SIM cards and eSIM in Cuba
SIM cards and eSIM in CubaWhich carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- 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.
- The normal route is to pre-order online before you fly and collect on arrival: you present the emailed code at an ETECSA/Cubacel Tur stand and staff install the SIM for you. Stands are reported at Havana's Jose Marti airport near baggage collection and at Varadero, Cayo Coco, Camaguey, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba airports, plus ETECSA offices nationwide. Buying at the airport without a pre-order is possible but means paying in foreign currency, and not everyone's cards work. Nauta cards for ETECSA's public WiFi hotspots are most reliably bought at ETECSA offices; informal vendors at hotspot parks may sell expired or already-used cards.
- eSIM exists but is limited: not every travel eSIM provider covers Cuba (GigSky is one that does), and ETECSA resellers advertise eSIM versions of Cubacel Tur. Either way the eSIM still rides ETECSA's network, so it avoids the counter queue but not Cuba's internet restrictions.
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.
Local carriers
ETECSA (Cubacel)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my passport to buy a SIM card in Cuba?
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.
What is the best eSIM for Cuba?
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.