Bringing your mobile phone to Cuba? Nice. Now, how do you in fact use it?
Many vacationers fear about staying hooked up in Cuba, however right here’s the excellent news: it’s more straightforward than you assume. Nearly all trendy mobile phones paintings in Cuba. The bottom line is working out the way to set yours up according to the place you’re from.
Cuba has one state-owned cell supplier known as ETECSA. Whether or not you’re American, Canadian or Ecu, you’ll connect with the similar community. Although you purchase a global e-sim.
Protection is forged in main towns like Havana, even though rural spaces will also be spotty.
Will YOUR Cellular Telephone Paintings in Cuba
Android or iPhone, maximum telephones manufactured within the remaining decade will paintings in Cuba. From a technical point of view it must reinforce GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequencies. Any more recent mainstream telephone does this.
The actual query isn’t whether or not your telephone works, however the place you’re from.
American citizens face other restrictions than different vacationers because of the United States embargo. Don’t fear it’s nonetheless conceivable for American citizens to make use of their telephones in Cuba, however the procedure is other.
For American citizens: eSIMs and Cuban Vacationer SIMs
US cellular carriers can not supply direct provider in Cuba because of embargo restrictions. This implies conventional roaming received’t paintings for American citizens.
Your best choice is getting a Cuban vacationer SIM or eSIM via SuenaCuba, the authentic website online for ETECSA’s Cubacel Tur provider.
CubacelTur gives two plans:
Básico (Bodily SIM or eSIM): $13.99 for 7 days
- 4GB of knowledge
- 20 mins of calls
- 20 SMS
- Legitimate for 7 days
Plus (Bodily SIM or eSIM): $34.99 for 30 days
- 10GB of knowledge
- 100 mins of calls
- 100 SMS
- Limitless WhatsApp and Fb
- Legitimate for 30 days
Each choices come up with a Cuban telephone quantity, because of this you’ll be able to make native calls, use Los angeles Nave (Cuba’s model of Uber) and keep in touch simply with locals.
How you can get your SIM:
Order on-line at SuenaCuba prior to your go back and forth. You give them your flight main points and your SIM will likely be ready on the ETECSA counter subsequent to luggage declare while you land.
The provider is to be had 24/7 at main airports together with José Martà in Havana, Varadero, HolguÃn, Camagüey, Cayo Coco and Santiago de Cuba. You’ll have provider prior to you allow the airport.
When you’ve got an iPhone 14, 15 or 16 offered in the USA, you don’t have a bodily SIM tray. Make a selection the eSIM choice as an alternative. Set up it prior to you allow house.
You’ll be able to purchase a SIM on the airport while you arrive, but it surely’s now not assured to be in inventory. You’ll additionally wish to pay in US greenbacks, they usually don’t settle for US bank cards because of the embargo. Ordering upfront is more straightforward and extra dependable.
Topping up:
You’ll be able to upload extra information and mins at the SuenaCuba website online anytime. Each and every recharge extends your provider:
- Básico: extends via 7 days according to recharge
- Plus: extends via 30 days according to recharge
Most general validity is 90 days for both plan.
Different eSIM choices:
In the event you want a distinct supplier, GigSky additionally works in Cuba with plans beginning at $19.99 for 1GB. Then again, maximum third-party eSIMs are information simplest and don’t come up with a Cuban telephone quantity. And also you’re gaining access to the similar community as there’s just one.
You Will have to Obtain WhatsApp at House:
Nearly everybody in Cuba makes use of WhatsApp. Locals, eating places, excursion operators and casa explicit hosts all keep in touch via WhatsApp. It’s continuously integrated unfastened in Cuban telephone plans, which is why it was the default conversation way.
For Canadians and Europeans: Roaming Works
In the event you’re Canadian or Ecu, your mobile phone service most likely has roaming agreements with Cuba. Take a look at together with your supplier prior to you commute to know the charges and arrange a global package deal.
Many Canadian carriers like Freedom Cellular be offering global roaming plans that come with Cuba. Ecu carriers additionally normally be offering affordable roaming charges.
Information roaming charges range via supplier, however be expecting to pay greater than you can at house. As a Canadian I’ve used roaming relatively just a little in previous journeys to Cuba. I lived in Havana for two years and roaming will also be expensive.
However chances are you’ll for comfort. If you select to roam, your telephone will paintings precisely because it does at house. You’ll be able to make calls, ship texts and use information.
On my remaining talk over with in 2025 I purchased the vacationer SIM card from SuenaCuba and it used to be really easy. After I arrived on the airport there used to be a sales space on the luggage declare. I simply confirmed them my passport they usually gave me the SIM to position in my card.
Since then I switched to Freedom Cellular, which gives 50GB of roaming unfastened on my plan. So whilst I most likely received’t use a Cuban SIM card once more I’d nonetheless counsel it.
How you can Make Calls in Cuba
World esim choices don’t be offering a Cuban telephone quantity, despite the fact that SuenaCuba does and it may be at hand.
Maximum of your conversation will occur via WhatsApp. However for the days you want to make a real telephone name, right here’s how.
To name house from Cuba:
Your Cuban telephone quantity does now not have enough budget to name across the world. Use WhatsApp or any other internet-based provider, simply name generally in the course of the app.
To name between Cuban numbers:
Simply dial the quantity as written. No nation code wanted.
Crucial Apps for Cuba
Obtain those apps prior to you allow:
WhatsApp is non-negotiable. That is the way you’ll keep in touch with virtually everybody in Cuba. Set it up and ensure your circle of relatives again house has it too.
Google Maps works in Cuba. Obtain offline maps of the spaces you propose to talk over with prior to you arrive. This permits you to navigate with out the usage of information. Many of us additionally obtain Maps.me however I’ve by no means had a subject matter with Google Maps offline.
Google Translate is helping when your Spanish falters. Obtain the Spanish language pack for offline use.
El Toque presentations the present side road trade charge for Cuban pesos. The authentic charge and side road charge range considerably.
VPN like NordVPN allows you to get admission to websites that can be blocked in Cuba and protects your information. Set up and configure it prior to you commute. I in finding unfastened VPNs will also be sluggish and feature extensively utilized a number of paid variations however in finding NordVPN is the quickest.
Bringing your mobile phone to Cuba? Nice. Now, how do you in fact use it?
Many vacationers fear about staying hooked up in Cuba, however right here’s the excellent news: it’s more straightforward than you assume. Nearly all trendy mobile phones paintings in Cuba. The bottom line is working out the way to set yours up according to the place you’re from.
Cuba has one state-owned cell supplier known as ETECSA. Whether or not you’re American, Canadian or Ecu, you’ll connect with the similar community. Although you purchase a global e-sim.
Protection is forged in main towns like Havana, even though rural spaces will also be spotty.
Will YOUR Cellular Telephone Paintings in Cuba
Android or iPhone, maximum telephones manufactured within the remaining decade will paintings in Cuba. From a technical point of view it must reinforce GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequencies. Any more recent mainstream telephone does this.
The actual query isn’t whether or not your telephone works, however the place you’re from.
American citizens face other restrictions than different vacationers because of the United States embargo. Don’t fear it’s nonetheless conceivable for American citizens to make use of their telephones in Cuba, however the procedure is other.
For American citizens: eSIMs and Cuban Vacationer SIMs
US cellular carriers can not supply direct provider in Cuba because of embargo restrictions. This implies conventional roaming received’t paintings for American citizens.
Your best choice is getting a Cuban vacationer SIM or eSIM via SuenaCuba, the authentic website online for ETECSA’s Cubacel Tur provider.
CubacelTur gives two plans:
Básico (Bodily SIM or eSIM): $13.99 for 7 days
- 4GB of knowledge
- 20 mins of calls
- 20 SMS
- Legitimate for 7 days
Plus (Bodily SIM or eSIM): $34.99 for 30 days
- 10GB of knowledge
- 100 mins of calls
- 100 SMS
- Limitless WhatsApp and Fb
- Legitimate for 30 days
Each choices come up with a Cuban telephone quantity, because of this you’ll be able to make native calls, use Los angeles Nave (Cuba’s model of Uber) and keep in touch simply with locals.
How you can get your SIM:
Order on-line at SuenaCuba prior to your go back and forth. You give them your flight main points and your SIM will likely be ready on the ETECSA counter subsequent to luggage declare while you land.
The provider is to be had 24/7 at main airports together with José Martà in Havana, Varadero, HolguÃn, Camagüey, Cayo Coco and Santiago de Cuba. You’ll have provider prior to you allow the airport.
When you’ve got an iPhone 14, 15 or 16 offered in the USA, you don’t have a bodily SIM tray. Make a selection the eSIM choice as an alternative. Set up it prior to you allow house.
You’ll be able to purchase a SIM on the airport while you arrive, but it surely’s now not assured to be in inventory. You’ll additionally wish to pay in US greenbacks, they usually don’t settle for US bank cards because of the embargo. Ordering upfront is more straightforward and extra dependable.
Topping up:
You’ll be able to upload extra information and mins at the SuenaCuba website online anytime. Each and every recharge extends your provider:
- Básico: extends via 7 days according to recharge
- Plus: extends via 30 days according to recharge
Most general validity is 90 days for both plan.
Different eSIM choices:
In the event you want a distinct supplier, GigSky additionally works in Cuba with plans beginning at $19.99 for 1GB. Then again, maximum third-party eSIMs are information simplest and don’t come up with a Cuban telephone quantity. And also you’re gaining access to the similar community as there’s just one.
You Will have to Obtain WhatsApp at House:
Nearly everybody in Cuba makes use of WhatsApp. Locals, eating places, excursion operators and casa explicit hosts all keep in touch via WhatsApp. It’s continuously integrated unfastened in Cuban telephone plans, which is why it was the default conversation way.
For Canadians and Europeans: Roaming Works
In the event you’re Canadian or Ecu, your mobile phone service most likely has roaming agreements with Cuba. Take a look at together with your supplier prior to you commute to know the charges and arrange a global package deal.
Many Canadian carriers like Freedom Cellular be offering global roaming plans that come with Cuba. Ecu carriers additionally normally be offering affordable roaming charges.
Information roaming charges range via supplier, however be expecting to pay greater than you can at house. As a Canadian I’ve used roaming relatively just a little in previous journeys to Cuba. I lived in Havana for two years and roaming will also be expensive.
However chances are you’ll for comfort. If you select to roam, your telephone will paintings precisely because it does at house. You’ll be able to make calls, ship texts and use information.
On my remaining talk over with in 2025 I purchased the vacationer SIM card from SuenaCuba and it used to be really easy. After I arrived on the airport there used to be a sales space on the luggage declare. I simply confirmed them my passport they usually gave me the SIM to position in my card.
Since then I switched to Freedom Cellular, which gives 50GB of roaming unfastened on my plan. So whilst I most likely received’t use a Cuban SIM card once more I’d nonetheless counsel it.
How you can Make Calls in Cuba
World esim choices don’t be offering a Cuban telephone quantity, despite the fact that SuenaCuba does and it may be at hand.
Maximum of your conversation will occur via WhatsApp. However for the days you want to make a real telephone name, right here’s how.
To name house from Cuba:
Your Cuban telephone quantity does now not have enough budget to name across the world. Use WhatsApp or any other internet-based provider, simply name generally in the course of the app.
To name between Cuban numbers:
Simply dial the quantity as written. No nation code wanted.
Crucial Apps for Cuba
Obtain those apps prior to you allow:
WhatsApp is non-negotiable. That is the way you’ll keep in touch with virtually everybody in Cuba. Set it up and ensure your circle of relatives again house has it too.
Google Maps works in Cuba. Obtain offline maps of the spaces you propose to talk over with prior to you arrive. This permits you to navigate with out the usage of information. Many of us additionally obtain Maps.me however I’ve by no means had a subject matter with Google Maps offline.
Google Translate is helping when your Spanish falters. Obtain the Spanish language pack for offline use.
El Toque presentations the present side road trade charge for Cuban pesos. The authentic charge and side road charge range considerably.
VPN like NordVPN allows you to get admission to websites that can be blocked in Cuba and protects your information. Set up and configure it prior to you commute. I in finding unfastened VPNs will also be sluggish and feature extensively utilized a number of paid variations however in finding NordVPN is the quickest.
