How Cubans get online
Connectivity in Cuba is provided by the state telecommunications company, ETECSA. The two practical options for a visitor are mobile data on an ETECSA SIM and Wi-Fi, which may be found in some casas particulares, hotels and public hotspots. Home broadband exists but is far from universal, and where it exists it can be slow and prone to interruption.\n\nMobile data is often the most flexible option for a working traveller, but coverage and speed vary by city and even by neighbourhood. Havana and larger cities are generally better served than rural areas, though nowhere should be assumed to match the always-on connections common elsewhere.
Plan for interruptions, not perfection
Periodic outages are a normal part of life in Cuba, and they affect both internet and electricity. A remote worker should treat a stable connection as something to verify, not assume. Video calls may freeze, uploads may stall, and there will be days when the network is simply slow.\n\nBuild redundancy into your workflow. Download what you need offline, keep deadlines flexible where you can, schedule critical calls for times of day when the network tends to be better, and always have a backup way to reach clients. If your income depends on guaranteed uptime, be candid with yourself about whether Cuba fits that requirement right now.
Questions to ask a host
Before committing to a longer stay for work, ask the host specifically about internet: is there Wi-Fi, is it in the unit or shared, and how reliable has it been recently. Ask whether mobile data works well in that neighbourhood. Ask how frequently power goes out, because a connection is useless during an outage unless there is a backup.\n\nHosts who regularly take working guests will understand these questions. Their candid answers tell you more than any brochure, and they let you match the right neighbourhood and unit to the way you actually work.
Setting realistic expectations
The single most useful mindset for working remotely from Cuba is to plan for a good-enough connection rather than a flawless one. Roles that tolerate asynchronous work, offline drafting and occasional rescheduling adapt well; roles that demand constant, guaranteed uptime for live sessions are harder to sustain here. Being honest with yourself about which kind of work you do prevents disappointment.\n\nRemember, too, that this is a genuine trade. Many people find a longer stay in Cuba worthwhile precisely because they step back from an always-on rhythm. If you go in expecting the connectivity of a major hub, you will struggle; if you plan around the island's real constraints, a productive remote-work stay is achievable.