Traveling to Cuba

What you need to know!

Americanos in Cuba

Travel Guidance for Americans in Cuba!

In 1960, the United States imposed several trade embargoes against Cuba. Part of the embargo included Americans ability to travel to Cuba. As of January 16, 2015 Americans are no longer required to get a license for travel to Cuba, as long as the trip fulfills one of the 12 categories of activities identified in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR). In March 2016, US President Barack Obama made a historic visit to Cuba. President Obama was the first sitting US President to go to Cuba since Fidel Castro overthrew the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. In August 2016, the US airline JetBlue, began regularly scheduled direct flights from the US to Cuba. Travel to Cuba has become easier for Americans, but it still has challenges. Read the tips and information below to prepare you for a successful trip to Cuba!

Affidavit – The 12 categories of approved travel activities identified by the CACR are below:

Establishing which category you fit into can be somewhat of a gray area. Travel restrictions to Cuba do not seem to be highly enforced anymore, however it is important to read through the categories and establish a plan as tourism in Cuba is still not technically allowed for Americans. For example, an option would be to select Self-Guided People to People under Educational Activities. This selection requires that you establish a detailed itinerary for all of your travel in Cuba. You are supposed to document everything that you do in the country. This means writing down places you visit, people you meet, including detailed information such as dates, times, receipts, and photos. Good thing we keep a travel blog ☺

The limit on the amount of cigars and rum you can bring back to the US was eliminated in October 2016. Remember you will receive a US tax for bringing back more than 1 liter of rum per person.
US Citizens must have a valid passport that will not expire in the next six months.
US issued credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba, so you need to pack enough cash to cover all of your travel expenses. Note that the US Dollar is charged a 13% conversion fee when exchanging money in Cuba. We recommend bringing Euros or Canadian dollars to avoid the additional 10% conversion fee.
There is a US Embassy located in Havana, Cuba.

When you fly into Cuba you can purchase a 30-day visa at the airport for $20-50. The price seems to vary depending on where your flight originated in the US. The visa is a separate document that you keep with your passport; you may or may not have your passport stamped. If you would like your passport stamped, simply ask while you are passing through customs.
Cuba requires all tourists to have travel medical insurance that is non-American. If you cannot provide proof of your insurance, you may be forced to pay for a Cuban travel insurance package that costs about $10/day. You may or may not be asked to show proof of medical insurance, but be prepared just in case you are questioned.
There is limited internet and cell phone access in Cuba. Cellphones with service through US carriers will not work in Cuba.
We recommend printing out a map of the cities that you plan to visit and bring them with you on your trip or download Google Offline maps before arriving in Cuba!

Money

Cash is KING!

Cuba has two currencies; one for locals and one for tourists. Tourists use the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) and locals use the Cuban Peso (CUP).

1 CUC = 25 CUP

Almost all of your transactions in Cuba will be done in cash, so when you arrive in Cuba you will need to exchange your money for CUC. The current exchange rate for CUC is about 1 USD = 1 CUC. It is easy to convert Euros, Canadian Dollars, and British Pounds for a 3% conversion fee. If you plan on converting US Dollars to CUC, be prepared to pay the whopping 13% conversion fee. Try to exchange most of your money when you find an available money exchange counter. We recommend looking up where the money exchange locations are in the parts of Cuba that you plan to visit before you arrive. The money exchange in Old Havana always had a long line of people and sometimes the exchange will run out of the ability to convert a certain currency.

An easy way to remember the difference between CUC and CUP is that CUC have pictures of monuments and buildings, while the CUP has pictures of people. If you are still unsure about which bills you have, CUC will always have the words ‘Pesos Convertibles’ on the bill. The denominations that you can receive in CUC are as follows:

Paper Money – 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Coins – .01, .05, .10, .25, .50, 1, 5

During our trip, we never received paper money that was higher than 20 CUC. It is helpful to keep smaller bills for tipping and purchasing souvenirs. It is also always handy to have coins to pay bathroom attendants.

When using your money and receiving change, check to make sure you are handed change in CUC and not CUP. Since the value of CUP is much lower than CUC, you don’t want to accidentally be handed CUP. CUP is valued much lower than CUC and tourists are technically not allowed to use the CUP.

If you find yourself with a lot of CUC leftover at the end of your trip, you can convert the CUC back to another currency. Since the CUC is not accepted anywhere else in the world it is recommend that you convert the currency, unless you plan to return to Cuba again soon!

Taxes: If you purchase art in Cuba, be prepared for the possibility of having to pay a tax on the art that you purchased. An art tax can range from 3-6CUC per piece, but depends on the size of the art, amount that you purchased, and the opinion of the person checking for the art tax.

Cigars & Rum

Yes & Yes

Many people that travel to Cuba have requests from friends to bring back cigars and rum! If you are a cigar novice like me, then you may have arrived in Cuba knowing nothing about cigars. Here are the main points you need to know – there are three popular brands of Cuban cigars: Cohibas, Montecristo, and Romeo & Juliet. You can expect to purchase most cigars for around 7-10 CUC a piece. If you are looking to purchase a box of cigars they can range from 150-300CUC depending on the type of cigar. To avoid the risk of purchasing fake cigars buy them from a licensed and certified shop.

If you plan to buy cigars on the street understand that you run the risk of purchasing a fake. Here are a few things to look out for to avoid being scammed. Be sure to pick up the cigar and feel for any soft spots which are an indicator of knock-off cigars. Cigars with two different colors on them are most likely counterfeit. Genuine cigars will be similar in size and neatly trimmed at the end. Pick up the packaging and check for the official government sticker. There should be a Cuban Warranty Seal on the box. Every warranty seal should have a hologram on the right side and a barcode on the left side of the sticker. Overall, use your judgement and trust your gut feeling. If you feel like you are getting scammed, you probably are. There are plenty of licensed stores where you can purchase genuine Cuban cigars without worry of counterfeits.

Cuba produces some of the world’s most respected brands of rum. There are varying qualities of the silky, smooth rum. You can purchase the basic white rum which is popular for making cocktails such as the mojito and daiquiri. You can also opt for dark rums, which can be used to make a Cuba Libre. Havana Club is the most popular brand of rum and will probably be the type of rum that you will drink throughout Cuba and purchase to bring home. Prices of Havana Club rum will vary depending on where you purchase the rum. You will find the rum priced from 6-10 CUC. You can purchase the rum almost anywhere, so feel free to shop around!

Where to Stay

You can stay in hotels or resorts while in Cuba, but these will be pricey and do not provide a lot of value for the high prices. We recommend staying in a casa particular. Casas particulares are private homes that have been licensed to rent out no more than two rooms to visitors, and they provide an excellent way to get to know the local people. You can find a casa particular in advance of your trip by searching on AirBnB. When you are in Cuba, you can walk around a city and locate a building with a sign indicating rooms are for rent. If the place you stop happens to be booked, many times the owner will help you find another one nearby. Casas particulares range from 20-30 CUC per night and may include breakfast!

Getting Around Cuba

Taxis

Classic Car Taxi – Riding in a classic car from the 1950s is a highlight for many people when traveling to Cuba. You can rent one of these vintage cars for a short trip through the city, by the hour, for a full day, or even to drive you from city to city. How much you will pay for the taxi will depend on your negotiation skills. Be a tough negotiator and be prepared to walk away from a taxi if they are stuck at a high rate. Below is a chart of what you can expect to pay for various ride lengths:

If you are staying at a casa particular, the host may be able to ask around to find a driver to take you to your next destination.

State Taxi – Try to avoid taxis with license plate numbers that start with a “B”. These taxis tend to be more expensive.

Coco Taxi – These three seater taxis can be a fun way to get around the city. While they do have a meter, negotiate a rate before you take a ride. The price you are quoted at your destination may be much higher than you were expecting!

Bicycle Taxi – Another great alternative for traveling through the city, but again, be sure to negotiate your rate before taking a ride!

Ferry – There are ferry crossings in many locations around Cuba. This is an affordable (1 CUC per person) and fun way to explore. Depending on the time of day that you use the ferry, they can be filled with people. We took a ferry to get from Old Havana to Casa Blanca. It was quick, efficient, safe, and we became friends with some awesome travelers also trying out the ferry system!

Bus – Cuba’s government run bus system has specific buses for tourists to use called Viazul. You cannot book tickets online yet, so you will need to go to the bus station and purchase your tickets in person. Popular routes may sell out, so we recommend purchasing your tickets for your next destination once you arrive in a new city.

Car Rental – Car rentals in Cuba are not cheap and there are limited cars available. If you want to rent a car, we recommend calling or emailing the company in advance to book a car. If you try to rent a car with no reservation, there will most likely be no cars available.

Internet

There is limited access to the internet in Cuba. You will be able to tell when you are passing through a public wifi zone as many people will be sitting together all looking at their phones or computers. These wifi zones are typically found in public parks. You can purchase prepaid wifi cards for about 2-3 CUC per hour. There are usually locals that are selling cards in the wifi zone. These scratch-off cards have a username and password that you use to access the internet. It won’t be the fastest internet in the world, but it will be enough to let you post a photo or two on Instagram!

Interesting and Random Facts about Cubans

Education and healthcare are free in Cuba. Grade school is mandatory for children in Cuba, which directly impacts Cuba’s high literacy rate.
Cuba has the highest doctor to patient ratio in the world. Doctors from Cuba are often sent around the world to countries with a need for medical professionals.
Dominos and baseball are very popular.
Cuba is the most populated country in the Caribbean with over 11 million people.
The average individual monthly income in Cuba is 500 CUP about 20USD.
Sugar is the main crop in Cuba, followed by tobacco.
Cubans need to find someone to swap locations with if they want to move from one city to another.
Cubans find it extremely rude to blow your nose in public.
Hitchhiking is a legal and common way to get around; government officials are required to pick up hitchhikers.
Everyone in Cuba has the ability to get a job (avoid giving money to beggars).
The world’s tiniest bird, the bee hummingbird, can be found in Cuba.
Ballerinas are considered a high class celebrity in Cuba. Ballerinas are more popular than baseball players and almost anyone you ask could name a principal ballerina in Cuba.
Cuba is known for its main musical form of Son, which is a combination of upbeat rhythm and classic guitar.
Bacardi rum was originally manufactured in Cuba, but the brand moved to Puerto Rico after the revolution began.

What to Eat/Drink

When traveling through Cuba you will probably eat at both state-run restaurants and privately run restaurants in homes called paladars. You will quickly learn that rice and beans will be available at every meal. Try to eat as much yucca and plantains as possible as they are both delicious. While some street food in Cuba can be questionable, there are a few things we would recommend trying such as churros. The churro stand always seems to have a long line for crisp, fresh churros. You will also see men walking around and selling white paper cones. These cones hold roasted peanuts and you can purchase a cone for only a few cents. When it comes to drink in Cuba, you will want to try everything on our list!

Cuban Coffee – A must have for coffee lovers. Cuba is one country that doesn’t have a Starbucks on every corner, but they don’t need one since the country has excellent coffee.

Cuba Libre – A famous cocktail of rum, coke, and lime. You can find cuba libres sold almost everywhere.

Daiquri – Have one at La Floridita in Havana, just like Ernest Hemingway. You will pay a tourist price of 6 CUC per drink, but the daiquiris are delicious.

Mojitos – Try a mojito in Old Havana at La Bodeguita del Medio, the bar that claims they invented the mojito. The live music and refreshing mojitos will keep you here for a while.

Cuban beer – Cristal, the common beer offered in Cuba or try the dark and considered stronger beer, Bucanero. Both can be refreshing while exploring Cuba in its hot weather!

Coconut water – For 1 CUC, you can enjoy a whole coconut opened by a local with a machete.

Helpful Spanish Phrases

Education is free in Cuba and many people do speak English. It is easy to travel through Cuba with a basic knowledge of Spanish phrases. We recommend reviewing a few simple phrases and Spanish numbers to help with negotiating!

Cuba Packing List

Toilet Paper – Be sure to have some extra TP with you while exploring Cuba. Many of the public restrooms do not have any TP available.

Hand Sanitizer – The bathrooms are lacking TP and many do not have hand soap. Hand Sanitizer is a must.

Bug Spray – Cuba has mosquitos and yes they do bite, so protect yourself with bug spray.

Sunscreen – Pretty obvious it is hot and sunny year round in Cuba.

Extra pre-packaged snacks – You never know when you will find yourself hungry while traveling. Cuba does not have grocery stores or many easy grab and go snacks. Packing a few granola bars may come in handy if you find yourself hungry on the go or they make for a great quick breakfast!

Comfortable shoes – Another obvious item to pack, but after a day of exploring the cobblestone streets of Old Havana you will be thankful for a sturdy walking shoe.

How We Traveled to Cuba

We traveled to Cuba on a cruise ship! This is a unique way to see the country; we learned a ton about Cuba and were able to enjoy the country with added comforts that most travelers in Cuba will not experience. Cruising is not our typical style of travel, but we traveled there over the Christmas and New Year holidays with family. My mom really wanted to travel to Cuba, but she felt better going there knowing that she had a comfortable stateroom to sleep in every night. We cruised on Fathom Adonia’s People to People tour. Fathom makes traveling to Cuba easy! They took care of our Visa requirements and made sure we fulfilled the category of Educational Activities with self-guided and guided tours. They also provided detailed information on the cities that we visited, so if you did absolutely no planning before arriving in Cuba they would make sure you were well prepared to experience Cuba to its fullest. This was extremely helpful especially since traveling to Cuba as an American can be confusing. If you think you would like to travel to Cuba by cruise, we recommend Fathom but they are only running this cruise through May 2017 so plan your cruise soon! If you are planning to travel to Cuba on your own, we hope this travel guide has provided you tips and information to help you feel more confident in your travel plans!