Return to Cuba, Entry Requirments

Posted on 10/06/2021 | About Cuba

The majority of Trent Travel customers go to Cuba every winter. It is a beloved destination with gracious people, and exquisite beaches. Cuba has been open for visitors since early summer, and is one of the easiest Countries to enter in relation to Covid-19 requirements.

Here is the process as described by one of our Agents who has been to Cuba twice since July and is booked to go again in November.

The advice below is one person's experience and is not meant to be taken as absolute. Everyone travelling must research the most up-to-date information on their destination, and is responsible to have the correct documentation to travel.

Before you go

  1. Before you go: Down load onto your phone the ArriveCAN APP https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.gc.cbsa.coronavirus
  2. Fill out as much of the information as you can before you go. The program will stop and tell you to wait and submit the balance of the information 3 days before you come back
  3. Three days before your return flight, go back on to the ArriveCAN APP and finish the application, it is at this time you upload the photos of your vaccinations. So make sure you have photos of your vaccinations on your phone.
  4. At the most Cuban resort the internet is strongest in the lobby so you may have to go there to submit the ArriveCAN.

Testing

  1. You do not need a test to leave Canada or to arrive in Cuba
  2. At the resort they will do a nose swab test. It is not the deep swab. You will only be contacted if it is Positive.

Return Testing

  1. You must attend the Airline Briefing meeting with your local REP.
  2. At this meeting you will be told where and how to get your Covid-19 PCR test for your return to Canada.
  3. This test is done on the resort by a Doctor set up in one of the rooms.
  4. You will get a phone call in your room telling you when you test results are at the front desk.
  5. At the front desk you will pay $30 USD each on your credit card to receive your results.
  6. Keep this paper to show at customs in Canada

Return to Canada

  1. Pearson Airport is only deplaning one plane at a time, so you may have to wait on the plane before you deplane.
  2. Your customs declaration is done at a kiosk.
  3. Customs officer will ask for your passports, custom declaration and your negative test results.
  4. They put a green sticker on your passport to tell the next agent you are OK.

Other helpful hints

  1. The resorts have a lot of Russians guests. They can be rude and loud. Expect and prepare for that.
  2. There are some shortages such as Cuban coffee. There is a substitute, but it’s not very good. If there is a menu item not available, they will offer a substitute. The shortages are most noticeable at the gift shops where shelves are empty. Take your own favorite snack.
  3. Tipping: the Russians don’t tip, so if you want better service take a bunch of $5 Canadian bills and use them for tipping. Be discrete when tipping. NO COIN.
  4. Excursions; Some are running such as Catamaran, hop on hop off bus, but nothing off the island of Cayo Coco.
  5. Gifts: take over the counter medicines. Tylenol, aspirin, Advil, cold medication, etc. There is a huge shortage in Cuba.

I hope this helps, call us if you have questions.

Fore the most up-to-date information, go to the Government of Canada travel website: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba