Practical information – FAQ

Most of Cuba has a humid tropical climate, with two distinct seasons: the dry season (November to April) and the rainy season (May to October). Due to the lower temperatures and less rainfall, the dry season is considered the high tourist season on the island. Hurricanes can hit the Caribbean during the rainy season. The peak tourist season in Cuba is December and January, so to avoid the crowds and enjoy the pleasant climate, it is worth visiting in November or between February and April.

Airlines such as Air France, KLM, Air Europa, Iberia, Air China, Condor, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot offer flights from Europe to Cuba (mainly Havana) with 1 stopover. Direct flights are available from the United States with American Airlines or from Canada with Air Canada.

• Passport – when crossing the border, a 3-month passport validity period is required, counting from the planned date of return from Cuba.
• Tourist Card (Tarjeta de Turista) – Canadian and British citizens traveling to Cuba for tourist purposes are required to have it. This equivalent of a visa is valid for 90 days and can be extended once on site (at the immigration office) for another 90 days. To do this, you must buy fiscal stamps worth 3500 CUP at the post office and submit your passport, insurance policy and a document confirming your place of accommodation. You can apply for a visa yourself online or buy it straight away from us for 25 EUR. There is currently a promotion for our Customers – when purchasing other HAVanna4U services, the cost of the visa is 20 EUR!
• QR code obtained after completing the immigration, customs and sanitary declaration in the link to the website https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu sent with the visa.
• Travel insurance – when flying to Cuba, it is mandatory to have accident and medical insurance. You should also make sure that the insurance company has a representative authorized to operate in Latin America and the Caribbean and which Cuban institution they cooperate with. Travel luggage insurance may also be useful. It is worth taking a credit card or additional cash to cover the costs of a visit to the doctor or purchase of medicines – invoices are issued for these services, which are the basis for applying for a refund of the incurred medical costs from the insurer. Due to COVID-19, remember to buy additional protection, covering the costs of treatment, quarantine and a possible change of the date of return to the country. If someone does not have such a policy – they must buy it at the Cuban airport for approx. 30 USD. We recommend that our clients buy a policy from the Europa Insurance Company.
• A return flight ticket (or one allowing you to continue your journey) and the address of the first place of accommodation on the island (hotel or casa particular).

NOTE! At present, after visiting Cuba, it is not possible to enter the USA with an ESTA form (it is necessary to have a visa stamped in your passport). Those arriving from the United States must have a special Tourist Card and declare a non-tourist purpose of travel (e.g. support for the local people).

The official currency on the island is the Cuban peso (=100 centavos). Since January 2021, only the national peso (CUP) is in circulation, and the recent reform of the monetary system has caused quite a lot of confusion regarding payment methods – in some places you can only pay with a credit / debit card, in others with convertible currencies (EUR, USD, CAD, etc.), and in still others – pesos.

Legally, money can be exchanged at CADECA (a state exchange office) or at a bank. On a given day, all of them have the same exchange rate, which can be checked on the website: www.cadeca.cu. It is also possible to exchange at hotel receptions, but then a small commission is charged.

The official exchange rate is 1 EUR = approx. 130 CUP, 1 USD = approx. 120 CUP, but there is a thriving black market on the streets, where euros and dollars are exchanged for over 350 pesos. This type of exchange is illegal and punishable by imprisonment for 2-5 years. Remember that the foreign banknotes exchanged should not have any damage or dirt – such currency will not be accepted on the island. It is also good to have small banknotes with you, because in many places it is difficult to give change.

Always count the money when exchanging – Cubans often make mistakes (to their advantage, of course…). If you want to avoid mistakes, searching for a currency exchange office or an unfavorable currency exchange at the airport – write to us. Your exchange will be waiting for you at the airport transfer, at your first accommodation or with our guide (currently available only in Havana).

Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted at ATMs without any problems. It is important that they are not issued by an American bank (or with American capital) and that they do not belong to virtual banks such as Revolut or Wise. Paying by card is becoming increasingly popular (there are many state-owned stores where you can only pay for purchases with a currency card), although private individuals prefer to pay in cash.

It is recommended to exchange a small amount of money for local currency, as it is currently practically impossible to exchange pesos for foreign currencies (even at the airport). Once you get to the duty-free zone, you cannot pay in pesos (EUR, USD, CAD and credit cards are accepted). There is a ban on taking out local currencies in amounts exceeding 5000 CUP.

Cuba, contrary to what you might think, is an expensive country. Despite the low wages of its residents, prices are at European level. An espresso costs around 1 EUR, a bottle of water and soda 1-3 EUR, a beer 2-3 EUR, a dinner in a restaurant 15-20 EUR. It should be remembered that „normal” purchases can be made in a few stores, where the assortment is not too large.

When flying to Cuba, you must complete a customs declaration online. To avoid problems at the border, it is worth remembering the following regulations:

• Drones, GPS devices and e-cigarettes are not allowed in Cuba. In case of an attempt to violate this ban, the equipment will be confiscated from the owner by customs and transferred to a paid deposit. In the case of importing professional photographic and film equipment, a special permit is required, and in the absence of it, the equipment is also stored in a deposit (returned on the day of departure).
• Phytosanitary regulations prohibit the import of fruits, vegetables, seedlings, seeds and animal feed. The ban also applies to cheeses, cold cuts, meats and their products.
• It is advisable to declare the cash imported in an amount exceeding 5000 USD / person (or the equivalent in another currency).
• Local authorities are strictly combating drug crime – it is punishable by high prison sentences. A fee of approximately 40 USD is charged for each day spent in immigration detention.
• It is not possible to bring RTV, household appliances, electronic equipment, clothes, cosmetics and other items in quantities indicating their commercial nature.

NOTE! The exact and up-to-date customs regulations in force in Cuba are available at: www.aduana.gob.cu.

• By rental car – there are only 4 state-owned car rental companies on the island: REX, Vía, Cubacar and Havanautos. They have a limited number of vehicles, so it is a good idea to book in advance. Rental prices are quite high (from 70 EUR / day), and there have been problems with fuel availability on the island recently (if there is, it costs around 1.20 EUR / litre). The roads are in poor condition and have few signs.
• By taxi – preferably from the state-owned company Cubataxi or private (licensed to transport tourists). Prices are set depending on the distance.
• By intercity Víazul buses – this is an economical option for people who do not have a very tight sightseeing program and are able to adapt to the timetable and possible delays / breakdowns. The journey from Havana to Varadero (approx. 140 km) costs 9 EUR/person, and you can reach Viñales for 12 EUR / person. At the Havana terminal only card payments are possible.
• By colectivos – are collective intercity taxis that run on fixed routes („door to door”) after collecting a full complement of passengers. Advance booking is recommended. Due to the fact that customers are picked up at different locations – some delays are possible, and in the case of long routes – there may be transfers along the way.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with our offer of private transfers.

During their stay in Cuba, tourists have the choice of staying in a hotel or a registered private accommodation marked with a navy blue anchor symbol (so-called casa particular). If you choose the first option, it is worth remembering that the local number of stars in the hotel categorization does not always correspond to European standards, and the prices of renting hotel rooms are quite high in relation to the services provided. An interesting and more economical option is casas particulares run by Cubans – they offer the possibility of renting individual rooms with private bathrooms and air conditioning or entire apartments or even houses with swimming pools.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with our offer of casas particulares.

Imagination is the capital with which many souvenirs are produced in Cuba. Improvisation using available materials must replace industrial production in a big way. That is why, in addition to the „classics” such as cigars, rum or CDs with the hottest Cuban music, we will find many local products here. „Made in China” labels are not very common on the island. Our guides will be happy to advise you on what and where to buy! Remember that the export of antiques and works of art, including handicrafts and artistic crafts of greater value, requires a permit issued by the Registro Nacional de Bienes Culturales of the Department of Heritage at the Ministry of Culture. CITES standards prohibit the export of marine and terrestrial animals, endemic or protected (e.g. corals, snails, turtles, crocodiles, iguanas, parrots) and skins and products made from these animals. It is also not allowed to bring shells, all kinds of seeds, vegetables and fruits (except coconuts, bananas, pineapples, dates and durians) into Schengen.

• Wood products: Cuba is famous for its over 160 good species of wood (including mahogany, ebony, cedar, oak, guayacan, caguairan), used not only for furniture but also for handicrafts. Here you will find a whole host of wooden sculptures, domino sets, kitchen sets (salad spoons and forks, wooden pot coasters, mortars, etc.), baseball bats, and beautiful wooden jewelry.
• Cigars and related accessories: When shopping, look out for the Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta and Montecristo brands. Accessories include cigar boxes (usually made of cedar wood; both single cigar packaging and beautiful humidors that can hold several dozen) and so-called cortapuros, or cigar cutters. You can buy cigars themselves not only in state-owned Habanos stores, but also directly from farmers in the Viñales Valley and from factory workers (we know places with really good deals!). Without a receipt from the store confirming the purchase, you can only take out 50 cigars (or 100 cigarillos, or 200 cigarettes, or 250 g of tobacco).
• Paintings by local artists: They are of a very varied quality, but you can find real gems among them. They include landscapes, old American cars and portraits. They are sold both on the street and at craft markets and professional galleries.
• Bottles of rum: Everyone will find a suitable price range here. Starting with rum in cartons for 1 USD, up to the most expensive editions of Havana Club or Santiago de Cuba, which can cost almost 3500 USD. You can buy them in almost every store at a fixed price (so you can leave this purchase for the last leg of your trip, so you don’t have to carry bottles with you). If you are interested in limited editions and really expensive alcohol, the largest selection is in Havana, in places such as Gran Manzana, the Havana Club Rum Museum and Bocoy. The export of alcohol from Cuba is limited to 3 liters, but Schengen regulations are more stringent and allow the import of 1 liter of spirits (over 22%). Alternatively, you can export 2 liters of low-proof alcohol or 4 liters of still wines and 16 liters of beer! In the case of flights with a stopover in one of the European airports, alcohol purchased at a Cuban airport is taken away. Therefore, you must buy bottles in advance and check them in in your checked luggage.
• Lace, linen and cotton products: Their production dates back to the colonial period, so it is no coincidence that the markets in Trinidad and the nearby Sugar Valley are brimming with lace dresses, children’s clothing and traditional men’s shirts, called guayaberas. Rag dolls, pottery (be sure to buy cups in Canchanchara and visit the Santander family workshop) and woven hats are also often sold alongside them.
• Musical instruments and music CDs: Music accompanies us at every step when visiting Cuba. Professional products related to it can be found in the „Artex” chain of stores, although each music group that entertains us in a bar or pub ends their performance by collecting tips and selling their CDs (we immediately know what type of music is recorded on the CD, the price is about 5-10 USD / pc.). In many places you will also find Cuban „HMV” shops – wooden stands displayed on the street, on which are placed „pirates” for 1 USD with packages printed with a home printer.
• Jewelry: Cubans let their imagination run wild when it comes to jewelry. Not only gold, silver, or gold-plated steel jewelry is available for sale, but also wood, string, beads, shells, black coral, grains, and even old cutlery. Gold and silver are best bought in state-owned stores like „Coral Negro,” and other products can be found at craft markets.
• Images of Che Guevara: A copy of the revolutionary’s famous portrait by Alberto Korda Guiterrez is placed everywhere: on T-shirts, postcards, magnets, key rings, mugs, flags, cigar wrappers, and in various book albums. Of course, you can also find the same souvenirs with other motifs (e.g. „te amo Cuba”). Don’t forget about the famous beret with a star.
• Metal products: First and foremost, these are colorful license plates (referring to the old requirement to mark individual vehicle categories with plates in different colors), as well as items made from old beverage cans: car and motorcycle models, caps and hats, cameras, and even women’s handbags.
• Coffee and cocoa / chocolate: Packaged Arabica is most often sold in ground form (ideal for the Cuban metal coffee pot). On store shelves, you can find good coffees at fixed prices: Serrano, Cubita, Turquíno, and Guantanamera. Their bean version is produced less often, so it is worth buying coffee in this form from farmers in the areas of Viñales, Trinidad, or Guantanamo (sellers on Farola). Cocoa products are mainly associated with the eastern part of Cuba (especially the area around Baracoa). There, you will find, among others: cocoa powder, cocoa balls, Cuban chocolate, cocoa butter and chocolate boxes. It is possible that coffee and chocolate will also be available in airport shops.

PLEASE NOTE! On flights to the United States, it is not possible to import rum and cigars purchased in Cuba.

There is only one mobile network on the island – Cubacel, which has signed different agreements with different operators (hence the significant differences in service prices). The area code for Cuba is +53. Internet access is limited and paid. There is a wireless Wi-Fi network in hotels, squares and on the main streets, but to use it, you need to buy the appropriate scratch cards at ETECSA telephone points or at hotel receptions (an hourly card costs approx. 25 CUP). Some hotels already include this service in the price of your stay. It is also possible to buy a SIM card online for approx. 35 USD (including 100 minutes of calls, 100 text messages and a 10 GB internet data package) and collect it at the airport, right after getting off the plane.