CUBA — A Caribbean Island in Transition?
Who doesn't associate the legendary US classic cars, Havana rum, or revolutionary leader Che Guevara with Cuba? Hardly any other Caribbean island holds such fascination for visitors. In Havana, you feel as though time has stood still. The ever-present communism catapults visitors into a completely different world — one that shows us quite effectively just how much luxury we actually live in. We met former East German citizens on Cuba who said they were there for a nostalgia vacation.
Beyond Havana, the south offers magnificent diving spots and western Cuba boasts fantastic landscapes. However, we also met plenty of Cubans who confided their worries and hardships to us — and unfortunately, there were quite a few, as our three-week road trip revealed. The loosened embargo has so far brought no significant positive changes for Cuba's residents. Cuba — a vacation between Caribbean dreams and communism.
Cuba Is a Developing Country
Don't set the same expectations for hotels that you might be used to from other trips. Power outages, broken air conditioning, missing soap, towels, or TVs are all possibilities, and breakfast quality varies widely. You should also expect some waiting time on tours. Don't judge a 4-star hotel by European standards either. There are now a few larger resort complexes that cater to "higher" expectations.
Climate in Cuba
The average temperature is 25°C. In our opinion, Cuba is a great destination year-round. We visited in October and definitely didn't need a jacket — not even in the evening.
The dry season runs from November to April with humidity around 77%. During the rainy season from May to October, humidity can easily reach 82%.
Medical Care in Cuba
If you take regular medication, bring it in its original packaging with the package insert. Otherwise, you may run into problems at customs during entry. It's also advisable to bring a small travel pharmacy — medications for diarrhea, sunburn treatment, band-aids, wound disinfectant, and healing ointment. Caution: better to bring too much than too little, as medication is in extremely short supply in Cuba. There are enough hospitals and doctors, but the facilities are far, far below our standards. Pharmacy shelves are rather sparse.
Any leftover supplies will find grateful recipients among the Cuban people.
Entry and Exit Requirements for Cuba
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
A tourist card is required for entry into Cuba (EU citizens only!). These cost between €25 and €35 per person depending on the provider. We recommend purchasing them directly from your tour operator. If you're booking a round trip, the tourist card is usually included. Our research showed AvenTOURa to be the cheapest provider. This entry card is valid for up to 30 days. If you plan to stay longer, it must be extended on-site at least 3 days before expiration.
Proof of international health insurance is also mandatory for entry. If you don't have one, you must purchase one on-site in Cuba. Our insurance wasn't checked upon arrival, but authorities apparently conduct random checks.
A departure tax of CUC 25 used to be due at the airport. This was abolished in April 2015. For flights booked after April 1, 2015, this tax is included in the ticket price. Whether this will continue is uncertain — check with your tour operator to be safe.
Customs and Duty Free
Each person may bring in personal items including up to 10 kg of medication. Sometimes customs will weigh your luggage if they suspect it exceeds 30 kg. However, if inspection confirms the items are personal belongings for your own use, everything is fine. Do not carry more than €5,000 per person in cash.
Duty-free allowances per person: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars — Note: for 24 or more cigars, you must present a receipt from an official cigar shop with a certificate of authenticity. Additionally, 1 liter of spirits over 40% alcohol and 2 liters under 40% alcohol are permitted.
Note: prices at the airport or "duty-free" shops are rarely cheaper than outside. This applies especially to souvenirs and rum.
Money and Payment in Cuba
Cuba is a bit different from other countries because there are two currencies. The "Peso Cubano" (also called Moneda Nacional) is the locals' currency. You'll typically only encounter it at farmers' markets. The "Peso Convertible" (CUC) is the tourist currency, which must be exchanged on-site. Exchanging back is only possible within Cuba. Tourists are also not allowed to pay with or even possess the Peso Cubano.
Always bring euros for exchange, as US dollars now incur a 10% surcharge and were phased out as payment when the US embargo began.
You may bring a maximum of €5,000.
You can exchange a small amount at the airport (if the queue isn't too long), but not all of it, as the airport exchange rate (24-hour service) is worse than at banks. Even hotel rates were better. Currency exchange offices (casas de cambio) are also recommended — they have the shortest waiting times. At banks, every serial number of our bills was recorded and archived on endless lists — it takes a while...
In major tourist centers, euros are also accepted as payment, though the conversion is less favorable or simply exchanged 1:1, so it's better to pay in CUC.
We don't recommend traveler's checks, as they can only be redeemed at very few banks. Cash is king!
Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted exclusively in larger hotels, expensive restaurants, and upscale shops. This is very, very rare.
ATMs only work with Visa cards and PIN. With a MasterCard and passport, you can withdraw cash at exchange offices and bank counters during regular hours. Credit card withdrawals are usually slightly cheaper than cash exchange — despite foreign transaction fees — because cash exchange typically uses the less favorable exchange rate. Please check this in advance and also ask your bank about foreign transaction costs.
Maestro, EC cards, and other credit cards such as American Express are not accepted in Cuba!
Exchanging large euro bills often causes problems, so bring bills no larger than €50.
Caution! When paying, make sure you receive "Peso Convertible" (CUC) as change. Convertible Peso bills show monuments on the front and the coat of arms on the back. Coins feature buildings on the front and the coat of arms on the back. "Peso Cubano" bills show national heroes (Che Guevara is on the 3 Peso notes) on the front and revolutionary achievements on the back. Coins bear the national motto "Patria o Muerte" on the front and the coat of arms on the back. Bring plenty of cash (euros or Swiss francs) in small bills. You must exchange them for "Peso Convertible" at banks or exchange offices. European credit cards are accepted at many hotels and foreign currency shops (when the data connection works). Cash withdrawals via credit card are expensive. ATMs are rather rare, and whether they accept your card is uncertain. US dollars, US credit cards, and US dollar traveler's checks are (still) not accepted.
The History of Cuba
On March 20, Obama became the first American president to set foot on Cuban soil since 1928.
