Cuba Travel for Seniors: Health, Mobility and Resort Planning

Travelling to Cuba as an older adult requires more preparation than a typical resort holiday. Medical supplies, mobility assistance, heat, stairs, long airport transfers and interruptions to electricity or water can all affect the trip. The right hotel, insurance policy and backup plan are therefore more important than the resort star rating alone.

Quick answer: Speak with a healthcare professional before departure, verify that insurance covers pre-existing conditions and medical evacuation, carry medication in your hand luggage, and ask the hotel specific questions about elevators, walking distances and accessible transportation.

Cuba travel for seniors: what to check first

Begin with the current Government of Canada travel advisory and airline availability. Conditions can change quickly, including transportation, fuel, electricity, medicine and bottled-water availability. Do not rely only on a tour operator description written months earlier.

Travel insurance and medical preparation

Review the policy exclusions, age limits, stability clauses for pre-existing conditions, hospital coverage and medical evacuation. Keep the insurer’s emergency telephone number offline and provide a copy to a trusted person in Canada.

• Carry prescription medication in original labelled containers.
• Bring enough for the full stay plus a reasonable delay.
• Keep prescriptions and a medical summary with you.
• Pack medication in hand luggage, not checked baggage.
• Bring essential non-prescription supplies that may be difficult to replace locally.

See our Cuba medication and pharmacy planning guide and healthcare preparation guide.

Choose a resort by layout, not only reviews

A large resort may require substantial walking between rooms, restaurants, the beach and the lobby. Ask about the distance from the room block to essential services, elevator reliability, stairs, ramps, accessible bathrooms and whether a golf-cart service actually operates.

Use the Varadero hotels map to understand location, then confirm the internal resort layout directly. Our guide to choosing a Varadero hotel room explains how to request a practical room location.

Airport and transfer planning

Request mobility assistance from the airline before travel. Confirm whether assistance continues through immigration, baggage collection and the transfer area. Shared coaches can involve waiting and multiple hotel stops, while private transfers may reduce walking and delays.

Keep medication, a light snack, water when permitted, documents and one change of clothing in hand luggage. Review our Varadero airport transfer guide.

Heat, hydration and food

Older travellers may be more vulnerable to dehydration and heat illness. Schedule outdoor activities earlier, rest during the hottest period and confirm access to drinking water. Certain medications can also affect heat tolerance, so discuss this with a healthcare professional.

Read the food and water safety guide before departure.

Power outages and backup planning

Large resorts often have backup power, but coverage and fuel availability can vary. Elevators, air conditioning, lighting, water pressure, refrigeration and charging may still be affected. Bring a charged power bank, flashlight, printed contacts and offline copies of insurance and travel documents.

See our guide to Cuba power outages for travellers.

Daily comfort, dining and personal supplies

Buffets can require standing, carrying plates and waiting in line. Ask whether staff can help with seating or meal service and choose quieter dining times when balance, fatigue or mobility is a concern.

• Bring hearing-aid batteries, mobility-aid parts and personal-care supplies that may be difficult to replace.
• Pack supportive footwear for wet floors, ramps and uneven outdoor paths.
• Carry translated dietary information and suitable backup snacks when necessary.
• Confirm that mobility equipment fits the planned transfer vehicle.

For detailed resort-layout questions, review accessible travel and mobility planning for Cuba resorts.

Frequently asked questions

Is Varadero suitable for senior travellers?

It can be, but resort layout, room location, medical needs and transportation should be checked individually before booking.

Should medication go in checked luggage?

Essential medication should remain in hand luggage in original labelled containers, together with prescriptions or supporting documents.

Can a hotel guarantee an accessible room?

Do not rely only on a general room category. Request written confirmation of the specific accessibility features needed.

What should a travel companion carry?

A copy of the traveller’s medication list, insurance details, emergency contacts and relevant health information.

Final preparation

A successful senior trip to Cuba depends on verified details rather than assumptions. Confirm health coverage, medication, mobility assistance, room location and backup options before paying the final balance. Recheck the current travel advisory and transportation situation shortly before departure.