21/06/2019
All Cuba Havana Tours programs to Cuba which were booked prior to June 5, 2019, will operate under the grandfather provision under the new rules. All tours that aren’t grandfathered will be updated to comply with the rules of other applicable licenses, including “Support for the Cuban People.”
Cuba Havana Tours has successfully operated fully compliant legal tours for U.S. citizens since 2011, and before that we escorted religious groups, Scholars & University Students and we look forward to continuing to do so under the new rules.
From salsa dancing beneath the night sky in Havana and the sweet and earthy smell of hand-rolled ci**rs to colorfully painted casas and the bright smiles (and wardrobe!) of warm and welcoming locals—experiencing the authentic side of Cuba is a bucket list item every traveler should check off!
Since President Obama opened the door to legal travel for US citizens in 2011, we've facilitated dynamic people-to-people experiences for travelers to this relatively untapped destination. Just 90 miles from US soil, travel to Cuba is easier than ever! Our value-packed Cuba tours have been in high demand, and we've helped thousands of delighted travelers discover this once forbidden island! Experience the rich culture of indigenous, African and European roots. Meet artists in their Old Havana studios, Afro-Cubans in Spanish Colonial Trinidad, and agriculturists at a "coincidental" farm in Cardenas.
We're proud to be one of the first U.S. tour companies to have been awarded a People-to-People license for Cuba travel, way back in September, 2011. Since then, we've sent thousands of American travelers to Cuba to participate in unique, inspiring, and affordable encounters with the Cuban people.
Cuba Havana Tours is an authorized sponsor of People to People travel to Cuba in accordance with the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) section, 1 C.F.R. § 515.565(b) People to People Travel. Cuba Havana Tours travel will start to facilitated the dynamic legal travel to Cuba under § 515.574 Support for the Cuban People.
§515.574 Support for the Cuban People.
(a) General license. The travel-related transactions set forth in §515.560(c) and other transactions that are intended to provide support for the Cuban people are authorized, provided that:
(1) The activities are of:
(i) Recognized human rights organizations;
(ii) Independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy; or
(iii) Individuals and non-governmental organizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba; and
(2) Each traveler engages in a full-time schedule of activities that:
(i) Enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities; and
(ii) Result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba.
(3) The traveler's schedule of activities does not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule.
Note 1 to paragraph (a): Each person relying on the general authorization in this paragraph must retain specific records related to the authorized travel transactions. See §§501.601 and 501.602 of this chapter for applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Note 2 to paragraph (a): Staying in a room at a rented accommodation in a private Cuban residence (casa particular), eating at privately-owned Cuban restaurants (paladares), and shopping at privately-owned stores run by self-employed Cubans (cuentapropista) are examples of activities that qualify for this general license. However, in order to meet the requirement for a full-time schedule, a traveler must engage in additional authorized Support for the Cuban People activities.
(b) An entire group does not qualify for the general license in paragraph (a) of this section merely because some members of the group qualify individually.
(c) Certain direct financial transactions restricted. Nothing in paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section authorizes a direct financial transaction prohibited by §515.209, with the exception of transactions on behalf of a non-governmental organization.
(d) Specific licenses. Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis authorizing the travel-related transactions set forth in §515.560(c) and such other transactions as are related to support for the Cuban people that do not qualify for the general license under paragraph (a) of this section.
Example 1 to §515.574: An individual plans to travel to Cuba, stay in a room at a rented accommodation in a private Cuban residence (casa particular), eat at privately-owned Cuban restaurants (paladares), and shop at privately-owned stores run by self-employed Cubans (cuentapropista) during his or her four-day trip. While at the casa particular, the individual will have breakfast each morning with the Cuban host and engage with the Cuban host to learn about Cuban culture. In addition, the traveler will complete his or her full-time schedule by supporting Cuban entrepreneurs launching their privately-owned businesses. The traveler's activities promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba. Because the individual's qualifying activities are not limited to staying in a room at a rented accommodation in a private Cuban residence (casa particular), eating at privately-owned Cuban
Restaurants (paladares), and shopping at privately owned stores run by self-employed Cubans (cuentapropista) and the traveler maintains a full-time schedule that enhances contact with the Cuban
people, supports civil society in Cuba, and promotes the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities, and that results in meaningful interaction between the traveler and Cuban individuals, the individual's travel qualifies for the general license.
Example 2 to §515.574: A group of friends plans to travel and maintain a full-time schedule throughout their trip by volunteering with a recognized non-governmental organization to build a school for underserved Cuban children with the local community. In their free time, the travelers plan to rent bicycles to explore the streets of Havana and visit an art museum. The travelers' trip would qualify for the general license because the volunteer activities promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba and constitute a full-time schedule that enhances contact with the
Cuban people and supports civil society in Cuba, and results in meaningful interaction between the travelers and individuals in Cuba.
Example 3 to §515.574: An individual plans to travel to Cuba, rent a bicycle to explore the neighborhoods and beaches, and engage in brief exchanges with local beach vendors. The individual intends to stay at a hotel that does not appear on the Cuba Restricted List (see §515.209). The traveler's trip does not qualify for this general license because none of these activities promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba.