“Can I go to Cuba?”
Belief: Americans can’t go to Cuba.
Fact or Myth: Myth
Americans can go to Cuba. It’s not easy, but they can. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is the agency which regulates travel to Cuba, and as such reserves the right to grant a “travel license” to those who qualify for one. If you think you’re eligible for one, then contact OFAC and cross your fingers, because the process of getting a license always promises to be a long and exhausting one.
Now, if you’re like most Americans and don’t qualify for an OFAC license, then I’d suggest an alternative route: a third country. Most people go through Mexico, though others have used Jamaica and Canada. Personally, I’ve found Mexico to be cheaper than the other countries, but as airfare fluctuates with the market’s demand, always check to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
So let’s say you decided to go through Mexico, which is the route I’ve used in the past. The first thing to do is to book your flight to Cancun, preferably from a city other than Miami. Why? Because customs officers at Miami International Airport are aware that people use Cancun to get to Cuba, and unlike at other airports, will screen more thoroughly any passenger coming from there. I’ve heard of Philadelphia officials being very lenient, as well as those from Las Vegas and Los Angeles (in case you live in the West Coast). As far as your ticket to Cuba goes, wait until you get to Cancun and then use either Cubana (Cuba), Mexicana (Mexico), or Copa (Panama). You may also book online or by phone, but this depends on the airline’s policy.
Keep in mind that when you arrive in Cancun your passport will be stamped. This is okay. What must not happen is that they stamp it when you leave Cancun to go to Cuba. (Usually asking is enough, but sometimes slipping a $20 bill under the glass window helps. I’ll leave that up to you.) The Cuban authorities will never stamp your passport, neither when you arrive nor when you leave. They welcome tourists, especially from the United States, mainly because it represents a way for them to outwit Washington. Upon return to Cancun, your passport will be stamped again. Basically, you’ll have to stamps showing you arrived in Cancun, but none showing you left. This can become problematic if 1) both “in” stamps are on the same page, and 2) your passport is pretty much blank except for those two stamps. If you were lucky to get the stamps in separate pages, or have traveled enough in the past and your many stamps make it very difficult for someone to pick up this small detail, you’re set. Should anybody ask about the two “in” stamps, don’t think it’s the end of the world. Just say you went on a day-trip to Belize, by car, and the authorities there didn’t stamp your passport.
As a final piece of advice, make sure you don’t bring back any souvenirs that say, or make reference to, Cuba. This can easily raise a flag. If anything, do what I did and carry a huge Mexican hat in your hand (those that mariachis use) as you go through the U.S. Customs. Certainly, this will erase any doubt that might have been cast upon your trip to Mexico.
