Cuba: Travelling

Entry Requirements

For Further Information: List of Cuban Embassies abroad and foreign Embassies in Cuba

Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Havana - Jose Marti Intl (HAV)	25 km / 14 miles	CUC 20-25 USD 21.7-27 / 30 min	Available	-	Available

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Cubana de Aviación	Major	Yes	Yes
Aerocaribean.com	Charter	Yes	Yes
Aerogaviata	Charter	Yes	Yes

Historical: Havana is the biggest city in the Caribean. It is one of the most beautiful Spanish colonial cities on the New Continent. Presently, Trinidad is a real museum town registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The "Isla de la Juventud" is a destination of predilection for diving enthusiasts. The islets surrounding it are rare sanctuaries for tortoises, iguanas and pelicans.
Cultural: Carnival celebrations are part of Cuban traditions and they take place in several towns on the Island in August. Cuba is also the birth place of several musical genres which the world dances to today: salsa, chachacha, mambo and rumba.
Nature: There are several places to go trekking in Cuba. One of the most famous is the three day crossing, the Sierra Maestra, from Alto del Naranjo through the Pico Turquino to Las Cuevas.
Thermal: There are several spas in Cuba. The best known are Santa Maria del Rosario and Madruga.
Beach: The island has an abundance of beach resorts, the most famous being Varadero made up of a number of beaches stretched out over almost 13 miles.
Outdoor Activities: Beach, trekking, diving...

Top Highlights in the Main Cities
Havana historical center (UNESCO World heritage)
The museum of the old city of Havana
The palace of Captain Generales
The Cathedral

Top Highlights of the Country
Grand Square of Trinidad
Santaria Yamay temple
Sierra Maestra National Park (
Isla de la Juventud

Health Precautions: No mandatory vaccine. It is advisable to avoid eating foods like seafood, meat and fish that is uncooked as well as salads, fruits that one has not peeled personally and to boil or filter water, or drink bottled drinks in order to avoid getting diarrhea. Insect bites could cause diseases such as dengue fever, a viral illness transmitted by insect bites.
International Hospitals: There are international clinics in all the provincial towns.
There is a hospital in Havana which provides a specialised service for foreign tourists: Cira Garcia Hospital, Ave. 41 No. 4101, Miramar, Havana . Tel.: 204-2811/12/13/14
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions: Cuban health network (Red De Salud de Cuba)
For Further Information on Safety Conditions: Cuba Linda - Safety Conditions

Police	106 (Havana, Pinar el Rio, Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos)
Ambulance	55 1185 (Havana) 76 2317 (Pinar del Rio) , 62 3300 (Santiago de Cuba
Fire Emergency Services	105 ( Havana, Pinar del Rio, La Havana. Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba)

Time and Time Difference: It is %T:%M %A In Havana (GMT-5 in winter, GMT-4 in summer)
Summer Time Period: Summer time from March to October

Time zone

Type of Climate: The Cuban climate is subtropical and comes from the gentle trade winds of the North East. The temperature variation during the course of the year is slight and there only two noticeable seasons. The "summer" which is humid and lasts from May to October and the "Winter" which is drier and lasts from November to April. The average temperatures range between 70°F (February) and 86°fF(July and August). The rainy season starts in June and ends in October/November: typically the rains are short and violent.
Hotel reservation websites: Weather information

Climate

Food Specialties: Cuban food known as "Creole cooking" is always made from "congri" (rice and black beans), fried plantains and salad (tomatoes, onions, cucumber, grated cabbage and avocado). The food served in Cuba is largely dependent on the available supply of the day. Beef which is a state monopoly is hard to find and expensive. Pork, chicken, eggs, cassava, potatoes, green beans, beetroot, pineapples and bananas are amongst the country's most consumed products.
Drinks: Cuban rum is famous as well at their cocktails (Mojito, Cuba Libre, etc). The local beers (Bucanero and Cristal) are consumed in great quantities.
Dietary Restrictions: There are no food restrictions in the country.

Domestic Currency: Cuban Peso
ISO Code: CUP
To Obtain Domestic Currency: There are two types of currency: the Cuban peso(CUP) and the Cuban changeable peso (CUC) which is the currency used by tourists (1 CUC = € 0.80)
Possible Means of Payment: Most transactions are done in cash: the Cuban changeable peso (CUC) is the currency of reference. It is possible to change Euros, Canadian dollars and Swiss Francs without a surcharge. The "Cuban pesos" are used to buy food on the streets, pay for public transport and some cultural activities like the movies. The "changeable pesos" are used for all the rest, concerts, out of town trips or taxis.
Card payments are often used to pay for hotels and car rentals.

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