When thinking about Florida and Cuba, not everyone realizes that they are closer than some of the states in the United States. So how far is Florida from Cuba?

From Key West, Florida, to Havana, Cuba, it is about 90 miles, but it can change depending on the forms of transportation:

  • 103 miles by boat.
  • 110 miles by swimming
  • 412 miles by plane

You can travel to Cuba in less than a day from Florida by any means, although swimming will take a little longer. Here is everything you need to know about the distance to Cuba from Florida.

How Far Is Florida From Cuba?

Florida is about 450 miles away from Cuba, but this isn’t the case depending on your form of transportation. By boat may be closer than by plane, and so forth. 

Three major ways to get to Cuba are the following:

  • Boat
  • Plane
  • Swimming

Since there is an ocean between the two locations, these are the only forms of transportation you can choose.

By Boat

By boat is a common way to travel to Cuba from Florida. You can even go by ferry. The distance is about 90 nautical miles from Key West and longer the farther you go North in Florida.

Ninety nautical miles is about 103 miles. It should only take about 4 hours, but other routes can take up to 10 hours on a good day.

Weather can affect the time it takes for you to get from one point to the other. 

By Plane

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get to Cuba and is the best way to get there and have more time to have fun. You also don’t have to worry about the weather as much.

Flights to Cuba from Florida are about one hour and 24 minutes, depending on which airport you decide to fly out of. Delays do occur, but even with these, it is still the fastest route.

You shouldn’t have to deal with a layover when purchasing a plane ticket for Cuba. It should be a straight flight there, with no worries.

By Swimming

Swimming will be one of the longest routes to take when getting to Cuba. It is extremely difficult, and only those who are trained to do so should do it.

The swim from Key West to Havana, Cuba, is about 110 miles. Back in 2013, swimmer Diana Nyad made the trek to Cuba in 53 hours. She went through shark and jellyfish-infested waters to do this. 

She had actually tried the trek many years before but was unable to do it because of dangerous conditions. This is why it is important that you don’t try to swim to Cuba by any means.

Try to keep to a boat or plane if you want to go to Cuba. It is not worth the risk to swim there. The swells and currents as well as the sharks and other creatures in the sea can be dangerous.

Where To Find Boat Rides To Cuba?

There have been ferries in the past that run from Florida to Cuba and back. As of right now, the ferries are limited due to political disagreements. This doesn’t mean there isn’t one at all.

You can find ferries in Tampa Bay and Key West that will take you to a port near Havanna. If you are in Cuba, you can just go to the port where these ferries land.

Where To Find Other Boat Rides?

You can rent boats as well to make the drive. You do not have to go by ferry. This will cost you a lot more than a ferry, but you can go on your time and don’t have to schedule around a trip.

All you need for this trip is a U.S. passport. You will need these since you are crossing international waters and going to another country.

You will not be able to go on land without a passport because you will cross borders illegally. Ensure you have this, so you don’t come across any problems.

The best places to find rentals are where you can get ferry rides like the Key West and Tampa Bay, but you can find them anywhere on the coast. With technology today, you can even rent boats from the owners themselves.

Outro

Flying or riding a boat to Cuba is a quick trip and can be quite a fun one. You can do a trip in one day since Florida and Cuba are so close to each other!