General Tips Before Coming to Cuba

Useful news before travelling to Cuba

This page is useful both for those travelling to Cuba for the first time and for those who know Cuba already and want to be updated for their next trip. Here there is a list of information and several details that will be useful before or during your trip.

By clicking in the following hyperlinks you will be able to directly go to the pieces of information you care the most about on this page:

Travel documents

Passport

It is practically the only really indispensable document, because in Cuba the passport is the most difused and recognized document to identify a tourist. The passport is then mandatory to travel to Cuba and it is necessary to have a valid one during all the length of your stay there. If you have more than one passport, you must depart from Cuba with the same passport with which you arrived. If your passprt expired during your stay and you extended it at your embassy, we advise you to keep a copy of the old passport, lest it might be demanded.

On the other hand, avoid going out with your passport at any time. It is a valuable document and it is better to prevent its loss and to avoid complications. Anyways, the passport will be useful only when requesting services, doing bank transactions, changing money or large denomination bills of 50 or 100. In any other occasion, you may carry a photocopy.

Tourist card

Apart from the passport, another necessary document is the tourist card. It is in fact a tourist visa (these visas have the A1 migratory category). The tourist card is normally obtained at your travel agency and it accompanies your air ticket, sometimes it has to be bought at the airport, but it may also be requested at the consulate offices or embassies of Cuba. It is stamped upon arriving in Cuba and it is taken back when returning. The visa has a duration of 30 postponable days up to other 30 (the cost for the extension is of 25 CUC, it may vary). To be able to be in Cuba longer than two months, it is necessary to leave the country and to enter back again using another tourist card, that can also be done during the course of the same day. Canadian citizens have tourist visas (exclusively touristic) that last 90 days, that may be extended to other 90.

However, once you enter Cuba, the tourist visa will seldomly be asked to you, not even in the case of control by the police, unless you go to an immigratioin office to extend or change your visa. However, the tourist cards are required from each traveller, including children.

If you go to Cuba out of reasons of a family visit, the A2 category visa is then required which is nothing but a tourist visa to visit family. This visa lastsalways 30 days (extendable to other 30), with the exception of special cases. This visa may be requested at Cuban consulate offices or embassies. You may also enter as a tourist and request it directly in Cuba. The price to change the migratory category costs 40 CUC, plus 5 for stay registration. Canadians who enter as tourists and do the change to the A2 visa, lose their right to the 30 extendable days and instead of 90 they get only 30 extendable days.

To Cubans living abroad(or citizens overseas), other types of available provisions are applied which depend both on the Cuban government and the country they live in. At any rate, they cannot enter Cuba with a passport other than the Cuban one, at least at present.

Driving license

If you are planning to rent a car, then you will need to travel bearing a valid driving license. The license of your country is usually acknowledged, however in the event of a doubt, find it out at the Cuban consulate office in your country.

Airplane ticket

Cuba demands tourists to always come with a return ticket. Therefore, it is advisable to have one at least a fake one. Unless you are a resident in Cuba you cannot travel to Cuba with a one-way ticket. {Top}

Currencies and change

In Cuba, the official currency is the Cuban peso, but for many products and the tourist stores Cuban convertible pesos are used. It is a currency to be found only in Cuba and it is not recognized by the international exchange rates. Initially, the convertible peso was equal to the US dollar and in Cuba it was perfectly exchangeable with it, but after November 21, 2004, after new variatioms which took place last April 8, 2005, and due to new provisions of the Central Bank of Cuba, the value of the convertible peso is now higher than that of the dollar and slightly lower than that of the euro.

Be careful! The national Cuban peso IS NOT convertible and, it is not used by tourists who use the Cuban convertible peso. Do not trust eventual money "changers" you might come across with and who might propose an exchange between euros and national Cuban pesos!

The exchange rate between the convertible peso and the national one changes over time and usually it oscilates between 20 and 26 national pesos for each convertible pesos. Maybe you will find convenient to change part of your money for national Cuban pesos. There are offical money exchange offices called Cadecas where you will be able to do this exchange and where you could also cash some money out of your credit card. The Cuban pesos are good for many things, particularly if you do not go to Cuba to do a classical type of tourism and specially if you will have the opportunity to cook for yourself. Anyways, never ever change your money in the streets! Go always to the officail money exchange offices. {Top}

Credit cards

In Cuba only credit cards that are not associated to US banks (such as American Express, for example). Visa and MasterCard are accepted everywhere. There are taxes to be paid for any transaction or cashing of fund, these taxes are bound to change over time, but usually they are about the 10%. {Top}

Cuisine and restaurants in Cuba

The Cuban cuisine is basically of a creolle origin, though also derived from African and Spanish traditions and suggests simple dishes based on local products. For tourists the specialty is mainly fish and seafood cooked in all possible ways. Also appreciated is the home cuisine eventually tasted at a given paladar (small family restaurants), which offer also the congrí (a mixed dish with meat, beans, rice and maybe green plantain); the Fufú - of an African origin - based on squash and plantains. Very good tropical fruit. Good national beer and the famous rum. In Cuba there also exist severfal restaurants with all the cuisines.  {Top}

Embassies in Cuba

The Spanish embassy in Cuba is located in Old Havana, at 51 Cárcel Street, (corner of Zulueta), muy cerca del Museo de la Revolution and the tunnel. The Mexican one is at 518 12 Street corner of 7th Avenue, Miramar Neigborhood, Playa Municipality. The Argentinian one is located at 511 36 street between 5th and 7th., Miramar. The Venezuelan one is located at 704 36 street between 7th and 42, Miramar. The United States do not have an embassy in Cuba, but just an interests section that found on the Malecón street, in front of the Antimperialist Tribune and near the National Hotel of Cuba.  {Top}

Telephone, international calls

If, in Cuba, somebody makes a collect call (which is always the case if an international line is not available), it is mandatory to go through an operator. Whereas if you have an international line, a cell phone or a prepaid calling card, it is possible to call all over the world, beginning by the prefix 119+country code+regional code y/or municipal. International calls are very expensive, but the price also depends on the means used. Because prices vary very much and also because there might be promotions (rare in Cuba, but possible), it is advisable to get information at any Cuban telephone center, from the airport or from the hotel. The official telephone company in Cuba is Etecsa (Cuban Telecommunications Enterprise Anonimous Society). Some providers of mobile phones have opened a roaming with Cuba, therefore it is possible to receive and to make calls with your own line or SIM card, although it may be expensive. To have clarifications about prices and available choices, consult your habitual provider. {Top}

Climate of Cuba

Tropical, with temperatures between 25 and 30 Celcius degrees. The "dry" season (between quotations because in Cuba the climate is never dry) is from November up to April, whereas in the rest of the year there is much more humidity and strong but short climatic storms. Cuba does not have earthquakes but it is a country under risks of hurricanes (particularly in the season between July and November. But, unlike the United States and others, Cuba is a country very well prepared against cyclons. Between December and February (maybe March) there is also a period of modest cold (the temperature may drop then down to 10 Celcius, sometimes even to 5). A humid cold and quite bothering but on and off, that is, there are periods of cold that last for a few days (which in Cuba are called cold fronts), later everything goes back to normal, that is a mild climate in winter and the bearable warmth of the "dry" season. Normally the cold fronts arrive after rainy days, but it is not a rule. {Top}

Best time to travel to Cuba

Decidedly the cool season is the best, unless you are not looking for a tourism exclusively with beach and sun. From late November up to mid April, and particularly after mid February is the best time both for a general interest trip and for a beach vacation. The temperature is mild, with maximum between 26 and 29 Celcius degrees. Rains are scarse (except in June and maybe in September, when they are frequent and persistent), between 3-6 days a month, and of little importance. Generally, the climate is humid all year round, but more so from May to October. Keep in mind that in the southeastern coast the average temperatures are approximately of 6/7 C higher than in the northwestern ones and that here we are referring particularly to these latter, and particularly those of Havana. {Top of page}

Official language of Cuba

The Castillian Spanish. English and Italian are very difused(and maybe French too) in the touristy settings. {Top of page}

Local time in Cuba

Six hours less if compared to Spain, one more hour if compared to Mexico (Cancún), and two or three if compared to Mexico (DF). Some years in Cuba the legal time is kept all year around, therefore, the time difference is variable too about that. {Top of page}

Voltage used in Cuba

110 volts. Since the outlets are the American tyoe, it is required aside from the transformer, an adaptor too, for European inlets (that you should carry because in Cuba you won't easily find it), if you have European devices. Of course, some hotels use exclusively the 220 volts feeding system and some others use both types but it is always advisable to take adaptors along. {Top of page}

Buying in Cuba

Stores in convertible pesos are very supplied tha those in national currency (according to the extent in which they can be "supplied" in Cuba), it is possible to find almost all items required for a vacation, even the traditional souvenirs, but there are also basic necessities for the Cuban population. To buy cigars and cigarettes, there are specialized stores and the habano houses (thus you will avoid being tricked ), the same applies to the famous Cuban rum that must exclusively be purchased at the store (it is available at any grocery store, unlike cigars) and never ever on the streets. {Top of page}

Fun in Cuba

In the major beach locations there is the possibility of practicing almost all the water sports, but also in the other Cuban settings fun is not missing: music and disco dancing and parties are so spread that you just need to choose. {Top of page}

Religion in Cuba

Most of the population believes in syncretism, which is a religion mixing Catholicism with the African rites imported at the times of the slaves. Popularly speaking, it is called santería or whitchcraft. {top of page}

Dressing in Cuba

Informal. Consider that Cuba is a tropical place, so it is unusual to see jackets and neckties. A sweater may be comfortable in the most humid winter evenings and a raincoat or an umbrella to protect yourself from eventual rainshowers. {Top of page}

Cuba and tipping

Keep in mind that the official salary of Cubans is very low. It is logical to think that many Cubans would rather socialize with tourists to earn (or beg) money and gifts. Many of them will share stories of hunger and misery, but in reality, that is not the case. All Cubans make up money by doing black market among themselves, besides, there are many who get remittances from relatives living abroad.

Usually, tips are very well accepted in Cuba in return to small favors that you might get. They are indeed expected inside tourist complexes such as hotels or restaurants. {Top of page}

Transportation in Cuba

Transportation in Cuba is a problem even though lately the situation has slightly been improved. Buses are very scarse and they are very crowded. That is why, tourists do not travel by bus, save a few original ones. Normally, tourists go by taxi cabs or they rent a car. There are two types of taxis: the pool taxis (collectives which are also seen in the Dominican Republic), where destinations are fixed and where each traveller pays 10 national pesos and sometimes even 20 according to the distance, and the official taxis which run in convertible pesos that are individual and are more expensive (but that in Cuba they are cheaper if compared to many other countries). Normally, tourists travel for the most part by the official taxi cabs. The downside is that these taxis are just a few. If you are not at the airport or near a hotel (mainly a 5 star one) you have a couple of alternatives: either calling (and good luck if you get the line) or using a pool taxi in Cuban pesos.

Taxis, tips and tricks

In the pool taxis tips are not given. In the official ones, you may give a small tip if the taxi driver uses the taximeter. If he does not use the taximeter because he negotiated a tariff with you, you should not give any tips at all, because when that is the case, taxi drivers earn personally the full price of the ride. But you should negotiate a tariff only when it is lower than the price with the taximeter.So, negotiate only when you know the price of the ride. Many taxi drivers take advantage of tourists making them pay one or two more pesos than the right price and there are taxi drivers who would even charge you even twice the price! (wrong attitude of taxi drivers and very common in Mexico, too). If you do not know ahead of time the price of your ride, never negotiate with the taxi driver, unless you do not care paying a little more expensive. The problem is not as much the extra dollar but the fact that many Cubans are very smart-asses and believe that they are smarter than the rest of the world until the day when they travel to any country whatsoever, and not knowing things, they end up playing the same old role of the foolish tourist. So keep yourself from playing that role. And remember that negotiating tariffs in Cuba is illegal. Do not do it, unless convenience is not evident.  {Top of page}

Airports in Cuba

The Havana airport is located at 18 km away from the city, whereas the one in Santiago de Cuba is about 15 km away. A typical ride by taxi from the airport to Havana may cost between 15 and 25 CUC in keeping with the taxi category and the distance to travel. From Havana to the airport the price may be slightly cheaper, because a different tariff is applied. Besides, day prices are not the same as night prices. Any way, taking all these variations into account, the price should never go over 25 CUC. In the case of Santiago de Cuba, prices are similar. Remember to keep 25 CUC ready to pay the airport tax upon departure at the time of leaving Cuba. {Top of page}

Avoid in Cuba

Go into the streets with lots of money or the passport in your pocket. It is not wise, particularly, for those who get easily draunk and lose their head. In Cuba, both things are not very unlikely. Be always watchful:  many tourists deprived of everything wait in line at the embassies looking desperately for help. Cuba is a quiet country, but you have to have your head very clear.

It is prohibited to take pictures of people wearing uniforms, of military facilities or public buildings (airports, bridges, etc.).

Violations with drugs are punished very severely already after minimum personal doses of any drug (up to 30 years inprisonment); in some cases even the death penalty could be inflicted.

After November 2004, it is forbidden to smoke in all closed places. Some premises allow for a smoking section. But violations are many, so, if somebody abuses you not honoring your right as a non-smoker, you are entitled to complain.

Foreigners involved in incidents dealing with traffic accidents with victims or dead people will not be able to leave Cuba during all the length of the survey and the process, which may take months, so be more careful than in other places. {Top of page}

Vaccines and health in Cuba

Vaccines

None. The status of public health of Cuba is above the average one. There is no endemic disease, aside from a few epidemics (not very frequent) such as denge fever, transmitted by mosquitoes. Whenever there is any of these epidemics it is advisable to be informed about them in your country and be eventually vaccinated. In the case of health problems, in Cuba it is not difficult to find a good physician. Of course, it is good to bring a few personal medicines as well as a repelent against mosquitoes. AIDS is very much under control but just in case, it is much better to be protected all the time.

Sanitary risks

Dengue, hepatitis A, tiphus, colds.
It is good to bring the travel medicines along. Behold a list of those which might be useful to you: