Cuba Travel Guide

Cuba — Travel Tips

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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; 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) (www.cubana.cu).

Departure Tax

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

Main Airports

Havana (HAV) (José Martí International) is 15km (9 miles) southwest of the city. To/from the airport: Taxi services to the city are available - the journey time is around 30 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shops, bureau de change, ATM in arrivals, tourist information/hotel reservation, restaurants and bars, national coach service reservations, and car hire.

There are also international airports at Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Holguin, Cayo Santa María, 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) 204 6848).

Duty Free

Overview

The following items may be imported into Cuba by travelers aged 18 years and over without incurring customs duty:

• 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco.
• 2.5 liters of alcoholic beverages.
• Gifts up to a value of US$50 (articles up to US$1000 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; certain household appliances; all pornographic material and drugs.

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

Prohibited Exports

Items deemed cultural patrimony; manuscripts dating from between 1440 and 1500; library books; books edited by Libros Cubanos under the 'R' imprint; foreign editions published between the 16th and 18th centuries; Cuban editions published in the 18th century; lobster in any form or quantity.

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Air

Cubana (www.cubana.cu) and AeroCaribbean are the principal carriers, operating flights between Havana and Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Cayo Coco and Cayo Largo.

Getting Around By Rail

The national rail company is Ferrocarriles de Cuba, often shortened to Ferrocuba (tel: (7) 861 4259 for train times in Havana or (22) 62 2836 for train times in Santiago de Cuba). There is no official website, but further information is available from The Man in Seat Sixty-One (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. Very few Cubans 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 the Infotur office in La Habana Vieja (the Guia de Carreteras).

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: All tourists must use the national tourist service Viazul (tel: (7) 881 1413; www.viazul.cu), with daily well-appointed coaches connecting most major cities.

Car hire: All car hire companies are state-owned. Prices are negotiable up to a point, but expect to be delayed when picking up the vehicle. It may be easier and has proven to be cheaper to book car hire through a specialist tour operator in your own country.

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, and shared taxis criss-cross Havana, but are almost always overcrowded and, in the latter's case, are not licensed to carry foreigners.

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 watch out for taxis with ‘broken' meters, especially in Havana. Unofficial ‘private taxis', not licensed to carry foreigners, can be 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). 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.