Most places around the globe are well connected by the internet. But “free WiFi” spots in Cuba aren’t all they cracked up to be. Accessing the internet in Cuba isn’t as easy as turning on your WiFi, entering a password and away you go. There’s a whole process of getting online in Cuba and this post is here to guide you through it all.

You will see signs in Cuba saying “free WiFi” here, or a local telling you the same thing. However, you need an extra step to access the internet in Cuba, even if you’re staying in a Casa Particular.

Planning a travel Cuba itinerary without internet can be challenging, so here is how to access the internet in Cuba.

 

What should I know about accessing the internet in Cuba?

First off, there are a few things to understand about accessing the net in Cuba. There are exceptions to pretty much all these points below, but for the majority of internet connections in Cuba:

• “Free wifi” spots in Cuba aren’t really free – these free spots 99% of the time aren’t public connections, you still need to enter your WiFi card details (which you have paid hourly for).
• WiFi in Cuba can be very slow – it’s not uncommon for internet in Cuba to be slow. I’m talking 2G – 3G slow. So give yourself plenty of time if trying to load a heavy website.
• Those guys yelling “WiFi card here” – while I never brought a WiFi card from them in Cuba, there are plenty of them around the streets of Havana. Many people will charge 1.50 CUC an hour to let you use their card, making .50 CUC profit. There is the possibility that these are old cards and invalid.
• Wi-Fi spots are easily spotted – walking around the streets of Cuba you will see groups of people all staring at their phones. Both locals and tourists. This is a pretty good sign you’re near a WiFi point.
• The more people means slower speeds – if the full bandwidth of 2G/3G wasn’t bad enough, sharing those speeds with 10-15 others won’t make it any better, if you can connect at all.
• Getting a WiFi card can mean long lines – one shop sells WiFi cards in Cuba legitimately. You’re looking for a telecommunication shop known as “Etecsa”. Unfortunately, these stores aren’t all that common, so the lines can be very long. For example, the small town of Vinales has only one Etesca shop.

 

How do I access the internet in Cuba

As I mentioned above, it can be a bit of a process to get online in Cuba. But luckily, once you know the process, it all becomes much simpler.

Here’s a step by step list of how to access the internet in Cuba:

• You need to visit an Etecsa (pictured above). It doesn’t cost much to get a WiFi card in Cuba, and I could see those guys selling cards on the street to be a little scammy.
• Once at Etecsa and waited in line, you’ll need to buy a card. It’s 1 hour = 1 CUC and they come in 5 CUC cards. You will need a passport to buy these cards. There wasn’t any option to buy less or more time, so buying multiple cards at once is a perfect way to not stand in line again.
• You will need to connect to a WiFi spot first. This means it will likely have its own password, it should be 8 numbers long. After entering that, a new screen should pop up asking for your wifi card details.
• Scratch off the little black and silver strip on the back. You will see a 12 digit number.
• You will now enter that number when prompted and you should now be connected to the internet in Cuba.

 

What can I do to have a better experience online in Cuba

There are a couple of tips I can give that will make it easier and less frustrating to access the internet in Cuba.

• Private connections are much faster and easier to access. Some casa particulars, restaurants and hotels will have access to Wifi. But it is very rare you don’t need to log in with your Wi-Fi card.
• Etecsa sells WiFi cards, 1 hour for 1 CUC. You can buy preloaded cards, 5-hour cards are common. To save lining up in the long lines, try to figure out how much time you will need to spend on the internet in Cuba.
• It is rare, but I did encounter a couple of public networks that were not password protected. Not only did they connect, they actually loaded website pages. But this is extremely uncommon.
• Make sure you log off when finished your session. I also suggest turning your Wi-Fi network completely off, just so nothing connects without you knowing. Your 5 hours counts as you logged in, not you actually surfing the web in Cuba.

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While it is a bit of a process to get online in Cuba, it is very possible. Plus, once you have your card, it is even easier. It just takes an extra couple of steps. There is a pretty cool positive outcome of the internet not on every street corner and in every restaurant – you can break away from the constant connection. It’s not a bad thing to be without internet in Cuba for a week or two.

Most accommodations can be called and booked in advance, and casa particular hosts are incredibly helpful at helping you book whatever you need (they receive a small cut from the cost of tours and transport).

If you’re worried about accessing the net in Cuba, or just want to completely disconnect, there is a handy item to take with you. Either a paper guide or digital book. Even though they aren’t as popular as they used to be, Lonely Planet’s guide to Cuba is detailed and plenty of unique tips and hints to help you travel better – take the Self-guided photography tour of Trinidad, for example.

So yes, you can get on the internet in Cuba quite easily, but being disconnected from the outside world helps being immersed in this unique and vibrant culture.

 

I hope this post on accessing the internet in Cuba helped – you can help others by sharing to social media – use the buttons to your left or down the bottom for mobile users.

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Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown