Health Services & Medical-Tourism Orientation
A working week for a partner exploring health-services collaboration and the medical-tourism context, split between Havana's institutional core and Varadero's clinic-tourism angle, framed by the Law 118 framework and MINSAP's role.
For: Health-services investors and clinic operators
1 · Budget first
A transparent, itemised estimate for 1 traveller · 5 nights · business tier. Every line is a planner range in USD — an estimate to budget with, not a quote.
| International airfare | $600 – $1,400 |
| Entry documents (tourist card) | $30 – $75 |
| Travel insurance | $40 – $150 |
| Accommodation | $475 – $975 |
| Local transportation | $450 – $885 |
| Food | $450 – $825 |
| Guides & activities | $400 – $900 |
| Connectivity | $15 – $55 |
| Tips | $25 – $100 |
| Water, laundry & sundries | $15 – $60 |
| Emergency reserve | $190 – $604 |
| Total (1 traveller) | $2,690 – $6,029 |
- Per traveller
- $2,690 – $6,029
- Per day
- $538 – $1,206
- Ground only (no airfare)
- $1,900 – $4,025
- Airfare est. / traveller
- $600 – $1,400
Basis: business hotel · business food · private driver · 5 guided days.
Adjust every number in the planner →Estimates in USD to help you budget — not observed prices, quotes or guaranteed availability. Most US cards don’t work in Cuba; carry cash and keep the reserve.
2 · Fly in
Rome (FCO) → Havana (HAV) — José Martí International
Cuba's principal international gateway — the only truly diversified one, with links across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Example dates 2026-10-05 → 2026-10-10 (adjust on the live search). CubaAtlas books nothing — these open live results:
3 · Day by day
Where to sleep and dine each day is a real listing from the CubaAtlas provider dataset, nearest your base.
Morning
Land at José Martí; settle in Vedado.Afternoon
Ground orientation: how health services are organized under MINSAP and the export-of-services model.Evening
Working dinner on the medical-tourism value chain.Business step: Read the CubaAtlas business + health-services guide before day 2.
StayHotel Nacional de Cuba5★ · Grupo Hotelero Gran Caribe S.A · La Habana(53 7) 836 3564- Ext:168Website ↗Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)DinnerCantabria, Restaurante Hotel Armadores de SantanderCimex · Internacional · La Habana(537)8628000Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)Open Havana on the map →Nearby: Viñales, Varadero, MatanzasMorning
Understand Servicios Médicos Cubanos as the state commercial channel for health services.Afternoon
Map where a foreign partner can add clinical, equipment or hospitality value.Evening
Dinner debrief on regulatory boundaries for foreign involvement.Business step: Orientation on Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos and its contracting model.
StayHotel Nacional de Cuba5★ · Grupo Hotelero Gran Caribe S.A · La Habana(53 7) 836 3564- Ext:168Website ↗Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)DinnerCantabria, Restaurante Hotel Armadores de SantanderCimex · Internacional · La Habana(537)8628000Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)Open Havana on the map →Nearby: Viñales, Varadero, MatanzasMorning
Law 118 options and the import route for medical equipment via a state comercializadora.Afternoon
Notary consultation on structuring a service or supply agreement.Evening
Working dinner on financing and MLC settlement.Business step: Notary/comercializadora orientation on Law 118 and medical-equipment imports.
Morning
Drive to Varadero; tour the health-tourism/wellness context alongside the resort strip.Afternoon
Assess how convalescence and wellness tourism dovetail with MINTUR properties (Gaviota/Gran Caribe).Evening
Dinner with a tourism-sector contact on packaging medical stays.Business step: Site orientation on Varadero clinic-and-wellness tourism operations.
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StayMeliá Internacional Varadero5★ · Meliá · Varadero+53 45 623100Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)DinnerTerraza CubaVaradero(+53) 45 613640Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Open Varadero on the map →Nearby: Matanzas, Havana, CárdenasMorning
Consolidate findings; ProCuba/MINCEX health-services opportunity review by interpreter.Afternoon
Drive back toward Havana; draft a go/no-go memo.Evening
Farewell dinner; confirm follow-up steps.Business step: ProCuba/MINCEX orientation on health-services investment opportunities.
StayMeliá Internacional Varadero5★ · Meliá · Varadero+53 45 623100Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)DinnerTerraza CubaVaradero(+53) 45 613640Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)Open Varadero on the map →Nearby: Matanzas, Havana, Cárdenas
4 · Visa, entry & customs
Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card, a passport valid for the stay, and proof of onward travel and insurance. Nationals of Italy use the ordinary tourist card — no consular visa for a standard holiday. The full entry, arrival and customs detail is in the guides below.
5 · Shipping & commercial issues
Bringing goods or equipment is a commercial import (not baggage), typically through a state comercializadora, with a foreign business operating under a Law 118 form and real MLC/USD currency constraints. For US persons the embargo adds sanctions exposure on many dealings — orientation only; verify with counsel and the relevant ministry. The roadmaps and sector guides below have the detail.
Sectors in focus: Health services · Medical tourism
Orientation only. Collaboration routes (Law 118 JV, service agreements with Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos) and licensing steps are detailed with primary sources in the CubaAtlas business guide; confirm current requirements with MINSAP and MINCEX before acting.
6 · Book direct, or compare an agency
This plan is costed to book direct — the $3,958 (expected) above is the itemised cost with no package margin. Prefer a bundle? Take an agency quote and compare it line-for-line against that breakdown.
Operating Italy agencies serving Cuba, if you prefer a package:
- Alpitour ↗
Bravo Club resorts + tours (Varadero, Cayo Largo, Cayo Coco, Havana).
Sells: packages, tours
- Turisanda ↗
Operating since 1924 (Alpitour group); Havana–Varadero, self-drive.
Sells: packages, tours · +39 011 0171111
- Veratour ↗
Veraclub resorts (Cayo Largo, Varadero) + Avana & Varadero tours.
Sells: packages, tours · 06 500 66 777
- Havanatur Italia ↗
Italian Cuba specialist since 1992; incl. casa particular.
Sells: flights, packages, hotels, cars, excursions · 02 6760691
- Eden Viaggi ↗
Ciao Club resorts (Varadero, Cayo Largo, Holguín).
Sells: packages
CubaAtlas is non-commercial and takes no commission. Agency links go straight to the operator; we don’t book, broker or earn from them.
Every Cuba agency, compiled — with the free equivalent for each →Questions
- How much does the "Health Services & Medical-Tourism Orientation" trip cost?
- An estimated $2,690–$6,029 all-in for 1 traveller(s) over 5 nights ($3,958 per traveller expected), including airfare, lodging, food, transport and a reserve. It is a planner estimate, not a quote — you book each part direct, with no agency margin.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
- Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card plus a valid passport, onward travel and medical insurance — no consular visa for a standard holiday stay. See the CubaAtlas visa & entry guide.
- When is the best time to do the 5-night Health Services & Medical-Tourism Orientation trip?
- The best months for this 5-night business plan are November–April, and it is a popular route from Italy. Cuba's dry high season runs roughly November to April; the June-to-November hurricane season is quieter and cheaper.
- What does the Health Services & Medical-Tourism Orientation itinerary include?
- A day-by-day route over 5 nights with a real hotel and restaurant chosen for each day, a live flight search from Italy, and a full itemised budget of about $3,958 per traveller. It is free and self-booked — CubaAtlas gives you the plan and you arrange each part directly at the source, with no agency margin or commission.