What Are the Best Gifts And Donations To Bring To Cuba?
This question has been asked more times on message boards than any other. Everybody visiting Cuba wants to know if they should bring some gifts to hand out, and especially, which gifts are best. Well, I will tell you my opinion.
Surprisingly enough, many message boards and forums are mentioning bras and panties and great gifts to bring to Cuba. I say, NO. You have to understand that Cubans can buy these items for about $1 each in any local store (not large state stores, but the smaller ones). The government buys them from China at a few cents per unit and, if you ever go into one of these stores, there are hundreds of panties everywhere. So… it’s not hard to get.
Toilet paper and soaps? There might be day to day shortages as stockpiles run out, but there only last a few days at most. Usually there are more than enough basic items to go around.
Sewing kits, first aid stuff, chocolate bars, perfumes, razors, nail polish… They are nice little things, but the average person has tons of this stuff. If they are asking for it, it’s probably just because they want to resell it, not because they need it. These things really don’t cost a lot in Cuba, for the basic, generic brands, so they are not in “high demand.” Cuban’s also rarely do their own sewing or bike repairs. They have no time… And they can bring clothes to a seamstress who will do alterations for almost nothing. Bike repairs of all kinds can get done by a ponchero (repairman) for a few pesos…
Top Ten Gifts And Donations To Bring To Cuba
Honestly, the best gifts you can bring are the household-use ones. These will be both needed and easy to give out to almost anyone.
- Bed sheets are very needed and wanted.
- Towels.. a nice towel will be cherished more than anything.
- Knives.. A good cutting knife, or a set of sharp dollar store ones will but used, 100% guarantee.
- Same goes for forks and spoons.
- I know glassware is hard to transport, but you would be surprised at how much a nice set of cups or glasses would be for the average Cuban family.
- Shoes and clothing are good too. But you have to know that shoes are not so expensive in Cuba.. Maybe $10 for a nice new pair (good quality too). And shoes are tough to give away, because it depends on style and size.
- You are better off bringing some jeans or work gloves.
- Or kids clothes. Kids clothes is in high demand.
- Book. All books are hard to find, but foreign books in different languages (English, French Italian and German) are most prized.
- Old cell phones. You probably have a box of old phones at home. Giving away an old GSM type cell phone (One that uses a SIM card) and you will make somebody very happy.
The #1 best Cuban donation.
The easiest items to give as gifts are toys. Now, I know what you are thinking… Toys??? But, yes, TOYS. The average Cuban might have 1 toy.. only 1… And it’s probably old and broken. And Cuban parents don’t buy toys because they are expensive and cheaply made. And foreigners don’t give toys because they are busy giving things that Cuban’s really need (like soaps and toilet paper… insert sarcasm…) So, basically, there are no toys in Cuba…. Go to a park in Havana or any town/city on a Sunday and you will see 20 little boys all rushing after 1 worn out soccer ball, and on the other side, you will see 20 little girls, all standing in line to touch 1 old Barbie doll.
BRING TOYS AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT (Like tennis balls and soccer balls). The kids will love you, the parents will love you, and toys are easy gifts to give to anybody. Every Cuban either has kids, siblings, or knows a kid who wants a toy. So… dolls, soccer balls, tennis balls, baseball (but those are heavy), action figures, die-cast cars, and inflatable toys, like inflatable beach balls and inflatable hammers/airplanes/dolls (the kind of things you sometimes get at sporting events or for free if you sign up for credit cards.)
Visit a garage sale or your local Value Village and buy $10 of toys before going to Cuba. They are among the rarest items on the island, and everybody will love you.
Get More Donation Ideas in the Best Cuba and Havana Guide book
Discover what items local Cuban really need and prize the most in the Real Havana Guide.
As a cuban, I totally agree with you. Toys are best gifts to bring to Cuba. Anything is ok. We do not have of those, and in stores, the prices are excesively high!!
Chlidren will appreciate it a lot!!! and so everybody in the family!!
So I understand the sentiment that we don’t want to stockpile goodwill. And I understand Cubans can purchase bras cheaply, however one thing that is NEVER mentioned on these forums is that the quality of the bras available to them is VERY, VERY poor and are VERY unsupportive. Secondly, many Chinese manufacturers do not make many items for larger busted women. So if anything, specialty sizes and good quality bras would be VERY helpful. Especially large cup sizes with small bands, strapless bras, etc. also, when I was there our host told me how EXPENSIVE it is for her to find bras in HER size because she is not an A cup.
Just back from Cuba. What was appreciated greatly were BATTERIES! I also gave clothes, makeup, toiletries. You must understand, that saying “shoes are only $10” is a matter of perception as to what is relatively inexpensive…or not. $10 is a LOT of money to many people there. The Cuban people are wonderfully proud, but gracious about accepting whatever is given to them…with dignity. If they cannot use what you give them…they will know someone who can.
Laura.
We are a family of four and going to Cuba in January. Your post is the most recent we found and we appreciate your input. So we will look for good items to bring.
We just returned from Cuba and decided next year to put in zip lock bags a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and a washcloth, deodorant and a few candies. We will also take lots of toys to give out and school supplies
Ask your dentist!! Mine donated 30 brushes 30 paste and 30 floss for me to hand out!
gifts I gave in October 2016 that were highly prized (based on 2x a year travel to Cuba – being conscious of weight for my luggage (airline restrictions)
a) leather shoes – mens & socks
b) sandals (high heels) for dancing – women loved this
c) utility/all purpose knives / hunting knives
c) fish hooks – all then/kids loved this
d) perfume & cologne – such a luxury item
e) toiletries – deodorant, soap, toothpaste
f) toys for the kids a) skip rope, baseballs, baseball mitts
g) 3x larger sized clothing for the hefty mama’s
Nice! Very generous and great gifts!
Hi, I am going to Holguin and have been asked to bring some Tylenol, asprin, and Omega 3 pills. Is this taxed at the airport? Also I hear there is a milk shortage, can I bring powdered milk?
You can bring food and medicine. There is no tax to pay if you are bringing in reasonable amounts. I think the limit is like 10kg of medicine. For food there is no limit. Just bring whatever you want. They are only strict if you bring in many cell phones or electrical appliances.
We are travelling back this year to Guardalavaca. They are very much in need of shoes. Theirs are often torn and a couple sizes to big for them. They are in great need of clothing. As for territories,everyone brings these items. Sheets and towels are in need. Hope this helps out on their travel
Laura…..forgot to mention that shoes are VERY expensive in Cuba that is why I have purchased so many this year
HI, where can we donate personal items to? is there a place where we can give to?
Hi, you can drop off items at any church in Cuba. The people there will give out things to people in need. Or else just hand the gifts out directly to people in poor neighborhoods in havana. Or just drop off a bag of things in any park. People will come to get them and hand then out to others as needed. Have fun.
I’d like to do that. Do you know of any near the port of Havana?
There is the large Russian orthodox cathedral. Right in front of the aduana building beside the cruise ship port. You will see it, easily.
I will travel to Cuba in June and would like to know if bibles are permitted to be given as gifts. Have a few friends that would like them as gifts.
Yes, you can give them out, no problems.
Can we donate directly to schools?
You will not be allowed into schools. You could potentially just leave the things at the doorstep. Or chat with a teacher and see if they can take them. But generally schools are guarded a bit, like everywhere in the world. Maybe just hand the things to kids in the park, near the school.
I have taken donations to a school in Varadero,I don’t speak spanish but with hand jestures was able to communicate my intention of giving them school supplies and candy. It was very appreciated,the kids eyes all lit up when I unpacked everything.The only thing was not able to do was take photos,which was not why I did it anyway. I went to the same school on a side street next to park 3 yrs in a row and still send things
So I have a question…..if one were to travel to Cuba via cruise do you think donations could be brought and/or distributed. Say to a family or church? And would toys and small bags with OTC items like bandaids and tylenol and a washcloth be acceptable? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, sure bring all that stuff. There is no problem at all. And kids clothes. And shoes. Ask some friends and family and you will be surprised how much stuff you can collect and fit in a suitcase.
You can give it to a church, or and religious institution.. There are churches and synagogs. Or just hand the stuff out to people you meet. That’s what I do. Its easy to find some very visibly poor people in central havana. Good luck.
we have about two suitcases filled with toiltries and toys – which churchs should we plan on bringing them to? we are also going down to vinales and trinidad?
Any church will take them. There are catholic churches. Presbyterian and other. Even synagogues will take the items. Or, just find a visibly poor person walking around and hand them a bag full or presents… Its easy and it directly helps somebody. Good luck.
Hello,
I’m planning to bring some toys, coloring books, crayons, batteries and soccer balls. I don’t feel comfortable giving people those at the park or on the street directly, so I’d like to bring them to church or somewhere. I see there are many churches in old Havana, but are they open all day during the week? If not, is there other places I can drop off donations? I also have many gently used clothes for 10-14 years old. Are they needed?
The churches in old Havana are mostly open all day. They are tourist attractions and many charge a small admission to enter. You can drop off donations at the front desk. Any donations will be welcome. Clothes for all ages is appreciated. Also, if you look like a tourist, there is a strong likelihood that locals will approach you on the street and ask for clothes or donations. It’s not a great idea to give these items to people who ask for them, because usually they will just take the items and then try to sell them again (it is a business for these people). But still it is always an option, if you want.
Have a great time!
Mario
I feel bad about giving all our Canadian gifs to the staff at the hotel, as they are probably the well best paid… so what do I do?
Are you staying on a resort? Like in varadero? You can give some tips to the staff if they do a good job. Its customary to leave a tip for the maid too. You can hand out some gifts to people who give you good service.
The people at resorts usually make good money. If you want to give things to poorer people, you can walk off the resort, like to the town of varadero. Here you can walk around and hand things out to locals on the street or in the parks.
Dont feel pressure to bring things just to hand out. You don’t have to and most people dont. But if somebody treats you especially well or you make some friends, it is good to have a few little things on hand. Anything is appreciated.
Locals would love cash, but most people do not hand that out as a gift to random people. Be careful with your money. If you hand out cash you will draw attention and it might not be a great idea.
I have traveled to Santa Marta and Cardenas with a hotel staff member and we generally arrange for a picnic with a pig roast and the my friend who works at the resort arranges for the invitees to come to the picnic and receive the gifts I bring about 150lbs of various items – they can choose – these are locals that have no access to tourists (non resort worker) a great way to directly help out
I’m going to Cuba, Cayo Coco for my first time very soon. I don’t know much about the area and heard kids clothes and toys were needed so I have 35 lbs of goods to donate, mostly clothes but I’m wondering HOW do I do this, How do I find the people who need them? I’m staying at Memoires and i heard there aren’t many towns around my hotel. What about schools for all the people who work at all those resorts? aren’t there schools for their children? I would love to go to a picnic and meet many locals in need and let them go through the box and pick something they need for their kids, or the kids to pick the shirt, shorts or toys they want, and whatever is left they can keep and use as needed, if anything is left.
Do I just speak to a staff member? Can I talk to someone at the front desk?
Hopefully i hear from you soon, i’m leaving Saturday.
Someone said to contact an orphanage or church but I really want to help the staff, their friends and family.
Please help me find the right people who really need kids clothes, babies to teens, and some clothing.
Thank you
Kay
You will not be permitted to visit a school.
“I really want to help the staff, their friends and family.”
In a typical hotel, there will be 200 to 300 workers. While hotel workers generally earn a decent wage (Cuban standards) and enjoy tips and donations from guests, most of the lowly workers (think gardeners, security guards, pool cleaners, lifeguards and cleaning staff (apart from chambermaids) make very few tips and their start salary is much lower than a waiter or barman for example.
My suggestion to you is to simply offer a few articles of clothing to the lowly workers who are often forgotten. They will take the clothes and either use them for themselves or family, or sell it to other who will use it. I guarantee that within 24 hours at the hotel you will clearly see who needs the clothes most. For every bartender dressed up looking fine with a cup full of tips, there will undoubtedly be a dozen gardeners in worn out overalls, painters wearing dirty rags and women of all ages running around with mops and buckets who clearly look tired and in need of anything you could offer them.
One more issue.. what about just giving cash?
HI I’M GOING TO CUBA JULY 19, PLANNING ON BRINGING TOYS AND LITTLE THINGS FOR THE CUBAN PEOPLE, MY QUESTION IS AM I GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM GOING THRU COSTUMES IN CUBA? WOULD THEY LET ME THRU OK WITHOUT A PROBLEM? ANY SUGGESTION OR HELP I WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATE IT
Hi, you should not have any trouble going through customs in Cuba. You will only have problems if you are bringing a lot of electronics or a large appliance or something. But for clothes and toys and small gifts or for 99% of things that you can put in your regular luggage, you will have no issue at all. People mostly have problems when they try to import large items (things which do not fit into a regular luggage).
Toys, candies, clothes, shoes, household items… no problem at all
Have a great trip!
Mario
my last trip to Varadero was in September 2019 and one of my luggages was full of shoes – 50 lbs – about 24 pairs and it had a customs label on it when it came out of the conveyor. Customs then pulled me aside to open said luggage. Customs took my passport and asked where I was born (Canada) and asked why so many shoes. I named each and everyone of my friends at the resort who will be receiving these gifts. OK everything was good. She said that they are flagging any possibility of running a business
It’s good that you got through customs without any issues. Right now customs is being extra hard. I just came back from Cuba 2 days ago (Holguin) and I can assure you that many people (mostly cubans) got stopped at the airport for bringing in too much stuff. Right now I think Cuba is imposing import limits on all passengers. (https://www.directoriocubano.info/panorama/se-puede-llevar-a-cuba-125-kg-de-equipaje-pero-todas-las-aerolineas-lo-permiten/) And many airlines are also limiting the amount of checked bags. My flight on November 10 with Air Transat limited passengers to 1 checked bag.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, WASN’T SURE FEEL BETTER KNOWING THAT,THANKS AGAIN MARIO
CAN’T WAIT TO BE THERE
I am leaving for Cuba this Monday, August 7, 2017. I was hoping to bring a carry-on bag for myself and a suitcase that I can check with childrens’ clothing, shoes, school supplies and some tennis balls for we are visiting an orphanage. My only concern is customs…I have read some stories of people who were delayed for hours and had to pay a tax in order to bring certain items in. Their posts seem to be somewhat outdated. Maria if you are seeing this, I see you went last month! Please let me know how it went with your donations.
Thanks,
Suzanne
Hi, I have never had any problems at customs. You will only have issues if you bring in electronic equipment or valuable items. Clothes and small toys have little actual value and will not raise any issues. Really, you should not have any problem at all. And despite the stories online, passing customs is rather quick in Cuba, on most days. The delays only really happen if there are equipment failures at the airport. Good luck and have fun.
Mario
Hi
Will I have a problem bringing in a small microwave or toaster oven? It will be in a suitcase.
Hi, while it is hard to say for sure, the answer is most likely yes. All luggage entering Cuba is x-rayed and these small appliances will show up. Maybe they slip through unnoticed, but there is a good chance the items are noticed. It is legal to bring these items in to the country. You will just have to pay a tax. The tax is 100% of the value of the item. Cuba has a list of the taxes. So for a toaster oven, the tax would be like 40$ and for a microwave it might be 70$. If you have the receipt for the item, then bring it and if you can prove it is a cheap item, then the tax might be lower.
I have brought both items into the country and I was charged the tax. There is no way around it. Cuban citizens can import these items as well and pay a lower tax, but there is always a tax for importing these items.
As I said, maybe they slip through, unnoticed. But if the guys at customs spot them, you will have to pay the tax.
Which churches or organizations accept donations and will give a receipt or proof of donation in Havana? Going in September 2017
Hi, to my knowledge, organizations do not give receipts for donations in Cuba. Maybe things have changed over the last months, but I have never heard of receipts in Cuba.
Hi. I will be cruising to Cuba in Novembrr and I want to take toys, toiletries, etc. Are there and restrictions and so you have to get permission?
Hi, there are no restrictions. Bringing a moderate amount of items is perfectly legal. Just fit it into your regular luggage. Don’t declare the things. Just bring them and give them out. If you bring tons of stuff and declare them at the customs office, you will obviously raise eyebrows. But bringing a suitcase full of toiletries and some toys is nothing.
Thank you for the helpful information and tips!! Do you know anything of taking extra weight as humanitarian assistance at the airport? Do we apply in advance? Online?
You can take 10kg of medicine and supplies to Cuba and the Cuban government will not charge you a duty for this importation. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/americas-cuba/cuba/taking-medicine-to-cuba
However, the airlines might charge you extra for this weight if you exceed your normal baggage weight. For example, if you are allowed to bring a 22kg bag, then anything more than 22kg will be charged extra by the airline. If you can fit the medicine into your regular baggage allowance, than there will be no charge by the airline.
hi there. just wondering for bed sheets, twin and double size? pillow cases also?
Last time i went to cuba i bought ankle socks for the women/socks for children and men. i found these were appreciated as during the colder months the cubans do like to stay warm. i also bought a couple of knitted pull on hats. not sure if they are appreciated as much and if they do wear them. is this a good idea for next time?
what about canned meats or tuna? can openers? wooden spoons?
i also like to bring clothes pins as when you drive by some homes they have laundry hanging out. is this a good idea or can the cubans get them cheap?
i also brought paint brushes last time. the one bartender came back to me after and thanked me graciously for that item. For some of the men i brought plyers or a screw driver that had the various tips included. . mind you tools can make your luggage heavier.
i was thinking about bringing screws and nails the next time also. would this be a good idea to give to the men?
Anything else you can suggest would be greatly appreciated
Thank you!!!!
For bed sheets, any size works. They cut and adjust them to fit the beds as needed. The pure polyester sheets get very hot and I would recommend cotton or a blend. Socks are good too. I would avoid canned meats and tuna as those items are heavy. I have brought can openers and spoons. Any utensils are appreciated a lot. Dollar store knives are great. Clothes pins in Cuba cost about $2 for 25 pins. This is pretty expensive. At most dollar stores in north america you can get 100 pins for a couple of dollars. I have brought them before and yes they are appreciated. All the items you mentioned are good. Screws and nails are great, but as you mentioned, are very heavy to transport. Some other suggestions which you can find at most dollar stores are: Glue, pad locks, toothbrushes/toothpaste, batteries, dish towels, dish scrubbers, steel wool, air fresheners, make-up, baby thermometers.
I have heard vitamins are good to bring to Cuba, what ones do you recommend?
Hi, I honestly don’t know anything about vitamins. I am not qualified to give a suggestion. I have never brought vitamins and I can say that the average Cuba eats a pretty healthy diet of fresh food. I would have to say that vitamins are not likely to be something that the average person needs. A few dish towels or hand towels would probably be more appreciated. These cost a lot in Cuba and are usually of poor quality.
HI Mario, is there a children’s hospital located in Cuba or a special needs facility? We have a special needs grand daughter and they are offen overlooked in the public eye. Thanks
There are many children’s hospitals in Cuba. The government takes very good care of children. Before the Cuban revolution, the medical system in Cuba was very bad and the reason the revolution was successful because it promised to focus on the medical care of children and everybody else too. There are still problems with getting the latest high tech treatments in Cuba, but compared to most other countries the medical system is far above normal, especially for children.
In Havana, there is a large medical center in the vedado neighborhood. Near the corner of the streets 25 and F there are a few children’s clinics and hospitals as well as 2 other large hospitals on the nearby streets. They are also close to the university. For better patient care, they have grouped all the facilities close to each other.
For foreigners, most procedures are done at a hospital center called Cira Garcia located in the Miramar neighborhood.
Quinta de Molinos has a school for special needs children. Most don’t have mobility issues and the children are a little bit older. Also, customs ask for a dollar amount for the value of the items you’re bringing. There is a tax on anything you bring over $50, so I make sure not to bring more than that. Good thing I live in an area where there are a lot of yard sales!!
Very good points Trudy. Thank you!
So I’m guessing I should downplay how much I paid for the clothing items I purchased at the thrift stores? LOL thank goodness they all look slightly worn and not expensive.
A lot of guests bring clothes to give away. It doesn’t matter that the clothes are used. Everything will be worn by the locals. In fact Cuba has programs to buy clothing in bulk from international thrift stores and resell it in Cuba, in state operated stores.
Thank you Mario, my wife and I will take gifts to the children’s hospital. I really appreciate your help. Cheers, Dave & Jan
I’m going to Cayo Santa Maria in February and was thinking of bring over 14 pairs of prescription eyeglasses. I’d there a need for them? Some are adult bi-focal and a few childrens sizes.
There is demand for everything in Cuba. Bring them and offer them to the hotel staff. Let them pick ones that work best.
This information has been super helpful!! We are so excited for our first trip to Cuba next month! My sister and I are both medical professionals (nurse and pharmacist) so we have easily accessible resources for medicine and first aid. It’s quite encouraging to hear that their healthcare system is of such high quality — I remember learning that in school actually! Also don’t want to waste space. Are there any specific supplies that are valuable to households e.g. Band-Aids, ibuprofen, dental care??
I’m also reaching out to my friends and educators for books — can anyone advise me on what they specifically enjoy reading? Textbooks or classic “American” novels or magazines???
Obviously going to bring toys from a “dollar store” as well but would like to contribute in the healthiest way. I already called our airline and was offered free checked baggage for charitable efforts so would like to take the best advantage of this opportunity!
Again, all of your feedback has been the most recent and relevant I can find so thanks to everyone for keeping up with this post!
Hi Chelsea,
I’m sure you will have both have an excellent trip to Cuba. In terms of best supplies to bring, the main factor is luggage space. If you have enough space, then bring as much as possible.
Band-aids are good and hosts will appreciate them. They are available in Cuba, but mostly at local pharmacies and it is a bit inconvenient for Cubans to get them. Any host would love a small supply of band aids for household use. Over the counter pain medication is great too. If you can get a few sample boxes of ibuprofen or acetaminophen or naproxen, then that would be great. I will suggest that these things are better to give to Cuban doctors or nurses as they will be better able to administer them. Ask your Cuba host if they have a doctor or nurse in the family (it’s very common) and give the meds to them. The average Cuban can get pain meds pretty easily and they tend to use only what they know and recognize, and not all Cubans know what Tylenol and Advil are (But the Cuban doctors and nurses do). I also always bring a few toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste. These items are cheap in Cuba, but everybody loves the American brands rather than the cheap Cuban generic stuff. Also, floss is very hard to get in Cuba and is a great little thing to give out. Also, Q-tips. Those are really popular.
Things like skin lotions and creams are very popular but can be heavy to bring. I always pack extra sunscreen and give them out at the end of my trip. Sunscreen is very expensive in Cuba and almost nobody can afford it.
Books are very popular because they are expensive and hard to get in Cuba. Anything English will be prized, but young people prefer novels. An old copy of The Catcher in the Rye is gold for somebody studying English. Tabloid and lifestyle magazines will be loved and shared like crazy. I have Cuban friends who beg me to bring them the new IKEA catalogs just so they can see the new trends. Any type of media which is new and different is really appreciated.
In terms of toys, I find the best ones are simple coloring books and games. A nice set of markers and a search-and-find or connect the dots type of activity book is a great for children. Memory flip cards or basic school supplies are also useful and fun.
Again, you are never expected to bring anything and I know most people do not bring anything and honestly that is perfecty fine. I don’t think there are any really life pressing things which are needed in Cuba. But these small, fun things are easy for us to bring and in many cases are either free or extremely cheap for us to get. And although we cannot change the world, in this case we can at least do a tiny bit to share what we have in abundance with people who will appreciate it greatly.
I wish you great luck and a wonderful trip.
Mario
I was in Cuba two weeks ago, and I would suggest for the animal lovers in the crowd to bring animal meds (flea treatments, eye ointments, skin care, etc) to an orginization called Aniplant in Havana. They are working to spay/neuter pets and strays and create a better life for the animals you will see wandering around. I work with animal rescue where I live, so of course the animals were something I noticed immediately. Aniplant has a Facebook page and they could use near expiration meds your vet might be able to give you as a donation, surgical supplies, band-aids, gauze, wound tape, towels, etc. etc. etc. As was already mentioned, AA batteries and batteries of all kinds are needed. Thanks for the tip about towels and sheets, I’ll make room for those.
I would like to update this post and suggest this organization for donations: Protección Animales de la Ciudad PAC Cuba. They have a Facebook page with contact info. They are a collection of volunteers that rescue and treat abandoned and stray animals in Havana, They can use animal medications, dog and cat food, flea treatments, replacement milk for puppies and kittens (Walmart sells this for under $10 in the pet food aisle). They are a little more tech savvy and update their pages almost daily with stories of rescues, adoptions and their network of volunteers. I am very impressed with what they are trying to do in Havana with the animals. Aniplant seems to primarily focus on the animals they’ve already taken in, and I think their donations go to the care and feeding of those animals and transport to other countries for those animals. While that is also a noble goal, Protección Animales de la Ciudad PAC Cuba is taking the hard core problem animals with some pretty significant medical problems from being abandoned/abused so they could really use your donations because they are serving more animals every day and their volunteers are on the front line of the animal overpopulation problem doing free spay/neuter events multiple times a year for stray animals and also pets. They are a great organization worth putting a few items in your suitcase for, and you’ll be glad you did when you get to Havana and see for yourself the condition of some of the dogs and cats roaming around.
Hi, thank you for sharing this comment. You are absolutely correct, Protección Animales de la Ciudad PAC Cuba is a great organization and they certainly would appreciate any donations. I encourage everyone to bring a little something for them so that they can continue rescuing and caring for stray animals. Have a great day, Mario
https://es-la.facebook.com/PACCuba/
Great ideas Mario, Thanks! I love the Towel and sheet suggestion, i would have never thought of that.
Since it’s close to Christmas i will be throwing in as many toys as i can carry.
Thank you Mario for all your comments and advice. I’m never sure what to bring or how to hand it out. We go to the resorts outside of Holguin so the only people we come in contact with, really, are staff. I almost think you could give someone a lump of coal and they would still give you a beautiful smile and a heartfelt thank you because they are so gracious and polite, making it hard to get a feeling for what is REALLY needed or appreciated. It is good to know that what is gifted is shared, so I no longer have worry so much about giving the perfect or most appropriate gift to the right person. That it is enough to just take toys, linens, toiletries, batteries, work gloves, tools, etc. and assume that whomever you give them to will make it to someone needs it. I noticed a big difference between what seems to be available in Varadero compared to Holguin. Any suggestions as to what is most appreciated by staff in the resorts in the Holguin area.
We have purchased a bicycle to give to one of the staff for their child. Any idea what we should do to legally bring this into Cuba?
It is fully legal to bring a bike to Cuba. Most bikes are brought in for personal use and then simply left on the island. There is no problem with this. Usually the luggage will be scanned and the people at the airport will know that you are bringing in a bike. They will ask you if the bike if for your personal use. Just say yes and they will let you pass. Then you can give the bike away to whoever you want.
If you are bringing in a child’s bike, then it might raise some eyebrows if you say it is for personal use, but you are not traveling with a child. It is very rare that officials will even check the bike. So just say it is personal and I would not worry much. If they check the bike and start questioning you, you can say that your kid is arriving on another flight in a few hours and the bike is for her to use in Varadero.
Cuba does not care that you bring in bikes, they just don’t want foreigners bringing in bikes and then reselling them in Cuba for profit. this is why they might ask you questions about the bike. Just always say it is for personal use.
If you do not say that it is for personal use, like if you say you are bringing it to Cuba to give away, then you will have to pay a 100% duty on the bike, at the airport. If the bike is worth $100, they will demand that you pay $100 as a customs duty in order to bring the bike in. To avoid this fee, say it is for personal use and that you will bring it back with you when you leave Cuba.
In terms of actually bringing the bike, you should contact your airline to see how they want it to be packed. Usually you can just put it in a box (tv boxes work well) or just wrap the bike in plastic wrap. Or just disassemble the bike and put it in a large luggage bag. this is what I usually do. I have brought 5 bikes to Cuba and never had any problems or paid any duty.
Good luck,
Mario
Is there any where in holguin were I can send donations to ?
Hi, if you bring items to donate, you can hand them out to people on the street (you will surely be asked for donations from random people), or you can give them to your casa landlord, or you can drop them off at any church. Other than that, I do not know of any formal place that specializes in taking in and distributing donated items.
Hi I’m visiting in February I would love to bring some things to give out to local children, my son had lots of toys he never plays with anymore , he has lots of die cast cars which have been sat in a box and not played with do you think it’s acceptable to bring these? … I have books and colours and things he hasn’t even used or opened I’d love to pass these on ! I was also going to get some gardening gloves( I read this on another site )the gardeners at the resort probably don’t get much recognition. I would like to bring practical things like medication , feminine hygiene etc what about things like brushes and bobbles /hair grips etc
Toy cars are great. The Cuban kids will play with them all day. I have never seen die cast cars for sale in Cuba. The only way that the kids can get them is if foreigners bring them in as donations. I have brought hundreds too and left them in the parks. When the kids come, then find them and start playing. You can also give them to parents and grandparents, who will then gift them to the kids.
All of the items you mentioned would be needed and appreciated. Women love hair products and anything you can imagine. There are no dollar stores in Cuba. The selection of products at regular stores is low and the prices are high. Any of those items would be much appreciated.
If you are going to a resort, you can leave a few things for the maid and hand out the rest to people who are nice to you. Nothing is expected, but everything is appreciated. It should be stated that the workers in the resorts are well paid compared to regular Cubans and they receive lots of these gifts from foreigners, but Cubans will share with poorer families and your donations will find their way to less fortunate people too.
If you are going to a town or city, you can give out items to visibly poor people and you are likely to be asked by people on the street for donations. If you feel uncomfortable giving gifts directly to people, you can leave small bags of donations in a park and people will find them and the donations will work their way into the hands of those who need them.
All the best, and thanks for your generosity.
Am staying in Varadero at a resort yes, but will definitely visit Havana. I will try to put in as much in my case as possible , my sons father is from Jamaica and when we visit we always try to bring things because as you say no dollar (pound ) stores and things we can buy cheap are so expensive there.
So thank you for the advice I will absolutely love to pass on things and I already explained to him that we were going to be giving some toys to some boys and girls who don’t have as much as him and he sed yes I will share them!
When I was in Jamaica in March I left most of my sons clothes there along with shoes and gave them to one of the entertainment crew as she had a son a year younger than mine and didn’t have much and I was going to leave them anyway as they were just getting a bit too small for him and it wasn’t summer in the UK yet! I’ve noticed the same again this year so was planning on leaving them, Ido you think this will be ok? I obviously don’t leave things which are stained from suntan lotion or are grubby from around the pool but I have nice smart shirts , shorts and tshirts along with sandals etc that have been worn not even a handful of times and are in really good condition. Thanks for replying
Hi, the resort staff receive a lot of gifts from foreigners and they are typically among the best paid in Cuba. But of course, they love to get donations and kids clothes are among the most requested items in Cuba. Your donations will be very appreciated. I am certain that you will meet some interesting Cubans and form friendships. You can give these people the donations. Even if they cannot directly use the clothes (if they have no children) most Cubans have large extended families and it can be certain that the used clothes will get years of use and be handed down to many children. Everything you mention is good and anything you bring will be used and appreciated by locals. Have a great trip!
Thank you Mario for your advice x
A good place to take donations is The Salvation Army (Ejercito de Salvacion) in Havana. Headquarters address is 5513 Calle 96 entre 55 y 57. Mariano area of Havana. They have about 14 churches throughout the Island. They also operate several Homes for the Elderly, Adult Alcohol Rehab Centre, Feeding Centre and Vocational Training Centre. Can’t go wrong giivng to The Salvation Army is any of the 128 countries around the world where they operate! I am taking some supplies there on my next trip in a week’s time.
Good advice! I have never been to the main Salvation Army depot, but I have dropped off supplies at the churches. Either one is great and every bit helps. All the best.
What dvd’s. Do Cubans have dvd players?
You can give out movie DVD’s and stuff like that. But I would not recommend it. The average Cuban has a computer or a DVD player, but if you really want to bring movies or music, it is better to put it on a usb stick. DVD is old tech and it’s not really very popular anymore.
Tipping is the best way to help the cuban people, they can use it for whatever they need and it injects cash into the local economy. Memory sticks are appreciated, load up your music etc and pass it along, batteries and rechargeable flashlights are also useful gifts.
When we went last year we took a variety of strengths of dollar store reading glasses. My daughter and I took a bus to town and walked through a residential area. We met a friendly 50 year old man who greeted us as he was tending to his property I offered him a pair, which he gladly took – he immediately put them on and looked at his watch and laughed and said he hadn’t seen the face of his watch in 10 years. He then offered to take us inside to meet his mother and aunt who were in their 90’s and they offered us a ‘real Cuban coffee’ (through hand gestures). We laid all the eyeglasses out on the dining room table and taught them how to understand the strengths of the different lenses. Our host’s mother then exclaimed that she would be able to thread a needle and sew again! All this to say that my recommendation is to take things that are useful to people. The family said they’d distribute the glasses to friends and neighbours. Oh, while it felt weird at the beginning to be carrying around a bag of ‘gifts’ – in the end we agreed and we bartered – in return I received 6 Monte Cristo #1 cigars. This was the highlight of our trip and we forever have friends and a place to go for coffee in Santa Marta. And if you’re curious, while the outside of the homes are crumbling the inside can be quite nice. This home was colourful and comfortable and owned with pride. It was well furnished with leather sofas and a flat panel TV and according to our new friends pretty much average for the neighbourhood.
That’s a beautiful story and a great idea. And it goes to show that even if you are a bit shy to give little gifts at first, you will soon be at ease when you see how much the people appreciate them. Cubans are generally very outgoing and if you have simply spoken to that old man and introduced yourself he would have likely invited you in for coffee anyway, but having a small gift as a conversation starter helps and can lead to lasting friendships. Thank you for sharing this story.
I’ve been reading through the comments to learn more about what we should bring to give in Cuba. Thank you. We’re going to Cuba by cruise. Some items on my list are a soccer ball, tennis balls, black dolls (Is this rare there?), action figures, diecast cars, coloring books with crayola crayons, curly hair (African hair textures) products, makeup with tools. All of this will need to fit inside of two large beach bags so I can give these out in Day 1. When I get off the ship and go through customs, will I have any problems? Also, is there anything you can think of that is small and may be needed? Thanks.
I reached out to the animal organization and asked them their needs as well. I’m waiting on their reply.
Hi, the list and comments are pretty thorough. I would not have much else to add. Dolls and kids toys are fun and they are hard to get in Cuba. I don’t specifically know if black dolls are any harder to get than white dolls. But any girl in Cuba would be happy to get any colored doll. You can sometimes pick up old Barbies at thrift shops for $1 each. Those will be loved by many kids in Cuba.
Customs will not give you any problems.
I will say that if this is your first time in Cuba, you might not want to bring too much stuff. If you are just in Havana for a short cruise stop you are unlikely to make strong friendships and be able to give out the bags of stuff to the people who need it most. For example, many of the hustlers in Cuba hang out around the cruise port, begging tourists for stuff. Once they get the stuff, they simply sell it to poorer people at inflated prices. The hustlers hanging around the docks make lost of money doing this and they take advantage of the actual poor people. So ideally, you would give away your stuff directly to poor families rather than to the re-sellers. My best advice would be to not give things to anybody who ask you for stuff. Hustlers beg for stuff because it is their job. Really poor Cubans usually have too much pride to ask for handouts, but will accept things if they trust you. Try to go a few blocks away from the tourist spots and give the toys and stuff to a grandfather or grandmother. They will not resell the stuff and will hand it down to family members and friends.
Mario, thanks for all your suggestions and to all those that posted with other great ideas. I am going to Cuba next month with my family. Along with my donations, I would like to ask family/friends for donations. My airline will allow me to bring up to 5 checked bags per person and I would like to max that out. My question is more of a logistical question in regards to getting items from the airport to organizations that could use the donations. Are there organizations that I could contact ahead of time to arrange a pick up of the items since I am not sure if a taxi would be able to accommodate all the luggage?
Hi. There is a limit on how much stuff Cuba will allow you to bring into the country. The legal limit is 10kg of goods. You can bring in more, in a luggage and the customs officers are unlikely to say anything. But if you are bringing in several luggages full of stuff, you will definitely set off alarm bells. For example, if you have 2 luggage’s full of kids clothes and you are not traveling with kids, you will be questioned at customs and you might have to pay high import tariffs or your goods will be confiscated.
I would strongly suggest that you limit your imports to 2 luggages or less and do not import electronics or anything that you could not justify bringing into the country as a regular tourist. For example, bringing 3 hair dryers in a luggage will raise questions. Bringing 10 bottles of shampoo or 10 pairs of shoes will raise questions.
For bulk donations you might want to be in contact with the following organization which specializes in donating goods to cuba. http://www.duboischaritablefoundation.com
I’ve just checked the Dubois Charitable Foundation’s website and they are no longer delivering to Cuba for the following reason…….. http://www.duboischaritablefoundation.com/
hi any suggestions on where to bring gifts in Cayo Coco?
In Cayo Coco there are only resorts. No locals live there. But you will encounter locals while you stay at your hotel and in the bus ride from the airport to the hotel. You can give some little gifts to these people. The transportation and hotel workers earn a good salary and can be considered the top earners in Cuba, so they don’t really need more gifts, but they will always gladly accept them.
If you are getting off the resort and plan on visiting a small town you can easily find locals to give things to. If you feel shy about giving something directly, simply place your items in a bag and leave the bag anywhere in the town and somebody will come pick it up. All the best!
Hello. I am looking at donating baseball equipment, but I want to make sure it gets into the right hands. Any direction would be appreciated.
Hi, if you are planning to bring a small amount of baseball stuff then your best bet is to simply bring it to Cuba and hand it out to locals playing baseball. Kids love balls and gloves and I often bring down a few to give out.
If you are are planning to bring in a larger volume of stuff, then you can contact an organization like https://www.facebook.com/baseballgear4cubankids/ or http://wnpr.org/post/bringing-baseball-equipment-cuban-kids and they should be able to help you a bit.
I warn you that the customs officers in Cuba will not simply allow you to enter Cuba with dozens of bats and gloves. If you bring a lot of stuff, they will ask you to pay duties on all your products, which can easily reach rates of 100%.
Good luck,
Mario
Dear Mario,
We are going into Havana by Cruise Ship, for the second time in a year. We took Large suit cases last year filled with toys, hygiene items, under clothing, first aid and sewing kits. Toys for the children. However, it was allowed after having to declare and being questioned by customs.We left these suit cases with our private driver and he saw best how to distribute them to those in need.This time my husband is worried about bringing so much and we decided not to bring in so much. I do plan on bring toys, a few bags of hygiene items along with linens. I also have begun to pick up Tuna,Ham,Chicken, Chorizo Sausage,precooked Bacon in sealed pouches as well as packets of powdered milk,powdered eggs. Is this store packaged foods allowed? Will be have problems going through customs? Do we have to say it is for our consumption? Or do I have to say it is for family? Thanks you So much.
If questioned, you must say that it is for your own personal consumption. You are not permitted legally to bring items into Cuba which are not for your personal consumption or which you intend to leave in Cuba. For small things the customs officers won’t care, but for a luggage full of stuff, it might raise eyebrows.
Personally, I recommend that you don’t bring in too much stuff. I do not recommend that you purchase things in order to bring to Cuba. If you have toys and small items around the house which are still good, then bring them, but there is no point in buying food and bringing it to Cuba. In Cuba, food is expensive, but most Cubans have more than enough to eat. If you are buying food to bring to Cuba, you should just bring money instead and give out an extra tip to people who help you or for friends you make while traveling. It is easier for you and for the Cubans.
I hope this helps
I have 35 baseball gloves that I’m bringing on September 8th 2018. I’m staying at the Sevilla in Havana and wondering where I may bring the gloves to.
Hi, if I was you, I would hand out the gloves to kids on the street. Go for a walk after school along Paseo de Prado (Paseo de Marti) and you will see a couple of large parks near the Malecon. These are like a block or 2 away from your hotel. https://goo.gl/maps/BnLP3orhphA2 The parks will have kids in them after school and on weekend. The kids will be playing soccer or baseball. These kids are all poor and most will be barefoot. I would give out some gloves there and others gloves to other poor kids in the area. I prefer hand to hand giving so that I am sure the items go to the people who will use them. But if you want you can also contact this organization and give your gloves to them. http://takealeadcuba.org/
Also note that bringing 35 gloves might raise suspicions at customs. Typically you are only allowed to bring in personal goods for personal use. Customs is just worried that you will try to bring the gloves in to the country in order to sell them.
If I am taking new toys like Barbie or Hot Wheels is it better to remove them fom their packaging?
Hi, I don’t think it would make a big difference either way. Obviously, without packaging they will take up less space in your luggage, which would be good for you. I don’t think you will have any issues at customs bringing in some toys in the original packaging. And the kids in Cuba won’t care about the packaging either way. So it’s really up to you. Have a great trip!
Are there any fabric stores to shop in? Or would fabric also be an appreciated gift?
Hi, there are some small fabric shops in Havana. Mostly fabric is simply sold at local state owned shops which also sell other household goods. Sometimes they sell fabric when it is available and sometimes they don’t. Fabric would be an ok gift, but note that sewing machines in Havana are few and far between and from my experience very few people have the time and know-how to make clothing. The seamstresses and tailors in Havana are very good, but there are just not many of them and common folks don’t seem to devote much time to sewing and clothes making. Fabric will be an excellent gift for a host which can use it, but generally it will not be a universally appreciated gift, in my opinion.
Our recent (9/11/18) experience with entering Havana from a cruise ship was quite different than what we expected. The cruise announced ahead of time that Cuban authorities would not allow anyone to bring anything into the country. We thought, oh well, they confiscate the few toys and ball caps we brought, they will still end up in a happy kids hands. Nope, they would not allow us to even discard them, we had to take everything back to the ship. We encountered another family that had family in Havana and had brought things for them, being mindfull of the limits, they too were turned back. The word is that if arriving by cruise, the officials will allow nothing, zero tolerance, no matter how little you bring, no matter how much you insist it is for your personal use.
Thank you for this info Susan. Apparently the Cuban government has started cracking down. There were abuses by both the local Cubans and the cruise riders. It seems that cruise passengers were acting as mules and bringing in a lot of goods which would eventually be resold in Cuba. This was hurting local businesses and circumventing importation laws. Also, Cubans were hanging around the cruise ship terminals and hustling tourists for goods. This was problematic on many levels and caused crime to increase. The government decided to impose a ban on almost all cruise imports. Note that similar restrictions are likely to be enforced on tourists entering from air.
Fundamentally the government has no issue with small items entering the country undocumented, but the problem comes when thousands of foreigners and locals create an organized system to import items and circumvent inspections. Large scale abuses and smuggling are starting to become an issue and the government is taking action. It’s an unfortunate situation all around. Cuba is unfortunately the kind of country which can take 1 step forward and then 2 steps back. Lots of motion but little progress. We will have to see how this all turns out.
Hi Susan, My husband and I were in Havana on October 12, 2018 and we had no problems getting off our cruise ship and getting through customs with things we brought to share. Each of us wore an inexpensive children’s back pack that had our own things plus gifts to share. We had a small bag inside the backpack to put our own belongings in for the return to the cruise ship and left the backpacks with the driver of the car we used. He was more than happy to give the backpacks etc. to his family.
Mario,
I am curious with the comments about medications needed. Are there certain medications that are needed? Tylenol, Motrin, antibiotic ointment, what else? Is there a website that would have specifics? I work in a medical office and we were thinking of donating nearing expiration supplies but not sure how to get them there. Thoughts?
Hi Tricia,
While most of the larger hospitals and clinics in Cuba are relatively well stocked, the smaller doctors offices and remote clinics do not have many supplies. In Cuba, there are many doctors in each neighborhood who work out of home offices. They deal mostly with common ailments and easy to treat problems and they help alleviate the stress on the hospitals. When people bring medical donations, the supplies usually trickle down to these home based doctors. I too have access to a large amount of medical supplies and otc medications and I always either bring it directly to home based family doctors or to doctor friends which I personally have. I never give it to unqualified people, as even benign otc meds can become dangerous if misused.
That being said, in addition to the meds you mentioned, I know there is a great need for asthma inhalers, cortisone creams and sinus medications, ranging from simple saline washes to corticosteroid strays to open the airways. Lidocaine type sprays and creams are also wonderful. Other ideas are bandages, examination gloves, scalpels, wound-care kits, masks, disposable needles. Basically anything that you would find in a standard examination room in any clinic in North America.
The easiest way to bring stuff to Cuba is to simply take it in a luggage and go to Cuba or send it with friends who are going to Cuba. If you are located in Canada I know that there are many organizations who specialize in bringing supplies to Cuba and giving them directly to the doctors who need them. In the Toronto area there are two places: https://www.melekare.ca/donationsforcuba/ and http://njttoronto.com/ .
I hope this helps and thank you!
Mario
Notjusttourists.com is a Canadian volunteer organization that accepts medical supplies and encourages people to take them when they travel to countries in need. Visit their website or Facebook page. There are chapters in Canada, US and England. Air Canada allows a free suitcase for humaitarian supplies. I have taken supplies to Havana to a hospital but even a resort first aid station is happy to receive things that they can pass on where needed.
I am going to be in Havana for a day in March (2019) via Cruise Ship. I have been to Cuba 5 times as a Missionary, so a friend will be meeting me for the day. I am a retiriring Elem. Teacher and want to bring school supplies ( pencils, paper, markers, erasers etc). I will have 3 friends with me and wondering if each can wear a backpack to donate. Just read latest post about changes in customs, not letting people bring these things. Any updates on that?
From a strictly legal perspective, the Cuban government has always banned the importation of all goods which are not for personal use. Now, practically speaking, you should not have any issues bringing in a moderate amount of stuff to donate. For example, a backpack full of benign items should not be a problem. But, if you are stopped at customs and you get a particularly zealous officer, they have the right to refuse entry for your goods, if they feel you are simply bringing the goods in to give them away (not for your personal use). But this is very rare. I have always brought extra things to give out and not had any trouble.
The law is not really aimed at regular people bringing in small donations to give out to locals. The main reason for the restriction is to prevent enterprising foreigners from bringing in items to sell to locals and to prevent NGOs and foreign governments from importing large amounts of goods and giving them out as donation (which could be used to influence the local Cubans).
Have fun on your trip!
I was asked by a man that we friended on our last trip to Cuba, to bring a cordless phone. Will this be a problem at Customs?
Hi, it might be a problem. It really depends on how zealous the customs agents are on that particular day when you go. I have brought phones in without issue before, but once I was stopped and they inspected the phone and wanted to charge me $30 import tax to bring it in. So, it is hit or miss. Are you Canadian? From my experience, Canadians seem to fly through Cuban customs mostly without issue. Americans on the other hand are more heavily inspected.
Bottom line, it really depends on the custom agents who are working on the day you arrive. They scan all checked luggage, so they will see the phone. Probably 9 times out of 10 they don’t say anything. If they do stop you, they will ask you to pay an import duty of 100% of the value of the phone, probably around $20 to $30. You can argue with them that it is for your personal use and you will bring it back once you leave Cuba. Say you are staying at a casa particular and they don’t have a good phone and you just need to use this phone while you are in Cuba and will bring it back with you when you leave. Sometimes that works, and they just let you in without charging you extra. And then you can just leave the phone in Cuba.
I will be heading down to Cuba for the second time in a few months. I will be taking a collapsible fishing pole, reel, etc. for someone we met during the last visit. Same advice. This is for personal use?? Was also thinking about taking a gently used cd player.
I don’t think you will have any problems with those items. It’s very common for tourists to bring fishing rods and gear. If anybody at customs asks, just say you want to go fishing in Varadero or something. But nobody will ask about a fishing rod. For the cd play, I doubt you have a problem. A boom box will raise eyebrows, but a small cd player will not even be noticed. If anything, just say you want to listen to music. Really the customs officers are only concerned with larger electronic devices and higher value items. Have a great trip.
Hi Mario, when we bring items, and we are asked what they are for, what do we say? can we say we are bringing gifts?
Hi Sophia. If you are bringing just small items in your suitcase there is a good chance they will not be noticed. Nobody will ask you about these items. If you are bringing larger items (a bike, toaster, large bags of clothes, etc) then you will be questioned. It is best to be honest.
For small items, you can say they are for personal use. But for larger items, the customs guards know that you will leave them in Cuba and they will charge you an import fee, equal to the value of the item (100% tax). If the bike costs you $100, then the aduana will charge you $100 to bring it into Cuba.
I recommend to bring only small gifts. If anybody asks, say they are for personal use. Put them in your checked luggage and they are unlikely to be noticed.
If I’ve befriended a family in Cuba, can I mail a parcel to them with sheets, towels, clothing, books etc.? No appliances.
You can bring these items to Cuba and give them directly to the family, but you would not simply be able to mail these items to Cuba. A parcel mailed to this family would have import duties imposed, so the family would have to pay tax on the value of the items. Furthermore, although it is technically possible to send a parcel to Cuba, there is a very high chance that it will simply be stolen by border security or by the delivery company. For these reasons, almost nobody sends parcels to Cuba via mail. Your best bet is to deliver the items yourself or send them with a another tourist who is going to Cuba.
I have been to Cuba in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and this past February and will going again at the end of September. Cuba’s greatest treasure is it’s people. In 2016, I had a school principal(directora) and three of her staff member meet us at the Airbnb we were staying at. At the end of their visit with us, they were shocked at the amount of school supplies my friends and I had brought to give them. I had told everyone in my group of 14 that they needed to bring a minimum of $25 worth of school supplies. Everyone complied and many brought more than what was asked. Despite being told that we would not be able to visit the school even though I had answered all the questioned the Ministry of Education had given the principal to asked me, she decided to take a huge risk and four of us would visit the school a few days later. It was an eye opening experience. The teaching that was going on was top notch. The lack of basic educational supplies was mind blowing. I pulled the principal to the side and I promised her that I would do everything in my power to improve those conditions. With every following visit to Cuba, my friends and I have brought tons of school supplies to the school. They now have 8 laptops, and entire early childhood wing supplied with toys like crazy and a complete Fisher Price kitchen, the art room has been supplied a few thousand crayons, colored pencils, markers, glue sticks, scissors etc.
Teachers have been provided with class sets of rulers, protractors, chalk, electric sharpeners, educational games , pens, pencils, erasers, etc. Each time the staff has been very grateful to receive these supplies. I also have adopted four families that I take care of when I go each time and I send them packages too
There is a place in Elizabeth, New Jersey that is excellent when it comes to shipping stuff to Cuba or sending money as I have done that, too. Sipping clothes and/or food is $10 a pound and the person receiving it in Cuba has no fee to pay. Please note that It takes about 4-6 weeks before they get the parcel. Money is usually relieved in 24 hours. Other than food, medicine, and clothing and maybe toys because I did send three teddy bear, mostly everything else you send, the recipient has to pay duty on it when it’s picked up. They tell you in advance how much it will be. It’s usually more than what Cuban make in six month.
I will be back there again at the end of September. Right now I have a ton load of stuff to take with me and I still have seven weeks to keep buying things. Extra luggage fees were almost $500 this past February . I suspect it will be close to it again.
In conclusion, I can’t stress enough how friendly the Cuban people are and how appreciative they are of any little thing that you may bring them.
Hello, help,please. I’ve been to CayoCoco for 13 years in a row and the same lady at the resort makes my morning guava smoothie. I’d like to gift her my old Sunbeam blender so she can make her own at home, but am now wondering if this would be considered a “large appliance”. I have the original box too (I keep all my boxes!) and thought it would be lovely to gift wrap the whole thing but now “he olde alarm bells” are ringing. Would this gift be red flagged and taxed?
Hi, I think there would likely not be an issue in bringing the blender to Cuba. I have brought blenders before, without issue. The key is that if anybody at customs asks you about the blender, you must simply insist that the blender is for your personal use (When I brought blenders, nobody ever questioned me). In fact, it is very common for tourists to bring blenders, juicers, bikes, hair dryers, irons, radios, etc… to Cuba. Tourists usually bring these items to use them for themselves while in Cuba and frequently they leave them for locals after their trip. As long as you say that the blender is for personal use and that you will return with it to your home country after your visit, customs will not tax you for the item. Sometimes (very rare) customs will ask you to fill out a little form to state the you are bringing an item (a bike for example) into Cuba and will be taking it home after your trip. It’s just a formality. Nobody will check to see that you are bringing the item back with you after your trip.
So, my advice, just bring the blender. Do not pack it in the box. If you bring the box, it looks more like you might be bringing a new blender. Bringing a brand new blender, in a box, makes it look like you are bringing the blender to sell or to give away. Just dismantle the blender and place it in your checked baggage. Put the top on one side of the bag and the motor on the other, so when they x-ray the bag it does not look like a blender. I would say there is a 99% chance that nobody will say anything. And if customs does flag you, they will simply ask you why you have a blender in your bag. Just say that you enjoy making your own juice in the morning and you need you own blender. Many tourists do this.
Have a great trip!
What are the best things to bring to Cuba right now?
I’m going to Havana for a long weekend in November. I already started purchasing notebooks, pens, art supplies, and batteries. I also bought some fishing line. I was considering baseballs and toys, but I don’t want too much inspection from Customs. I’ll be flying in direct from the USA, and I’ll e part of a larger travel group. Should I forego bringing in too much stuff to give away? Thanks
Who will you give these things to? Keep in mind that if you don’t have a clear plan on what you want to accomplish, these things will simply end up on the black market. Havana is a modern city and although there will be people on the street asking for handouts, those people are usually actually well off. Their job is to ask for handouts and then they resell those items to people who actually need things. Unless you already know a family who needs these things, then you are actually making the whole economy worse.
My advice is to bring a few things if it makes you feel good, but if this is your first time in Cuba and you don’t know anybody, then bringing a suitcase full of stuff will simply be wasteful and it will all end up on the black market where street hustlers will resell the goods to honest families for a huge profit.
Looking through the thread, I was thinking of dropping the majority of things off at a local church. I was going to get direction from the host of the Casa Paticular I will be staying in. I’ve been searching the area on Google maps and found a few. My planned tour consists of artist studios, fishing villages, and neighborhoods, that’s why my list is specific. Thanks for the wise advice though, not to just give everything away to the first people I bump into.
Hello we are heading to Varadero this week and would like to bring some clothes, baseball equipment and pencils etc. Can you suggest somewhere around matanzas area that we can donate these things.
Thank you
Hi, if you are in Varadero, you can bring them to the local church. More info is here: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g147275-i99-k7526389-Donations_to_the_church-Varadero_Matanzas_Province_Cuba.html
and here: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g147275-d7793508-r555694291-Iglesia_Santa_Elvira-Varadero_Matanzas_Province_Cuba.html
The address of the church is here: https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Iglesia+Santa+Elvira/@23.1501462,-81.2588927,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc18b3d7ec0cb43f1!8m2!3d23.1501462!4d-81.2588927
As many posters have said, Varadero is one of the richest communities in Cuba and if somebody is begging on the street in Varadero, then they are probably a professional beggar. For this reason it is best to simply give donations to the church or a similar humanitarian organization, so that there is more of a chance that the goods get to the people who actually need them.
Good luck!
Hi Mario!
I’m going to Cuba in a couple of weeks! My first time and supper excited! I would like to offer somethings to my casa particular owners. What can I get them? I’ve read all your informations but I’m so confused!
Also, I’ll be in Havana and Santa Clara (and maybe, trinidad), I would like to take 3 ou 4 toys and maybe some little things of school supplies but I don’t know where to give them. Can you give me some advise about this?
Thank You so much!
Hope to hear from you.
Hi, I notice from your email address that you might be from Portugal. Cuban people do not often get the opportunity to travel due to restrictions. But Cubans love learning about the cultures of different countries. I have many friends from Portugal and I know that your country has a rich history and deep culture. If I was a landlord in Cuba, a souvenir from Portugal would make me very happy. A tiny galo de barcelos, or a piece of pottery or a small azulejo or a tiny bottle of Porto or even just a can of sardines. For a Cuban, a gift like this would hold great meaning.
For the toys, any small toy car or doll or school supply is nice for children. The children in Cuba play outside a lot, since there is almost no internet or video games. They just play in the streets. And you can simply put the toys in a park and watch as the children pick them up and play with them. Or you can give them to the parents who are often sitting nearby. It is a very open society. Nobody minds if you talk to children or give them little toys. It is common.
I hope this helps. Have a great trip.
Mario Rizzi
Hi, we are going to Cuba in March 2020 and are staying in private casa. Thanks for all the suggestions in this feed. I would like to bring a single item to give to the casa owner that is an item that is hard to get, but I’m still not sure what. Batteries? And if course leave a tip.
If I had to bring one single item, that I knew all landlords would appreciate… either a bag of ground coffee, or a nice towel. Both are expensive and hard to get in Cuba.
Hi Mario
I have about 5 aluminum base ball bats would this be ok to bring to and donate in a small town in Cuba
You will likely be stopped at customs and asked what you are doing with the bats. You are generally not allowed to import things into Cuba. Whether it is for donation or for selling. I am pretty sure you will have to pay a customs fee for bringing these bats into the country. The fee would be the retail price of the bats. So if they originally cost 20$ each, then customs would expect you to pay $20 each to bring the bats in. I am not 100% sure, but generally this is how it works. You can bring 1 bat and say it is for personal use and that you will take it with you when you leave Cuba (they won’t ask about it when you leave). But to bring 5 bats, it would be clear that you are giving the bats away, and while that is noble, it is not technically allowed to bring hard items into cuba, for non personal use.
So its 2020 on this our first visit to cuba, How could I find a family to send say Christmas donations to via mail or???
You can’t practically send anything via mail. I sent 4 Christmas cards to Cuba in November. 1 arrived in February. The rest are missing. If you send cash or items, nothing will arrive. Your best bet is the make a friend in Cuba and then try to send them a phone service recharge online. You would basically be paying so they could use their cell phone and have mobile internet. It’s the easiest way to send money into Cuba.
Mario, My son is going to Havana with his university for 10 weeks and will be staying with a host family. he would like to bring a hostess gift. What do you suggest? It sounds like some AA batteries, a set of dish or hand towels and ???? Should he bring toiletries? Out of everything mentioned, what is best? he also thought a couple of hot wheels in case they have children and coloring books? We are going to visit him for a week. I thought I would bring some toys and leave them in the park as you described. A couple of hot wheels, a couple of jump ropes. Or should we not bring anything… Obviously, we know that the average person is poor and we should tip generously, but … Your advice? I see you said a nice towel or ground coffee? Still true? hand towels or bath towels? Also, coffee. Are you talking about regular ground coffee? Not beans?
Mario, I have another question for you that has nothing to do with gifts. My son has been told that they need to blend in. This means not wearing shorts despite the heat? and wearing plain shirts, nothing with Hollister, American eagle, Abercrombie logo’s on them. Do locals always wear jeans and not shirts? What does “typical” dress for a 20 year old look like? lastly, I understand that there is very little crime in Havana. Is that true? His cell phone won’t work s we will not really be in communication until I come to Havana. How much should I worry? Lastly, he doesn’t speak Spanish beyond the very basics. He still has a few weeks to learn, but will that be a huge problem? He traveled in the Middle east this past summer, and when people couldn’t get him to understand directions, etc… many of them actually went out of their way to take him where he was trying to go. I was pleasantly surprised. What should we expect here?
I wouldn’t worry about your son. I think the experience would have been better if he could speak Spanish, but even if he cannot, he will still have fun. Whatever he wears, the locals will be able to spot him as a foreigner, so saying not to wear particular clothing is the funniest and most useless advice I have ever heard. The advice about clothing is completely wrong. Cubans wear the most gaudy, in your face brands imaginable. It’s all Nike, Puma, FILA, Converse and whatever hot brand they can find. For Cubans, it’s all a status symbol. So the average 20 year old would kill to wear this stuff, and it’s a guarantee that they have a few of these shirts and they wear them every day. If your son went shopping at the Nike store and bought the flashiest clothes he could find, he might have a chance at fitting in. (But as I said, it’s useless trying to fit in because the moment he opens his mouth, everybody will know he is not Cuban.)
The only explanation for wearing non flashy clothes is possibly so that people don’t steal from him, or don’t constantly ask him to give them his clothing. But theft is low. Nobody will right out steal from him. They will beg him non-stop until he gives them things. Or they will snatch something from an unattended clothesline.
Cubans wear shorts in the summer. Especially 20 year olds. Denim shorts, flashy red t-shirt, white Converse shoes, ankle socks and sunglasses is what every 20 year old wears. I’m 37 and dress conservatively and my Cuban friends always tell me i have to wear flashy stuff to fit in better
10 weeks in Cuba seems like a long time. Is there something in particular he is trying to do in Cuba?
Cuba is safe. Your son will come back alive, but there is a 100% certainty that he will get scammed a few times probably for about 20$ each time. You cannot avoid it. If he meets girls, he will get scammed more. He will make lots of friends. 9 times out of 10, they will not really be friends.
My advice would be to tell him not to spend more than 5$ per day for living expenses (not including rent). If your son acts poor and lives poor, he will actually make friends and appreciate Cuba. The second he starts spending money, he will be surrounded by scammers.
As for stuff to bring, if he’s staying 10 weeks, he is going to need a lot of clothes just for himself. It might be hard to bring all his own stuff and to bring stuff to give away too, unless he’s traveling with a ton of baggage. Little trinkets and toys like you mentioned are fun to give away to local kids, but certainly not mission critical. Towels might take up a lot is space in a luggage. My go to gift is ground coffee. A few half pound, vacuum sealed bags of ground coffee would be loved, because there is always a shortage of coffee in Cuba (the kind of coffee you put into a traditional Italian style cafetiera… https://images.app.goo.gl/GK3avAztNQzdaCJE6 ). Other than that, if you have an old cell phone (not ancient) and some phone cables and chargers, those are always popular with young and old. Also, really popular now are Bluetooth speakers. They cost under 10$ and Cubans love them because they can blast their music and start up a little party anywhere. Any of these things are good. And honestly, if your son is staying 10 weeks with a host family and I assume he is paying for his stay, they will earn a ton of money from him, so, if anything, they should be giving him a gift.
Also, about tipping… Cubans don’t tip. And leaving a big tip will not get you better service. For a sit down restaurant, he can tip 5 or 10%. But tipping “generously” will only attract attention.
He will be treated well and likely come away with great memories. He should learn to say no to everything, because there are many scams. But he will also meet great people. But he should always keep in mind that Cuba is run by a communist dictatorship. And there are a lot of people who will ask him for things. And he should try to avoid hanging out with the wrong crowd. And don’t get drunk. Because there is no easier mark than a drunken tourist.
I hope this helps,
Take care,
Mario
I would like to bring a suit case full of new toys, candies, candles, coloring supplies, towels, balls, kids clothing and some feminine products into Cuba within the month, also maybe spices and cutlery. Am I ok to get though customs with these items? Can I mention that they are gifts to customs if asked? I would like to go to Seibabo Cuba. Is this a good place to hand these out?
Thanks
Am I ok to get though customs with these items?
I cannot guarantee that you will be ok. But generally, unless you are bringing electronic items, customs does not ask questions. If customs does ask any questions, insist that the items are for your own use.
Can I mention that they are gifts to customs if asked?
If you tell customs that the items are gifts, you will have to pay an import tax. You are not allowed to bring items into Cuba to give away or to sell. This has always been the case. If you tell customs you plan on giving these items away or leaving them in Cuba, you are technically importing them into the country, and you will have to pay the import tax, which is equal to 100% of the value of the items.
I would like to go to Seibabo Cuba. Is this a good place to hand these out?
How did you even find this backwoods town? I had to look it up. People in Cuba will gladly take anything you want to give. And Seibabo certainly looks like a poor place, so you should have no trouble getting rid of this stuff.
Have a fun trip.
Mario, .Thank you for your response. I just have a couple more questions. is it hard to get over the counter medications and other personal items? Should we be packing cold medicines and and toiletries etc…? My son is a vegetarian and we have been told that almost everything contains pork, especially rice. Is that true? Will food be a problem? We are planning to visit him for a week. Is it safe to just wander around Havana and Old Havana or do you need to be really careful about sticking to main streets? Lastly, We plan to stay in an air bnb. Is there anything in particular to look out for or to avoid?
Yes. Asprin, Advil, Motrin, etc, you will NOT find it. The pharmacies in Cuba are like pharmacies from 100 years ago. And there will be a line of 100 people waiting in front. And as a foreigner, if you don’t have health coverage in Cuba, you will not be able to get any meds anyway. Bring your own OTC medications.
If you take cold medicine, bring it from home. You will not find American style medications in Cuba. They use different things in Cuba and a lot of it is not FDA approved. If you need specific toiletries, bring them all from home. Cuba has toothpaste and toothbrushes, but they are terrible and expensive too. You won’t find floss anywhere. Bring it all from home. Even toilet paper is difficult to find these days. The economy is terrible and even basic things are available only on the black market. Also, it varies a lot. One week every store might be overflowing with toilet paper. The next week, there is nothing.
Everything has pork in it. Pork is added to all dishes to give them flavor. And pork fat is used to fry things because regular cooking oil is not available. There is lots of food in Cuba. But if your son wants to stick to strictly vegetarian options, then sure, he will have some difficulties. How strict are his requirements? I can guarantee you that unless he is eating raw vegetables all day, then anything fried or cooked will have pork fat. Even if the menus says it does not, it is all cooked with pork fat.
It is safe to wander around anywhere. Nobody will attack you. But if you are not careful you can get pick-pocketed. You won’t die in Cuba. But you might get robbed/scammed.
I would recommend getting something in a nice neighborhood like Vedado. Old Havana and Central Havana are nice places to visit and see the poverty and falling buildings, but I recommend actually staying in a nice, modern place in Vedado. Vedado is quiet and normal. Old Havana and Central Havana are mostly noisy/dirty/overcrowded areas.
Thanks for all your help!
I am now in Havanna..I have with me a bag full of eyeware., reading classes and old prescription. Last time I found an eyeware repair shop where I donated them (somewhere west of Marti). Don’t know how to find it anymore.. Do you have any ideas how to find it or where to give these? Have been handing out reading glasses to old people on the street.
Leaving tomorrow..
I suggest just handing them out to old people. If you give them to a shop, they will try to sell them for a profit.
I’ve been reading all of these comments and getting a little overwhelmed lol so my main straight to the point question is what is the BEST or most NEEDED thing to bring. Like top 5? I’d really like to bring something they need or would like. And also if cash is a good idea and what currency? Thank you so much 🙂
The #1 most wanted item is always CASH – The Cuban economy sucks right now and cash is needed by everybody. The problem is that everything is very expensive in Cuba and even if you have money, you cannot find the things you want. Food is in short supply in many areas of the island. So, while cash is the #1 item, unless you plan on handing out $100 bills, it won’t make a huge difference to most people. Currency can be USD/EUR/CAD or whatever.
Other things that are more practical to give as gifts and donations…
#2 – Bags of roasted and ground coffee.
#3 – Old cell phones and Old laptops (not ancient).
#4 – Mens, Womens and baby clothes.
#5 – School bags/supplies.
Mario all the information you have given are of the hugest class and actually explain the real Cuba and its people .. I will be visiting holguin in April and need to know if Cuban guest will be allowed to stay at the resort with me .. will there be a problem with hotel management and authorities??
Hi, there is no problem for Cuba guests to stay at the resort. Just pay the nightly rate for the guest and they will be processed at the hotel reception as normal. No problem at all.
Enjoy your stay in Cuba!
I`m going to visit Cuba the first time this yr.(november/december).2020…if Cuba allows Canadian tourists(because of Covid19),..any suggestion what I should bring in term of gifts( can`t say that to the Custom Officer).
Through a friend,Canadian who married a Cuban wife,all over 50`s, I met a lady who has a daughter(17) and a married son ( with a 10 month old son)….
I plan to stay around Matanzas, not far from Varadero…..is it better to book a hotel or AirB&B.in Matanzas?
I plan to stay 1 week….is that enough being the first time there.I`m retire….have lots of time now.
Any other suggestions?
The article and the comments list dozens and dozens of gift ideas.
Hotels will tend to have pools and food included. Airb&b will be more basic, but are a bit cheaper. It really depends what you are looking for. If you are going to the beach in Varadero, then definitely book a hotel.
If you are going to the beach in Varadero then 1 week is fine. if you are staying in the city of Matanzas, then 1 week will get boring because Matanzas is rather small.
Note that everything is in shortage in Cuba now. Even if you go in November or December it might be the same. If the government allows you to just roam around independently in the city, you might have trouble finding food. You might be better of just going to a hotel if this covid stuff still persists at the time of your trip.
I am booked to go to Varadero in mid-December with a friend. I am in communication with resort workers and locals via Facebook and the biggest “ask” to bring are the following: toiletries – there are none in Cuba right now – severe shortage; work shoes ie: sneakers and or black comfortable shoes seeing that they are now going back to work; clothes – to avoid having to buy them as the locals have not had any side racket for the past 8 months – thus no side income; and chocolates if you can – a treat would be so good right now
What can I mail to Cuba and how can I mail it? I would like to begin a regular monthly mailing to Cuba to help, but cant find where and what exactly I am able to mail?? Which community is in the worst of conditions as far as needs? Can I mail it to a church? Is there a way to find out how many children are in a community with ages and genders?
What do you want to mail to Cuba? The vast majority of things which are mailed to Cuba never arrive, and all things take months to get there, if they do. I am not really sure I understand your question.
If, for example, you wanted to mail schoolbags and educational supplies (just an example), you would not really be allowed to do that. The Cuban government does not want random people sending supplies to Cuba. The government is very strict in these matters. Even if you are traveling to Cuba and specifically want to bring large quantities of good into Cuba to donate, you would be stopped at entry and the goods would likely be confiscated.
There are some organizations which have government contacts and import permits which allow them to bring goods into Cuba, but as far as I know these activities are mostly halted now, due to the pandemic.
Hello,
Not sure if anyone is still active on this website, but figured I’d give it a shot. We are going to Varadero this weekend and would like to give some friends gift bags. Not to sure what is still needed or not, so any help would be appreciated. Right now in each we have:
1 – 300 gram Belgian chocolate bar with hazelnuts.
2 – Gillette razors (4 pack) says men’s, but it’s universal.
3 – 75 tabs of acetaminophen.
4 – Always infinity pads (size 3, 12 count).
5 – 1 Colgate toothpaste (100 ml).
6 – 1 medium toothbrush.
7 – 1 mixed sized bandages (24 count).
8 – one ladies & one men’s speed stick deodorant.
9 – mixed hair accessories (Scrunchies).
10 – nude or pink nail polish.
11 – pencil crayons and children’s books.
12 – instant Nescafe gold espresso coffee.
13 – fishing hooks and line.
Random one off:
One Umbro Pivot Soccer Ball, Size 5
Are all these items still relevant or needed?
Any suggestions or changes for more needed items?
Thanks
Hi, all this items will be appreciated. They are basic items which people want and need. They can also be easily sold if needed.
I will say that if you really want to help, and these friends are close to you, consider giving them some cash. A crisp 20 USD will be appreciated very much and once converted to MN at the going street rate of 180, it will likely be used to buy meat and other food, which is in short supply.
Just came back from Cuba the countries beautiful people so nice very polite very respectful. Yes they need a lot of help my heart goes for them next time I will bring toys and clothes and again I agree with given some cash to individual to help them with a life.. ❤️love the people of Cuba