Traveling alone can be anxiety-producing, especially as a woman who is weary of dangers even when walking around your hometown in the United States. I have pushed aside these fears, and trusted in my own abilities to be aware of my surroundings, to achieve a dream of mine to travel around the world.
Ever since the travel ban had been lifted, Cuba has been on the bucket list of my travel destinations. I did not want to go as a tourist and take a cruise, but I wanted to go as a world traveler; someone looking to learn and experience the life of others outside of the United States.
Luckily for me, you can only travel to Cuba as a solo traveler under the Support for the Cuban People category. This means you promise the United States government you are not traveling as a tourist, but as someone who is looking to learn about the culture, talk to individuals on the street, and support individually owned businesses on a full time schedule (36 hours or more a day). Say Less was exactly what went through my mind as I then spontaneously booked my flight.
Under this category it is recommended to stay in a Casa Particular, a home that a Cuban resident has opened up for travelers to stay in where you interact with your host family. The home I stayed in was located at the edge of Old Havana owned by my host Susana and her family. Which I have written about here!
I couldn't have asked for a better host family to stay with. Susana was amazing in her knowledge of places to go, eat, and about the culture in Havana. Susana's place is also one of the few casa particulares with wi-fi which is hard to come by in Cuba outside of the major hotels. This made it a lot easier to prepare for my adventures every morning and evening as well as keep in touch with my family.
Cuba is one of the safest places to travel for solo female travelers.
Cuba has a very machisimo culture where cat-calling is prevalent, but it is not the same as you experience in New York City. Just ignoring or saying "no me molesta" (do not bother me) is all that you need to be left alone. Not once did I feel I was in danger of being attacked, assaulted, or robbed.
I spent time traveling through the streets of Old Havana and Vedado going to local produce markets, flea markets, restaurants, and museums. I met and spoke with locals and even made friends with other travelers along the way.
My favorite experience was my trip to Guanabacoa, an Afro-Cuban town just outside of Havana where I had a tour learning about afro-cuban culture and the history/practice of Santeria. I have written a separate article on this which can be found here.
I only spent four magical days in Havana and there was so much more I could've seen and experience. I plan on returning to travel more throughout Cuba.
Safe travels,
Chelle
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