included meals are served in places that meet food and water precautions.

Vaccinations

It's important that you receive the most accurate and up-to-date immunization and travel health information for the region you will be visiting. The only one qualified to provide you with this advice is your family physician or a specialist from a Travel Health clinic.

We've provided links to a number of websites that contain excellent background information related to travel health issues. Nevertheless these websites are no substitute for a personal consultation with a qualified medical professional.

• The National Centre for Disease Control
• Health Canada's Information for Travellers
• World Health Organization (WHO)

The wonders of travel can often be disrupted by the annoyances of getting ill as you adjust to new climates, living conditions and cultures. For this reason, we've put together a handy guide on staying healthy while you travel.

Travel opens up a wonderful world of opportunities and experiences that you would never have a chance to appreciate by staying at home. However, with that, your body may be exposed to a wide range of bugs, viruses and other germs it may not have immunity to. Good heath practices are key to enjoying a safe and healthy tour.

Always follow the advise of your medical practitioner. Plan a visit to your local travel clinic several months prior to your trip to ensure any shots you may need have time to become effective.

While on tour, there are many things you can do to help you stay healthy, and enjoying the tour to the fullest.

• Wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer OFTEN. Think about how many common surfaces you touch in the course of a day (riding a public transit system, door handles etc) where viruses and germs can lie.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you blow your nose, wash your hands before touching your mouth or eyes. If you cough, wash your hands before touching your eyes or nose. If you need to rub your eyes try to wash your hands first. The key here is that it is possible to give a virus back to yourself.
• It's okay to blow your nose. It is your body's way of cleaning debris and foreign objects (viruses and/or its byproducts) out of your system.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw your tissues away immediately. If you don't have any tissue, sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Take vitamins. It is always good to take vitamins, but especially when you are sick. Whatever vitamins you take, remember to also take Vitamin 'C' as it helps strengthen your immune system.
• Try to limit contact with people who are sick if you can. Wash your hands afterwards if you had physical contact with them (for example shaking hands).
• Eat healthy, energizing food. Your body always needs fuel but when you're sick a lot of your bodies energy is devoted to your immune system.

Insect and tick protection

Wear long sleeves, long pants, hats and shoes (rather than sandals). Apply insect repellents to exposed skin (but not to the eyes, mouth, or open wounds).

Don't sleep with the window open unless there is a screen. If sleeping outdoors or in an accomodation that allows entry of mosquitoes, use a bed net, preferably impregnated with insect repellent, with edges tucked in under the mattress. The mesh size should be less than 1.5 mm. If the sleeping area is not otherwise protected, use a mosquito coil, which fills the room with insecticide through the night.

Physicians and hospitals

For travel health services, many travelers go to:

Clinica Central Cira Garcia (Calle 20 No. 4101 esquina Ave 41, Playa, Ciudad de la Habana; tel. 537-2042811 to 14)