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Travelling to Cuba
How easy it is to travel to and from Cuba depends in where you travel from. Due to the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba there are restrictions traveling directly from the U.S. to Cuba. Depending where you travel from the best way to get there is by doing so via Mexico, Canada or a direct airline from your part of the world.
The Cuban government permits american citizens to visit but the U.S. itself restricts its citizens from travelling there. The only exception is with a license issued by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The specific restriction is against spending money in Cuba. The authorities in the U.S. consider any visit of more than one day to be proof that one has spent money there. Many U.S. citizens travel without a license, doing so by way of other countries to escape detection. Such countries include the Bahamas, Canada and Mexico. The same restriction applies even if you are an non-U.S. citicen and have planned to travel from the U.S. to Cuba. The best thing to do is to travel via another country to Cuba instead of directly from the U.S. Read the below section about visa and vaccine as well. If you are an american and have planned to visit Cuba it is important that you read the section Money and banking.
Travelling within Cuba
If you can afford to pay a little extra you can get around on Cuba quite easily. Most flights used for domestic flights in Cuba are old twelve-seater, single engined Russian biplanes so its something I dont recoment even if it is one of the fastest ways of getting around on Cuba. If you have planned to travel by train you have to show your passport to buy a ticket. You have to buy a ticket directtly from the trainstation at least an hour before the train is scheduled to depart. The main line connects Havana and Santiago de Cuba and this journey takes 12 hours. Most of the largest cities on Cuba is operated by this line and there are branch lines to other cities in Cuba. The Tren Francès is the only reliable train on Cuba and you should be aware that many Cubans prefer to hitchhike than take the train.
Few Cubans own a car. Therefore bus is the most common used way of getting around on Cuba. There are two services for interprovincial routes on Cuba. One is operated by Víazul, which primarely are used by tourists, and Astro which costs somewhere between halv and two-third of the cost with Víazul. Víazul run comfortable air-conditioned long-distance coaches with washrooms and televisions. The downside of using Víazul is that it only runs between 17 different cities but the comfort is better and less crowded. Using Astro you should always say that you are a student, as tourists are theoretically forbidden from using this transport. Have in mind that the timetable is unreliable and the bus may not leave at all because it lacks petrol. Using local coaches you should mark your place in the queue which may not even seem to exist.
In Cuba, all vehicles drive on the right hand side of the road. Car rental starts from CUC 65 per day plus the cost of a full tank of gasoline. Rental cars are for the most part fairly new, imported European or Asian models. Any traffic tickets received are noted on a rental car sheet and are deducted from your rental deposit. Note that if you are involved in a serious traffic accident involving injury or death, you will be detained in Cuba until the legal process sorts things out, which can take months. For this reason, many countries advise their citizens not to rent cars in Cuba.
Busier roads and city streets are generally of fair quality and should not pose much trouble if due care is exercised, however some quiet rural roads are in need of serious repair. Generally traffic is light. Outside of towns and cities traffic is usually very light, with no cars for miles on some rural roads. Using the higways on Cuba you are likely to meet horse-drawn vehicles. Roads are at best poorly signposted. Be aware that many traffic lights, especially in cities, are placed on the FAR corner of the crossing, not where you are supposed to stop, thus inviting you to stop in the middle of the intersection.
There are several islands you may explore on the southern coast of Cuba. These islands are accessable from Cienfuegos or
Trinidad. These boats goes to Canarreos Archipelago, Juventud Islands and Jardines de la Reina Archipelago.
Places to visit and when to go there
Places to sleep
If you want to experience real life on Cuba the best places to stay are casas particulares which are private houses licensed to offer lodging services to foreigners. They are cheaper than hotels and the food is almost always better than you would get in a hotel. Casas particulares are plentiful even in small towns and they are somewhat more expensive in Havana than elsewhere. Always make sure that you talk to the owner about what things will cost when you arrive to avoid unpleasant surprises later. These houses are under a lot of restrictions by the government so make sure that you are staying at a legal "casa". A legal house will have a sticker on the front door which often is a blue sign on a white background. Upon arrival the houseowner will need to take down your passport details and how long you will be staying for. Some Cubans do offer illegal accommodation. They are cheaper but the quality of the food and service is generally lower. If found, the Cubans will risk a large fine and it is best to avoid illegal casas completely. If travelling around the island, it is recommended to ask the casa owners if they have friends or family in the city you are going to. There is a network of casas and the family will gladly organise for you to be met by their friends off the bus at your next destination. Cubans hosting foreigners for free is technically illegal and risk a large fine if caught. Some will bend the rules, but be cautious if you choose to take up the offer. Most casas particulares have business card or have a contact net with other casas particulares in Cuba and may be helpfull to book on the next place you are going to before you check out.
If travelling by bus, you will be accosted by hustlers trying to lead you to a casa, where they will get a commission and you will be charged the extra. For the best rates, arrange your accommodation in advance, either by asking your host to recommend someone or by using a casa particular association. Some will let you book accommodation over the internet before your trip, and will go out of their way to arrange accommodation for you while you are there.
Most small cities and larger towns have at least one state-run hotel, which is often in a restored colonial building. The prices range from around CUC 25 to CUC 100, depending on what you are getting. Resorts and high-end Havana hotels can be significantly more expensive. The downside of staying in a hotel is that it may be more difcoult to get to know Cubans. In adition to hotels you may stay in hostales which have somawhat lower standard. If you want to book somewhere to sleep online check out casaparticular.info, ubacasas.net and lahabana.com
Money and banking
The official currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP) which is divided into 100 centavos. CUP are also known as local Pesos and Moneda Nacional. In adition to CUP Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) is also in circulation. The CUC was introduced to take out all foreing currencies from circulation and offer an alternative that is in almost all senses equal to US dollars. It replaces the dollar as currency where previously dollars were quoted in places such as hotels, restaurants and so called 'dollar shops', and is the new 'tourist' currency. Some places only accept Cuban pesos and others only Pesos Convertible. U.S. Dollars are no longer accepted and a 10% commission is charged to exchange them.
Money should only be changed at official exchange bureaux or banks to avoid scams confusing the two currencies. There are two official institutions where you could exchange foreing currency into Cuban convertible pesos: Banks and Casas de Cambio. CUC is the currency most tourists will use in Cuba. It is how you will pay for hotels, official taxis, entry into museums, meals at restaurants, cigars, rum, etc. Conversion into CUC can be done at exchange houses (casa de cambio, or cadeca). These are located in many hotels and in other places throughout the cities. CUC are valued at 28 times the value of CUP. Tourists are permitted to import or export a maxiumum of CUP 100 or CUC 200 at any one time. Be aware that you will not find Cuban Convertible Pesos in any country except Cuba. This currency is not internationally recognized or used outside Cuba. Changing a very small sum into 'moneda nacional' (CUP) is useful only for theaters, cinemas, local buses, etc. Most tourists will not ever use the 'moneda nacional' on holiday. Travelers or Backpackers with a low budget can save a lot of money in food expenses if they are willing to eat Cheese Pizza and fried eggs.
Over 75% of Cuba's visitors hold Canadian Dollars, Sterling or Euros which are perfectly acceptable. Mexican Pesos, Swiss Francs, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollars and at least four other currencies are also reportedly converted at major banks in Cuba. If you must change a large sum of home currency for another, make sure to change directly into CUCs, and research exchange rates in advance. For currencies that aren't accepted in Cuba, converting to Euros in your home country will probably be the easiest and cheapest option.
Traveler's checks drawn on American banks are not technically valid in Cuba, though many have had success cashing U.S. traveler's checks at major tourist hotels. American Express checks are difficult to cash due to the likelihood that they were purchased with U.S. dollars. For example, Swiss traveler's checks will be accepted, as long as they are in Swiss francs, even if the checks are made "in licence" of an American bank, as long as the real producer of them is non-American. Visa Traveller's cheques are accepted, though the same caveats about being drawn on an American bank apply. It's better to bring cash to Cuba; resorts accept Euros, Canadian dollars, British pounds, Swiss francs and Hong Kong Dollar currencies without any fees. If backpacking or leaving the resort areas, exchange your currency to CUCs, as foreign currency is not accepted by many locals.
ATMs are rare in Cuba, with only a handful found in Havana. Most are linked with either the Mastercard/Cirrus or Visa/Plus interbank systems. U.S.-issued cards will not be accepted. Unlike some national systems, only primary accounts are recognized. Even if you find an ATM and meet the above criteria it still may not have sufficient cash for a large withdrawal. If you are refused, try again and ask for a smaller amount or ask the bank clerks for a cash advance, they can process cash advances.
Visa and Mastercard credit cards (of non-US origin) can usually be used, including for cash advances, but places that accept Visa as payment are extremely limited. Credit cards are charged in US dollars plus 11.24% (the 8% exchange difference plus a 3% fee). The best places to attempt to use a credit/Debit card for a cash withdrawal are at the state run Cadecas / Cambios - rather than banks used by Cubans, using the 'red' (company name) ATMs. Debit cards are generally not accepted, although this does vary from card to card.
Many banks will tell you that your debit card will be accepted in Cuba when in fact it will not. Do not rely on ATMs for cash as you may be used to in other countries. Top Tip: Have enough currency or travellers cheques when you enter the country to get by, if necessary. There is a high chance you will not be able to withdraw any cash other than with credit card, which will cost you a min of 11% commission. Other than for use at ATMs and banks, there are generally no facilities for making payments with plastic in hotels, shops and restaurants, necessitating the use of cash.
Vaccine and health
There are no particular health risks going to Cuba. You are not required to take any vaccines before entering the country unless you arrive from a country with yellow fever and cholera are endemic. It is though advisable you get inoculations for hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. Bring pain killers and any medical supply you may think you need because this may be hard to come by on Cuba.
Thousands of visitors comes to Cuba each year as part of the health tourism in the country. There are specific hospitals that accept foreign patients known as Clínicas Internacionales. If you end up in a hospital in Cuba you, or someone you are traveling with, should contact Asistur (asistur.cu) who deals with insurance claims on behalf of the hospital in adition to help you obtaining and sending reports. if you stay at a casa partícular inform your hosts which will contact the family doctor.
Read the section Cuban cuisine and drink to get information on how to stay safe when it comes to food.
Visa
A tourist visa card is necessary for travellers from most nations. This visa, which is really little more than a piece of paper on which you list your vital statistics, costs between 15-25 CUC (or 15-25 Euro), depending on where purchased. It can be purchased at the Airport in Cuba on arrival, however it should be noted that many airlines will require a valid tourist visa card before boarding flights. It is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days at any immigration office in Cuba - beyond this you would need a flight out of Cuba within the extended visa period. Canadians are the exception, getting 90 days on arrival and can apply for a 90 day extension. Your passport needs to be valid at least six months past the end of your planned return.
Flying from Canada, the tourist card is normally provided on the flight. It can be purchased at Cancun airport if departing from there, and similar in most other Latin American gateway airports. Please note that if departing the UK and many parts of Europe at least (this may apply to other countries), you will require to have the visa before boarding the plane. Boarding may be denied and airplane ticket lost. If you apply in person, you get the visa straight away. It can also be done through online agencies.
Regular tourists who renew their 30 day visa are eligible to depart the country to any destination and return immediately enjoying a further 30 + 30 days. You are only allowed two consecutive stays in this manner. If you want to stay with friends or family in Cuba you have to go with your intended host within two days after arrival to a migration office and pay 40 CUC for a 30 days family visa.
It is important to note that there is also a departure tax of CUC 25, to be paid in cash when departing Cuba by airplane; this is not required for boat departures. This tax is not well publicised but it is essential to remember it. You will run into significant difficulties if you do not have enough cash to pay this tax when leaving the country. An ATM is available at the airport but these facilities are not as reliable in Cuba as in other places. Cuban customscan be strict, though they sometimes go easy on tourists.
Crime and scams
Cuba is generally a very safe country. Strict policing combined with neighborhood watch style-programs keep the streets safe from violent crime. Nonetheless, a certain degree of common-sense and caution is advisable, especially in major cities. Visitors should avoid coming to the attention of the Cuban police and security services.
Drug laws can be draconian and their implementation unpredictable. The same may be said about the laws concerning prostitution. The importation, possession or production of pornography is strictly prohibited. It is not uncommon to see a dog jogging on the luggage carousel sniffing arriving luggage, especially when arriving from countries prone to drug-trafficking, so be sure to lock and/or wrap your luggage to avoid any problems in this regard. hissing sounds, as Cuban women often acknowledge and welcome the attention. Acknowledging it too enthusiastically however will probably encourage the men though and is best avoided.
Tourists are generally advised not to involve themselves in the following three areas: politics, drugs, or pornography/prostitution. It should be noted however that Cuba is not altogether totalitarian, and usually mild comments concerning the regime will not lead to arrest or other penalties. In fact, many employees and locals will often openly agree with the criticisms, especially away from the major cities. That being said, there is very little tolerance amongst the authorities for any comments made against the Revolution, Fidel, Che, etc., and an extensive network of informers exist who aren't above turning in neighbors who espouse politically unsound beliefs. As such, it is advisable not to make any such comments.
A few established scams exist on Cuba. The most common scams are "friends" inviting you to bars for a coctails and you end up paying twice the price, people may try to sell you cigars of dubious authenticity, short-changing in bars, water botles are refilled with tap water and sold around tourist areas, locals offer to swap money at a 'local bank' and credit cards scams.
Cuban cuisine and drink
The Cuban cuisine.
The most popular coctails on Cuba is Cuba Libre and Mojito. If you request a rum in a small country restaurant do not be surprised if it is only available by the bottle. Havana Club is the national brand and the most popular.
Due to the bad quality you are not adviced not to drink tap water on Cuba. Buy bottled water in shops or restaurant but avoid water that are sold on the streets around tourist areas. If you do so chech the bottle for tampering. Some places they refill the bottle with tap water which makes it hazardious to drink. If you are going to use tap water boil it for at least two minutes. The alternative to boiling is filters and purification tablets. The chances for food poisoning is low on Cuba but you should take some precautions while eating food on Cuba. There is no regulations ensuring acceptable level of hygiene.