Can You See Cuba From Key West? (Hint: The Curve Of The Planet) 2024

You are not the only person wondering: Can you see Cuba from Key West, the southernmost point of the US? With such a short distance across, surely that must be possible.

As a full-time traveler in the Caribbean, I have been to both places less than 100 miles apart and tried. I have stood beside the red southern US bouy gazing out to sea, and then the same is on the other side, from the Havana Malecon boardwalk just across the ocean.

Staring out in both directions, trying to catch a glimpse of dry land on the other side with no luck. But what about at night? Nope, still nothing.

So, is it just me, or is it impossible? Can you see Cuba from Key West or not?

Can You See Cuba From Key West, Or Not?

Well, unfortunately, no, you can not see Cuba from Key West. That’s a bummer, it is such a short distance, you know, it seems it should be possible!

The problem, apparently, is mostly the curve of the planet and also the capacity of our eyes.

The Earth’s so-called curvature is pretty small mathematically, and for shorter distances (up to around 100 miles), a rule-of-thumb estimate is around 8 inches per mile.

This means that for every mile an object is from you, the curve will take away 8 inches of the height of the thing you are looking at.

Using this easy rule, with a bit of math, we can establish that the 106 miles distance as the crow flies (170 kilometers) x 8 inches puts Cuba 848 inches (or just over 21 meters) below the horizon when you find yourself at the southernmost point buoy of Key West.

However, there are many factors affecting this piece of math, as the earth has LIGHT and ATMOSPHERE, which affect how our eyes are able to see things far away on the planet (which is ridiculously huge, by the way).

Therefore, the rule-of-thumb is not accurate when the distances are longer, and the numbers start to deviate when distances are closing in on 100 miles.

Why You Can’t See Cuba From Key West

The short version is that, over distances over 100 miles (round number, just to make it graspable), the numbers deviate from the curvature rule-of-thumb because of a lot of things, and the number actually increases.

The math looks like this:

You only need to know two values: your eyesight level (in other words, the distance between your eyes and mean sea level – assuming you are looking out to sea) and the radius of the Earth.

Input these numbers into the following equation:

a = √[(r + h)² - r²]

a — Distance to the horizon;

h — Eyesight level above mean sea level; and

r — Earth’s radius is equal to 3959 miles or 6371 km.

(So, if your viewpoint is around 1.6 centimeters above ground (your height), the horizon would be around 3 miles (5 kilometers) away, which means that you are mathematically aligned to see a point that is 3 miles away out in the horizon.

You need to put that into the equation as well, although a small number).

You can actually check it yourself by using this Earth Curvature Calculator!

Can You See Cuba From Key West Lighthouse?

Nope, sorry, that is not possible either.

According to Wikipedia, Solares Hill is the highest point in the southernmost city of Key West. Its peak elevation is 18 feet (5.5 m) above sea level.

So there you go, far below the needed height to be seen.

An additional fun fact: Solares Hill got its name from Victorio Solares, who was born on 30 April 1849 in Coya, Asturias, Spain. He immigrated to Key West after Spanish military service in, you got it, Cuba!

If you want to come down to check for yourself, here are some great options for where you can stay in Key West when you visit!

Wait, What If You Stand On Something?

Exactly, what about infrastructure?

I discovered that La Concha Hotel is the tallest building in Key West, with seven floors.

A developer named Carl Aubuchon opened this super luxury hotel in 1926, the first of its kind in the keys, and it became THE hotel for dignitaries and celebrities!

In fact, author Tennessee Williams loved it so much that he made it his home for ten years.

Ernest Hemingway (who also had a house for decades in Havana) wrote one of his most depressive books there.

The hotel is still there and is still luxurious, so feel free to have a look!

Also read: 5 Best Places To Jetski In The Florida Keys

So, how tall are seven stories?

I was not able to find out exactly, but let’s say every floor is around three meters (that is not a stretch, I think); then you have 3×7, which should amount to 21 meters!

So, theoretically, you should be able to see Havana according to the rule-of-thumb math from the fitness room at La Concha (which is at the top and has views of the sea). Right?

Well, the first problem is the complicated atmospheric stuff that kills the rule of thumb as soon as we are talking real distances.

Your Eyes Simply Cannot See Very Far!

The second problem is you also cannot see Cuba from Key West because it is too far away for the naked eye to detect.

Back in 1941, a vision scientist, Selig Hecht, discovered that with a clear, unobstructed view, the human eye could see a candlelight flickering around 30 miles away.

He also found that it depends on the amount of pollution and particles in the air, which usually restricts normal vision to less than 12 miles or 19 kilometers.

So again, there you go. Sorry, you can not see Cuba from Key West, but you know – don’t let it stop you from trying!

FAQs About Cuba And Key West

Many people seem to have many questions about Cuba, Key West, and the distance and travel between them!

So here are the answers to the questions a lot of you want to know for one reason or another, I hope this helps!

Can You See Cuba From Key West At Night?

Well, the jury is still out on that one.

Now we have established that you cannot actually SEE Cuba from Key West; that’s impossible due to the planet’s curve (and your stupid, inadequate eyes).

But what about at night, when the lights of Key West hover in the atmosphere over the land?

Although I have never tried gazing out over the ocean at midnight from the ground level at the southernmost point at Key West, multiple sources agree on a massive maybe for this question.

Depending on the atmospheric stuff, like how the light from the earth behaves in the lower parts of the atmosphere, the weather in general (which must be super clear), it is possibly possible when “all the stars align”!

Perhaps with a strong set of serious star-gazing binoculars, then maybe you’ll be able to spot a few whisking rays!

How Far Is Cuba From Key West?

The ridiculously short distance between Cuba and Cuban waters and Key West is just around 100 miles, you know, or around 170 kilometers. So it is not far at all!

But it is too far to see, and with the current political temperature, it is also a world away.

It’s too far to imagine. But that’s a whole other story.

Interestingly, Key West is actually closer to Cuba than to the mainland United States.

How Many Miles From Key West To Cuba?

The distance from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, is, as we said, around 100 miles, while the distance from Key West to Miami is around 168!

How Long Is A Boat Ride From Key West To Havana Cuba?

The distance from Key West to Havana is around 100 miles, that is 92 nautical miles.

I checked out a large 30-meter-long yacht with a top speed of 20 knots (20 nautical miles per hour).

So let’s give her some slack and say 17 knots across the sea, shall we?

That would say 92 miles divided by 17 knots, so the travel time by (this type of) boat would be just over 5 hours.

In some places, though, I have read that the travel time by boat is 4 hours, so it will depend, I guess.

I can tell you that the record time of boating from Key West to Havana was set in 2017, and two guys on a speedboat made the crossing in a crazy 1 hour and 18 minutes!

See the video from this tour on YouTube

Can you swim from Cuba to Key West?

Considering the 106-mile distance, technically, it is possible to swim the actual distance between the popular tourist destination Key West and Havana, Cuba.

The longest distance a human has been able to swim (so it is the world record), was when Pablo Fernandez, a Spanish guy, swam 250 km (155.34 miles) in Miami in July 2011, longer than the Key West – Havana distance.

Pablo beat the previous record, which had been unsurpassed for 15 years.

He also nailed the record for “farthest distance swam in 24 hours – open water (male)” in the same swim (shorter than the total distance, which took more than 24 hours).

There are a few issues, though, as the currents in the Florida Straits are super strong and possibly dangerous.

Throw into the mix the large ships that travel through the straits; the conclusion is that it is not recommended to attempt to swim from Cuba to Key West.

If you’re looking for a fun way to get from Cuba to Key West, take a charted boat ride instead!

Can You Travel From Key West To Cuba?

Yes, you can travel from Key West to Cuba.

Currently, there are no commercial flights between Key West and Cuba, but there are chartered ones!

So, if you want to fly from Key West Island to Havana, the only option is to spend some bucks on a private flight in a chartered plane.

If that is not an option, the next best option is to get yourself over to Miami; there are direct services on daily flights from Miami International Airport to Havana.

As only commercial flights are available from Miami, that is an easier (and cheaper) option!

Right now, it is not possible to get a ferry, a cruise ship, or anything across the water commercially to get from Key West to Cuba.

This is because of the situation between the Cuban government and the United States of America (politically).

The relationship has been difficult since the Cuban revolution in 1968. While Obama attempted to solve the knot, his successor reversed that effort.

One of the last things the Trump administration did in his tenure was to tighten the US sanctions on Cuba, and he also put Cuba on the list of “states that support terrorism“.

As you can imagine, this is not a good list to be on, so the travel restrictions (and general relations) that had experienced somewhat of a sense of perestroika returned to freezing.

That is on a national level, of course; I meet a lot of Americans who have discovered how to visit Cuba from the US (it is actually not that hard), and come here anyway!

On a personal level, the relationship is excellent.

But back to the subject, you can actually find a way, boat-wise, and that is also to charter one!

You can charter a boat trip for a day tour to Havana from Key West, but crossing the Atlantic Ocean would take some time. You can also charter a sailboat to go for a Cuba holiday, but that obviously takes more time and will not get you over in a day.

And I nicer time, I would argue.

Can I Go From Cuba To Key West By Boat?

Yes, you can go from Cuba to Key West by boat, again, technically.

First and foremost, that would probably be the return trip of the one you already have taken from Key West to Havana in your chartered boat!

There is no similar service to take you from Cuba to Key West (and back) in 2024, but who knows, maybe that will change.

A lot of Cubans would be over the moon if that happened; I’ll tell you that.

The last year, due to inflation that has shot through the roof, a decline in tourism, and issues with importing enough food to the island (partly due to sanctions, party to Russia’s war with Ukraine), the situation in Cuba has been difficult.

So people are fleeing the island head over heels in the thousands these days, in any way they can.

And everyone says that they only want to leave because they need to leave.

No one really wants to leave, as the Cuban people love the Cuban culture, dancing in the streets, hanging with family and friends over rum and salsa, and basically love their country.

How Far Is Key West From Cuba By Boat?

The distance between Key West in the US and the shores of Cuba, straight across the sea, is around 100 miles (160 kilometers).

This is not a very big distance, but the ocean here can be challenging, so don’t underestimate the seafarer’s skills and boat features needed to cross over safely.

How Far Is Cuba From Florida?

If you are wondering how far Cuba is from Florida, it will depend on where you are in Florida.

From Key West, the southernmost point in the US, you are closest to Cuba, with just around 100 miles across the sea.

From Orlando, Florida, the distance to Havana in Cuba is 382 miles.

The longest distance from Cuba to Florida is from Pensacola to Havana, and that is 595 miles in one straight line.

How Far Is Cuba From Florida Keys

The distance to Cuba from the end-key in the Florida Keys, Key West, is just over 100 miles.

The distance from Key Largo, the first of the Florida Keys just outside the mainland, to Cuba is 184 miles.

Is Key West Closer To Florida Or Cuba?

Well, as Key West is actually IN Florida, consequently, Key West is “closer to Florida” than to Cuba.

Is Key West Closer To Miami Or Cuba?

According to Google Maps, the distance from Key West to the shores of Havana, Cuba, is 100 miles straight across the sea. And the distance between Key West and Miami is 164 miles!

So, the answer to that question is that Key West is closer to Cuba than to Miami.

How Far Is Miami From Cuba?

Google Maps keeps telling me that distance is untravelable, and I think they probably don’t know how right they are at the moment!

Apart from flying, of course, the pilots probably have their own GPS.

In a straight line across the sea, the distance between Miami – Cuba is around 234 miles, and the same would be the case for Fort Lauderdale.

The flight time from Miami to Cuba across the sea, the last time I made the journey, was around 50 minutes from take-off to landing, so hardly enough time to enjoy a Cuba Libre!

Just for fun, I also found the following description on the internet describing the driving time from Miami to Cuba:

“The driving time from Miami to Cuba is about 26 hours. This does not include stops for food, gas, or rest”.

Right! I guess the moral is that you still cannot trust everything you read on the internet, and neither the Atlantic Ocean nor the Gulf of Mexico have great highways.

Can You See Cuba From Miami?

No, you can not see Cuba from Miami, which is both too far away and does not have a direct unobstructed view as it is situated further up the coast at a difficult angle!

Can You See Key West From Cuba?

Nope, no chance; you can not see Key West from Cuba, either.

The same principle is valid in the opposite direction.

How Far Is Key West From Havana?

According to Google Maps, Key West is 103 miles away from Havana, the capital of Cuba, in a straight line.

Can You See Florida From Cuba?

Nope, you can not see Florida from Cuba; the math works both ways. And also, I have tried!

No luck, unfortunately.

Are There Cubans In Key West?

The Hispanic and Latino community in Key West makes up about 24.7 percent of the local population, and a good portion of these are of Cuban descent. 

Is Cancun Or Key West Closer To Cuba?

The distance from Key West to Cuba is around 100 miles, while the distance from Cancun to the westernmost shores of Cuba is 62 miles. The distance from Cancun to Havana is 124 miles.

So, in conclusion, the distance measured across the sea between the Cuban territory and Cancun in Mexico, Cancun is closer to Cuba than Key West.

Why are US citizens not allowed to travel to Cuba?

This is NOT correct. US citizens ARE ALLOWED to travel to Cuba.

Americans can choose a reason for Cuba travel among 12 pre-approved reasons for traveling to Cuba, determined by the US Government.

Can You Get To Havana From Key West?

Yes, you can. There are shattered flights from Key West to Havana twice a week. You can book a ticket only, or you can book a day trip with a fixed itinerary for a visit to Havana.

Can US citizens travel to Cuba as a tourist?

Technically, US citizens are NOT allowed to travel to Cuba as a tourist. Americans choose between 12 pre-approved reasons for Cuba travel, among which the most common one is “to help the Cuban people”.

American citizens still need to buy a tourist card, also called a tourist visa, to enter Cuba.

What are the 12 requirements to travel to Cuba?

You can read about the 12 pre-approved reasons to travel to Cuba for US citizens here.

The easiest and most common reason for Cuba travel is “to help the Cuban people”. There is no paperwork or application process connected to this, you just choose your reason and state that reason if anyone asks.

What happens if a US citizen travels to Cuba?

Nothing happens if a US citizen travels to Cuba apart from hopefully, the US citizen will have a fabulous holiday and encounter Cuban culture.

US citizens need to choose one of the pre-approved reasons to travel to Cuba and need to buy the PINK Cuban tourist card, also called a tourist visa.

Selected airlines sell this visa/tourist card, or you can buy one online.

What documents do I need to travel to Cuba?

You need the following documents to travel to Cuba:

• Passport valid for 6 months after date of entry
• Cuban tourist card / tourist visa
• Proof of travel insurance, including health insurance
• Fill out the d’viajero.cu digital document before your journey

Do Americans need to be vaccinated to enter Cuba?

No, there is no requirement for specific vaccines prior to entering Cuba.

Your country’s health department probably has recommendations for what vaccines you should consider before entering Cuba.

How Do I get a tourist card for Cuba?

You can buy a tourist card online from Easy Tourist Card, or from the Cuban embassy in your country.

You might also be able to buy a Cuban tourist card from your airline or at the airport prior to departure.

A tourist card can be bought at Miami International Airport’s check-in counter for American Airlines and Delta Airlines.

How Do I Get A Tourist Visa For Cuba?

A tourist visa is the same as a tourist card for Cuba. You can buy it from the following places:

• Buy one online from Easy Tourist Card
• Buy one from your airline if they offer this
• Buy one at the airport of departure if they offer this
• Buy one from the Cuban Embassy in your country

Is Travel To Cuba Allowed Right Now?

Yes, Cuba travel is allowed right now.

In addition, American citizens must choose one of the 12 pre-approved reasons for traveling to Cuba (Americans can not travel as “tourists”) and follow some simple guidelines for traveling in Cuba.

Finally: Can Americans Travel To Cuba?

Yes, Americans can travel to Cuba.

However, there are rules, and you need to know how to travel correctly to Cuba as a US citizen in order not to violate any rules and regulations!

If you want to read a bit about the rules and regulations, you can check out the details on the Cuba Restricted List issued by the US government.

Also, if you want to read more about how Americans can travel to Cuba, may I suggest this article about How To Travel To Cuba Hassle-Free From US, where you find pretty much everything you need to know!

Wrap-Up Can You See Cuba From Key West?

Well, we have now scientifically proved and explained why you cannot see the island nation Cuba from Key West.

Also, how to get to Havana by boat, sailboat, private jet charter flight from Key West, or a commercial airline from Miami.

The distance between Havana and Key West is so short it normally would be a couple of hours’ drive if it was on land.

Or like 4-5 hours on a boat, but as the climate between the US and Cuba is the opposite of global warming, that is currently not an option.

But who knows, maybe someday? Stranger things have happened, you know, like the Berlin Wall and people strolling on the moon a while back.

We’ll just have to see!

Related blog posts:

Is Female Solo Travel In Cuba Safe? A Local Woman’s Advice

Sensational 7 Days In Cuba Itinerary By A Local

43 Best Things To Do In Havana Solo By A Local

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