Heading to Cuba and wondering what essentials you need. This is the ultimate Cuba packing list to follow so you are ready for any excursion you may do and any weather you may experience.
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Cuba is a beautiful country located in the Caribbean. It is located right where to Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean meet. Cuba has a very warm climate and this ultimate Cuba packing list will ensure you have everything you may need.
This guide will go over the most essential items for your Cuba packing list, what to bring to Cuba as gifts, a Cuba packing list for a week, a packing list for Cuba all-inclusive, a Cuba packing list for travel essentials, and much more.
This Cuba packing list will ensure you have everything you may need while in Cuba whether you’re in a resort, doing fun excursions, traveling around, or whatever it may be.
This post is all about the best Cuba packing list.
When heading to Cuba you need to make sure you have a proper Visa to enter the country. Everyone entering Cuba for a vacation will need to have a Tourist Visa upon entering the country including American travelers, Canadian travelers, European travelers, etc. This Tourist Visa is usually valid for up to 90 days. You can get this Cuba Tourist Visa from many places including online, from the airline when arriving at the airport, from your travel agency when you book your holiday, or from the Cuban Embassy in your country. Also, make sure you have travel insurance before heading to Cuba.
This is the number one travel essential everyone needs. It is so important to have a good quality suitcase that has lots of space, has a lock, and is super durable. This Coolife Luggage 3 Piece Suitcase Set is truly the best. It has a hard shell to keep your items safe without damage, spinner wheels that make it super easy and smooth to roll around in all directions, and is super lightweight which is so important.
This amazing luggage set comes in 3-piece and 4-piece sets of all different colors which is great. It also has a 2-year warranty. This is one of the best suitcases I have ever had.
This lightweight backpack is perfect to wear on your Cuba vacation. It carries 10L-15L and is the perfect day bag to use when going on excursions. It easily fits sunscreen, a water bottle, a portable charger, and other items you may need. When not in use it also folds up super compact to throw in your luggage. It is also very comfortable to wear and comes in many different colors.
Keeping organized while traveling will make your life so much easier. This BAGAIL 8-piece Packing Cube Set is the second most important travel accessory after the perfect luggage. Packing cubes make packing a lot easier because they help you stay organized throughout your trip. I like to separate all my items by clothing type like bottoms, tops, undergarments, socks, bathing suits, etc. Another way to use packing cubes is to separate your clothing by day and pack each outfit in a separate cube for that day.
These BAGAIL Packing Cubes come in many colors and have a zipper closure. The set contains all different sizes which is great. They are super durable and some have a mesh top that allows for ventilation. There is also a handle on the bigger cubes for easy access and you can take them out and carry them if needed. By using packing cubes you will save so much space in your luggage and they will help you stay organized.
Sunscreen is an absolute must when traveling to Cuba. This Neutrogena Sunscreen is a fan favorite because it has 70 Broad Spectrum SPF, it is lightweight, waterproof, non-greasy, and can be used all over. It is important to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours while in the Cuban sun or after getting out of the pool or ocean.
This is something not everyone will think is necessary in Cuba, but Insect Repellent is a must when heading to Cuba. Cuba has lots of mosquitos and bugs around during the day and night. Before heading to the beach a good idea would be to apply some bug spray because the sand is filled with little bugs that can bite. Also at night, it is super helpful to have some bug spray on for all the mosquitoes to come out after dark.
This reusable filtered water bottle is amazing. It safely purifies and cleans your water wherever you are in the world and makes it safe for drinking. Cuba is known to have bad drinking water so this water bottle is an absolute must for Cuba.
This Yeti Tumbler is great to bring to Cuba especially if you are staying at an all-inclusive resort. It is insulated with a twist-off lid making it leakproof as well. Hold drinks cold for hours. This is great to have with you in the pool or on the beach for all your drinks. These tumblers are much bigger than the cups they give you at the all-inclusive resorts and this will definitely keep them cooler all day long, meaning fewer trips to the bar and more time to have fun, relax, and enjoy.
Cuba is a country that may not have some essentials you may need like first aid and medicine. These are some essentials you need to bring with you when heading to Cuba:
Books are great to bring with you on your vacation to Cuba. A lot of people enjoy reading while lounging by the pool or relaxing at the beach. You could also bring an Amazon Kindle which is an e-reader so you can have multiple books downloaded and it is much easier to carry than books.
This is the best power bank/ portable charger for traveling. This 3-in-1 Cable Battery Pack is one of a kind. It allows you to charge different devices all with the same interchangeable charger. It has a micro USB, USB-C, and Lightning connectors attached.
I love to have headphones with me all the time when traveling, especially when traveling to beach destinations. They are perfect and compact for use when you lounging by the pool or at the beach. They are great for listening to music, directions, podcasts, watching shows, etc. These Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are a fan favorite. These come with a charging case, they are super comfortable to wear, and have great volume controls.
This JBL Portable Speaker is great for a vacation. It has a clip that can be clipped onto any bag, is super lightweight, is waterproof, and comes in many different colors. Great for listening to music if you’re getting ready in your room or perfect to bring to the pool or beach.
The best action camera ever. The GoPro HERO12 offers amazing 5k videos and quality photos. This camera is very durable and waterproof which is great for those looking to capture all your amazing adventures. It is very lightweight with lots of power. A great idea would be to get protective housing for the GoPro to help keep it safe from dents, dust, and debris. Cuba has some of the world’s best and clearest beaches and getting underwater photos with a GoPro is a must. You could also get this GoPro Accessories Kit that comes with a floating hand grip, selfie stick, and more.
It is always good to have a microfibre towel while traveling. This microfibre towel is a perfect size to bring on excursions in Cuba as it folds up to fit in its pouch very easily. This towel also dries super quickly which is why it’s important to make sure it is microfibre. Also super convenient if you’re going to a beach or pool since it is very easy and light to carry, unlike a regular bulky beach towel.
These polarized sunglasses are a must when heading to Cuba. Cuba has very strong sun which is why it is very important to bring a pair of sunglasses with UV protection. I also like to carry an extra pair in case I lose one in the ocean or if one pair breaks.
These antibacterial wipes are a must for all vacations. They are great to use on the plane, to sanitize your table tops at the resort or in the rooms, great for quickly wiping dirty hands, and much more. They come in small packs so they are very easy to carry and throw in a bag.
A unique travel accessory that will come in handy is a hat clip. This is great if you are traveling with a stylish hat and don’t want it to get crushed or ruined in your bag. It has strong magnets that clip right onto your bag holding your hat in place.
When headed to your beach vacation to Cuba these towel clips are a must. The worst is when you’re trying to get situated on a lawn chair and your towel keeps blowing off. These clips will keep your towel in place and keep it from flying away if you are not sitting on it.
Cuba has a tropical warm climate and here are some essentials you need to bring with you:
These are all the essential toiletry items you will need on your Cuba Packing List:
Snacks are a must to bring to Cuba. In Cuba, there are no grocery stores where you can stop and get food so it is very important to bring your own. Many people like to bring their own chips to snack on especially Pringles since they don’t crush in your suitcase, granola bars, protein bars, candies, etc.
Cuba is a very poor country and they thrive on their tourism industry. A lot of people like to bring little items of appreciation for the staff at the resort. Some people leave money, others like to bring gently used clothing and accessories since they don’t have many options for clothing or stores. Even hygiene products are greatly appreciated like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, soap, etc. These items can make a huge difference for Cubans and their families and they are much appreciated.
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