Curated Cultural Experiences
It is indeed disappointing and disturbing that the Trump administration has tightened restrictions on Cuba Travel for US citizens/residents. These regulations -and other actions that the Trump administration has taken from 2016 until leaving office in January 2021- do nothing else than hurt the Cuban people and create chaos and confusion. However, traveling to Cuba is still legal under 11 authorized categories, or general licenses as they are called. The only travel category that was eliminated was the Educational, People-to-People Cultural Exchanges, which was used by many travelers and tour companies; government-owned hotels, restaurants, and services were put on a prohibited list, meaning that US citizens/residents were not allowed to patronize them; the US embassy and consulate were closed, forcing Cubans to travel to a third country to obtain a visa to visit the US. Likewise, in an 11th hour attempt to further instilling hardship on the Cuban people, then secretary of state Mike Pompeo unjustly added Cuba to the list of countries of state-sponsored terrorism.
However, Americans can still travel to Cuba under the Support for the Cuban People category, which has not been eliminated. This travel category specifies that travelers must stay at private hotels/residences, dine at private restaurants, use private transportation, patronize shops and businesses of Cuban entrepreneurs (cuentapropistas), and have a full-schedule of activities that promote meaningful exchanges between Cubans and Americans. While unfortunately, cruises and flights on private jets were prohibited, commercial airlines continue to travel daily from the US to Havana - Flights to other destinations in Cuba have also been prohibited.
Please know that currently there are plenty of private lodging options at different price points, as well as small businesses run by Cuban cuentapropistas that American travelers can patronize. Notwithstanding, we remain hopeful that the Biden/Harris administration will revert back to Obama/Biden-like policies with regards to the US relationship with Cuba.
We continue to run our art and culture tours in support of the Cuban people, and encourage you to continue visiting Cuba either on your own or on one of our custom-curated tours. Cuba is a magical destination filled with a rich history, an abundance of culture, and some of the most friendly and resilient people you will ever meet. Cubans need to know that Americans are against these travel restrictions, want to normalize relations with Cuba, and will continue to support them.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Astrid Martinez
Director/Owner of Latin Art Space
However, Americans can still travel to Cuba under the Support for the Cuban People category, which has not been eliminated. This travel category specifies that travelers must stay at private hotels/residences, dine at private restaurants, use private transportation, patronize shops and businesses of Cuban entrepreneurs (cuentapropistas), and have a full-schedule of activities that promote meaningful exchanges between Cubans and Americans. While unfortunately, cruises and flights on private jets were prohibited, commercial airlines continue to travel daily from the US to Havana - Flights to other destinations in Cuba have also been prohibited.
Please know that currently there are plenty of private lodging options at different price points, as well as small businesses run by Cuban cuentapropistas that American travelers can patronize. Notwithstanding, we remain hopeful that the Biden/Harris administration will revert back to Obama/Biden-like policies with regards to the US relationship with Cuba.
We continue to run our art and culture tours in support of the Cuban people, and encourage you to continue visiting Cuba either on your own or on one of our custom-curated tours. Cuba is a magical destination filled with a rich history, an abundance of culture, and some of the most friendly and resilient people you will ever meet. Cubans need to know that Americans are against these travel restrictions, want to normalize relations with Cuba, and will continue to support them.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Astrid Martinez
Director/Owner of Latin Art Space