Cuba Travel Tips

Social Conventions
A handshake is the normal form of greeting. Cubans generally address each other as compañero, but visitors should use señor or señora. Some Cubans have two surnames after their Christian name and the first surname is the correct one to use. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting someone’s home and a small gift may be given if invited for a meal. Cuban men rarely wear shorts away from the beach. Visitors doing so are not frowned upon, but they may receive the odd sideways glance. Women should cover their legs and shoulders if visiting churches. Cuban women tend to dress up for evenings out. 

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
Cuba’s national airline is Cubana (CU) (website: www.cubana.cu).

Departure Tax
US$25 Airport Service Charge for passengers leaving Cuba. Transit passengers and children under 2 years are exempt.

Main Airports
Havana (HVA) (José Martí International) is 15km (9 miles) southwest of the city. To/from the airport: Bus and taxi services to the city are available (journey time - 1 hour by bus; 20 to 30 minutes by taxi). Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank and bureau de change, tourist information/hotel reservation, restaurants and bars, and car hire.

There are also international airports at Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Holguin, Manzanillo, Santiago de Cuba and Varadero.

Getting There by Water
Due to the US blockade, there are no scheduled passenger services to Cuba, and any cruise ship calling there cannot dock in the USA for six months afterwards. Nonetheless, an increasing number of non-US cruise ships do call at Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and coastal resorts such as Cayo Coco.

It is possible to arrive on a private yacht, subject to prior arrangement with the authorities. In Havana, contact Marina Hemingway (tel: (7) 241 149).

Overview
The following goods may be taken into Cuba by persons aged 18 years and over without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; three bottles of alcoholic beverages; gifts up to a value of US$50 (articles up to US$200 will be subject to customs duty payments); 10kg of medicines in original packaging.

Prohibited Imports
Natural fruits, seeds, beans or vegetables; meat and dairy products; weapons and ammunition; video cassettes and household appliances; all pornographic material and drugs.

Note: Electrical items with heavy power consumption may be confiscated and returned upon departure.

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
A number of airlines under the CASCA banner operate regional flights within Cuba. Cubana (website: www.cubana.cu) and AeroCaribbean (website: www.aero-caribbean.com) are the principal carriers, operating flights between Havana and Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Cayo Coco and Cayo Largo. Newcomer Aerogaviota (website: www.aerogaviota.com) has picked up some of the smaller routes and operates private charters. Aerotaxi operates ancient Russian bi-planes, and should be avoided if possible.

Getting Around by Rail
The national rail company is Ferrocarriles de Cuba, often shortened to Ferrocuba (tel: (7) 862 4888 or 861 4259 for train times in Havana or (22) 622 836 for train times in Santiago de Cuba). There is no official website, but further information is available from The Man in Seat Sixty-One (website: www.seat61.com/Cuba.htm). The principal rail route is from Havana to Santiago de Cuba. Some trains on this route have air conditioning and refreshments. There are also through trains from Havana to other towns. Previously, the rail network connected the vast majority of the country but has been badly affected by natural disasters and now only certain parts of the country are accessible by rail. The trains are slow and punctuality does not seem to be a priority, but journeys are scenic and relaxing.

Getting Around by Road
What traffic there is here drives on the right. Cubans are not allowed to own cars, and outside of major cities almost the only vehicles on the road are agricultural deliveries, whose drivers know their routes by heart. As a result, signposting is a low priority. Buy the best map available at home as they are in short supply here. Large sections of the autopista (motorway) are in a diabolical condition, potholed and poorly lit; to join or exit the motorway, drivers must often cross oncoming lanes, assuming lane markers exist. With heavy goods traffic concentrated on the motorway, many provincial primary roads are in fairly good condition. Always stop at level crossings, which are often unmarked and almost always un-gated. The lack of traffic makes Cuba a popular choice for cycling tours. Coach/Bus: Avoid the overcrowded public bus service provided by Astro. Instead, choose Viazul (tel: (7) 881 1413; website: www.viazul.cu), with daily well-appointed coaches connecting most major cities. Car hire: All car hire companies are state-owned and badly organized. Prices are negotiable up to a point, but expect to be delayed when picking up the vehicle. Regulations: Speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on the motorway, 90kph (56mph) on primary roads (highways), 60kph (37mph) on rural roads, 50kph (31mph) on urban roads and 40kph (25mph) near schools. Motorcycle traffic police and stationary check points are common, and they are usually very strict.  Drivers must be aged 21 or over. Documentation: Valid national driving license required.

Getting Around Towns and Cities
Plentiful buses, minibuses and shared taxis criss-cross Havana, but are almost always overcrowded. Taxis: Opt for a modern air-conditioned vehicle, or for special occasions a vintage American car (available at the best hotels). All official taxis have meters, but fares should be agreed before departure in ‘private taxis’ that are hailed on the street. The latter are often old Ladas with blacked-out windows (private taxis are illegal but informally tolerated and in general safe). Watch out for taxis with ‘broken’ meters, especially at airports, and in Old Havana. In view of serious accidents that have involved tourists, travelers should not use mopeds or the three-wheel coco-taxis that are seen around tourist areas.

Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Havana to other major towns in Cuba.

	Air	Road
Varadero	0.15	2.00
Trinidad	0.20	5.00
Santiago de Cuba	1.15	17.00
Pinar del Rio	0.15	2.00

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