How to Travel to Cuba Alone With Trump’s New Rules
Since Trump limited travel to Cuba in November, you can assume that US citizens are once again barred from visiting Cuba, but that is simply not true. The rules, of course, have become a little stricter, but you can still follow in Hemingway’s footsteps, even if you are walking alone.
What changed
In 2014, the Obama administration made it possible to visit Cuba if you fall into one of twelve specific categories ( you can read more about this here ). Basically, you didn’t have to apply for a license ahead of time, but you did have to prove that you truly belong to one of these categories. The most popular of these categories was travel, known as “people-to-people learning,” which involved daily “learning,” whether in a group or on its own. I visited Cuba last August with a group tour that fit the bill. (It was delicious!)
On November 9, 2017, the Trump administration changed the rules for US citizens traveling to Cuba and closed the loophole. You can now only travel between people in a group with a designated guide who can schedule all educational activities. In accordance with OFAC directives, individual travel within the human-to-human category is no longer permitted. So what’s an adventurer to do?
How to travel to Cuba alone
If travel between people is prohibited, you need to find another category that you can fall into. Enter the category “support for the Cuban people”, which includes “individuals and non-governmental organizations that promote independent action to strengthen civil society”. society in Cuba ”. According to Janet Moore , owner of Distant Horizons , a company that helps many travelers get to Cuba, this category has plenty of wiggle room under OFAC rules.
For this to work, you must have a full-time schedule (no beach breaks) and everything you do must “lead to constructive interaction with people in Cuba,” but that is technically legal. Moore tells the Los Angeles Times that you can easily meet the demands of “supporting the Cuban people” by using the private services they offer, hiring guides and experts to take you on walking tours, listen to lectures, see a private music group, dine at a private restaurant and hire private licensed drivers to suit you. You can also make your trip charity by bringing gifts such as medicine, hygiene products, and sports equipment (they love baseball) and then give these things away wherever you go.
But here’s the tricky part: It’s very important that you write down your schedule well, keep all your receipts, and can provide some evidence that you actually did what you promised on your trip. On top of that, you need to keep these records for at least five years in case you need to answer any questions in the future. This makes it difficult to travel to Cuba alone, but at least it is possible, albeit a little risky for the disorganized.
Or just sign up for a tour
If taking responsibility for the entire trip and keeping careful records doesn’t sound like what you’re aiming for, you might be better off joining a group of excursions. These organizations can get you there legally and safely:
You can also check out the packages offered by the various cruise lines. With all of these options, any time you spend in Cuba will be exclusively on a guided tour, but better than nothing.