Can Americans stay at Cuba's all-inclusive resorts?

Often not. Many of Cuba's large resorts are owned by state or military-linked entities that appear on the U.S. State Department's Cuba Restricted List, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from transacting with them. On top of that, U.S. travellers can't visit Cuba as tourists at all — they travel under a general-license category, usually "Support for the Cuban People," which is built around private casas particulares rather than state resorts. So a resort holiday is typically not the right fit for Americans; check the Restricted List and our U.S.-traveller guide first.

Where are the main all-inclusive resort areas in Cuba?

The biggest is Varadero, a long beach peninsula near Havana. Then the northern cays — Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Santa María — reached by causeway, and Holguín's coast (Guardalavaca) in the east. All offer classic beach-resort all-inclusives on white-sand beaches.

Are Cuba's resorts closing or affected by the crisis?

Cuba's tourism sector has been under strain, and some hotels have reduced service, closed seasonally or been affected by shortages and power issues. Conditions vary by property and change over time, so check the current status of any specific resort and your government's travel advice before booking.

What are Cuba's all-inclusive resorts like?

Generally comfortable beach resorts with pools, buffets, bars and activities on excellent beaches — but often more dated than equivalents in, say, the Dominican Republic or Mexico, and occasionally affected by supply shortages. The draw is the beach and the price, not cutting-edge luxury.

Should I do a resort or independent travel in Cuba?

A resort is the easy, self-contained beach option and works for pure relaxation (and for non-U.S. travellers). Independent travel with casas particulares and paladares is more authentic, supports Cuban families directly, and is the model U.S. "Support for the Cuban People" travel is built around. Many visitors combine a few resort beach days with a Havana/Viñales/Trinidad leg.

Practical Cuba · Resorts

Cuba’s all-inclusive resorts

Cuba has classic beach-resort all-inclusives on some of the Caribbean’s best sand — but there’s a catch for U.S. travellers: many resorts are state-owned and on the Cuba Restricted List, so Americans generally can’t stay in them. Here’s the honest landscape.

The U.S.-traveller catch

Two things stack up for Americans: (1) U.S. law bans tourism in Cuba — you travel under a general license, usually “Support for the Cuban People”, which is built around private casas particulares, not state resorts; and (2) many big resorts are owned by military-linked entities on the U.S. State Department’s Cuba Restricted List, which U.S. persons generally may not transact with. Net effect: a resort holiday usually isn’t the right fit for U.S. travellers — check the Restricted List and the U.S.-traveller guide first. (For non-U.S. travellers, resorts are freely available.)

Where the resort areas are

Varadero

The biggest resort strip — a 20km beach peninsula packed with all-inclusives, easiest from Havana.

Cayo Coco & Cayo Guillermo

Northern cays reached by causeway; calm, shallow, brochure-blue water and big beach resorts.

Cayo Santa María

Another causeway cay of resorts on a long white-sand beach, quieter than Varadero.

Holguín (Guardalavaca)

The east's resort coast — Guardalavaca and nearby bays, near Santiago and the greener Sierra.

Explore them on the beaches hub and the map.

What to expect

Comfortable beach resorts with pools, buffets, bars and activities on superb beaches — generally more dated than the Dominican Republic or Mexico, and occasionally touched by Cuba’s supply shortages and power issues. The draw is the beach and value, not cutting-edge luxury. Some properties have cut service or closed seasonally during the tourism downturn, so confirm a specific resort’s current status before booking.

Cuba vs Dominican Republic →U.S. travellers Independent trips

Frequently asked questions

Can Americans stay at Cuba's all-inclusive resorts?: Often not. Many of Cuba's large resorts are owned by state or military-linked entities that appear on the U.S. State Department's Cuba Restricted List, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from transacting with them. On top of that, U.S. travellers can't visit Cuba as tourists at all — they travel under a general-license category, usually "Support for the Cuban People," which is built around private casas particulares rather than state resorts. So a resort holiday is typically not the right fit for Americans; check the Restricted List and our U.S.-traveller guide first.
Where are the main all-inclusive resort areas in Cuba?: The biggest is Varadero, a long beach peninsula near Havana. Then the northern cays — Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Santa María — reached by causeway, and Holguín's coast (Guardalavaca) in the east. All offer classic beach-resort all-inclusives on white-sand beaches.
Are Cuba's resorts closing or affected by the crisis?: Cuba's tourism sector has been under strain, and some hotels have reduced service, closed seasonally or been affected by shortages and power issues. Conditions vary by property and change over time, so check the current status of any specific resort and your government's travel advice before booking.
What are Cuba's all-inclusive resorts like?: Generally comfortable beach resorts with pools, buffets, bars and activities on excellent beaches — but often more dated than equivalents in, say, the Dominican Republic or Mexico, and occasionally affected by supply shortages. The draw is the beach and the price, not cutting-edge luxury.
Should I do a resort or independent travel in Cuba?: A resort is the easy, self-contained beach option and works for pure relaxation (and for non-U.S. travellers). Independent travel with casas particulares and paladares is more authentic, supports Cuban families directly, and is the model U.S. "Support for the Cuban People" travel is built around. Many visitors combine a few resort beach days with a Havana/Viñales/Trinidad leg.

CubaAtlas is an independent, non-commercial information project — it does not book, sell or arrange resorts. This page explains the landscape and cites official sources; it is not legal advice. Restricted-List status and resort operations change — verify against the official list and current advice before you book. Last reviewed 2026-08-01.