The U.S. government has limited travel to Cuba since 1960, after Fidel Castro came to power. The American government has essentially limited sanctioned travel to journalists, academics, government officials, those with immediate family members living on the island and others licensed by the Treasury Department.
Authorized travel to Cuba typically takes place via charter flights from Miami, since direct flights by U.S. airlines are illegal. Cost of the short flight typically exceeds $500 per round trip.
It is illegal for any U.S. visitors to bring back any purchased goods from Cuba, such as cigars. It also is illegal to contribute to the Cuban economy in any way, such as by paying for a hotel room.
Some U.S. citizens -- tens of thousands, by some estimates -- skirt the travel regulations by entering from the Cayman Islands; Cancun, Mexico; Nassau, The Bahamas; or Toronto, Canada, and requesting that Cuban immigration officials not stamp their passports. However, violators can face fines or more severe penalties. For more details, see the U.S. Treasury Department website's page on Cuba sanctions.
