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Yes, actually many Americans travel to Cuba every year. Cuban government doesn’t put any restrictions to American citizens traveling to the island for tourism. On the other hand, though the US government doesn’t ban any American from traveling to Cuba, the US laws don’t allow Americans to spend money in Cuba. Of course, it is known that it is impossible not to spend money on food, accommodation and other kinds of necessary goods while traveling abroad.
Since American citizens are not allowed to spend money in Cuba, they are required to have a permission from the US Department of the Treasury to spend money during their stay in the island.
This permission or license is usually given to professional journalists involved in works related to Cuba issues, to those who are part of any academic research and to official government employees.
Another type of permission or license is given to American citizens who meet certain requirements, for example: students conducting academic research or taking certain courses from a study abroad program; teachers and professors who visit Cuba with teaching purposes; people involved in religious and humanitarian activities; freelance journalists and American citizens who travel to Cuba to visit their close relatives in the island.
It is not allowed for Americans to travel to Cuba for tourist purposes. However, many US citizens interested in tourism find a way to visit the island getting involved in cultural, educational and religious programs.
Fortunately, there are many organized tours designed for people who want to visit Cuba with particular aims. Many of these tours involve educational programs for people who want to study particular issues and aspects of Cuban life, its society and culture.
This is one of the best ways many American citizens have found to visit the island. Although these tours are organized on the basis of education programs, people involved in them usually enjoy a lot of free time for tourism and relaxation.
On the other hand, there are also many Americans visiting Cuba through a third country, usually Canada, Mexico or Bahamas. Of course, they also need a passport valid for at least 6 months from their arrival to Cuba.
As other tourists who visit this Caribbean island, they don't need a visa; they need a tourist card that can be obtained at any Cuban Embassy, with a travel agency or at the airport upon their arrival to Cuba. Their passport is not stamped at the airport by Cuban authorities. They insert a page in tourists’ passports that is stamped and should be preserved until they leave Cuba.
Cuba's national airline is Cubana de Aviación, and it offers direct flights from Toronto to Havana and Toronto-Varadero which is usually a great way for Americans to travel to the island. There are different Mexican airlines that operate flights directly from Mexico City to Cuba. The Cuban airline also offers flights from Mexico City twice a week and from Cancun daily. There are direct flights Nassau-Havana from the Bahamas that are one of the most popular ways among Americans to visit Cuba. There are also several airlines that offer direct flights to Cuba from Europe.
It is also important for American citizens to know that they are allowed to carry different kinds of items when coming back to US, like CDs, books, artworks etc. but nothing with the words “Hecho en Cuba” (Made in Cuba). Having any item with this characteristic could bring you a lot of problems when you go back to your country. It is also illegal to bring Cuban cigars or spirits to the US because of the American embargo against Cuba which regulates introduction of any Cuban product to the US.
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