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Photos: Fotos Habana
While it’s still challenging to travel legally, President Obama has eased some of the restrictions and opened up some opportunities. Having just returned from the island, I can attest that the process involves months of planning, tons of paperwork, and plenty of waiting around. But it’s a worthy process for those who are concerned about traveling illegally through a third country and facing the possibility of a hefty fine upon return.
The first thing to know about legal travel to Cuba is that there are two licenses: a general license and a specific license. Traveling under general license is the easiest because you don’t have to ask the government for permission, but you can be asked for documented proof from your trip that shows you traveled under that category.
An extensive list of travel categories is available on the Marazul, Global Exchange, and the Center For Cuban Studies.
Some of the categories for legal travel to Cuba are:
Family Visits: This falls under general license.
Professional Research or Attendance at a Conference: This is a general license available to full time professionals provided they spend the majority of their time in Cuba conducting research. This can involve site visits, attending lectures, and other academic endeavors.
The majority of group travel opportunities fall under this category. Some examples of current opportunities are “Reality Tours” that explore everything from alternative healing to music offered by Global Exchange, and a teacher’s delegation being put together through the Center for Cuban Studies.
Journalists: Full-time journalists that work for a news gathering organization can travel to Cuba under general license. Freelancers writing articles on Cuba can obtain a specific license provided they have a publication history.
Study Abroad: Specific Licenses are granted for undergraduate and graduate study abroad programs lasting longer than ten weeks. There are a multitude of American universities currently offering programs in Cuba. Presbyterian College’s program is available to students from any university.
Humanitarian Projects: Under a specific license, groups can take donations and engage in humanitarian trips. Most of these trips are carried out by religious groups such as the Cuba-America Jewish Mission, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, and several others. The Cuba AIDS Project also takes small groups interested in HIV/AIDS outreach.
It’s unfortunate that a decades long political battle deters Americans from visiting Cuba, because there is so much to be learned on both sides from an interaction between Americans and Cubans. Jumping the hoops to travel legally might be worth it for interaction with a place most Americans see only through the media.
Gabriela Garcia
Gabriela Garcia is a freelance writer who splits her time between New York, Miami, and, as often as possible, the world. In between pondering the universe, she enjoys Jivamukti yoga, camping, and chance encounters with fascinating people. She loves interacting with fellow travelers on Twitter.
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[...] Current Location: Charlestown, MA, now better known as “The Bank Robbery Capitol of America” (Thanks a lot Ben Afleck!) Day Job: I work for a program of the city of Boston which promotes school readiness among low-income families with children 0-5. Media: Freelance writer (fiction, creative non-fiction) and Editorial Assistant at Fringe Magazine Traveling Next: Peru, Mexico, Guatemala Passions and Current Projects: Urban gardening, spicy food, brokering peace between Townies and Toonies, learning to shoot with my Canon Rebel XSI, cheesy Spanish music In 5 Years I’d Like to: Have a book published, get paid to travel, start a family Interesting Fact: I have worked illegally in Mexico and traveled legally to Cuba. [...]
I am a veteran teacher seeking the opportunity to visit Cuba. This has been my lifetime dream to meet castro his brother Rual. I want to visit the sugar plantations, and enjoy all its history. How can I visit legally this summer 2011?
lifetime dream?? meet the people whose live were affected by those monsters first..oh & I am so sure you wont even meet the Castros or even be in same province
They are dictators who would love nothing more than kill Americans. AND WHY DO YOU THINK CUBANS FLEE THAT COUNTRY TO COME HERE? IT’S BECAUSE OF THE CASTRO’S THAT YOU SEEM TO IDOLIZE!!! AND YOU ARE A TEACHER? GLAD MY KIDS WERE NEVER TAUGHT BY YOU. Cuba is a beautiful country but to say your life time dream is to meet those two. You need to see a shrink because that is just totally messed up.
Ignorantes todos jajajajajajaja!!!!!!!!
My husband and I have considered booking a cruise with Happy Cruise Lines. Our embarkation choices are Cancun and Havana. Even if we embark in Cancun, one of the ports the ship stops at is in Havana, Cuba. The ship would be there about 2 days and we would want to get off the ship and look around. As Americans, are we permitted to even take this cruise, and if so, what paperwork would we need besides passports? Thank you.
Thanks for the information. By the way, your “Center for Cuban Studies” link doesn’t appear to work.
Study abroad in Cuba has to be hosted by an American institution or can you directly enroll in Cuban schools to study? Or can Americans study at the University of Havana on their own, for example?
lifetime dream?? meet the people whose live were affected by those monsters first..oh & I am so sure you wont even meet the Castros or even be in same province