Cuba Travel Tips | Cuba Entry Info

	Cuba Travel Tips Being well informed before you leave takes the worry out of travelling, and helps your trip go smoothly. To make your visit to Cuba enjoyable, we have compiled these useful information.

Home Cuba Varadero Havana Hotels in Cuba Car Rental Flight to Cuba Domestic Flights Dominican Republic Cuba Overview
Español Italiano Deutsch Norge Français Japanese Polski Russian

Travel tips:
	Packing for your trip
	Entering Cuba
	Cuban Tourist Card
	Clearing customs
	Telecommunications
	Best month to visit
	Getting around
	Health
	Getting Married
	Passport
	Forms of payment
	Cuban money
	Flights to Cuba
	Cuba Overview

Every tourist should have a valid
passport issued on his - her name
and Cuban Tourist Card.

Driving is an excellent way
to explore beauty of Cuba.
Reserve you car online.

Tourist Card allows its holder to stay
in Cuba for 90 days from the date
of entry, is valid for one entry.

Pinar del Rio is famous for producing
the finest tobacco leafs in Cuba.

Gran Teatro de La Habana is located
in the Paseo del Prado in Havana.

Cabo de San Antonio
situated at the west end of Cuba.
Eco Tourism enthusiasts can enjoy
a wide range of options. Cabo Corrientes
the reserve is perfect for nature and
beach lovers, haven for Bird Watchers.

Packing for your trip to Cuba

What you pack for your visit to Cuba will depend on the time of year and your itinerary.
Here are few ideas to help you bring the right items for your vacation.

Clothing

Cuba is a wonderfully warm, tropical island, so cotton and other light fabrics are ideal for outdoor activities. Keep in mind, however, that resorts, restaurants, tour buses and other public areas are generally air conditioned. During wintertime, which is slightly cooler, we recommend bringing a light overcoat. For the rainy season May to October, rain gear or an umbrella will come in handy.
Casual is the order of the day in Cuba. However, visitors who enjoy elegant dining, theatre and other sophisticated entertainment tend to dress more formally for those occasions.
Loose, light colored cotton clothing, long shorts are acceptable for men and women, although women may find a skirt breezier and more comfortable. Soften your appearance by avoiding logo-splattered, flashy clothing in preference of plainer items.

Electrical equipment

Cuba’s electricity is 110 volts, 60Hz, most hotels and resorts offer 220 volts. Electrical outlets take flat plug prongs.
If you’re bringing an electrical appliance, check before you leave to see if you need an adaptor or converter.

Clock

You may be hoping for a vacation where time stands still. Remember that Cuba is on EST - Eastern Standard Time, from May through October, Cuba transfer into daylight savings time (one hour ahead). GMT -5 hours, as US - EST in the winter and EDT during the summer.

Entering Cuba Cuban Tourist Card

Every tourist should have a valid passport issued on his or her name and a Cuban Tourist Card or Cuba Visa. Make sure that your passport in a good condition, it is important for you to know that your passport should be valid for at least two weeks after the return date.

Health insurance, with provision for emergency repatriation, is compulsory for visitors to Cuba. Those travellers without adequate health insurance will be obliged to purchase Cuban health insurance on arrival. No vaccinations are officially required. Proof of medical coverage is mandatory for all tourists to enter Cuba. Get Free Travel Insurance Quote

Sailing to Cuba, be sure to contact port authorities before you reach jurisdictional waters 12 miles from the base line. Use these communication channels:
- HF (SSB) channel 2760 (national coastal network) and 2790 (tourism network); or
- VHF channel 68 (national coastal network) and 16 (tourism network).

Port authorities will ask you for the following information:

- name of yacht
- flag
- port of registry
- last port of call
- port of arrival
- estimated time of arrival (ETA)
- type of craft
- colour of craft
- number of persons on board.

You must follow the instructions given by the port authorities and remain on board until all legal formalities are concluded.

Fly to Cuba on a private plane you must send an operational request for approval of your flight plan in a telex addressed to the:
Regimen de Vuelos de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba, La Habana. Telex: 51727 ACVCU

In the request, you must specify:

- whether the plane is private
- the type of aircraft
- registration number and class
- starting point
- pilot’s name
- expected date, place and time of arrival
- objective of the trip.

Clearing customs

Visitors who are well prepared and adhere to a few simple rules should have smooth trips through customs, both when entering and leaving Cuba. Key information to remember:

Cuban customs laws prohibits any imports of pornographic material, narcotics drugs, live animals and firearms, although these last ones can be authorized by the organization in charge of this tourist modality when these are for the sport of hunting. Any possession, consumption and traffic of narcotic drugs and other substances are penalized, except for those of personal use accompanied by the corresponding doctor prescription letter.

Inbound travelers

Duty Free
Travellers to Cuba over 18 years do not need to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages; gifts to the value of US$50; and up to 10kg of medicine.

Seeds, fresh animal or vegetable products, narcotics and psychotropic substances; explosives, firearms and ammunition; pornographic material; publications directed against public order and morality and household electrical appliances are all prohibited. Strict regulations govern the import or export of philatelic collections; precious stones and metals; artistic, historical or cultural artefacts.

In addition to their personal jewelry, cameras and other valuables, visitors are allowed to bring into Cuba, duty free, two bottles of liquor, one carton of cigarettes and up to 10 kilograms of medicine. Gifts up to a value of $250 US$ can also be brought in. Of that, $50 is duty-free; the rest is 100 per cent taxable.

Narcotics and firearms, except for authorized hunting weapons, are not allowed into the country. No restrictions exist on the amount of money a visitor can bring into the country, but amounts over $5,000 US should be declared.

VCR and DVD players are now allowed into Cuba:

No restrictions on importation of VCR and DVD players into Cuba, travelers can bring them into the country regardless the type, brand or model, including the built-in ones in other equipments.

Tourists are allowed to take their personal effects which include the articles (new or used) that they reasonably need for their holidays according the length and purpose of the trip, plus: sport equipment, jewels, photographic camera, camcorder, cellular phones, blackberries, laptops, Ipods, MP3 players, video games, hair dryers, electric shavers, binoculars, one portable radio receiver, tape recorder, one portable music instrument and a sound recording device.

It's prohibited to bring into the country: narcotics, explosives, pornography, any item (including literature) intended to be used against the national security, animals and plants regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, GPS, walkie-talkies, cordless phones for the household that operate in bands different than 40-49 MHz and 2,4 and 5 GHz and household appliances: freezers, air conditioners, electric kitchens and furnaces, electric ovens, electric showers, electric fryers, electric water heaters, irons travel irons are allowed, toasters and any spare electrical parts for the above.

For more information and complete list of the prohibited articles, please visit website: www.Aduana.co.cu

Outbound travelers

Be sure to save CUC$ 25 Cuban Convertible pesos in cash for your departure tax at the airport. Visitors leaving Cuba can take out 23 cigars (no in box), and 1.14 litres of liquor two regular-sized bottles of 750ml. To export other items, such as art and antiques, obtain a permit from the National Registry of Cultural Objects.
Most legitimate vendors have such permits, and can officially stamp your receipt.

Strict rules apply to taking plants and animals out of Cuba. The Convention on International Trading in Endangered Species (CITES) prohibits taking the following out of the country: indigenous flora and fauna; live or preserved specimens and articles made from parts of endangered species. However, articles made from species approved by the CITES Administrative Authority in Cuba may be taken out

Getting around Cuba

Transportation

Cuba has good taxi services as well as car, van and motorcycle rentals. Tour buses in Havana and Varadero cover the major sites of interest. For special excursions, contact the tourism desk at your hotel. Economy travel on buses among major centres around the country is also available through Busline Viazul. Transport info

The country has eleven international airports, and eight local ones with domestic charters and air taxis. Cuba’s extensive 50,000 km
network of highways and roads, 14,000 kilometers are paved.

Driving is an excellent way to travel around Cuba, You can pick up your car in all the airports and cities. Car rental

Photography and Filming

Photos and videos can be taken freely, except in restricted areas, such as military zones. Museums also have specific regulations.

Shopping

Shops in hotels, villas and airports sell Cuban cigars, rum and coffee, as well as snacks, arts and crafts, toiletries, books and souvenirs. Specialty stores in the main tourist regions also carry high-end European and other imports.

Currency

Official currency is the Cuban Peso CUP, divided into 100 centavos, but tourist currency is Convertible Peso CUC, which replaces the US Dollar as currency in tourist related establishments like hotels, restaurants and dollar shops. US Dollars are no longer accepted as payment.
All the goods and services in Cuba are priced in Cuban Convertible pesos only, including transportation and the departure tax from Cuba are priced and payable in CUCs. Cuban money info

Telecommunications

Cuba’s telephone network provides direct communications inside the country and out with any part of the world.
The international access code for Cuba is 53, outgoing code is 119 followed by the relevant country code.
Cellular phone company Cubacell have roaming agreements with many international cell phone companies, but not the United States.
GSM network covers most main towns, and cell phones are available for rent, or you can activate your open cell phone in Cuba. Public telephones are widely available for domestic and international calls, but international calls are expensive. All the public phones use only the Pre-paid phone card, no coins. Internet cafes are located in the cities Etecsa Telephone Centers and in the hotels.
Direct dialing codes within Cuba:

Ancon 419
Baconao 223
Baracoa 21
Caibarien 42
Camaguey (city) 322
Cayo Coco 33
Cayo Largo del Sur 45
Ciego de Avila (city) 33
Cienfuegos (city) 432
Florida 32
Granma (entire province) 23
Havana 7
Holguin (entire province) 24
Las Tunas (city) 31
Matanzas (city) 52

Moron 335
Pinar del Rio (city) 82
Playa Covarrubias 31
Playa Giron & Playa Larga 59
Remedios 42
Sancti Spíritus 41
Santa Clara (city) 422
Santa Lucia beach 32
Santiago de Cuba (city) 226
Santiago de Cuba (province) 22
Topes de Collantes 42
Trinidad 419
Varadero 45
Vinales Valley 8

Best months to visit Cuba

Taking into account the Tropical Climate of Cuba, we suggest you to travel in your winter season. From November to the beginning of May.

Cuba’s climate is moderately subtropical and predominantly warm. The island’s average temperature is 25.5 ºC and average relative humidity is 78 % . It also sees an average of 330 days of sunshine a year. Cuba’s two clearly defined seasons are the rainy season May to October and the dry season November to April.

Weather average

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Air temperature ºC	23	21	23	24	26	27	28	28	27	26	24	23
Water temperature ºC	21	21	22	23	24	25	27	27	28	27	26	24
Hours of sunlight	10	10	11	11	12	12.5	12	12	11	10	10	9
Rainfall (mm)	40	36	40	72	177	216	139	158	174	180	79	41
Rainy days	3	4	3	4	8	11	9	10	10	10	5	3
Humidity %	79	77	76	74	78	81	79	80	82	83	81	80

Your health

Travelling to Cuba are under no health restrictions, no special vaccinations or immunizations are necessary for traveling to Cuba. It's a healthy country that extends free initial doctor visits and emergency care to travelers. Drink bottled water and avoid fresh vegetables possibly rinsed in tap water.

Health care and insurance:
We recommend carrying insurance on your trip from your local insurance company. In Cuba, insurance can be obtained from Asistur S.A., the country’s official travel insurance company.
All hotels have doctors on staff or on call who guarantee primary care. Every major resort area also has an international medical clinic that handles more complex medical conditions. These clinics are scattered across the country:
Pinar del Rio, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Cayo Coco, Santa Lucia, Guardalavaca and Santiago de Cuba.

Getting Married in Cuba

Nothing is more romantic than a wedding on a tropical island.
Cuba has it all weddings: splashy weddings; exotic weddings; quiet weddings; combined weddings and honeymoons. Your travel agent and Cuban wedding planners can help you design a perfect day. Here are a few pointers to help you get started.

1- If you have never been married before, all you need is a passport that is valid throughout your stay in Cuba, and a tourist card (available from a travel agent, airline or the Cuban consulate).

2- If either the bride or groom has been married before, the previously married person must, in addition to the valid passport and tourist card, also produce the following documents:

if divorced: his/her birth certificate and Certificate of Divorce;
if widowed: his/her birth certificate, Certificate of Marriage and Certificate of Spouse’s Death.

Have your birth certificate and any divorce/marriage/death documents translated into Spanish and certified by a notary public and legalized by the Cuban consul in your country (service fee applies).

3- In addition, you must:

Create a sheet that lists your names, home address, occupations, level of education, nationality and the full names of your parents, living or deceased.
Attach the photo page of your passport to this sheet.
Fax copies of all documentation (including the extras described above if you have been married before) in both English and Spanish to your hotel in Cuba at least three weeks before your arrival there.
Bring all your original documents with you.

Your marriage will be formalized in the name stated on your passport. Your passport must therefore be correct, and the name on your passport must match that on all your other documents.

After your wedding, your Marriage Certificate will be prepared as quickly as possible and either given to you before you leave (time permitting) or couriered at the hotel’s expense to the home address on your documents. Your marriage is legalized by your Embassy in Havana and the Cuban Foreign Affairs department.

For more information, contact the Cuban Consulate in your country (see Passport)

Cuban Tourist Card Cuban Tourist Card

The Cuban Tourist Card allows its holder to stay in Cuba for 30 days from the date of entry into the Country, and is valid for one entry into Cuba. For a stay of more than 30 days and only up to 90 days maximum. You require visiting Cuban immigrations office to extend your visit period, or you can request at any tourism office in Cuba.
Children regardless of their age, also require Tourist Card, even if they are registered on their parents passports.

Cuban Tourist Card is usually supply along with the airline ticket. Cuban Tourist Cards is generally provided by tour operators or airlines with your ticket, or can be obtained from a Cuban government office. Check if you’re Cuban Tourist Card has a stamp at the back, from tour operators or airlines. Note, the Tourist Card is not valid without stamp.
If you don’t have Cuban Tourist Card you can always purchase it at the airport in Cuba, from the emigration for $20.

Passport

Passport requirements:
Every tourist should have a valid passport issued on his or her name and Cuban Tourist Card or Cuba Entry Visa.
Make sure that your passport in a good condition, it is important for you to know that your passport should be valid for at least two weeks after the return date.
If you are planning to work, do business or study in Cuba you need another type of visa. Contact Consulate General of Cuba in your country.

Forms of payment

All the goods and services in Cuba are priced in Cuban Convertible pesos only, including transportation and the departure tax from Cuba are priced and payable in CUC$. Departure Tax is CUC$ 25 you pay at the airport.

The value of the Cuban Convertible Peso CUC$ Cuban money info
To exchange US$ dollars cash into the CUC$ there you pay extra 10% surcharge.
Exchanges from Canadian Dollars, Euros, UK Pounds and Swiss Francs will not incur a surcharge.
Travelers cheques accepted in Cuba: Visa and Thomas Cook.
Credit Cards accepted in Cuba: Visa and MasterCard.
Loss of Credit Card should be reported tel: Havana 7- 55-444
or at regional subsidiaries of the Banco Financiero International.

CADECA - the government-run currency exchange, has locations throughout Cuban cities for converting foreign money to pesos. Hotels and other tourist haunts will also change money, but they give even worse exchange rates. Cubans Pesos 24 exchange to 1 $CUC Convertible Pesos

The exchange rates are based on Cuban Convertible Peso US$ 1 to 1 CUC$.
You will need to show your passport to exchage money in bank.

The best, cheapest exchange rate you will get in CADECA - Casas de Cambio.
$ € £ Currency converter

Foreign Currency Accepted by Cuban Banks - Exchage Rates to Cuban Convertible Peso CUC $