One of the questions I get asked a lot is, “How can I go to Cuba on my own?” After numerous trips and research for the classes I teach on Cuba, the number one thing I have learned is that it is a complex (and ever-changing) system to navigate.

I’ve adventured on my own plenty in Central and South America and am fluent in Spanish, but after years of travel to Cuba and hearing the nightmares of independent travelers to Cuba, here are the reasons I swear tours are the way to go if you want an enjoyable, stress-free experience.