Mail to Cuba from Canada – Cuba – Debbie's Carribean Reviews Forums

lsalvis 2009-05-06 20:19:44 UTC #1

What can you send in the mail to Cuba? Is there any restrictions? Can you send money, gifts, pictures?

If anyone has info, please let me know!

Thanks!

f18tom 2009-05-06 20:24:31 UTC #2

I’ve the same question….met a very nice personable person while in Cuba, and I’ll watch your thread for info as well.
I have the address and e mail, but will poll ideas before I go the mailing route.

Thanks for posting the question.
Regards,

Tom

lsalvis 2009-05-06 20:31:20 UTC #3

NP Tom! We met a couple of great guys last week and wanted to send them some pics and maybe some other things…so we will see what the Cuba experts say

eloisegirl 2009-05-06 20:50:51 UTC #4

The best way to send from Canada is to send a postcard, as letters may be opened, packages etc may not arrive. There is a place on Bloor Street that many ex-pats use to send things home – it’s 50 bucks to send 2 kgs in an envelope, but I can’t remember the name. takes about two weeks because it goes to Havana, through inspection (drug dog sniffs!) then gets delivered.

the really best way to do it is to find someone going to the same resort, and send it with them, as long as it is nothing counterrevolutionary, and leave the envelope unsealed.

Sounds like you folks have found some charming Cubans – perhaps you should check out Cuba Amor, where there is lots of advice on how to get things down to Cuba, (legally!) , as well as a thread for deliveries. Good luck!

eeeefarm 2009-05-06 22:09:27 UTC #5

the really best way to do it is to find someone going to the same resort, and send it with them, as long as it is nothing counterrevolutionary, and leave the envelope unsealed.

I have to agree…..get a mule! (used one, been one…..definitely the way to go.)

lsalvis 2009-05-06 22:27:29 UTC #6

I’m hoping that it wont be too hard being in NB…I’ll have to start looking now!

rainbow 2009-05-06 22:46:45 UTC #7

I sent a wedding card 8 weeks ago and it did not arrive. The wedding was today. I guess it was the thought that counts.

annem 2009-05-06 22:47:14 UTC #8

I’m hoping that it wont be too hard being in NB…I’ll have to start looking now!

A mule doesn’t have to be in your province – I’ve used XPress Post to send letters, pictures and small gifts to people travelling to Cuba from all over the country!

Keep an eye on the Cuba Meeting Place forum, you’ll be able to contact anyone by private message. Most people are very accomodating. I always let the person know ahead of time what I will be sending and I leave everything open for them to inspect freely if they want.

canuks 2009-05-06 22:51:53 UTC #9

I agree with eeeefarm.

I have taken down stuff and had others take down mail. With enough time you can mail within Canada in under a week.

What I have done with letters is put an open letter inside another envelope addressed to the mule. That way the kind carrier can see what they are carrying down and can seal it before they give it to the person at the other end. What I have done also is print a picture on the outside of the envelope of the person the letter is going to along with their name. It makes it easier to identify the Cuban the present is going to.

lsalvis 2009-05-06 23:03:44 UTC #10

I never even thought about sending it to another place in Canada first…I’m blaming my lack of intelligence today on the rotten head cold/virus I have! Thanks for keeping me in line….great ideas!

canuks 2009-05-06 23:09:52 UTC #11

Where are your Cuban friends located?

lsalvis 2009-05-06 23:13:46 UTC #12

maluszek 2009-05-07 01:09:31 UTC #13

Hi all,
Next week I am going to MCSM and I am willing to take a letter for the staff.If anybody have friends in Melia and wants to send something,please pm me

system 2009-05-07 12:42:57 UTC #14

Muling is definitely the way to go and Debbie’s members are most accommodating. I’ve muled and had others mule for me. It’s fun and rewarding when you see the look of surprise and smile of pleasure on the face of the Cuban recipient. Definitely, as others have mentioned, leave envelopes unsealed so that your mule can check the contents before adding to their luggage.

meredita 2009-05-07 15:50:42 UTC #15

I have sent many letters to Cuba but I always register them with the post office…I would never send cash as they won’t get it…the only other way is to send it down with someone who is going…good luck

boldstar 2009-05-07 18:56:48 UTC #16

I tried mailing things to Cuba a number of times before I learned my lesson. The Cuban postal workers are thieves and they’ll open any package or envelope that might contain something valuable. And I’ll hazard a guess that they don’t re-seal letters with photos inside and send them along to the rightful owners. More than likely stuff they open and don’t want ends up in the trash.

I’ve had a couple of hand-written letters get through. I just made sure it was only a single page inside a thin envelope so that the postal burglars would know immediately there was only correspondence inside.

Postcards have always worked well, for obvious reasons. So if you’re intent on sending a photo to one of your Cuban amigos, print the picture, write a note on the back, slap a stamp on it and drop it in the mail. Instant, personalized postcard.

Relatively speaking, it’s easier to get mail into Cuba than out of Cuba. I’ve been mailing vacation postcards to friends back home for years and only a few of them ever arrived.

bettyboopb24 2009-05-08 00:08:19 UTC #17

Anything I’ve sent here postcards have all arrived. I have also sent letters {2} that made it there. Probably just lucky. I also just sent piggyback with a co worker 3 medium bubble pack envelopes with photos with him to Vara dero. He went to a post office and mailed them. They were going to Guardalavaca area. He said she weighed them and took his money. He didn’t see her put postage on. Will wait and see if I hear they arrived. Es Cuba

eloisegirl 2009-05-19 18:36:02 UTC #18

Back from Marea del Portillo and I was asked to mail a letter in Canada. Very happy to do so! One Cdn woman had 27 letters to deliver to friends – she said she feels like Santa Claus!