Which carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Order online before you fly: every route into a Cuban tourist SIM runs through an online purchase, because foreign card payments inside Cuba are unreliable. Validity starts when you activate with *666, not when you buy, and the rules on extending a Tur SIM are inconsistent enough that you should not build a long trip around any answer without checking. You cannot cancel the product at an ETECSA office once purchased. Cuba's internet is restricted, so set up any tools you need before arrival, and carry cash: US-issued cards generally do not work.
The state monopoly and the only mobile network in Cuba: 3G in urban areas, workable 4G in Havana and the main tourist zones, limited coverage in rural areas. Visitors can no longer use ordinary local SIMs and are channelled into the dedicated Cubacel Tur tourist product.
A passport is required to buy a tourist SIM, with registration handled at the ETECSA counter. There is no nationality restriction, so Americans can buy one in Cuba; buyers must be 18 or over, a maximum of three Cubacel Tur lines can be registered per passport, and people of Cuban origin must use their foreign passport details.
Most travel eSIM providers have limited coverage in Cuba, so a local SIM from one of the carriers above is usually the more reliable option. Check your provider's coverage list before you buy.
SIM cards and eSIM in Cuba