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 Health
& Vaccinations
There are no vaccination
requirements for international travellers. However, we advise
to get vaccination against hepatitis A, and it is recommended
to avoid water and food-borne bacteria. Please don't drink
tap water. The Cuba health system is comparable with many
developed countries health systems. The medical facilities
are good and, contrary to Canada and the USA, medical treatment
for foreign travellers is inexpensive. Few travellers to
Cuba experience more than upset stomach and sun burn.
Customs
** The information below is for general
purposes only. You will need to check the official website
for further information **
Official website of the Cuban General Customs
(Aduana General):
www.aduana.co.cu
If you are visiting Cuba as tourist you
will enjoy the benefits established in the Convention on
Customs Facilities for Tourism. You will have the right
to enter items for your personal use carried in your check-baggage
or in your hand-baggage, that there is no reason to consider
that these rights are being used in excesive quantities
and they will be re-exported when leaving the country.
To this effect, personal items are in addition
to clothings and other articles that can reasonably be considered
of personal use by the tourist, taking into account the
circumstances of the trip, and other items according to
the type of tourism, such as:
Photo and video cameras, camping tent,
fishing gear, bicycle, sports equipments, laptop computer,
equipments for recording and reproducing sounds.
If you are only carrying your personal
items and cash not exceeding $5000,00 USD or its equivalent
in other currencies, YOU DO NOT NEED TO FILL OUT THE CUSTOMS
DECLARATION.
Please note that from June the 1st, 2007,
Cuba has relaxed many regulations at its borders control.
You can now bring, with no problems whatsoever, portable
DVDs, PSPs and similar items of personal use. DVDs and VCRs
can also be imported but will be subject to duty tax to
be paid in CUCs. You may also take with you on your departure,
without proof of receipt, 2 boxes of Cuban cigars (50 cigars).
You WILL NOT import (bring
in with you into Cuba) the following Articles and/or Products
unless a Licence or Previous Permits from the Ministry of
Informatics and Communications has been issued:
wireless fax equipments; telephone boards;
data-net devices; wireless telephones except those operating
in 40 – 49 MHz, 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz bands; radio transmitters;
radio transceptors, including walkie-talkie; professional
radio receiver; land earth stations and satellite communications
terminals, including parabolic antennas and satellital phones.
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 at Tropicana (Havana) and
Rumba (Varadero) venues. Much entertainment
may be planned by us, 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 cabaret shows,
nightclubs and theatres. The
Tropicana cabaret stages world-known, open-air
shows. Theatre, opera and ballet are staged all year round
in Havana and seats are inexpensive. Films in cinemas are
normally subtitled. For more information on where to go
during your stay, please write to
us with your preferences.
Electricity
110-230V, 60 Hz. American-styled flat two-pin 110V is the norm everywhere in
Cuba though most hotels have 220V sockets. In any case, make sure you bring
with you an international adaptor and always read the label of your
equipments before plugging in.
Weights
& Measures : Metric with US and Spanish variations.
Time:
- 5 GMT
Currency
You should check with your bank before you leave the
UK to confirm that your debit/credit/cashpoint cards will
work and will be accepted in Cuba. If your bank cannot
confirm this then you should bring suitable Sterling or
Euro alternatives, preferably in cash. You should also
be aware that there are virtually no cash-points available
for drawing cash against Cirrus or Switch cards in Cuba.
You should also be aware that Scottish and Northern Irish
bank notes/coins cannot be exchanged in Cuba.
Since 8 November 2004, US Dollars are no longer accepted
in Cuba, and you will be charged 10% commission to exchange
them. The central Bank re-valued the Cuban Convertible
Peso (CUC) in March 2005, and this no longer operates
at 1-1 with the US dollar and has its own exchange rate.
Euros have also been introduced in some resorts like Varadero
and Cayo Coco.
When withdrawing cash from ATM machines or anywhere else,
it would seem that you are getting charged between 11%-13%
but in reality what is happening is that CUC's are getting
converted into US Dollars (hence the 11% more) and then
the US dollars are taken to whichever currency your card
works with.
We understand that you can use American Express Travellers
Cheques in Cuba, but they can only be cashed through the
offices of ASISTUR,
a Cuban Assistance Company. Travellers' cheques and/or
credit cards drawn on all other American banks are not
accepted in Cuba.
A departure tax (per person) of 25 convertible pesos (CUCs)
has replaced the current 25 US Dollar amount, which ceased
to be accepted from 8 November 2004 (see Summary). This
must be paid in local currency. US dollars are not accepted.
The wider use of the convertible pesos (CUC) to include
the tourist industry has inevitably meant an increase
in the number of forged CUC banknotes of all denominations
but in particular $100.00. You are strongly advised not
to change money anywhere other than at the CADECAS (exchange
kiosks throughout Cuba), hotel exchange bureaux or banks.
Individuals offering exchange facilities to avoid queues
should be avoided, and where possible small denomination
bills should be requested.
The Cuban peso 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 20, 5, 2 and
1 cent (centavos) denominations.
Furthermore, we believe that the best exchange against
the Sterling is normally obtained at Banco Metropolitano
but you should not put too much emphasis on this unless
you plan to spend more than a few hundred pounds and this
is, obviously, something that you take as a general advice
only.
In a nutshell, the exchange rate between CUC and GBP
would normally be approximately 10% less than a dollar.
Example: if 1 GBP = 2 USD, then 1 GBP = 1.80 CUC.
For an accurate Exchange Rate from the Banco
Metropolitano please click here
* This section has been created from extracts of The
FCO Travel Advice © and Cuba Direct ®©
Embassies
& Consulates
All major consulates and embassies are
in Havana. United Kingdom : Calle
34 No. 702, Miramar (tel. 7/204-1771; fax 7/204-8104); Canada
: Calle 30 No. 518, esquina Avenida 7ma,
Miramar (tel. 7/204-2517; fax 7/204-2044).. Though neither
an embassy nor consulate, the United States
Interests Section, Calle Calzada e/ L and
M, Vedado (tel. 7/33-3551 through -3559; fax 7/66-2095)
Basic
Costs
Cigarettes 1.20 CUC; a burger 1.50 CUC;
a soda 1.00 CUC; a sandwich 1.50 CUC; a beer 1.00 CUC, a
bottle of water 1.00 CUC; an average lunch in restaurants
or paladares (private licensed restaurant) 10.00 CUC; a
bottle of a decent champagne 20.00 CUC; a bottle of a decent
wine 10.00 CUC.
Tipping
It is only but fair to tip those who have
done a good job. People who deserve a 1 CUC tip include
museum staff who give you a complete tour, hotel guards
who watch your rental car all night, helpful bus drivers,
attentive wait staff or anyone in the service industry who
goes beyond the call of duty. Do not offer money to officials
to obtain preferential treatment; governmental corruption
is rare in Cuba and attempted bribery will only make things
worse. For other services, 10% of the bill is the norm.
Telecommunications
Internet Access: Internet
Access is becoming more common and available in Cuba. Although
"real" Internet Cafes are sort of non-existing,
Internet Access is available at almost all hotels. Rates
range from 5 CUC for 15 minutes to an hour session for 15
CUC. An alternative to hotels are certain ETECSA offices
equipped with computers and Internet access. In order to
use these, you must purchase a card. A scratch-off login
number and password on the back is good for use on any ETECSA
computer around the country. In most cases, you will have
to pay additionally for the local telephone call.
Telephone Calls: You can
make international phone calls from your hotel room, through
any International Telephone Center or using pre-paid cards.
You may travel with your own mobile. Do check with your
provider before hand. For direct dialling to Cuba,
you must first dial Cuba’s code (53), followed by
the code of the city or town and then the desired number.
For direct dialling from Cuba to any country
in the world, you must first dial 119, followed by the code
of the country, then the code of the city, and the desired
number. To make national phone calls whilst in Cuba, you
must dial 0, then the code of the province and immediately
the desired number. Making international phone calls from
Cuba is expensive. Using your mobile phone will cost about
5 cuc a minute on calls to Europe, and phoning from your
hotel room will cost even more. So keep in mind that a 25
cuc phone card will be chewed up in roughly five minutes
on calls to Europe.
IMPORTANT: If you call
a Cuban number (mobile or landline) from your mobile whilst
in Cuba this will be billed as if you were calling from
the UK to Cuba … or even more! So … DON’T
CALL OUR REPS FROM YOUR MOBILE unless you want to be faced
with a huge bill on your return.
Language
The official language is Spanish, which is spoken in the
entire island. It is often peppered with special Cuban phonetics
and witty popular metaphors. At Tourist facilities there
are highly skilled personnel capable of communicating in
various languages, especially English.
Food
and Drink
Traditional dishes are based on rice, beans,
yucca, corn, banana and pork, as well as a rich variety
of tropical fruits. The typical Cuban dish is the ajiaco,
a soup with meat and edible roots. Calf and pork are the
meats of greater demand; it's traditional to cook the pig
to the prong, roasted to the whole furnace. Also much fish
is consumed, mainly in the cities. The most appreciated
is the red snapper, although also great amounts of shrimps,
lobsters and other varieties of seafood are consumed. The
Cuban kitchen has many creòle plates, like rice
with chicken and rice with beans.
The cane juice and the molasses serve to
prepare sweet drinks. Amongst the spirits the best are rum
and beer, although in bars the favourites are daiquiri,
a drink made of white and dry rum, lemon juice, sugar and
pricked ice, and that became famous by the fascination that
felt by it the American writer Ernest Hemingway and the
Mojito made of white rum, sugar, lemon and mint.
A very traditional drink is the Saoco based on coconut water
and rum, and it is usually served in the coconut.
Contrary to general belief, there are an
increasing number of fantastic hidden gems to dine out on
your own, as a group or for a romantic dinner. We will be
soon listing our best choices for dining in Cuba. Please
keep checking this section for more information ...
Clothing
Bring light clothing, mainly cotton and natural fibres;
flat comfortable shoes good for walks and excursions; sunglasses
and hats; skin lotions. From December to February, light
jumpers and jackets may come in handy; a raincoat or an
umbrella is advisable for the rainy season: May and June.
Climate
& Weather
Cuba is the biggest island in the Caribbean, almost as big
as all the others put together. Thanks to the warm waters
of the Gulf Stream and the trade winds, the island's climate
is moderate and stable, sub-tropical but less hot than elsewhere
in the Caribbean. In Havana the average temperature hovers
around 25 C. The dry season lasts from November to mid-May
and the rainy season from mid-May to October, but even then,
Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Varadero and the other beach resorts
rarely have more than two consecutive days of rain.
For more details on daily forecasts,
satellite photos and other general climate information,
please click here
to visit the official Cuban meteorological website (Spanish
only). Another very useful site - in English - can be found
by clicking here .
Transportation
You should not take urban transportation:
they are always crowded and unreliable. You should take
taxis or tourist buses instead, or walk when it's short
distances. If you want to go on a tour of the island, your
best option is to rent a car. There are several car rental
offices at the airports, hotels and tourist spots providing
high quality cars and services. You must show your passport
and driver's license in order to rent a car. The driver
must be at least 21 years old; the license may be international
or from your country but at least a year old. Cuba has a
comprehensive road network and traffic is very light. The
condition of road services is variable and signposting
can be poor but, for a reasonably experienced driver, travelling
by car around Cuba can be a satisfying experience. You must
also watch out for animals on the road and cyclists in urban
areas. Park the car in a safe well-lit place and do not
leave anything valuable in it. You are liable for traffic
fines; failure to pay would mean incurring a debt with the
State. We recommend you buy a "Road Guide of Cuba" ,
a very helpful for finding your way around on the roads.
It is customary to give lifts to people.
Guides
on Cuba
We particularly like the perspective and depth-information of Lonely Planet and
Havana Time Out . This does not mean that the rest of guides are not good
enough or that should only consider these two. We just happen to like and
recommend these ones.
DOs
& DON'Ts
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Take extra care when driving in Cuba.
Beware of cyclists, potholes and cars that stop without
warning to pick up hitchhikers. Don't travel on the
motorways at night if at all possible as serious and
fatal accidents can happen through cattle straying on
to the road. |
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Beware of those offering an unsolicited and unofficial guide
service. They may be part of a team of thieves preying on tourists. |
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Bring enough funds for your stay and your return journey. Local
banking facilities are not as in Europe and obtaining additional funds through
local banking channels can be frustrating, difficult, and not always
successful. |
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Take care of your valuables at all times. Don't carry excessive
amounts of cash. Bag snatching and pickpockets are common, especially in the
area of Old Havana. Leave valuables, important documents and the balance of
your holiday cash in the hotel safe. |
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Report robberies to the police, especially when losing important
documents (e.g.: passport, credit cards, Cuban visa, etc) or large sums of
money. Police reports are needed to obtain a new passport and Cuban visa. Keep
a photocopy of your main passport page. |
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Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport. |
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Don't leave home without travel insurance. Make sure you are fully covered for
medical treatment, hospitalisation and medical evacuation to the United
Kingdom. |
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Don't get involved with drugs. Penalties are very severe in Cuban law. Don't
carry anything through customs for someone else unless you know exactly what it
contains. |
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Don't bring credit cards or traveller's cheques from American-based banks -
including AMEX. They are not accepted in Cuba. Visa, Mastercard, Cabel and Visa
Electron are all accepted credit cards. |
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Don't leave belongings visible in your car. They will be an easy target for
thieves. |
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Don't buy goods outside hotels and shops. What appears to be a bargain may be
illegal and could result in a frustrating and difficult situation. |
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Don't bring any fruit or meat into Cuba. These will be confiscated on arrival. |
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Don't travel alone at night. Don't stay out late at night in
unfamiliar parts of town or in areas of Old Havana. |
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Respect Cuban law. Prison sentences are imposed for offences that
might only incur a warning in the UK. |
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Visitors
must not take photographs/videos of military or police
personnel or installations. You may be arrested for
spying. |
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Visitors
intending to drive should note that traffic accidents
that result in the injury or death of third parties
are treated as a crime. You are unlikely to be allowed
to return home until you have been cleared by police
investigation, a process that may take several months. |
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Although not against
the law, homosexuality is frowned upon by Cuban society
and law enforcement agencies. However, violence towards
homosexuals is null. If you were homosexual, you should
expect no problems whatsoever. |
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British nationals
require visas that can be acquired through the Cuban
Consulate or, on-lie, from www.visacuba.co.uk. There
is a tax of 25 CUC for all visitors - including infants
- on departure which must be paid in cash. |
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