You will find here useful information to prepare your trip and for your stay in Cuba:

• Currency and exchange rates
• Getting around the island
• Map of the island
• Climate and clothes
• Food
• Telephones and other interesting addresses
• Diving

Currency and exchange rates

In Cuba, there are two currencies: the Cuban Peso and the Convertible Peso. Both are bought in the official Exchange Bureau (called CADECA.) There is one in every tourist place and at the airports. Starting November 8, 2004 the use of American Dollars (US$) is not not allowed in Cuban stores.

Tourists are supposed to pay everything in Convertible Peso, although some services can be paid with Cuban Pesos (normally very cheap things), like means of transport reserved for Cubans, some bars, and small souvenirs.

Peso Convertible exchange rate is 1 to 1 with strong international currencies such as the Euro, the British Pound, and the Canadian Dollar CA$. If you exchange American Dollars, you will be charged a 10% fee. It will be better for your pocket, therefore, to buy any of these mentioned international currencies in your own country.

You will get 24 Cuban pesos for 1 Convertible peso. You can also buy Convertible pesos in some hotels and touristic hotels, although you will get a slightly worse exchange rate (around 23 Cuban pesos). Please, visit the Central Bank of Cuba website for the current exchange rate.

Finally, and once you are leaving Cuba, you can exchange your Convertible pesos back with any international currency (including American Dollars US$). The exchange rate will be 1 to 1.

The few things you will be able to pay with Cuban pesos are extremely cheap, so we recommend you not to get many Cuban pesos.

Getting around the island

Autobuses

Public buses leave regularly from busy bus stations, where it is often difficult to get hold of a ticket. Foreigners usually have preference if they pay inUS dollars.

Private lines, despite being more expensive, offer modern, comfortable and safer buses. For anywhere between 8 to 50 US$ you can get to most main towns in Cuba (La Havana-Santiago). We recommend the company “Víazul”. You can find information on destinations, timetables and prices at www.viazul.com. Alternatively, you can go to Avda. 26 y Zoológico en Nuevo Vedado (La Havana) or telphone 0053-7-881413 / 8815652.

Train

There are two main rail lines going from La Havana to Santiago and from La Havana to Pinar del Rio. The first passes by Matanzas, Santa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, and close to Cienfuegos, Bayazo and Guantánamo.

Trains in Cuba are slow, uncomfortable and seldom on time. If you think that going on a long train journey may prove an interesting experience, keep in mind that some wagons are usually reserved for foreigners.

Car Rental

To rent a car in the island you need a driving licence (international or from the country of origin), at least one year’s driving experience and you must be at least 21 years of age.

Rental charges go for 35 to 85 dollars per day. Make sure to check the car is equipped with everything stipulated in the contract, including replacement tyre, mats and lighter.

Both the vehicle and the petrol must be paid in dollars. Tourists will get special treatment for paying in this currency. Avoid driving on a near empty petrol tank since there may be long stretches with no petrol stations in some parts of the island.

The state of the roads depends on the route you decide to take. There are two good motorways from La Havana to Pinar del Río and Viñales (West) and to Ciego de Ávila (in the centre of the island). From Ciego de Ávila to Santiago (East) the road dates back to 1930 and has two lanes. Signposting is rare and it’s easy to get lost. Remember to take a map and ask the locals when in doubt.

In Cuba there is the so-called « mordida ». If a police officer should ask you for money, you can take down his number plate and inform the closest police station with no need to worry.

To hire a car or for further information visit www.havanauto.cu They have offices in all major cities. If you can’t access the Internet here are some telephone numbers:

• La Habana: 0053-7-335215 or 962694
• Santiago: 0053-0226-51056 or 22666

Distance table between the main cities (km)

You may also find some road maps of the island in www.cubamapa.com

Climate adn clothes

Cuba has a subtropical climate with an average annual temperature of approximately 25 ºC. January is the “coldest” month (21º on average) and July is the hottest (29º)

The rainy season lasts from May to October. September and October have most rainfall, with erratic and heavy showers. Nevertheless, Cuba enjoys an average 330 days of sun a year!

Bring light and loose clothes. If you intend on going to the mountains, make sure to bring a light coat and insect repellent. You will mostly use shorts, t-shirts and sunscreen lotion. In the rainy season you may want to bring a raincoat and a jumper. To go out at night in the city, a shirt and proper shoes are enough for the smartest of places.

To check the weather forecast during your stay, click here

Food

To eat in the island you can either go to the pricey State restaurants or eat in “paladares”, private homes with a government licence that serve food. Alternatively you can make some kind of arrangement with your own private home. You should avoid eating in private homes that do not have a permit. The quality of the food may be low. Here you can find a list of some good value restaurants in La Havana.

The Cuban diet is based on “congri” (rice, beans and banana), pork meat, usually roasted or in “masas” (and diced) and delicious trocpical fruit.

Consumption of beef (“res”) is restricted in Cuba. You can only eat it in State restaurants or buy it in official shops, in dollars and for a high price. You should avoid asking anyone to get hold of some, since it is likely to be and possibly in a bad state.

For 2 or 3 dollars (or its equivalent in Cuban pesos) you can buy bags of marvellous tropical fruits (frutabomba, guayaba, mango, pineapple, banana…). You can ask your hosts in your private home to prepare you delicious fresh juices (“jugos”) or fruit salads for breakfast. If you give them the money, they can even go and buy the fruit for you, but going to the market is an experience you should’t miss!

You can eat fairly good tropical water fish and seafood anywhere in the island. Paladares are more reasonably priced than State restaurants.

Telephones and other interesting addresses

• Embassies and consulates
• Hospitals
• Police
  Central in La Havana: (53 7) 8677777 From here you may contact other police stations throughout the country.

• Cancelling credit cards
  To cancel lost or stolen credit cards you must go to FINCIMEX (Card centre)in Hotel Habana Libre in Calle 23 and M. Vedado, or call (53 7) 554444.

Diving

Cuba is a paradise for divers at every level. It is a pivileged destination for two reasons:

• The beauty and variety of its seabed: you will find the second largest coral reef in the world, a great variety of flora and fauna, caves, impressive walls and a great number of “pecios” (shipwrecks caused by tropical storms and pirate attacks dating back to the era following the discovery of America).
• The privileged conditions for its practice: The water has an average temperature of 24ºC and a visibility of up to 40 metres in the beeter months. There are hardly any cuurents.

You can check the different diving centres here.

Soon we will offer a detailed list with the best diving spots and how to get to them.