Cuba

Cuba is a country I look forward to going back to especially the rural areas, I spent most of my time in Havana the first time I visited Cuba and only a few days in the country. Havana is a great city to spend a few days, but the rural areas of Cuba are so scenic, I would love to get back to Cuba before its completely westernised, at the moment you can still see countless Cadillacs and monuments to heroes of the revolution, the internet is hard to find once you leave your hotel, forcing you to really enjoy your time out, instead of stuck to your phone. I hope this short summary of Cuba will help you plan your trip.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is from December to May, during the dry season. The wet season begins in June where there is a lot of rain during the day and in the evening. August and October is a bad time also, because of the risk of hurricanes.

Things to do and see

1. Viñales Valley is a popular rural region of Cuba known for its tobacco farms, caves and scenic beauty.
2. Classic Car Rides in Havana is something most visitors to Cuba do. Because of the U.S trade embargo in the 1960s, replacement cars never arrived in Cuba and Cuba was for a very long time frozen in the past. Some of the classic cars have been restored to a very new standard while others seem very dangerous to drive. Would recommend driving in the newer restored classics. Be aware these cars have no seat belts.
3. Havana is a great city to explore on foot. You can walk to all the revolutionary landmarks or head to all of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite bars.
4. Cayo Santa Maria is a beautiful beach resort in the Cayes mainland of Cuba.
5. Scuba Dive at Treasure Island, there are 30 dive sites included and several Islands and one of the world’s biggest reefs is at Cayo Coco.

Food

Eating in Cuba is an experience that is enjoyed for the atmosphere not the quality of the food. This is mainly due to food shortages and the restrictions on private restaurants. Most of the restaurants in Cuba are owned by the government. Eating in a Paladar is popular in Cuba, Paladares are family run restaurants operating from the family home. Cuban food is usually rice and beans with fried plantains and whatever meat is available. Mainly chicken or beef.

Transportation

Air: There are no direct flights from London to Cuba. Cubana de Aviacion is the main domestic airline in Cuba.

Roads: The roads in Cuba are well maintained in and around Havana and all major tourist destinations.

Rail: The main rail route is from Havana to Santiago de Cuba. There are also trains from Havana to other towns. The trains are slow, but the views are scenic.

Taxi: There are authorised, and non-authorised taxis look for cars with a taxi sign and a blue licence plate. Many taxis are shared unless you pay for a private ride.

Ferry: It is possible to now get a ferry from Florida to Havana Cuba.

Bus: Efficient Viazul is a coach service that connects most towns to all the big cities and tourist attractions.

Visa

All EU, U.S Canadian and Australian passport holders require a Cuban Tourist card to visit Cuba. You can buy the tourist card on arrival or before you travel.

Language

Spanish is the official language, but English is also widely spoken.

Money

Cuba has a dual currency, the Cuban Peso (CUP) and the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) Some places only accept Cuban pesos and others only Convertible Pesos. 18% commission is charged to exchange U.S Dollars, so you are better off taking Euros or U.K Pounds. You can find ATMS in the main cities such as Trinidad and Havana but outside of these it can be difficult. Most ATMs will not accept U.S Visa or credit cards. So make sure you bring enough cash.

Tipping

Tipping a small amount is expected, not necessarily a percentage. At times taxi drivers, hotel porters and waiters will expect a tip.

Social etiquette

Ask permission before taking photographs.

Adaptor

There are four plugs associated with Cuba.

Wifi

Internet is available at some hotels, if you’re not staying at the hotel you will be able to buy internet cards and log in for Wifi. Internet café are also available at hotels but are very slow. Some websites and apps are censored by the government for example snapchat.