Is Cuba Safe to Travel to?

Is Cuba Safe to Travel to?

When you travel somewhere you’ve never been before, you probably feel a little nervous when you think about safety. So, is Cuba safe to travel to?

Did I pick a safe neighborhood? Will an airport taxi try to scam me? Am I going to be in danger as someone from out of town?

Typically, a good rule of thumb is to assume that you are slightly less safe than someone who lives locally, at least because you are more likely to get lost and don’t know what people/places to avoid. So no matter where you go, practice safe habits.

General Advice

Cuba is one of the safest places I’ve visited. Things like pick-pocketing and currency scams happen everywhere, but they aren’t any more common here than in other places.

Poverty

Poverty is fairly low in Cuba, which also contributes to a low crime rate. Although average wages are very low compared to other parts of the world, food, education, and healthcare are all subsidized by the government, and housing costs are minimal.

That leads to a lot of people without many material luxuries, but who are educated and healthy. Homelessness is practically nonexistent, and no one goes into debt from purchasing insulin.

Typically, when Cuban people have to go without something, such as gas for their cars, it’s because of a trade embargo or something similar. The economy recently took a hit when the US banned its citizens from taking cruises to Cuba, for example.

Laws

Gun control laws are extremely strict, which adds a layer of safety. In fact, Cuban police officers don’t get guns until they’ve had a few years of experience on the job.

Anti-drug laws are also very strict. Do not bring marijuana or other illegal substances into Cuba, and do not seek them out while you’re there. Going to jail is never fun, especially in another country. Seriously, the Cuban government is not tolerant of drug usage.

Drinking Water

Tourists should avoid drinking tap water and opt for bottled instead. This goes for restaurants as well as wherever you’re staying.

Pro tip: Even if you travel to a place with safe to drink tap water, I recommend diluting it with bottled water for a few days so your body can adjust to the different minerals in the water.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is completely legal and relatively safe. Getting into a car with strangers always carries some risk, but in places where hitchhiking is a common part of the culture it tends to be safer. Cuban people participate frequently.

In fact, in rural areas there are places where government officials facilitate hitchhiking locations. Finding a ride can take a while, but for less than a dollar toward gas money you can get where you need to go.

More Specific

While many general safety tips apply to everyone, being part of a minoritized group can make you a target for various crimes. Here’s how safe Cuba is for different types of people:

Women

As a woman, I felt extremely safe in Cuba. Even when walking places alone or at night.

Of course, no place is perfect, and catcalling is fairly common in Cuba. Just like most places, walking with a male companion makes you less of a target for unsolicited comments. (Annoying, but true). Sexual assault statistics show that it occurs less often than in many other countries, such as the US, but it still occurs.

My personal experiences in Cuba were overwhelmingly positive. Conversations I’ve had with other women who visited or live in Cuba go along with what I’ve experienced.

One thing to bear in mind is that Cuba, like much of Latin America, puts less of an emphasis on personal space than travelers from some countries might be used to. Someone standing closer to you than you’d normally be comfortable with (or dancing too close in the club) is rarely meant to be creepy.

Still, there’s nothing wrong with asking for a little distance if you are uncomfortable. Even though it’s a cultural norm, you have a right to space if you want it. Just be polite and make it clear that this is what you’re used to, and that you don’t intend to offend the person you’re speaking to. If your gut is telling you it’s more than a cultural difference, respect that and leave the situation.

Racial Minorities

Cuba is extremely tolerant of diverse people. Interracial marriages are fairly common and accepted, and few people identify by their race; instead, they are simply Cuban.

Our tour guide, Ana, who had pretty light skin, explained that her grandmother was black. “That’s why I have curly hair.” She said that most people were a mixture of multiple races, and that made them overall fairly tolerant.

My boyfriend, a black American man, says that Havana is the first place he’s visited where he didn’t feel constantly aware of his race. He didn’t notice any microaggressions, and everyone intermingled with each other.

In the US, and other places, it’s common to see groups that are fairly homogenous out and about. A group of black friends, or white or hispanic friends. There are some groups of people out and about with more diversity, but there’s a very subtle segregation that often happens subconsciously. It wasn’t something I even noticed until I spent a few days in a place where that didn’t happen.

Of course, no place is perfect. Although present-day Cuba does not have some of the racial problems of the United States – racially motivated police brutality, or loud and proud white supremacists, for example – it still has room to improve.

When we asked Ana for examples of places racism still exists, she said that there are some subtle places to find it. One example is that dark-skinned people are rarely cast in major roles in movies and tv shows.

While there are a few problem areas, overall Cuba has very positive views on diversity.

Is it safe for LGBTQ+ in Cuba?

Cuba has historically had a negative view regarding homosexuality, but things have been improving since the 1990’s. While it is illegal to discriminate based on gender or sexual orientation, gay marriage is not currently legal. A new family planning bill may change that in the near future, but it is uncertain if or when that will happen.

Public opinion is relatively tolerant of homosexuality and transgenderism, but it is always best to err on the side of caution. Discrimination still exists even in areas where it is less common.

There have been some recent victories in terms of representation. For example, a somewhat recent state-run television series La Otra Cara De La Luna (The Other Face of the Moon) featured a gay main character.

Fidel Castro, who spent most of his career standing against homosexuality, expressed deep regret for his discrimination toward the end of his life. In his autobiography, as well as several speeches, he apologized and took responsibility for the intolerance. This was an important step in affecting public opinions.

In 2012, Adela Hernandez made history as the first known transgender person to hold public office in Cuba. This was a huge victory after her experience in the 1980s, when she spent two years in prison because existing as a trans woman was considered a violation of public decency.

People with Disabilities

Historically, Cuba has been pretty forward-thinking when it comes to disability rights. Services for people with disabilities in the country are a free part of healthcare, and numerous organizations advocate for awareness and education.

While in the country, you can reach out to the Asociación Cubana de Limitados Físicos-Motores (The Cuban Disabled Association) for assistance and resources. It’s located at Calle 6 no. 106, between Avenidas 1 and 3, Miramar, Havana. Its phone number is 7/209-3099 and its website is www.aclifim.sld.cu.

Overall, Cuba is very safe to visit. Learn about cultural difference and take basic precautions, and you should feel pretty safe.