TRAVEL INFORMATION

FLIGHT BOOKINGS

Which Cuban Airport Should I Use?

We recommend you fly to Havana Airport (HAV), as this is where all of the ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Children & Young People will take place.

Sometimes, you may also find cheaper flights to Varadero Airport (VRA), which is approximately 120 km from Havana. Travel between the two cities can be made by bus or taxi but will often require an overnight stay in Matanzas if the flight arrives in the afternoon or evening.

If you decide to travel to other parts of Cuba after the event concludes, you could consider flying home using other international airports such as Varadero (VRA), Holguin (HOG), or Santiago de Cuba (SCU). Some airlines, such as Condor (DE), allow you to book your arrival and departure from different Cuban international airports without incurring extra cost.

How Can I Search For Flights To Cuba?

Travel search engines such as Google Flights are recommended. In some countries, other travel search engines such as Skyscanner.com or Kayak.com may not display Cuban destinations due to regulatory requirements.

Considering Sustainability

As an Association that advocates for the rights of children, we support the younger generations in their right to an environmentally sustainable future. We encourage all delegates to think of ways they might choose to prolong their stay to make the relative impact of travel emissions more meaningful. We encourage all delegates to carefully consider their travel methods. We encourage more sustainable modes of transport but recognise that air travel will be necessary for many.

However, you may choose to book a more direct routing for your journey (so you fly a lesser distance) or by using an aircraft with less emissions (search engines like Google Flights highlight itineraries with less carbon emissions than others).

To read more about ASSITEJ International’s Sustainability Policy, click here.

Transits & Immigration

Note that passport holders from certain countries may require visas to transit in an intermediary country where they are transiting. Please ensure you have the correct travel documents and contact the relevant Embassy and/or Government Department.

We recommend using online services like the IATA Travel Centre, TravelDoc, or Sherpa to check travel requirements.

How do I fly to Havana from (or via)…

...The Caribbean?

There are intra-Caribbean island flights offered by some airlines including: Bahamasair (UP) from Nassau (NAS), Caribbean Airlines (BW) from Port of Spain (POS), Cayman Airlines (KX) from Grand Cayman (GCM), and InterCaribbean Airways (JY) from Kingston (PIN) and Providenciales (KLS).

Unfortunately, there is little competition on these routes and airfares are often expensive. However, you can sometimes fly to Cuba via these island destinations on the same ticket using an airline codeshare (for example, if you book a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Nassau, you may get a connecting flight to Havana from Nassau.

...Latin & South America?

There are many options when flying from other parts of Latin & South America.

Aeroméxico (AM) from Mexico City (MEX), Copa Airlines (CM) from Panama City (PTY), LATAM Perú (LP) from Lima (LIM), Viva Aerobus from multuple Mexican cities (VB), and Wingo (P5) from Bogotá (BOG) and Medellín (MDE) all offer good options.

Many connecting flight options from cities around the world are made possible through Aeroméxico which is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Copa Airlines which is a member of Star Alliance, whilst LATAM Perú is a global carrier formally associated with the Oneworld Alliance.

...North America?

*Note: For more information about American passport holders and residents travelling to Cuba, see the dedicated section below.

Cuba is a popular tourist destination from Canada. There are no direct flights from Canada to Havana in the summer, but there are plenty of options if you use Varadero Airport (VRA) (approximately 120 km from Havana). You may choose to fly to Varadero (VRA) from Vancouver (YVR), Toronto (YYZ), or Montreal (YUL) with multiple airlines.

From the USA, there are multiple direct flights. These include with American Airlines (AA) from Miami (MIA), Delta (DL) from Miami (MIA), Southwest Airlines (WN) from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Tampa (TPA), and United (UA) from Houston (IAH).

Please note that unless you are an American passport holder OR hold an American visa, it is NOT POSSIBLE to fly home via the United States of America. This is because travellers who have visited Cuba are NOT ELIGIBLE to enter the USA under the ESTA Visa Waiver system.

Please note that unless you are an American passport holder OR hold an eligible American visa, it is NOT POSSIBLE to fly home via the United States of America. This is because travellers who have visited Cuba are NOT ELIGIBLE to enter the USA under the ESTA Visa Waiver system for a period of 11 years. It remains possible to enter the USA using an ESTA on your way TO Cuba, however, you will definitely be denied boarding if you are flying from Cuba to the USA with only an ESTA. A USA visa remains possible to obtain after travel to Cuba but it requires a longer application process.

...Europe?

Travellers coming from Europe have multiple options, including Air Europa (UX) from Madrid (MAD), Air France (AF) from Paris (CDG), Condor (DE) from Frankfurt (FRA), Edelweiss Air (WK) from Zürich (ZRH), Iberia (IB) from Madrid (MAD), Iberojet (E9) from Madrid (MAD), Neos (NO) from Milan (MXP) or Rome (FCO), Turkish Airlines (TK) from Istanbul (IST), and World2Fly (2W) from Madrid.

Some of the holiday charter-oriented airlines, such as Condor, Iberojet, Neos, or World2Fly do not always market their flights via travel search engines so it may be worth looking directly on their websites.

...Africa?

Although there are sometimes direct flights between Luanda and Havana, these do not operate during the summer months. For most travellers from Africa, flights via Europe will likely be the best option. Note that this may require a single or double Schengen Transit visa (depending on the country of your passport) or a sngle or double Turkish Transit visa if flying via Istanbul (depending on the country of your passport).

Note that the Turkish Airlines flight options via Istanbul may show long layovers. However, if the layover is over 6 hours, Turkish Airlines will provide a free tour of Istanbul (check their website for full terms and conditions). If it is over 12 hours, Turkish Airlines will provide a free stopover hotel (check their website for full terms and conditions).

Attendees from Southern African countries may also find the flights from Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT) to São Paulo with South African Airways (SA) or LATAM Brasil (JJ) useful in order to then connect to Havana.

...Asia?

The only direct flights from Asia to Havana are via Istanbul. Note that this may require a sngle or double Turkish Transit visa if flying via Istanbul (depending on the country of your passport). Note that the Turkish Airlines flight options via Istanbul may show long layovers. However, if the layover is over 6 hours, Turkish Airlines will provide a free tour of Istanbul (check their website for full terms and conditions). If it is over 12 hours, Turkish Airlines will provide a free stopover hotel (check their website for full terms and conditions).

You may also choose to fly via Oceania. From Sydney, you may fly via Santiago (SCL) with Qantas (QF) or LATAM Chile (LA). From Melbourne or Auckland, you may fly via Santiago with LATAM Chile (LA).

Finally, you may choose to fly through Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal. Note that there are no direct flights from Canada to Havana in the summer time but there are plenty of options if you use Varadero Airport (VRA) (approximately 120 km from Havana).

...Oceania?

From Sydney, you may fly via Santiago (SCL) with Qantas (QF) or LATAM Chile (LA). From Melbourne or Auckland, you may fly via Santiago with LATAM Chile (LA).

Flights are also possible via European hubs such as with Air Europa (UX) via Madrid (MAD), Air France (AF) via Paris (CDG), Lufthansa (LH) connecting onto Condor (DE) via Frankfurt (FRA), Swiss Airlines (LX) connecting onto Edelweiss Air (WK) via Zürich (ZRH), Iberia (IB) via Madrid (MAD), or Turkish Airlines (TK) via Istanbul (IST). Note that the Turkish Airlines flight options via Istanbul may show long layovers. However, if the layover is over 6 hours, Turkish Airlines will provide a free tour of Istanbul (check their website for full terms and conditions). If it is over 12 hours, Turkish Airlines will provide a free stopover hotel (check their website for full terms and conditions).

ASSITEJ has offered some general advice on this page about possible flight routings and travel guidance. However, ASSITEJ International is not in any way liable for any inaccuracies in the information it provides, nor for any issues arising from an attendee not having the correct travel documentation.

VISAS & IMMIGRATION

Providing Your Travel Information:
The ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Children & Young People is a cultural event and international visitors would normally need a specialised cultural visa from a Cuban Embassy for immigration clearance.

HOWEVER, to reduce costs and administrative processes, delegates may instead use a standard (Green) Tourist Card in combination with their delegate Access Pass by providing their legal names, date of entry and departure from Cuba, flight numbers, place of accommodation, and a copy of their passport. This information will be collected by ASSITEJ International and subsequently shared with the Cuban authorities to allow participants to attend the Congress with ease.

Due to special regulations that exist for the transit of passengers between the USA and Cuba, a specific Card/Visa is required (Pink) instead of the standard (Green) one. If you are travelling to Cuba through or from the United States, you must apply for a pink Card/Visa.

Check Travel Requirements:
We recommend using online services like the IATA Travel Centre or Sherpa to check travel requirements.

Exemptions:
Some countries do not need a Tourist Card to enter Cuba. Participants from these countries can enter the country without a Tourist Card but still need to register through the event website to attend the event.

Getting Your Tourist Visa / Tourist Card:
International visitors and participants of the ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Children & Young People will need a Tourist Visa/Tourist Card unless they are from an exempt country.

This will usually be checked before boarding your flight to Cuba, and you may be denied boarding if you do not have it.

For most participants, this is a simple procedure done either at the Cuban consulate in your country of residence, by your airline, a travel agency, or by using online visa services.

If you enter Cuba from the United States of America, or if you transit through an airport in the USA, you will need a different type of Tourist Card that is differently priced.

It is not possible to get a Cuban tourist card in Australia and some other countries before flying. They are available at particular airports that have connecting flights, and we recommend checking this with your travel agent or airline.

Cuban Immigration authorities will not stamp your passport to show you have entered Cuba – they will only stamp your Tourist Visa / Tourist Card which is a piece of paper kept separate from your passport.

Travel to the USA After Visiting Cuba:

For passport holders from some countries, it is possible to use the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) Visa Waiver system in order to enter the United States of America.

Cuba is currently on the United States of America’s State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Under the terms of the ESTA, you cannot enter the USA using an existing ESTA or apply for a new ESTA for a period of time after you’ve visited a country on this list.

This DOES NOT mean you cannot entering the USA. A USA visa remains possible to obtain after travel to Cuba but it requires a longer application process than an ESTA would.

How long does my passport need to be valid for in order to enter Cuba?

You need a passport that expires at least 6 months after your departure from Cuba.

What is the difference between a Cuban tourist visa and a Cuban tourist card?

There is no difference, it is the same document. Tourist Cards act as visas to enter the country for tourism purposes only. Some people call them Tourist Visas or just “Visas”, and others call them Tourist Cards.

Green or Pink - What Kind of Tourist Card (Visas) Do I Need?

There are ordinary Tourist Cards (Green) that are used to travel from any country other than the USA without distinction of nationality. That means that if you are travelling to Cuba from a country other than the USA, regardless of which passport you hold, the green Tourist Card/Visa should be right for you.

Due to special regulations that exist for the transit of passengers between the USA and Cuba, a specific visa is required (Pink). If you are travelling to Cuba through or from the United States, you must apply for a pink Card/Visa.

Do I need to have accommodation booked in order to apply for a visa?

Yes, you need to have your initial accommodation booked. This accommodation can be in a hotel, a resort, or private accommodation (Guesthouses/Casa Particulars). Although this information is not mandatory to apply for your visa, you must have the confirmation of your place of accommodation ready to present it to the authorities in case it is required when entering the country. Please note that in the case of private accommodation, this MUST be licensed with the Cuban Government.

If you are not sure about this, contact your hosts and ask them to confirm.

Once I have my visa, are there any other requirements for my entry to Cuba?

Please note that you must complete the Health Declaration (Advance Passenger Information) online. You can do it online up to 72 hours before your flight: DViajeros

Do I need to register and buy an Access Pass to attend the World Congress and Performing Arts Festival?

International visitors cannot attend the ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Children & Young People or any of the events in the festival programme without registering through the event website and paying the participation fee.

The participation fees are used to support the costs of the host in arranging the Congress and Festival and to support the travel costs of the international performing companies. The participation fee is administered by ASSITEJ International.

US Citizens Travelling to Cuba

US citizens CAN travel to Cuba for 12 categories of travel, of which the event falls under the following:

4. Professional research and professional meetings;
5. Educational activities;
7. Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions.

You will receive an official invitation, and the congress and festival fees will be collected by ASSITEJ International. If you are a US citizen and need an official invitation, please write to marissa@assitej-international.org

More information is available here:
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/important-information-for-travel-to-cuba.html

Note that US citizens are NOT allowed to stay in government-run hotels. ASSITEJ recommends that participants book private accommodation. We recommend you book in the area around Papellón Cuba, which will be the evening festival hub. During some days of the Congress, the daytime festival hub will be La Casa de la Poesía in Old Havana. This hub will close around 4 pm, and the festival activity will move away from Old Havana. Websites like Hotels.com or AirBnB can be used to book and pay for accommodation.

Our Cuban hosts are keen to remind all visitors, from the USA and elsewhere, will feel welcome in Cuba despite these governmental restrictions.

Click For More Detailed Information About Americans Travelling To Cuba

ACCOMMODATION

We recommend you book your accommodation nearby to the festival hubs of: Pabellón Cuba and Hotel Nacional. We recommend you book in the area around Papellón Cuba, which will be the evening festival hub. During some days of the Congress, the daytime festival hub will be La Casa de la Poesía in Old Havana. This hub will close around 4 pm, and the festival activity will move away from Old Havana.

You may see a map of World Congress and Festival venues below:

Hotels

Some nearby hotels include: Hotel Nacional, Hotel Capri, or Hotel Vedado.

Websites like hotels.com or airbnb.com can be used to book and pay for accommodation in Cuba without problem.

Private Accommodation

You may also decided to book private accommodation. It is a legal requirement that all visitors stay in a licensed hotel or guesthouse. Therefore, we recommend using an official and respected channel.

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