This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Regulations can change; we keep our operating practices aligned with published OFAC guidance and counsel our guests accordingly.
The short version
Most Cuba 360 guests from the United States travel under the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) general license category commonly referred to as Support for the Cuban People (515.574). Our itineraries are built as full-time, meaningful programs—not unstructured tourism—and we document that structure for you.
You book a defined tour with scheduled activities, licensed local guides, and private-group logistics. We provide the itinerary framework, traveler declarations, and compliance-oriented records that align your trip with the license category we operate under.
Support for the Cuban People — what it means in practice
Under this general license, travel must include a full-time schedule of activities that support civil society in Cuba and result in meaningful interaction with Cuban people. Cuba 360 programs combine expert-led cultural and natural-history experiences, stays in private accommodations (casas particulares) where applicable, and engagement with independent Cuban guides and specialists.
Our small-group, private, and birding expeditions are designed so that your days are accounted for: transfers, field time, local meals where the itinerary specifies them, and educational components—not open-ended resort-style stays.
- Structured day-by-day itineraries you receive before travel
- Licensed Cuban guides and specialists on the ground
- Private accommodations and transport as described in your tour PDF
- Activities that emphasize interaction with Cuban people and places
Why our tours are structured this way
Whether you join a fixed-departure small-group tour, a private curated route, or a bespoke birding expedition, the same principle applies: you are purchasing a defined travel product with documented activities, not an open “week in Havana” with no program.
Birding itineraries add long field days, habitat access, and specialist guides—still within the same licensed framework when booked as part of our tour package. Equipment customs and domestic flights are coordinated as part of your logistics brief.
Documentation we provide
After you confirm, our team assembles a travel kit tailored to your booking. Contents vary by product, but typically include:
- Authorized itinerary summary matching your tour dates
- Traveler declaration and license-category guidance for US guests
- Visa / Cuban Tourist Card processing support where applicable
- Emergency contacts and on-the-ground coordinator details
- Receipts and records that support your compliance file
Visa, flights, and entry
US travelers generally need the standard Cuban Tourist Card (often arranged through your airline or our team, depending on routing). We walk you through declaration steps during booking—no separate “special” visa category is required for most leisure travelers on our programs.
Major US carriers operate scheduled service to Havana from hubs including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Houston. We advise on routing that matches your tour start date and can help align domestic connections inside Cuba with your guide and vehicle plan.
Birding equipment & customs
Binoculars, spotting scopes, and professional camera gear are routinely carried by our birding guests. We advise on declarations and practical customs handling so you can focus on the field—not the bureaucracy.
Your role as the traveler
You participate in the program you booked, keep your itinerary accessible while traveling, and retain records we provide for your files. If you extend stays or add independent days beyond your tour, those days are your responsibility to align with applicable rules.
Questions about a specific departure, private dates, or a custom birding route are best handled through our contact form—we will confirm fit, timing, and documentation for your situation.