-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O0cPUQrIBcTCFaTGL1YlO7JbAhhsHUnS/Uw0/TdgYFqIEtu4+9fCuqJD85Rm/Lwa
 joj24US7gEKTn05O43Po9w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001312265-05-000001.txt : 20050706
<SEC-HEADER>0001312265-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050706
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050706111026
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001312265-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050706
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050706

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HERZFELD CARIBBEAN BASIN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000880406
		IRS NUMBER:				650396889
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 161465
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3052711900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 161465
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33116

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FIRST CUBA FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920929

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEINTRAUB ALBERT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001312265

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-06445
		FILM NUMBER:		05939330

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		305-271-1900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE HERZFELD CARIBBEAN BASIN FUND INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 161465
		CITY:			MAIMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33116
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000880406</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERZFELD CARIBBEAN BASIN FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CUBA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001312265</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEINTRAUB ALBERT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE HERZFELD CARIBBEAN BASIN FUND INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P O BOX 161465</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MAIMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse and children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.3</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse and children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale of securities by reporting person to his spouse and three emancipated adult daughters each of which owns an equal right in a joint brokerage account.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the prorate portion of the share in the account to which his three daughters have rights, and this report should be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of his three daughters shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Albert L. Weintraub</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
