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 Repel, an 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 and ask if you need a dive booty with your style of fins
___ 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
___Scuba Certification Card for certified divers, review Scuba at More Info Page

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