Cuba with kids

Updated: Dec 19, 2022

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Travel Cuba with kids

Updated: Dec 19, 2022

Cuba is a good destination for family trips. Hardly any other country in Latin America seems more suitable for traveling with children than the socialist island. Here basic medical care is provided nationwide, there is no crime and no need to worry about poisonous animals. However, there are some health risks that you need to take into account. Especially the complicated supply situation requires extensive planning and preparation. If you want to know what needs to be considered when traveling with children, here we bring you the details!

The best period for family travel is November to May, before the hot and humid summer months begin. In winter the sun is less dangerous and there are also fewer mosquitos. Children are exposed to the same health risks as adults, but they are often more sensitive to environmental stimuli. In addition, Cubans love children, even parents travelling alone can always count on support.

Which precautions should you take?

The biggest risk for children is certainly burning in the strong sun, as young skin is particularly sensitive. In consequence, suitable sun protection is an essential part of your luggage, not only on beach vacations. Like with adults, a combination of passive and active protection is recommended. With passive protection, we mean wearing hats as well as light and covering clothing. For beach holidays, it's advisable an umbrella or beach tent and sun block with the highest protection.

In addition, a dengue virus infection can occur in rare cases. It is more likely to lead to complications in children, so protection against mosquitoes is particularly important. Since dengue is transmitted during the day, it can be prevented with a good mosquito repellent.

It is advisable to consider even minor symptoms of the disease, because infected children often show nearly no symptoms. Most of the time the sickness appears between the 4th and 7th day of the infection, the incubation period can be up to two weeks. Therefore, you should expect a possible infection even after returning to your home country.

Food and children

There are hardly any goods to buy in Cuba. Therefore, it is essential to take all the necessary hygiene articles with you in sufficient amounts. The food in restaurants all over Cuba is pretty much the same. In general meals are very sweet, salty, fatty and unhealthy. 

In Cuba, it can be difficult to find any child-friendly or vegetarian food. The range of groceries in supermarkets is also very limited. Furthermore, it is rare to find special food for children. Depending on the season, fresh fruits are only available in small quantities or in poor quality. There are mostly bananas, but not always.

Attending to the described context, not only for individual trips with special preferences or diets, it is senseful to provide food from home. It is recommended to take long-life, heat-resistant and adequately packaged food with you. Crisp bread, pies or nuts, oat flakes, dried fruits or similarly durable and easy-to-eat products can be useful. You should also know that the import of fresh food is prohibited for health reasons. Anyway it does not last long at the often high temperatures.

Equipment

Families should have all important items with them. For smaller children, it is recommended to provide a suitable baby carriage, depending on the planned trip. If you want to travel a lot without a rental car, it is better to take a stretcher, Cuban sidewalks are often uneven and full of holes.

What's more, diapers and all other hygienic articles should also be taken with you, because in Cuba they are difficult to get. If you are dependent on special baby food, it is best to bring it as well.

You should also know that  rental companies do not have child seats, so if you are traveling with smaller children you should consider bringing one with you to Cuba.

 

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