Cuba is slowly opening up to Americans. Contrary to popular belief, Americans can go to Cuba and do so legally. I’ve asked fellow blogger and Cheesehead Heidi Siefkas (aka Ms Traveling Pants) to give an overview for how Americans can travel to Cuba and why they may want to consider doing so now. Take it away Heidi…..
When I told my friends and family that I travel to Cuba, I receive many questions, all with puzzled looks. Many ask if it is legal. Others ask if it is safe. Others wonder why travel to Cuba at all. Having five trips under my belt this year alone as a tour director and four more trips this fall, I have fallen in love with Cuba, its people, and cultural richness. Although Cuba is not on the traditional traveler’s radar, I would like to share with you how you too can travel to Cuba. So here’s the skinny on legal travel to Cuba, how it’s done, and why you should travel to Cuba and NOW.
How can Americans travel legally to Cuba?
First, let’s get the truth out there. Cuba doesn’t prohibit Americans from traveling to Cuba. It is the U.S. government that limits travel to Cuba. Per the Treasury Department, Americans can travel to Cuba with a license from its Office of Foreign Asset Control.
So if you want to travel to Cuba, how do you get one of these precious licenses to travel to the forbidden fruit of the Caribbean? There are three legal ways to travel to Cuba. Since many of the readers here will not fit into the fairly limited categories of journalist, full-time academic or research professional, or a person on official governmental business, I’ll skip to the way most Americans who want to experience traveling to Cuba can choose.