What to bring to Cuba: Your Ultimate Family Guide 2023

For us, two weeks in Cuba with our kids was like travelling 20 years ago. In those days it was just you and your backpack and away you go. Now with a family we had to think about what to bring to Cuba.

So we tried to recreate our early days of travelling with a family of four and Sawyer was still in nappies. Our plan was just one backpack (85L), two shoulder bags (that we could take onto a flight) and a nappy bag. Lukas also had his small suitcase on wheels.

He kept his toys, games and favourite blanket in here.

We also took a car seat for Sawyer but quickly realised it wasn’t worth it. 

We read a lot of other blogs/websites reading what families would bring and in most cases we would need an extra bag or two if we followed that advice. 

For us, it was about keeping it as light as possible. So we just took what information we thought was useful.

When travelling with a baby/toddler in Cuba you really need to be prepared as most essentials e.g. nappies, wipes, baby formula and food that you would buy in your own supermarkets are not available in Cuba.

 

Important Read First

On July 6th 2023 the US Government considered Cuba to be a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). This means if you have visited Cuba from the 12th January 2021 you can’t apply for the ESTA document to enter the US if you are a citizen of the participating visa wavier programrme.

Instead you will need to apply for a B2 Visa by completing the online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160.

See here on the Travel.State.Gov website.

This visa process takes time and is expensive as you will need to be interviewed at a US Embassy or Consulate possibly within your country.

In New Zealand it costs $185us dollars so for a family of 4 it can add up. Make sure you do your research. Fingers crossed that the US Government change their mind… one day.

Before you arrive in Cuba please make sure you have a Cuban tourist visa if your country is required to have one. Most countries are required to have one but here is a list of countries that don’t. Tourist Visas can be issued through the airline you are flying on (please check before booking) or through a Cuban Embassy. 

We flew out of Mexico (Cancun) and got our visa at the check-in desk at Cancun Airport. They filled it out for us and we paid around $100 US dollars, for our family, in Mexican pesos.

Also, you will need comprehensive travel insurance (including medical coverage) and will most likely be asked to show proof of this when you pass through Cuban immigration.

If you don’t have proof you will be asked to pay for local health insurance. 

Finally, within our ever-changing world make sure to check the FCO travel advice for Cuba or other Cuban travel advice sites for up-to-date information on Covid and travel advice.

You can also read our post on things you need to know before you travel to Cuba.

Below is our comprehensive list of what we packed. And yes everything fitted into our backpack and two shoulder bags.

Travel documents

As mentioned above travel insurance is a must, just like in any country you visit. Make sure you bring a copy of your travel insurance just in case you asked for proof when you arrive. 

When we arrived we weren’t asked but we read that people have been asked and were unable to show proof. 

They then had to purchase Cuban travel insurance before they could leave the airport. This is expensive too.

We also brought our immunisation documents, we thought if you need medical treatment for any member of our family we could show these.

Money (Cash)

It’s best to bring cash and exchange it at the airport. We took euros as you get a better rate, for American dollars you get a lower rate. And at times US dollars won’t be accepted.

We didn’t exchange all our cash as there is Casa’s de Cambio (CADECA) in many hotels and tourist facilities around the country.

We also managed to use our Visa card at the ATMs on Obispo Street in Havana. Just look for the green shop, you can’t miss it.

Just make sure your visa/master card etc is through or aligned to a US bank as your card won’t work.

Nappies/Wipes

Now the first challenge for us was to pack enough nappies to last the trip as we were unsure how easy it would be to find nappies in Cuba.

We budgeted for 5 per day and this took up around a 1/3 of the backpack as we also needed wet wipes and nappy bags.

Again wipes were a challenge to budget on… so we packed 2x 250 packets. We made it safety through.We arrived back in the United States 17 days later with just 3 nappies remaining. Pretty tight really. We also packed a packet of swimmer nappies.

 

First Aid Kit

We packed our first aid kit with everything we would need to mend every scratch and bump.

But we also included;

Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Iodine
Itchy bite cream
Thermometer
Medical tape
Plasters
Syringes for the medicine
Eye wipes or drops
Medical tape
Lip balm and any medication the kids or us require.

One thing you need to remember is the Cuban health system is 1st class and it has the most doctors per capita in the world.

Our neighbour Miguel, in Havana, was a doctor who had served in many countries including the Iraq/Iran war.

We had only one day when Connie and Lukas felt a little sick. He gave them both a spoonful of his local medicine and by the afternoon they were back to best. 

 

Water Bottles

The kids brought their own water bottles and we washed these regularly using dishwashing liquid and hot water from the jug/kettle. 

We filled them at night with bottled water, and placed them in the fridge ready to go for the next day.

Our Airbnb owners also offered us their bottled water. A good way to take of the environment too.

Baby Food, Formula and Snacks 

This is something we packed, again unsure if we could buy formula in Cuba and even if we could, would Sawyer like it.

So we measured out the minimum amount we would need and then added a little more. We also added about eight single-use sachets just in case, better to be safe than sorry.

We brought our own bottles (three of them) along with a brush and a small bottle of detergent.

All our hosts were amazing and so helpful. They always boiled the jug/kettle so we had hot water to wash the bottles and make up the formula.

Otherwise, if your baby needs it, bring it. 

We also packed a few snacks the kids enjoyed though these only lasted a few days.

Now I’d read many articles/blogs about the food in Cuba and most cases, it gets a bad report however we loved it. Our boys enjoyed pasta, rice, beans, pizza, vegetables and a range of fruit.

We always took the breakfast option with our hosts, often our kids ate free while we paid 5 CUCs each. The breakfasts were always amazing, eggs, bread, spreads, treats, fresh juices, and sometimes even pancakes.

Our kids were always full.

Beach Bag

This is something we always pack, especially if beach days and destinations are on the cards.

Our bag was perfect when we spent at the beaches in Playa Giron, Playa Rancho Luna outside of Cienfuegos and Playa Ancon in Trinidad.

Here we pack our towels, beach blanket, any snacks, water bottles, sun-cream and anything else we require for the day. This bag then folded up and went into our backpack.

Footwear

To be honest we spent most of the time in jandals (flip-flops).

Sawyer wore sandals however we did have a pair of shoes each as some places we visited had bumpy/rough roads/streets.

For those looking at hikes then shoes are a must. 

Car-seat – though we wish we hadn’t 

Look we brought our one but quickly realised it was a waste of time and energy to carry it around Cuba.

Most cars don’t have car belts, some of the newer green and yellow taxis in Havana might do but otherwise, we had no luck.

Since we were using the Viazul buses to travel around we left ours with our neighbours in Havana.

Universal Power Adaptor

Just goes without saying really, if you want to charge your camera battery or phone then you are going to need one.

Nappy Bag

This is a great bag to use, here we keep Sawyers bottles, spare clothes, nappies, wipes, nappy bags (to mask the smell of those nappies), Connie’s camera and a change mat.

Change mats are important, don’t expect change areas or tables in Cuban bathrooms.

Changing Sawyer in our accommodation was easy. But when we were travelling or exploring it was difficult.

I changed Sawyer behind statues, park benches, standing up on the bathroom floor if there was room.

Makes for some great travel stories though. We either carry the nappy bag over our shoulders or across the handles of the stroller. 

Photography

If you are anything like me I’m happy to snap away with my phone but my wife is into photography so her camera is a must.

She usually packs it in the nappy bag.

Bug Spray

Depending on the season you visit mosquito/bug spray might be a must-have.

We travelled in January (winter) so no need for any of that. However, locals who we stayed with, especially on the coast, said that mosquitos were pretty bad in the summer.

So it’s a good idea to have your spray if you are visiting that time of year. 

Sunscreen and After Sun

You will need to pack sunscreen, even in winter. We couldn’t find any to buy in Cuba, we looked just in case we ran out.

There is nothing worse than getting sunstroke, it can certainly be a downer on your trip. 

Just in case you or your kids get a touch of too much sun make sure you pack your after-sun lotion. 

Toiletries

We packed the bathroom basics, liquid soap, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes/toothpaste and floss as well as lady products.

Rash Cream

Now, this is something I always pack, ever since my first trip to the Middle East back in 1998. Sweet rash cream!

Great to ease chaffing and most importantly when you or the kids have the ‘Johnny Cashes’ e.g the burning ring of fire.

It won’t stop you from going to the toilet 10 times a day but it will help getting there just a little bit easier.

Currently, the product we use is called B3 and like our credit card we never leave home without it.

We also included a tube of Bepanthen just in case Sawyer had a nappy rash.

Hand Sanitiser 

Obviously, this is an absolute must, we made sure to pack plenty. We took 1 bigger bottle and 3 mini bottles.

The main thing we found was not all bathrooms around Cuba had soap to wash your hands. It was also great when the kids needed a snack, a couple of drops and away you go. 

Travel Cot

While bedding is something you need not worry about for those with toddlers/babies you might want to bring a travel cot.

We have always used a travel bubble from Samsonite because it’s quick and easy to put up and down, folds up small, lite weight, has a mattress and is fully enclosed.

It also fits easily into our backpack.

However, any portable travel cot will do. both our boys loved their travel cots.

Kid’s Games/Activities/Toys

For that little home comfort, Sawyer loves travelling with his favourite blanket and soft toy bear, it helps him sleep better too.

We also pack a colouring book and pencils, a few toy cars and a couple of tennis balls (Lukas uses these too).

For Lukas, travel board games and playing cards are the go. We have taught Lukas all the card games we learnt when travelling the world.

Lukas also has a travel diary which he writes in daily and then adds photos, tickets, etc upon our return home.

Finally, one ‘interesting’ things we pack is a packet of balloons. During our down times or a quiet evening, we’d blow up a balloon and the boys happily played together.

Stroller

Now we never travel with a flash all the bells and whistles baby stroller.

We pick up a cheap one before we leave, as long as it has a storage basket for our water bottles, any extra clothes and a blanket then we are happy.

It folders up easily to store and or carry around if needed. It also means that if it goes missing then it’s no big loss, financially.

Clothes in our backpack or Shoulder Bags

Cuban hosts offer washing and drying so you don’t need to overpack.

Adults – this is all I brought and it was pretty much the same for Connie except she added in a couple of dresses.

3/4x t-shirts
2x long sleeved t-shirts
1x shirt – (just in case we go to a flash restaurant)
3x shorts
1x jeans
2x sweatshirts/jackets
1x raincoat
5/6x pairs of underwear
2/3x pairs of shoes
1x hat/cap
2x togs/swimsuits
1x pair of shoes and flip flops 

Kids – again some were pretty much the same for both boys

4/5x t-shirts
2x long shelved t-shirts
3x shorts
1x pants/jeans
2x sweatshirts/jackets
1x raincoat
5/6x pairs of underwear
1x pair of shoes 
1x flip flops or sandals (Sawyer wore sandals as they were easier on his feet)
1x hat/cap
2x togs/swimsuits

Connie and my clothes fitted into our shoulder bags, while the kid’s clothes and the rest of the gear went into the backpack.

 

Final Thoughts

For us it was all about travelling light, knowing there would be plenty of walking around and we were mainly travelling by bus.

I carried the backpack and a shoulder bag and Connie carried the other shoulder bag and the nappy bag.

As the trip wore on space became available in the bag as nappies were used and milk powder was drunk. Which meant we could purchase the odd piece of art or souvenirs. 

On the day we flew back to the US we packed what we needed and left our shampoo, body soap, leftover milk formula, etc with our neighbours to pass on to anyone who needed it. 

This was greatly accepted and next time we visit I would bring a few other things (toys, kid’s clothing, etc) to donate.

Travelling light is the best option and Cuba is the perfect destination for families, the people are beautiful and friendly. 

 

We created so many wonderful memories that we will cherish for a lifetime.