March 17, 2026                                                                                                                         

Reflections on Recent Visits to Cuba

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In early March 2026 two groups went visit partner churches in Cuba. New York Avenue (Washington, D.C.) visited First Havana and First Presbyterian (Spartanburg, SC) visited Santa Clara.  While we found that traveling to Cuba now is a different experience overall from previous years, our visits were still very fulfilling for us and our Cuban friends.

 

LOGISTICS

New York Avenue travelers were able to bring down numerous suitcases of supplies and cash from various churches, the Cuba Partners Network, and individuals to multiple churches and the IPRC.

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One person in our group carried most of the cash through Cuban customs and reported it, while the others stayed under the $5,000 reporting threshold stated on the D’Viajeros customs form. Recently, Cuban customs have been counting the money of people who declare cash over $5,000, an inconvenience that can be avoided by staying under that amount.

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There were no issues with customs at either end. Coming back to the U.S. through the Miami airport, a new facial recognition system eased the process, and most people did not even have to talk with a customs agent.

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CHALLENGES

The biggest change from past years was transportation. Gasoline is scarce, and bus transportation was limited to trips to and from the airport.

 

For example, in past trips to First Havana, a bus was available to take us to various places on most days; this year, a bus was only available for one day and only within Havana. Given the current situation, that was a blessing. This scarcity resulted in a much lighter schedule than past years, but it also allowed us to connect a lot more with our Cuban friends, which was deeply rewarding. Both groups also took walks in their communities and felt safe while exercising common-sense precautions. 

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Power outages continue throughout the country. Some places experience daily blackouts, while they may be less common in Havana. Although there was a 27-hour blackout in Havana when the grid for the entire western three-quarters of the island went down, the group at First Havana handled the outages in great spirits; really, the only impact was not getting to shower for a day. The Santa Clara church recently installed solar panels, so those travelers were never in the dark.

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THINKING ABOUT A VISIT?

The Cubans very much appreciate every person and group that can come. They definitely understand why some have canceled. At the same time, there is a sense of sadness and disappointment when they talk about partners who have decided not to come.

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In planning our visit, we tried to be as transparent as possible with each individual who signed up on what to expect and what would be different from past trips. It was then up to each person to discern what was best for them and what they were called to do. 

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It is also important to talk honestly with your Cuban partners. Trust them to let you know whether or not they are able to host you and can secure transportation from the airport for you.

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If you are unable to visit your partners right now any increased connection you can make while in the U.S. will be greatly appreciated by your partners and help you both maintain a vibrant relationship.