Cuba Packing List

On our way to the home of Ernest Hemingway, photo by Kim Powell

SUGGESTED PACKING LIST: CUBA

___ Passport and Visa keep in a safe place and make copies of each, we will discuss the use of safety deposits during our trip
___ Blue Water Ventures folder and forms including the Certificate of Compliance form
___ Extra US cash Credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba, see the More Info page for details
___ Rain gear durable, not a flimsy thin plastic style–bring a top, bottoms are optional
___ 1 Bathing suit
___ 3–4 T-Shirts a few that are quick dry are nice to have
___ 2 Long-sleeved shirts quick dry and light weight or cotton for sun protection
___ 3-4 Pairs of shorts quick dry and light weight
___ 2 Pairs of lightweight long pants for causal wear while dining out and/or sun protection, surgical scrubs work well while hiking
___ 1 lightweight sweatshirt, sweater or capilene/fleece longsleeve shirt
___ 1 Pair of hiking shoes with good tread, either a sturdy tennis shoe or hiking boot
___ 1 Pair of sandals with a back strap for support — any style is fine but they may get wet as we explore rivers and coastal areas we don’t recommend crocs as they offer little support; We do     recommend Keens (such as the Newport H2) that provide toe protection
___ 2-3 Pairs of socks for hiking, neoprene socks may be used with dive fins as an option
___ 1 Sarong or lightweight beach towel sarongs are a nice alternative to bulky beach towels
___ Toiletries toothbrush, paste, lotions, aloe, hand sanitizer, etc,
___ Sunscreen ( 20 strength or stronger) & lip balm with sunscreen, while snorkeling, consider coral safe sunscreens reviewed here: Corals and Hawaii Bans Harmful Sunscreens
___ Sunglasses with leash
___ Hat with visor or wide rim
___ Insect repellent–we like Lemon Eucalyptus by Repelan effective non toxic alternative to DEET, others prefer the use of DEET.
___ Avon Skin So Soft bath oil, small amount (6 oz) which can be diluted with 1/2 water….a gentle but effective defense against sand gnats (no see ems), your BWV guides will have some to share but we recommend a small amount of your own
___ Personal medicines ( anti diarrhea,bandaids,neosporine, pain reliever)
___ Joy dishwashing soap, small travel size for laundry or you may drop your laundry off with our various hosts for a small fee
___ Personal snacks Cuba has very limited western style snacks such as power bars, nut mixes, candy, etc. Chocolate will melt in Cuba more details at More Info page
___ Journal and several pens/pencils
___ 2 Quart size water bottles ( non disposable such as Nalgene, Sig or equivalent)
___ Duffel bag for your clothing and other personal gear — lined on the inside with a compactor bag to waterproof
___ Day Pack — lined on the inside with a compactor bag to waterproof
___ Mask fins & snorkel – check with a local dive shop for proper fit; you may borrow gear from our charter company,
but we recommend bringing your own gear for the best fit. Full Face masks are not permitted on our  programs.  See the More Info page
___ 2 compactor or garbage bags & a few gallon size ziplocs for organizing stuff
___ Flashlight or head lamp and extra batteries
___ Roll of toilet paper stored in a ziploc bag
___Face masks and personal hand sanitizer

OPTIONAL GEAR

___ Camera/film– we like the Olympus Tough Underwater Camera
___ Gifts and Donations for the Cuban People we meet along the way see Gifts at More Info page
___ Cell phones— be sure to put on airplane mode to avoid roaming charges which are extremely high, US cell phones will not work in Cuba
___ Extra Camera Battery and memory card; camera battery charger
___ Each home will have the standard US 110 voltage that we can use for our electronics as well as the European 220 plugs Review at More Info page
___ Small Dry Bag to protect personal gear such as cameras and binoculars
___ Binoculars –highly recommended for bird watching
___ Favorite Coffee or Drink Mug
___ Preferred Tea-choices may be limited in Cuba
___ Favorite adult beverage– rather than bringing from the states, we will re-supply along the way
___ Mesh dive bag
___ Small Dry Bag
___ Ear plugs
___ Waterproof flashlight or dive light
___ Waterproof watch
___ Buffs headwear–great for sun protection and flare! We are providing everyone with one of our Blue Water versions of a buff, our “blue rag”
___ Paperback book — we carry a library of field guides, but any books you bring can be left in Cuba
___1 Pair of flip flops
___ Dive booties to wear with your fins if using those that require booties such as the style that has a heel strap
___1 Rash Guard –can be purchased at surf shops, Kayak Connection or REI; provides sun protection and warmth in water; we like Mysterioso rash guard tops that are lightweight and provide extra warmth
___ Wetsuit Shorty or lightweight wetsuit top — this is a personal choice as water temperatures will be comfortable around 78-79 degrees. For comparison, Oahu’s Wakiki Beaches averages 76 degrees from January to April and 80-81 degrees mid summer.
___ Light weight synthetic jacket such as the Patagonia Nano Puff packs light and offers lightweight but breathable layering

LOST LUGGAGE: Just in case your luggage is misplaced during airplane transfers, pack the following in a carry on bag: mask & snorkel, 1 pair of shorts, 1 t-shirt, bathing suit, 1 long sleeve shirt, 1 pair of pants, camera, sunscreen, essential toiletries and personal medications.

Swim Back to Cuba