About Humanitarian Supplies
The Cuban people as a whole are more in need than any other time in history. The 60-year old embargo has inflicted a lot of hurt on the economy, but since Covid, inflation has increased 4-6 times and there is a scarcity for basic supplies.
Consider bringing a few supplies from this humanitarian list.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3CUZEME6490YB?ref_=wl_share
Top needs right now are OTC medicine and powdered milk as well as toiletries, laundry pods.
Currently you can bring one humanitarian bag per passenger designated solely as supplies IF it contains only:
- food
- medicine
- toiletries
Traveling with Supplies
The Cuban Authorities are allowing baggage with supplies of food, toiletries and medicines, free from the payment of tariffs. Authorities reiterated that for the enjoyment of this benefit, it is a requirement that such products are separated, in the accompanied baggage, from articles of other nature. If you pack other personal items or dive gear in with it, then it’s technically not designated as a humanitarian supply bag. This can be unpredictable though. So if traveling in a group, you can always pull your supplies and share one bag if in doubt.
If you’re bringing gift items other than food, toiletries or medicine, then do not put too many of one item in one bag or you may get delayed in Customs. For example, if you bring pens and markers, spread them out amongst each bag and others traveling in your group.
Donating Essential Items
You’ll meet friendly Cubans wherever you go and Cuba Scuba helps local pastors and residents too. You can donate useful essential items – order off of Amazon list
- Ibuprofen/ Tylenol pain relievers
- Rechargeable Batteries & charger
- Solar power banks
- Bandaids
- Powdered Milk. Learn about the milk shortage.
- Coffee
- Over the counter medicine of all kinds cold, allergy)
- Laundry detergent pods (Alex’s wife loves these)
- Seasoning & spices (oregano, pepper, goya packets). Need to be in original packaging/container.
- Shower Gel, Soap + Deodorant
- Dried meats
- Packets of gum
- Snacks of any kind
- Razors & razor blades
- Reading glasses (generic)
- Tea bags
- Spice packets (like goya)
- Electrolyte / Gatorade packets
- New dish towels & dish scrubbing brush
- Notepads & pens, paper is a rarity!
- Crisco vegetable shortening (cooking oil is so hard to find in Cuba)
- Any type electronics (used laptop, cell phone, dive computer, watch, dive gear)
- Any hats or shirts with the name of your home state/city (they LOVE this!)
- New underwear – YES, REALLY!
It’s a thing. - USB thumb drives with american tv shows / music. Tony, Our Guide’s mother LOVES shows like The Voice, American Idol, old movies.
Being Approached on the Street
You might be approached in Havana (mainly downtown old Havana). Please do not hand out gifts or cash to beggars on the street. Cubans whom you haven’t met have increasingly come up to visitors and asked for stuff just because you’re a foreigner. We discourage this behavior – as does the Cuban government. Rather, look for those who are working (selling peanuts, newspapers, or making music, etc and seek to bless them buy making a small purchase).
Related
Explore more hidden gems and can’t-miss experiences from this region of Cuba.
Clearing Customs
Boarding Pass
Customs Declaration Form
Visas and QR Codes