Cuba [1] is the largest Caribbean island, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies 145 km (90 Miles) south of Key West, Florida between the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, to the west of Haiti, and northwest of Jamaica.
Regions Western Cuba
Central Cuba
Eastern Cuba
Cities
Other destinations
Understand Before the 1959 Revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination for United States citizens. Since the Revolution, Cuba has been embargoed by the United States, and travel between the two neighbors is restricted... albeit still possible, either legally or not. After 1959, Cuban tourism was mostly for Cubans only, and the facilities weren't renewed until the 1990s, when Cuba lost financial backing from the defunct Soviet Union, and opened its doors to foreign tourism. Now, many Europeans, Canadians, and even U.S. visitors come to the island. In the typical tourist regions like Varadero and Holguin, a lot of modern 3-star to 5-star hotels are available, while in less touristy regions, visitors are still able to rent rooms in many Cuban homes (called casas particulares). Due to several long-standing factors (e.g. bureaucratic ineffectiveness, the U.S. embargo, lack of resources, and the loss of Soviet subsidies), much of the country's infrastructure is in need of repair. In major tourist destinations there will generally be few problems with either power or water. Outages have been common in Cuba, except in touristic places that have a generator. 2006 has been designated the Year of the Energetic Revolution in Cuba, and many small generators have been installed in an attempt to avoid blackouts. Many tourist accommodations offer 220V as well as 110V power sources. Get inVisa and legal issuesA tourist visa card (visada tarjeta del turista) 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 about 25 CUC (or 25 Euro) depending on where purchased. It is important to note that there is also a departure tax of CUC 25, and you have to pay those 25 CUC in cash at the airport, when leaving Cuba. So save 25 CUC in your passport after arriving in Cuba. You will need a passport valid at least six months past the end of your planned return. The tourist visa is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days at any immigration office in Cuba. It can usually be extended once, afterwards you need a serious reason when you want a second extension. Canadians get 90 days and can apply for a 90 day extension. On arrival you must already have a legal housing booking (hotel or casa particular) for at least three days. If you've written in the name of a good hotel on the tourist card, the officials should rarely ask for proof. Cuban customs regulations may seem strict, but in practice, tourists are rarely checked. But this doesn't mean they are not checked at all; they will go over your personal details carefully. United States citizensAlthough the government of Cuba permits U.S. citizens to visit, the U.S. itself restricts its citizens from traveling there, except with a license issued by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The specific restriction is against spending money in Cuba, however U.S. authorities consider any visit of more than one day to be prima facie proof that one has spent money there. Furthermore, OFAC also holds that U.S. citizens also may not receive goods or services for free from any Cuban national, eliminating any attempts to circumvent the regulation based on that premise. Licenses are granted to certain classes of people for particular purposes, however. A general license (i.e. no paperwork) applies – if certain requirements are met – for professional journalists on assignment, official government business (including international organizations), academic research, and international professional conferences. You can apply for a specific permit for visiting immediate relatives, college-sponsored educational programs, organizational religious activities, humanitarian projects, freelance journalism, not-for-profit cultural exhibitions, amateur athletic competitions, and several other specific purposes. U.S. citizens whose primary interest is tourism can get authorization to travel under the auspices of a program whose activities are sufficiently religious, educational, cultural, or otherwise exempt to qualify for a license. It is even possible for an individual with a credible background in, say, freelance journalism or academics, to craft a "mission" for their visit which successfully gets them a permit. Further details and forms are available from the U.S. Dept. of State [2]. Some U.S. citizens instead travel without a license, doing so by way of other countries (many of which have routine flights to and from Cuba) to escape detection. Cuban travel agents now recommend against using Canada or the Bahamas as a gateway, since U.S. pre-clearance customs agents in Toronto, Montreal, and Nassau actively look for U.S. citizens getting off planes from Cuba. Mexico is considered a safer route, although not entirely without risk; two Mexican entry stamps in your passport without an intervening stamp from another country (Cuba doesn't stamp U.S. passports) would raise suspicions. Some take advantage of the soon-to-end ability to travel between the U.S. and Mexico with just a photo ID, presenting their passport only for the Mexico/Cuba leg of their travels. U.S. citizens also travel via countries without U.S. customs stations (Guatemala, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Haiti, etc.) to reduce the likelihood of being caught. A substantial number simply take their chances, hoping they will not be questioned. U.S. citizens are advised by Cuban travel agents not to bring back anything identifiably Cuban, and to dispose of all Cuban tickets and receipts before re-entering the country. U.S. citizens caught traveling to Cuba without a license will not be denied re-entry, but may be subject to fines of several thousand dollars and/or criminal prosecution. Perjury can be added to the charges if you falsely report your travels (i.e. omiting Cuba) upon re-entry, which leads some travelers to give an honest declaration along with an attempt to justify their visit under the general license if they come under scrutiny. Exercising your Fifth-Amendment right to silence may also come in handy when filling out forms or answering questions whose answers might incriminate you. Many violators successfully avoid fines by contesting the notices, with the government backing down rather than putting the effort into prosecution and testing their restrictions in court. (The constitutionality of OFAC's "presumption of guilt" regarding spending money in Cuba has not been tested in the courts thus far.) Currently, the National Lawyers Guild and the Center for Constitutional Rights provide legal representation for U.S. citizens accused of violating these restrictions. Whether or not a traveller has a license to visit, it is illegal to bring into the U.S. any Cuban cigars; cigars without labels may be presumed to be Cuban, and confiscated. Violating this is likely to compound unlicensed travelers' woes, making them easier targets for prosecution. There is no U.S. Embassy or consulate in Cuba. The United States is represented by the United States Interests Section, which is technically part of the Swiss Embassy in Havana, though physically separate. By planeJose Marti International Airport outside Havana is the main gateway and is served by major airlines from points in Canada, Mexico, and Europe. There are also regional flights from other Caribbean islands. An official taxi to Havana center costs 15-25 CUC but you can find cheaper (not legal) ones. The cost is roughly 1 CUC per kilometer. There are also regular holiday charter flights to resorts such as Varadero, and these can sometimes be less expensive than those going to Havana. The airports are all fully-air-conditioned and quite modern, compared to other destinations in Central America, and offer good medical care in case of problems. Also, there are no pickpockets, so you can feel safe and keep your money with you without too much worry. By boatThere are no regular ferries or boats to Cuba from foreign ports, although some cruise liners do visit. Yachters are expected to anchor at the public marinas. Also, most ports are closed and tourists are not permitted to walk around them. Private vessels may enter at Marina Hemingway in Havanna or Marina Acua in Varadero, Entry requires a US passport but there are no visa requirements. Expect to hand out several $10.00 dollar bills to facilitate your entry. Your passport will not be stamped by Cuban authorities unless you request it. Anticipate that your boat will be photographed by American officials from the American Interests Section. You will likely be intercepted upon your return to America and fined $5000.00, although this is just a formality. You will not be expected to actually pay this fine nor will there be any repercussions or attempts to collect. This fine can safely be ignored as there have been no attempts to prosecute except the case Peter Goldsmith v United States. This case was dismissed with prejudice in late 2004 in the Miami District Court. Get aroundBy busProbably the best way for a foreigner to get around on Cuba is on the Víazul buses [3]. These are well-staffed and luxurious air-conditioned buses with toilets. Big comfy seats, and lots of legroom. Refreshments and bathroom breaks are provided. Víazul buses are mostly used by foreigners and rich locals. You'll need to book your ticket a day before departure to secure your seat; you may not get a ticket if you just show up right before departure. Bring something warm to put on; the air conditioning is normally set on the highest level. Alternatively there is the regular Astro bus system for local people, which also services smaller and non-tourist cities. Foreigners are charged higher prices, but it is still 3-4 times cheaper then Víazul. Pre-booking is mandatory and this requires Spanish skills. However, these buses often miss their schedule, break down, and are overcrowded. It is also possible to cover some distances on special tourist minibuses, vans carring 4-5 tourists. The cost is a few dollars more but highly recommended if you are not planning to sleep the whole distance. Plus you can ask the driver to stop along the way. By taxiOfficial taxis are pretty expensive for long distances. For example, the Havana-Vinales route runs about CUC 90-100, which can be cheaper than travelling by bus or train if you split the fare between several people. However, there are some locals who are willing to illegally play "taxi" with their old car for somewhat less money, if you are open to adventures (and don't mind the smell of gasoline). Taxis are the most convenient way to get around the big cities; there are several types of taxis, including the official government taxis, the private and potentially unlicensed "yank tanks", and the small three-wheeled coco-taxis. There are usually several different taxis by the major tourist hotels, and are not difficult to find elsewhere. By car
Car rental starts from CUC 65 per day (including insurance) plus the cost of a full tank of gasoline. The refundable deposits start around CUC 200. 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. Generally traffic is medium, especially away from Havana. Outside of towns and cities traffic is usually very light, with no cars for miles. Be warned - you also share the highways with cyclists (sometimes going the wrong way, and at night usually without lights) and horse-drawn vehicles. Also note that the Autopista (the main highway running down the center of the country) is crossed at occasional intervals by railway tracks - take care to slow down before going over to avoid damage to the tires or suspension. Many of these have a stop sign - "Pare" - drivers can be fined CUC 30 for not obeying that, even if no train is coming. Expect to encounter checkpoints when traveling in the interior of the country. $10.00 and an American passport will get you though in most cases. It is often useful to travel with a national of a country that has an embassy in Cuba. This will give you recourse to an embassy should unexpected difficulties arrise (for instance having a GPS unit can be considered spying) . If traveling with a Cuban national expect to pay additional "taxes" to get them through the checkpoint. Gasoline costs CUC ??/Regular, CUC 0.95/Special and 1.10/Super per litre. Tourist rental cars are not supposed to use regular. Hitchhiking is common in Cuba and it is generally recognized as being safe to pick up a hitchhiker. People hitchhiking wait on the side of the road and extend their arms to flag down a ride.an By trainCuba also runs a train between Havana and Santiago, a trip lasting around 12 hours. The trains, imported from France, are modern, comfortable, often too-heavily air-conditioned, and also feature snack service. However they do not always run according to schedule. By planeCuba's national carrier is Cubana de Aviación [4]. If you want to reach a distant part of the island (like Santiago de Cuba from Havana), you can make this trip fast and comfortable with one of the domestic flights. Domestic flights can be booked with Aero Caribbean, Cuba's regional airline, [5] duh' TalkThe official language of Cuba is Spanish. The Spanish spoken in Cuba is quite different from that spoken in Spain. They like to swallow the last sound in a word and generally swallow the 's' sound. for more info see [6] BuyMoneyThere are two currencies circulating in Cuba, Cuban Pesos (CUP) and Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC). Prior to November 2004 US dollars were in wide circulation on par with the CUC, but the government discontinued that and they are no longer used. 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 24 times the value of CUP. Tourists are permitted to import or export a maxiumum of CUP 100 or CUC 200 at any one time. CUP are also known as local Pesos and Moneda Nacional (National money). There is a limited range of goods that can be bought for local pesos, and these are transactions carried out in agricultural markets or from street vendors. Fruits, vegetables, fresh juices and snacks from street vendors are among the things CUP can buy. But don't change more than CUC 5-10 into CUP at a time, because as said, their use is limited and with an exchange rate of 1 CUC = 24 CUP (May 2006) you'll probably have enough for a week. Some places will not exchange foreign currency directly for CUP. Instead, they will change your money into CUC, then from CUC into CUP. You will lose a little more this way but it may be more convenient than finding a place to change directly. If coming from Europe or Canada bring your own currency and exchange directly for CUC. If your currency is not one of the main currencies (or is US dollars), you will need to look at the currencies available to you. US dollars are exchangeable, but you are hit with an additional 10% exchange penalty. Credit cards, ATM cards and 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, English pounds, Swiss francs and Hong Kong yuan 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. For U.S. dollars, they will charge a penalty of 10%, so it's better to change to Euros, Canadian dollars or Swiss francs before travelling there. Most debit cards cannot be used (unless they also function like credit cards). Some British Visa debit cards can be used.) Visa & Mastercard (of non-US origin) can be used, including cash advances, but places which accept Visa as payment are limited. Credit cards are charged in US dollars plus 11.24% (the 8% exchange difference plus a 3% fee). ATMs are rare in Cuba; there are several banks in Havana with attached ATMs, but they are few and far between. If they do accept a particular credit/debit card, the machine may not have sufficient funds for large withdrawals; trying again with a smaller amount is advisable. BanksBanks often close at 3pm, and earlier on the last day of the month. Cadecas (exchange bureaux) may be open longer, especially in hotels. When going to a bank take enough time, because service is usually slow and many people may already be waiting. Foreigners may get preferred treatment in exchange for a small tip. You must bring your passport in case you want to exchange traveller checks or make a credit card cash withdrawal, cash is changed without passport usually. Exchange rates do vary from place to place, and some hotels do give significantly worse exchange rates than the banks. MerchandiseAs any third world country, most of the merchandise available is designed for tourists to take back home. The biggest Cuban exports for tourists are rum, cigars, and coffee, all of which are available at government-owned stores (including the duty free store at the airport) or on the streets. For genuine merchandise, you should pay the official price at the legal stores. Another thing Cubans do well is music such as salsa, son, and Afro-Cubano. You can purchase CDs or tapes anywhere, but paying the average cost of US$20 to assures you of quality and supports the artists. If you are planning to take big quantities (several boxes or more) of cigars with you, be sure you have purchased them officially from an approved shop that gives you proper purchase documentation. Foreign nationals are allowed to export up to 24 cigars (generally 25 to a box) without special permits or receipts, but the export of 25 or more requires official receipts. If you buy cigars cheap on streets and you don't have official purchase invoice then your cigars may/will be confiscated. Americans are no longer allowed to bring Cuban Cigars back into the U.S., regardless of their value, if they have an OFAC license, or even if they were given as a gift. It is also illegal for Americans to smoke or buy Cuban cigars anywhere in the world. Officially you'll need permission to export paintings that are larger than 70cm/side. When you buy artwork from approved shop then they'll give you also the required document, that consists of one paper and one stamp that will be glued on back of your painting. Serial numbers on the stamp and paper must match. Cost of the document is about CUC 2-3. In reality, it is possible that no one will be interested in your paintings. EatThe food in Cuba is notorious for being bland. If you are expecting the fiery pepperpot spiciness found on some of the other Carribean islands, consider that the national dish in Cuba is rice and beans (moros y christianos). Black beans are a main staple in Cuban households. Cubans eat mainly pork and chicken. Beef and lobster are illegal to sell outside of state owned hotels and restaurants, however special lobster lunch/supper offers are plentiful for the tourists. If you eat in paladares which are privately owned restaurants, and you have turtle, you are not only eating endangered animals, you're eating illegal food. The jail sentence for a Cuban killing even a cow is very strict. Paladares are plentiful, even in the smaller towns. Seating is often limited, so you may need to arrive when they open, usually around 5 or 6pm. If you are staying in a Casa Particulare, ask your host for recommendations, as the quality of the food can vary substantially between paladares. I tis difficult to find any restaurants serving breakfast in Cuba outside of resorts; Most Casas Particulares will serve their guests a large breakfast for around 4CUC per person if requested. A tasty serving of rice, vegetables, plantains, and pork or beef (called a cajita ["little box" in English]) is an attractive and affordable option, and are generally sold for around US$1 out of people's homes. You can also find small street vendors selling pork or cheese pizza for a few CUCs. When eating at private restaurants (paladares) only eat in ones that have a printed menu with prices, otherwise you are very likely to pay two to three times as much as you should. Eating in paladares is perfectly legal, but be aware that if you are taken there by a Cuban, you may be charged extra in order to cover commission of the person who brought you. A supper will cost around 7 or 8 CUC per person. DrinkCuban national cocktails include the Cuba Libre (rum and cola) and the Mojito (rum, lime, sugar, mint leaves, club soda and ice). if you request a rum in a small country restaurant do not be surprised if it is only available by the bottle. Expect to pay $4.00 for three year old white rum or $8.00 for seven year old dark rum. Criistal is a light beer and is available in "dollar" stores where Cubans with CUCs and visitors may shop. Cubans prefer the Bucanero Fuerte, which at 5.5% alcohol is a strong (hence the "fuerte") darker beer. Both Cristal and Bucanero are brewed by a joint venture with Labatts of Canada, whose beer is the only Cuban beer sold in CUC. There are also smaller brews, not available everywhere, such as Hatuey and Corona del Mar. These are sold in CUP. SleepIf you want to experience something of the real life of Cubans, the best places to stay are casa particular (private houses licensed to offer lodging services to foreigners). They are cheaper than hotels (average CUC 20/room) and the food (breakfast CUC 3-4, dinner CUC 7-10) is often better than you would get in a hotel. Casa particulares are plentiful even in small towns; they are somewhat more expensive in Havana than elsewhere. If travelling by bus, you will be accosted by jiniteros (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 accomodations in advance, either by asking your host to recommend someone or by using a casa particular association. Some will let you book accomodation over the internet before your trip, and will go out of their way to arrange accomodations for you while you are there. LearnThe University of Havana offers both long and short Spanish courses. Cuban museums are plentiful, are frequently open, and usually charge only one or two CUC for admission. You may get a guided tour from one of the staff members; even if you do not speak spanish, this can be useful. They will generally make you check your bags, and charge a small fee for the privilege of taking pictures inside. WorkThe average official salary for Cubans is about US$15 per month. Non-Cubans can only obtain a business/work visa or a work permit through a Cuban business or a foreign business registered in Cuba. Business visas are generally for up to three months. Work permits are renewable annually. Stay safeCuba is generally a very safe country; strict and prominent policing, combined with neighborhood watch style-programs keep the streets safe from violent crime. Nonetheless, a certain degree of caution is advisable, especially in major cities. Visitors are advised to 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, procession or production of pornography is strictly prohibited. Tourists are therefore advised not to involve themselves in the following three areas: politics, drugs, or pornography/prostitution. There is little street crime but in recent years tourists have been increasingly targeted by a large number of relatively small scams, some of these include:
These are not especially harmful nor costly, and a lot of tourists knowingly let them pass without complaint to avoid the ensuing confrontation over a comparatively small amount of money. Stay healthyCuba is considered very healthy except for the water; even many Cubans boil their water. That said, some travellers drink untreated water without ill effect. The best solution is bottled water and lots of it, especially for visitors who are not used to the 30+°C/85+°F temperatures. Bottled water (agua embotellada) is easily found and costs between .65 and 2CUC for a 1.5L bottle, depending on the shop. Cuban milk and eggs are usually unpasteurised, and can make visitors sick. Additionally, tourists should be wary of vegetables washed in tap water. Despite the warnings, most cuban food is safe to eat and you do not need to be paranoid. The island is subtropical and so the host to a number of diseases. Some recommend an aggressive program of inoculations when planning a trip to Cuba, but most travellers come with little or none. Hepatitis B and Tetanus shots are recommended by most travel clinics. HIV/AIDS infection is less than 0.1%, however as always, you should excercise care and make sure you or your partner wears a condom should you become sexually active while in Cuba. Visitors who get sick in Cuba can easily see a doctor. Cuba's health care system is in good shape and the number of doctors per capita is higher than in Canada. Finding medication is often very difficult. It is highly recommended to stock up on off-the-shelf medication before heading to Cuba, as pharmacies lack many medications that westerners might expect to find. Do not attempt to import psychoactive drugs into Cuba. Havana also features a clinic (and emergency room) for foreigners, which offers extremely prompt service. RespectCubans are friendly people. They will help you find the goods or services you seek. Keep in mind that they make about US$15 a month; if they can help you, they probably will, but they may expect you to return the favor. If you are invited into a Cuban's home for supper, take the invitation. You may be asked to chip in for the food, but you will really be treated like a guest of honor. It is a great way to get a feel for the culture. Of course ordinary Cubans are not permitted to host this type of event, but it goes on as a matter of course. Contact
Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0. Privacy policy About Wikitravel Terms of use | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
