It is no surprise that lots of Canadians travel to Cuba. After traveling regularly to Cuba for five years, I have met Canadians traveling to and in Cuba “everywhere”.
This is probably why 500 people search online for “How long is the flight from Toronto to Cuba?” every month!
It seems that Torontonians (is that the right name for someone living in Toronto?), in particular, are looking for information about Cuba travel and not just flying times!
How Long Is The Flight From Toronto To Cuba?
The approximate duration of the flight from Toronto Airport, Canada, to Varadero, Cuba, is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
However, the exact duration of the flight could be different depending on various factors such as the type of plane, its cruising speed, the route it takes, weather conditions, the number of passengers, stopovers, and other factors.
You can find direct flights from several Canadian airports to Varadero, Cuba.
There are no direct flights from Toronto to Havana, Cuba; if you want to fly into the Cuban capital, you need to make at least one stop.
Flight Time To Cuba From Other Destinations
Below is a table of the lowest flight times to Cuba I have been able to find from a variety of international destinations.
Flight Time To Cuba
| Flight time from Miami to Cuba | 1 hour |
| Flight time from New York to Cuba | 3 h 45 min |
| Flight time from Los Angeles to Cuba | 8 h (1 stop) |
| Flight time from Vancouver to Cuba | < 9h 45 min (1stop) |
| Flight time from Montreal to Cuba | 3 h 50 min |
| Flight time from Anchorage to Cuba | 23 h (2 stops) |
| Flight time from Oslo to Cuba | 15 h (1 stop) |
| Flight time from London to Cuba | 14 h (1 stop) |
| Flight time from Paris to Cuba | 10 hours |
| Flight time from Moscow to Cuba | 19 hours (1 stop) |
Canadians Love To Travel To Cuba!
Around 4.3 million people visited Cuba in 2019, before the pandemic, and the majority of the visitors were from Canada.
Before the pandemic, a whopping 1.1 million Canadians visited Cuba annually. The number has steadily increased by almost 10% annually since 2007 but then dropped dramatically in 2020 and 2021.
Cuba receives visits from travelers around the world through scheduled and charter airlines that land in one of the islands’ ten international airports, of which resort haven Varadero and the Cuban Keys are the most popular destinations.
If or when the U.S. decides to lift travel restrictions to Cuba, it is expected that 1.5 million Americans will visit annually. This could potentially change Canadians’ standing as Cuba’s most frequent visitors.
US Travelers To Cuba
US citizens can visit Cuba, but not for tourism purposes. A US citizen who wants to visit Cuba needs to choose between 12 pre-approved reasons for travel to Cuba, where the most popular reason is “to support the Cuban people.
In 2018, as a result of the thawing relationship between Cuba and the US, more than 600,000 Americans visited Cuba.
After the pandemic and a tightening of sanctions under the Trump administration, the number of US citizens traveling to Cuba annually plummeted to around 10% of that number.
American cruise lines were no longer permitted to dock in Cuban cruise ports, and the Trump administration also put Cuba on the list of states that sponsor terrorism, which further complicated Cuba travel.
Europeans Travel To Cuba
There are no restrictions for Europeans to travel to Cuba.
However, after the US added Cuba to the support for terror list, Europeans who have visited Cuba after January 2021 will not be eligible for the electronic visa to the US; the ESTA.
Europeans can still visit Cuba and travel to the US, but they will need to apply for a different US visa (like the B1B2) and conduct an interview at the US Embassy.
FAQs Cuba 2023
Is Cuba Open For Tourism Right Now?
Yes, Cuba is open for tourism. The only exception, which is not a regulation set by Cuba, is that American citizens are not allowed to visit Cuba for tourism purposes.
American travelers are, however, able to visit Cuba for one of the pre-approved reasons determined by the US Government, the most popular one being “to help the Cuban people.”
You can read more here about travel from Canada to Cuba and from the US to Cuba, respectively.
Where Is Jose Marti International Airport?
Jose Marti International Airport is the airport of the Cuban capital, Havana, and is approximately half an hour’s drive from the city center.
There are no buses or airport trains from Jose Marti airport, but there are plenty of taxis available outside arrivals.
You can also book private transport before your arrival if you prefer to have everything organized.
Where Is Varadero Airport?
Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport is the airport you will fly to if you decide to travel to Varadero, Cuba.
The airport is located on the main island, around 25 25-minute drive from the center of Varadero town, on the Varadero peninsula.
How Safe Is Cuba?
Cuba is a very safe destination for travelers. The island is considered one of the safest destinations in the Caribbean region, and there is very little reported crime against tourists in Cuba.
Be normally vigilant to protect yourself from pickpockets and petty crime like you would anywhere, but rest assured, you can feel safe traveling to and in Cuba.
Is Cuba Safe For Canadians?
Yes, Cuba is a safe destination for visitors in general, and it is also safe for Canadians.
Can I Travel To Cuba On My Own?
Yes, any traveler can travel to Cuba on their own. If you are a US citizen, you need to get a PINK tourist card to enter Cuba (other nationalities need the GREEN version).
US citizens also must choose one of the 12 pre-approved reasons for traveling to Cuba and can not stay in government-owned hotels or resorts.
How Much Cash Can You Bring To Cuba?
You can bring $5000 to Cuba without needing to register your money in customs. If you bring over $5000, you need to register your cash at customs in Cuba.
Wrap-Up How Long Is The Flight From Toronto To Cuba
There you have it; you can find a direct flight from Toronto to Varadero, which will take you to Cuba in only around three and a half hours at best.
From there, you are free to explore all the amazing Cuban destinations!
Hopefully, you also found the extra information helpful, and if you want more information about Cuba travel, feel free to explore the vast number of articles on Cuba travel on this website.
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Is Female Solo Travel In Cuba Safe? A Local Woman’s Advice
