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CUBA TRAVEL TIPS
A collection of important information that can make your trip more enjoyable.

The Caribbean harbors a jewel in the Island of Cuba. The tropical Island extends 750 miles (roughly the size of Pennsylvania) and is a beautiful mix of mountain ranges and plains. There are over 200 bays and 289 sun drenched beaches to explore. The main ports are located in the provinces of Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas and Santiago de Cuba. If you plan to travel Cuba, take a moment to brush up on the travel tips that will help you be more prepared for travel anywhere in Cuba.

 

CUBA GENERAL INFORMATION

Religion: Roman Catholic majority. There are also minority Afro-Cuban religions.

Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style flat two-pin plugs are generally used, except in certain large hotels where the European round two-pin plug is standard.

GEOGRAPHY: Cuba is the largest Caribbean island, about the size of England, and the most westerly of the Greater Antilles group, lying 145km (90 miles) south of Florida. A quarter of the country is fairly mountainous. West of Havana is the narrow Sierra de los Organos, rising to 750m (2461ft) and containing the Guaniguanicos hills in the west. South of the Sierra is a narrow strip of 2320 sq km (860 sq miles) where the finest Cuban tobacco is grown. The Trinidad Mountains, starting in the centre, rise to 1100m (3609ft) in the east. Encircling the port of Santiago are the rugged mountains of the Sierra Maestra. A quarter of the island is covered with mountain forests of pine and mahogany.

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GETTING AROUND CUBA

Cubana airlines has an extensive domestic air network that services all of the regional centres, and flights within the country are not expensive, but prices have been on the rise. Most domestic flights are on smaller propeller aircraft, which can be a little hair-raising.

Viázul is the bus company in Cuba that is geared towards tourists. Its buses are air-conditioned and uncrowded and all passengers are required to pay in dollars. Privately owned trucks (camiones particulares) have taken over much of the passenger transportation business, especially in eastern Cuba.

The train system has deteriorated rapidly over the past several years. There are some inexpensive, comfortable train routes, particularly between major cities, but otherwise the bus is now the way to go.

Cuba boasts Latin America's most extensive system of roads, and renting a car is definitely the easiest, if not the cheapest, way to see the country. Many Cubans hitchhike as a means of getting around and locally the activity is known as hacer botella (literally 'to make a bottle' with the hand). Government vehicles are legally required to pick up hitchhikers if they have the room, and town exits and major crossroads often have yellow-clad amarillo officials armed with clipboards to organise the Cubans waiting for a ride. TOP

CUBA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All foreigners intent on visiting Cuba must have a visa issued by the Cuban consulate in their respective country. The traveler can extend the issued visa in the main hotels, to stay on the Island beyond the period covered. Click here for Visa Informations ..... TOP

CUBA CUSTOMS REGULATION

Tourists do not have to fill in the customs statement form. Cuba prohibits the import of narcotics and all types of pornographic materials. Firearms are allowed provided they are for game hunting and receive the corresponding Cuban import permit upon arrival. Tourists must obtain proper invoices for durable goods purchased while visiting the Island. The invoices must be shown at customs officers request when leaving the country. Travelers are allowed to import their personal effects in reasonable amounts. It is prohibited to export certain types of animals and plants, sea shells, antiques, precious metals, and items that are considered to belong to the national wealth.

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CUBA TOURISM REGULATIONS

For tourism travel all you need is a valid passport and the corresponding visa or tourist card which will be issued by your travel agent or the Cuban consulate.

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CUBA DUTY FREE

The following goods may be taken into Cuba by persons aged 18 years and over without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; three bottles of alcoholic beverages; gifts up to a value of US$50 (articles up to US$200 will be subject to customs duty payments); 10kg of medicines.

Prohibited items: Natural fruits, seeds, beans or vegetables; meat and dairy products; weapons and ammunition; video cassettes and household appliances; all pornographic material and drugs.

Note: Electrical items with heavy power consumption may be confiscated and returned upon departure.

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CUBA COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone: IDD to Havana only. Country code: 53. Outgoing international code: 119. Phonecards for both internal and external calls are readily available from shops and kiosks. Some calls must be made through the international operator, and may be subject to delays.

Mobile telephone: Phones from the UK cannot be used. Cellular handsets can be hired from Cubacel. Roaming agreements exist with Canada and some European and Latin American countries, although not with the USA or UK. For further details, check online (website: www.cubacel.com). GSM 900 network by C_Com has limited coverage.

Fax: Services are widely available.

Internet: Available at hotels and some Internet cafes. ISPs are limited. The main providers include Cubaweb (website: www.cubaweb.cu).

Telegram: These may be sent from all post offices in Havana and from RCA offices in major hotels in large towns.

Post: Letters to Western Europe can take several weeks. It is advisable to use the airmail service.

Press: Papers are in Spanish, although the Communist Party daily newspaper, Granma, publishes a weekly edition, called Granma International, in English, German, Portuguese and French. There is also a fortnightly international newspaper, Prisma, published in Spanish and English. All media is government-controlled.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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CUBA HEALTH REGULATIONS

Health restrictions only apply to travellers from countries with yellow fever and endemic cholera or countries declared infection zones by the World Health Organization. In those cases a vaccination certificate isssued at least ten days and no more than ten years prior is required.
The import of meat products is only allowed if they are sterilized and canned; products of vegetable origin only if they havbe been industrially processed; pasturized dairy products and ripe cheeses. Also fresh and dried fruit, accompanied by the appropriate Agricultural health certificate. If you are travelling with animals, plants or any of the above mentioned products which do not meet the requirements, you must contact the Cuban health Authorities upon arrival in order to learn more about the regulations applicable to each case.

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CUBA SOCIAL PROFILE

Food & Drink: Restaurants (both table- and self-service) are generally inexpensive. Cuisine is continental or Cuban with a strong emphasis on seafood. Cuban food uses more garlic and less chilli than elsewhere in the Caribbean. Favourite dishes are omelettes, often stuffed with meat and/or cheese; maize fritters; a thick soup made of chicken or black beans; roast suckling pig; chicken and rice; plantains baked or fried; and local Cuban ice cream. Tour food served in hotels is not always exciting but it is adequate and will include chicken, fish, ham, cheese, fresh papaya, melon, pineapple, mangoes, bananas, fresh vegetables and green salads. Desserts are sweet and include pastries, flans, caramel custard, guava paste and cheese.
Bars generally have waiter and counter service. Cuban coffee is very strong, but weaker, British-style coffee is available. Cuban beer is tasty but weak. Spirits are reasonably priced; rum is good and plentiful and used in excellent cocktails such as daiquiris and mojitos (pronounced ‘moh-hee-tos’).

Nightlife: Nightlife is concentrated in Havana, Varadero Beach and in the major tourist resorts. Cuba is renowned for its salsa dancing and visitors can attend dance classes or swing their hips with the locals at the Tropicana and Varadero Mambo nightclubs. Much entertainment may be planned by the visitor’s guide or tour operator, and it is common to attend in organised groups. Even medium-sized bars usually have a house band playing Cuban classics. There is a choice of floor show entertainments, nightclubs and theatres. The Tropicana nightclub stages spectacular open-air shows. Theatre, opera and ballet are staged all year round in Havana and seats are very cheap. Cinemas show films in Spanish, but some have subtitles.

Special Events: The following is a selection of special events occurring in Cuba in 2005. All events take place in Havana unless otherwise stated.
Jan Winter CUBALLET. Jan-Jul FolkCuba (traditional music and dance). Jan-Aug Cubadanza. Feb Havana Cigar Festival (trade fair); International Book Fair. Mar International Festival of Electro-Acoustic Music. Apr Percuba 2005 (16th International Percussion Festival). May CUBADISCO; Tourism Convention. Jul Fiesta del Fuego (Caribbean Festival), Santiago de Cuba. Jul-Aug Havana Carnival. Aug Summer Cuba Ballet. Sep International Transport Exhibition. Oct International Ballet Festival; Festival of Ibero-American Culture. Nov International Havana Exhibition; International Choir Festival. Dec International Festival of New Latin American Cinema; International Jazz Festival.

Social Conventions: Handshaking is the normal form of greeting. Cubans generally address each other as compañero, but visitors should use señor or señora. Some Cubans have two surnames after their Christian name and the first surname is the correct one to use. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone’s home and a small gift may be given if invited for a meal. Formal wear is not often needed and hats are rarely worn. Men should not wear shorts except on or near the beach. Women wear light cotton dresses or trousers during the day and cocktail dresses for formal evenings.

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CUBA BUSINESS PROFILE

Economy: The agricultural component of Cuba’s economy is dominated by sugar, of which it is one of the world’s largest exporters. However, due to persistently low world prices throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Government has attempted to diversify into other crops. Tobacco (Cuban cigars are renowned throughout the world) and citrus fruits are the most successful of these. Cuban industry is largely devoted to the processing of agricultural products but also produces cement, fertilisers, textiles, prefabricated buildings, agricultural machinery and domestic consumer goods. Tourism, the only significant service industry, has proved to be a growth industry and a vital source of foreign exchange; the Government has invested heavily in developing infrastructure for that purpose. Development of the Cuban economy has long been hampered by the blockade imposed by successive American governments (even though bilateral US-Cuban trade is estimated at US$300 million annually, mostly in telecommunications traffic and various financial instruments, such as credit cards). While the Soviet Union was able to provide aid and markets, especially for Cuba’s sugar output, this was not an insurmountable hurdle. However, during the last decade, since the demise of the USSR, Cuba has faced increasing economic difficulties. In June 2001, the lack of markets and low-world price forced the government to close down half the country’s sugar mills. Nevertheless, domestic reforms of the previously rigid state-controlled structure – opening up to foreign investment and creating export-processing zones – have allowed erratic growth to take place. A substantial informal dollar economy also grew up during the 1990s. As with the political structure in Cuba, most observers are awaiting what form of government emerges after Castro to determine which direction the economy will take. Argentina, Canada, China and Spain are Cuba’s main trading partners.

Business: Courtesy is expected and hospitality should not be lavish, being offered to groups rather than individuals. Best months for business visits are November to April. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230 and 1330-1630, some offices also open on alternate Saturdays from 0800-1700.

Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Cámara de Comercio de la República de Cuba, Calle 21, No 661, esq. Calle A, Vedado, Havana (tel: (7) 551 321/2/4 or 551 654 or 551 452 or 551 746; fax: (7) 333 042; www.camaracuba.cubaweb.cu).

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CUBA PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOS & MOVIES

Special regulations apply to taking photgraphs and taping or filming audio-visual materials in museums. It is strictly forbidden to do this in military zones. Regulations are also in force in industrial centres, factories scientific research centres etc. for which previous authorization must be obtained. On the streets, men and women will always respond to your camera wiht a smile, but it is correct to ask them before taking their photos.

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CUBA CURRENCY

Tourist facility prices are indicated in U.S. dollars. Dollars have free circulation in Cuba and are used in all tourist installations and resorts.
The national currency is the Cuban peso which contains 100 cents (centavos). There are 50, 20, 10, 5, 3 and 1 peso notes as well as 1 and 3 peso coins in circulation. Other coins are in 40, 20, 5, 2 and 1 cent (centavos) denominations.
No credit cards or traveller checks issued by a U.S. bank are accepted. Visa, Master Card and Thomas Cook traveller check issued from non-U.S. banks are accepted. Consult your travel agency or a Cubanacan office regarding the use of any other type of credit card or traveller check.

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CUBA SHOPPING

Shopping: Special purchases include cigars, rum, coffee and local handicrafts. The main hotels have a few luxury shops. There are duty-free shops at the airport and in the centre of Havana. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800, Sun 0900-1200.

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CUBA TIPPING

Tips are not included in the bills and are strictly voluntary, usually 10% of the bill. Moderate tipping is expected. However, as more foreigners pass through Cuba, many people who would not normally merit them have begun to demand tips. Some discretion may be required.

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CUBA PEOPLE

Cuba's original inhabitants likely came to the island from South America. They were the Guanahatabey and the Ciboney, the former living in the extreme west of the island, the latter in various places in the island and particularly on the cays to the south. Both were hunter-gatherers. The Taino (Arawakan Indians), who arrived later and who spread over not only Cuba but also the rest of the Greater Antilles and the Bahamas, lived in villages and had rudimentary agriculture; they also made simple pottery. The Taino constituted 90 % of the island's population at the time of the Spanish conquest.

Cuba is a multiracial society with a population of mainly Spanish and African origins. The largest organized religion is the Roman Catholic Church, but evangelical protestant denominations are growing rapidly. Afro-Cuban religions, a blend of native African religions and Roman Catholicism, are widely practiced in Cuba. Officially, Cuba has been an atheist state for most of the Castro era. In 1962, the government of Fidel Castro seized and shut down more than 400 Catholic schools, charging that they spread dangerous beliefs among the people. In 1991, the Communist Party lifted its prohibition against religious believers seeking membership, and a year later the constitution was amended to characterize the state as secular instead of atheist.


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CUBA CLIMATE & CLOTHING

Climate: Cuba has a hot, sub-tropical climate all year. Rain can fall at any time during the year, usually in short, sharp showers but from November to April, when the temperatures are more pleasant, is when least rain falls. Trade winds and sea breezes effectively lower the sometimes balmy temperatures.

Clothing: Loose-fitting, lightweight cottons and linens are recommended with suitable beachwear for the stay in Varadero. Synthetic materials are uncomfortable in a hot and humid climate. A hat is essential for protection from the sun when sightseeing. Beachwear should be confined to the beach and not worn in the town.

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CUBA SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

All sporting events are free for Cubans. The country participates in many sports in the Olympic Games. Baseball is the national sport; soccer and a variety of ball games are also played. There are many stadiums, and both playing and watching sport is one of the national pastimes.

Watersports: Diving can be practised at major resorts and at some lesser-known locations. The 21 km-/13 mile-long Varadero Beach, one of Cuba’s best-developed resorts, offers good diving and snorkelling. For those not wanting to venture underwater, boat tours to the reef are available. Cayo Largo, an island to the south of Cuba, also has a beautiful beach, with facilities for snorkelling, diving, windsurfing and fishing. Lesser-known resorts offering good facilities include Cayo Coco, an island off the northern coast, Cayo Guillermo, accessible along a causeway from Cayo Coco and Guardalvaca, to the north of Holguín. The Isla de la Juventud, a large island to the south of Cuba, offers excellent reef diving. Wildlife, including turtles and iguanas, can be observed on the coral keys to the east. Expeditions leave from hotels on the west side of the island. There is also very good diving from resorts in the Pinar del Río province in the northwest of the island, an area characterised by clear water and long white-sand beaches. Beautiful corals can be seen off the coast. Some of the best fishing is to be had off the more remote beaches, which can be difficult to get to without one’s own transport. Local dive operators offer organised dives, equipment hire and tuition.

Trekking and horse riding: Although possible in some of the more remote areas of the island, permits may be required. Check with the authorities before departure. There are few marked trails, so it is best to hire a local guide. There are three main mountain ranges in the west, centre and east of the island. Beautiful and unspoilt scenery can be found all over Cuba. Pico Turquino, Cuba’s highest mountain, is in the Sierra Maestra range, offering good hikes and treks. The Sierra de Cubitas range near Camaguëy is characterised by river gorges and cliffs, while the Escambray Mountains near Trinidad contain dense rainforest. Guama, on the Zapata peninsula is an extensive marshy area, which hosts many interesting varieties of birds, including parrots. The Cordillera de Guaniguanico in the north of the island features spectacular scenery with rivers and limestone mountains and caves. Horse riding is available at special tourist ranches at Baconao and Trinidad.

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CUBA TIME ZONE

Cuban time is -5 Greenwich Meridian Time (eastern time of USA and Canada). During the months from March through September, Cuba institutes daylight saving time.

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