What to Pack for Cuba

By globedrifters Uncategorized

What to Pack for Cuba

What should you pack for your trip to Cuba? It’s a pretty straightforward affair, but the best advice we can give you is to pack everything you need and double of the necessities! This is because there’s an extreme lack of products in Cuba so getting anything you forgot to pack or anything that you lose or break will be very difficult. This blog is your complete guide on what to pack for Cuba!


How’s the Weather in Cuba?

The weather in Cuba is warm to hot year-round. Average nighttime temperatures are always cooler than those in the daytime and it’s important to have an umbrella or poncho for rain at any time of the year. Tropical weather can be very unpredictable! Winter months will have the occasional cold front and temperatures can drop into the 50s °F. The winter months (November – March) do not coincide with hurricane season and there’s a small amount of rainfall which makes it an ideal time to travel to Cuba. 

weather in cuba

Monthly average highs and lows in Cuba

What are the Outlets Like in Cuba?

The outlets in Cuba are equipped with 110v electricity. If you have appliances from the US, you will not usually need an adapter or converter. Otherwise, you will need adapters and/or converters for your rechargeable electronics.

outlets in cuba

This is what most electrical outlets look like in Cuba

What to Pack for Cuba

Wondering what to pack for your trip to Cuba? Our advice is to pack everything you’ll need and double of the necessities. Finding phone chargers, shampoo, conditioner, bandages, aspirin, socks, and pretty much everything else in between is hard to find in Cuba. If you can find it, it is very expensive. That’s why it’s best to pack everything you think you’ll need. If you have any extras, you can leave them behind as gifts for the Cuban people.

Below is a list of items that we recommend our 9-day trips travelers bring with them to make your trip more comfortable:

  • Sunglasses/hat
  • Flashlight/headlamp (for possible power outages)
  • Light jacket
  • Bathing suit
  • Comfortable walking shoes (with good ankle support and tread)
  • Flip flops/sandals
  • Mosquito repellent (DEET strength) 
  • Sunscreen (biodegradable, if possible)
  • Small, secure across-the-shoulder day bag or backpack
  • Any prescription medication and over-the-counter medicine
  • Shampoo/conditioner/soap  (casa particulares don’t always offer)
  • Hair dryer (if needed)
  • Snacks for the road
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Rechargeable phone batteries (fully charged in case of power outages)

For the winter months, it’s best to bring a sweater and/or scarf and jacket for the occasional cold front. Also, it’s a good idea to bring 1 – 2 pairs of jeans/pants for those cooler days or nights.

Please note that power outages are increasingly common in Cuba. They’re typically only for a few hours, but we very strongly recommend bringing a headlamp/flashlight and fully charged, rechargeable batteries for your cell phones.

What to Wear in Cuba

Anything goes in Cuba and you can wear pretty much anything. You’ll see Cuban men and women wearing all types of Western-style clothing and the young people try their best to keep up with the current trends. We recommend lightweight clothing that dries quickly.

small group having fun in cuba at la guarida in havana

Anything goes in Cuba so pack comfortable clothes and lightly!

Support for the Cuban People

In Cuba, most people lack access to a lot of the things that we would consider basic necessities. Most of you, including travelers on our 9-day trip, will visit Cuba under the OFAC category “Support for the Cuban People”. Your trip is a great opportunity to bring some small things that could make a big difference and help the Cuban people.

Read more about what kinds of gifts you can bring for the Cuban people in our blog.


As long as you keep these things in mind while traveling in Cuba, you’ll have a wonderful adventure with memories that will last a lifetime! Happy travels!