Located in the northern Caribbean Sea, facing the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, Cuba, with its mix of Spanish and African roots, is the largest, least commercialized and most exciting island in the Caribbean. It is also one of the world’s last bastions of communism with a fascinating modern history, that somehow seems to be lost in time, somewhere in the 1950’s. Cubans are warm with foreigner, not afraid to hug strangers or shake your hand vigorously. The lively people of Cuba will make you feel welcome, making every effort communicate with you even if you have no notion of Spanish. Havana is the largest city and capital; other major cities include Santiago de Cuba and Camagüey.
Yoeztudioz, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Cuba has a tropical climate with two different seasons, the best moment to visit Cuba is from November to April, during the dry season, when you can expect dry and sunny days and blue skies, with warm days and cool nights. The wet season begins mid-May /June and lasts until October, when there is a risk of hurricanes. The hurricane season is normally over by November, although during this time hotels and flights deals are easier to find. Rainfall happens quickly and comes down hard, but sun is usually back just as quick. The humidity during this season is higher, with temperatures around 28- 33°C.
Snorkelling and diving: the dry season in Cuba is from December to April, offers the best sea conditions and visibility. The average water temperature is 25°C. January to March have the coolest water, and it reaches its warmer temperatures in July to October. Diving in Cuba during the hurricane season, and particularly in September and October, means it is more likely the weather will interfere and affect visibility. From late April to late May, there is an increased chance of swimming into nearly invisible jellyfish with a severe sting, found predominantly off the southern coast of the island.
Carnival of Santiago de Cuba: Carnival of Santiago de Cuba is said to be the soul of the city. It is the event that the locals spend an entire year planning. It is all about music and dance and is famous for their “comparsas.” Towards the end of July.
Cuba has two currencies at the moment. Cuban Pesos Convertibles and Cuban Pesos. Typically as a tourist you will only have contact with Pesos Convertibles (pay attention to the change you are given). The Peso Covertible is equivalent to 1 US Dollar and, therefore, around 1,15 to 1,25 per 1 Euro.
The official language of the Republic of Cuba is Spanish, but some people speak English, specially in places busy with tourists. Cubans working in tourism tend to also speak German, French, Italian, and Russian.
A trip to Cuba implies getting a visa, as there are only a few visa exempt countries whose citizens can enter the country using only their passport. Most foreigners will need either a Cuban Tourist Card or a Cuban Visa, which are actually different documents. Travelers from most countries (North America, South America, and Europe) only need a Cuban Tourist Card to enter. While a few African and Middle Eastern countries actually need a Cuban Visa instead of just a Tourist Card. The Tourist Card can normally be purchased from your airline before departure and be filled during your flight. Upon arrival the immigration representative will keep one portion and you should keep your second portion as it shall be turned in upon departure.
Credit card payments are rarely accepted in Cuba. They tend to be accepted only at international resorts and top end hotels. The best option when you arrive in Cuba is to get cash at the airport or exchange office, since almost every Cuban business including “casas particulares” work with cash. ATMs are, nevertheless, available and major card services can withdraw money in Cuba. ATMs are becoming more common, but remain unavailable beyond major cities and touristic towns.
Banks open from 9am until 3pm, a similar timetable to most shops from 9am until 5pm, specially those outside Havana. Restaurants open from 11am to 11pm. Bars may open until late depending on the area and the day of the week.
Time: GMT – 5 hours
José Martí International Airport (Havana) is the main and largest airport in Cuba, although other possible ports of entry for foreigners include Juan Gualberto Gomez International Airport (Varadero), Jardines Del Rey Airport (Cayo Coco) and Antonio Maceo International Airport (Santiago).
The best option to get around Cuba is renting a car, either with or without driver. It is absolutely not needed in cities such as Havana or Santiago de Cuba, but it is useful for discovering the rest of the country. Either option is similarly priced since rental car companies are State-owned and quite expensive. Since driving yourself can be a challenge and road conditions can be poor, it is recommended that you rely on an experienced driver. This is specially important if you plan to drive long distances or if you are travelling in a group. There are options to rent old american cars with a driver and up to 7 seats for good prices. Bus and taxi are some options too, but local buses are usually crowded and do not follow a specific schedule. Train is a good option connecting Havana with Santiago but Cuban trains are slow.
Drinking tap water in some areas
Talking about politics openly
Taking photos of police or soldiers
Forgetting to tip
Cuban cuisine is a blend of African, Spanish, and other Caribbean cuisines. Some of the most popular diches in Cuban cuisine include “ropa vieja” (stewed shredded beef, slow cooked with fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic and wine), “media noche” (roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles), “fricasé de pollo” (a mix of pimento-stuffed olives, capers, raisins and chicken), “congrí” (rice and beans seasoned with cumin, peppers and pork chunks) and “vaca frita” (made by frying shredded skirt or flank steak, topped with sautéed onions). Cuban dishes are typically served with white rice, black beans and sometimes fried sweet plantains.
The electrical current in Cuba is most commonly 110V and with standard U.S.-style two or three flat prong outlets (Type A and B), particularly in Cuban “casas particulares”. European style plugs of two round prongs (Type C) and 220V are available in many tourist hotels and resorts.
Since May 2010, it is mandatory for foreigners to have a private health insurance when arriving to Cuba with coverage for the duration of the trip. Some times compliance with this requirement is checked by official in the airport. Thus, bringing a copy of your insurance policy is very important. Some vaccines beyond those typically received by standard are recommended, such as hepatitis A (recommended for most travellers) and typhoid (recommended for travellers to regions outside most frequent tourist areas). A rabies vaccination should be considered for long-stay travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.
Tipping in Cuba is important and expected specially by those involved in tourism. It is common to tip 10% of the cost of our meal. Nevertheless, check the bill because some restaurants include these 10% as a service fee. Note that internet connection in Cuba is not widely available and normally requires you to login through prepaid cards that allows you to connect for a period of time at public hotspots or the networks of “casas particulares”.