Cuba

At A glance

Capital City: Havana

Land size: 109,820 sq km

Population: 10,985,974 (2023 est.)

Official language: Spanish

Currency: Cuban Peso ($ / CUP)

UNESCO properties and sites:

• Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba
• Historic Centre of Camagüey
• Old Havana and its Fortification System
• San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba
• Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios
• Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
• Viñales Valley
• Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
• Desembarco del Granma National Park

Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cuba/


Cuba’s vibrant culture, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes have always sparked inspiration for many travelers. Explore the colonial streets of Havana, where vintage cars and colorful architecture create a captivating backdrop to your trip. You can also learn more about the fascination movement of the Cuban Revolution.
Cuba is a captivating island, with warm-hearted people awaiting to welcome you.

Saddle up and explore the island's hidden treasures, from the lush tobacco fields of Viñales to the pristine white-sand beaches of Playas del Este. Journey through the picturesque countryside, where rolling hills, fertile valleys, and swaying palm trees transport you to a bygone era. Canter along the scenic trails of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and witness the fusion of Spanish colonial charm and Afro-Cuban rhythms.

 

Brief History

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the arrival of Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru.
Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902.
Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the presidency in February 2008 to his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on April 19th 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party on April 19th 2021 following the retirement of Raul CASTRO, and continues to serve as both president and first secretary.

Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cuba/

 

Cultural Insights

Cubans are accustomed to being in close quarters both at home and in public.

Socializing often takes place on the street or in line for food and goods.

Physical affection is commonly displayed, and physical contact among strangers is not problematic.

It is rude not to greet every man with a handshake and every woman with a kiss on the cheek.

Source: https://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Cuba.html

 

Transportation

By Air
Cuba has 10 international and 15 national airports, located in different tourist destinations throughout the archipelago.

List of international airports in Cuba:

• José Martí (Boyeros, Havana)
• Vitalio Acuña (Cayo largo, Isla de la Juventud)
• Juan Gualberto Gómez (Matanzas)
• Ignacio Agramonte (Camagüey)
• Frank País (Holguín)
• Antonio Maceo (Santiago de Cuba)
• Abel Santamaría (Santa Clara, Villa Clara)
• Jaime González (Cienfuegos)
• Jardines del Rey (Cayo Coco, Ciego de Ávila)
• Sierra Maestra (Manzanillo, Granma)

Source: https://www.cubatravel.cu/en/useful-information/how-to-get-to-cuba

 

Money

The Cuban National Peso (CUP known as ‘moneda nacional’) is the official cash currency in Cuba but cannot be exchanged outside of the country. Some casas particulares (guest houses/ bed & breakfasts), and private bars and restaurants prefer cash payments in dollars or euros.

You should not take Cuban pesos (CUP) out of the country. At the end of your stay, you are advised to spend your CUP or exchange them to a foreign currency before reaching the airport on departure, as this service is not provided at the Cadeca money exchange counter there. Foreign currency in Euros, US or Canadian dollars can be used for cash payments in duty free shops or cafes in the departure area after passing immigration.

It is currently illegal to exchange money other than at Cadeca exchange houses. However, other official exchange locations could be permitted at short notice.

CUP is also obtainable at ATMs using a bankcard. Check with your bank before you travel to confirm that your debit, credit and ATM cards will work in Cuba. As currency at ATMs and Cadeca exchange houses can be limited, it may be a good idea to bring cash.

Debit or credit cards accepted in Cuba are: Visa, Mastercard, Union Pay, Ocean Card, CABAL, American International Service (AIS) and MIR.
No card issued by U.S. institutions works in Cuba, so it is recommended that you verify beforehand that your card is not associated with a U.S. banking institution.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba
https://www.cubatravel.cu/en/useful-information/cuban-currency

 

Health

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, the emergency number (for ambulance) is 104. You can also contact one of the International clinics located in the majority of tourist areas across the island. Your hotel or casa particular will be able to tell you where it is.
You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Medical facilities in Havana are better than elsewhere in Cuba, but you may need to be medically evacuated if you need specialist care. This can be very expensive. If you need medical treatment you or your insurance company will be expected to pay by card in foreign currency before your departure. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Ensure you have all medicine you require for your time in Cuba.  Medicine (prescription and over the counter) is not readily available in Cuba.  Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. 

Diarrheal illness is common among travelers, even in luxury accommodations.  Travelers should wash their hands, drink bottled water, and avoid street and undercooked food.

Tap water is not potable.  Bottled water is often unavailable for purchase and you should be aware that some restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Be aware that ice for drinks may be made using tap water.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cuba
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Cuba.html

 

Electricity

Cuba operates on a 110V supply voltage and uses type A and B plugs.

The Type A electrical plug (or flat blade attachment plug) is an ungrounded plug with two flat parallel pins. Although the American and Japanese plugs appear identical, the neutral pin on the American plug is wider than the live pin, whereas on the Japanese plug both pins are the same size. As a result, Japanese plugs can be used in the US but often not the other way around.

The pins on Type A and Type B plugs have a hole near the tip that fits into ‘bumps’ found on the contact wipers of some sockets, so that the pins are gripped more tightly allowing for better contact and also to prevent the plug from slipping out of the socket. Some sockets have spring-action blades that grip the sides of the pins, making the holes obsolete.

The Type B electrical plug has two flat parallel pins and a round grounding (or earth) pin. The earth pin is longer than the other two so that the device is grounded before the power is connected. As with the type A plugs, the American and Japanese versions vary slightly.

Source: https://www.iec.ch/world-plugs

 

Communication

Time zone in Cuba: Cuba Standard Time (GMT-5)

International country code – 53

The cellphone networks in Cuba are operated by the Enterprise of Telecommunications of Cuba S.A. (ETECSA), and are available 900 Mhz in all the national territory. 
The public service of Internet in Cuba is offered through the Nauta access counts, in the navigation rooms and in the spaces of wireless connections (Wi-Fi) placed in different points across the country (prior hiring the service through prepaid cards).

Source: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cuba/
https://www.cubatravel.cu/en/useful-information/communications


Phrasebook

English	Spanish
Hello!	Hola
Goodbye	Adiós
Good morning	Buenos días
Good evening	Buenos tardes
Good night	Buenas noches
Please	Por favor
Thank you	Gracias
Yes	Sí
No	No

Source: https://www.linguahouse.com/phrasebook/english-spanish/basic-words-and-phrases/basic-words-and-phrases

 

Entry Requirements

All the citizens of any country can travel to Cuba with any immigration restriction, including Americans. It excludes persons persecuted by international justice linked to activities of drug trafficking, terrorism or other crimes.

Visitors must possess a valid passport or a travel document issued to his name and a Visa or Tourist card. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the entrance date.
The Tourist cards can be requested in the Custom Cuban representations. There are two kinds of Tourist cards: for individual tourists or for tourists that travels in groups.

Business travels, journalism, or long stays or from work, require special Visa, therefore you must go to Consulates or Cuban Embassies.

Since 2010, the Cuban authorities have established regulations to ensure that every person who arrives in the country complies with the requirement to have insurance with medical coverage valid in the national territory.
Travelers can arrange for this insurance prior to their arrival, or when entering Cuba.

From November 1st 2022, the validity of the Tourist Visa extends to 90 days of permanence in the national territory, extendable (once only) for 90 days. Today this measure only applies to Canadian visitors.

Source: https://www.cubatravel.cu/en/useful-information/regulations-and-formalities

 

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy in Havana
Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado
Havana
Phone: (+53) 7839-4100


Embassy of Canada in Havana
Calle 30, No. 518 esquina a 7ma, Miramar
Havana
Phone: (+53) 7204-2516/7

Source: for USA https://www.usembassy.gov/
For Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates

 

UNESCO Sites

Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba
The remains of the 19th-century coffee plantations in the foothills of the Sierra Maestra are unique evidence of a pioneer form of agriculture in a difficult terrain. They throw considerable light on the economic, social, and technological history of the Caribbean and Latin American region.

Historic Centre of Camagüey
One of the first seven villages founded by the Spaniards in Cuba, Camagüey played a prominent role as the urban centre of an inland territory dedicated to cattle breeding and the sugar industry. Settled in its current location in 1528, the town developed on the basis of an irregular urban pattern that contains a system of large and minor squares, serpentine streets, alleys and irregular urban blocks, highly exceptional for Latin American colonial towns located in plain territories. The 54 ha Historic Centre of Camagüey constitutes an exceptional example of a traditional urban settlement relatively isolated from main trade routes. The Spanish colonizers followed medieval European influences in terms of urban layout and traditional construction techniques brought to the Americas by their masons and construction masters. The property reflects the influence of numerous styles through the ages: neoclassical, eclectic, Art Deco, Neo-colonial as well as some Art Nouveau and rationalism.

Old Havana and its Fortification System
Havana was founded in 1519 by the Spanish. By the 17th century, it had become one of the Caribbean's main centres for ship-building. Although it is today a sprawling metropolis of 2 million inhabitants, its old centre retains an interesting mix of Baroque and neoclassical monuments, and a homogeneous ensemble of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and internal courtyards.

San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba
Commercial and political rivalries in the Caribbean region in the 17th century resulted in the construction of this massive series of fortifications on a rocky promontory, built to protect the important port of Santiago. This intricate complex of forts, magazines, bastions and batteries is the most complete, best-preserved example of Spanish-American military architecture, based on Italian and Renaissance design principles.

Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios
Founded in the early 16th century in honour of the Holy Trinity, the city was a bridgehead for the conquest of the American continent. Its 18th- and 19th-century buildings, such as the Palacio Brunet and the Palacio Cantero, were built in its days of prosperity from the sugar trade.

Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos
The colonial town of Cienfuegos was founded in 1819 in the Spanish territory but was initially settled by immigrants of French origin. It became a trading place for sugar cane, tobacco and coffee. Situated on the Caribbean coast of southern-central Cuba at the heart of the country’s sugar cane, mango, tobacco and coffee production area, the town first developed in the neoclassical style. It later became more eclectic but retained a harmonious overall townscape. Among buildings of particular interest are the Government Palace (City Hall), San Lorenzo School, the Bishopric, the Ferrer Palace, the former lyceum, and some residential houses. Cienfuegos is the first, and an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble representing the new ideas of modernity, hygiene and order in urban planning as developed in Latin America from the 19th century.




Viñales Valley
The Viñales valley is encircled by mountains and its landscape is interspersed with dramatic rocky outcrops. Traditional techniques are still in use for agricultural production, particularly of tobacco. The quality of this cultural landscape is enhanced by the vernacular architecture of its farms and villages, where a rich multi-ethnic society survives, illustrating the cultural development of the islands of the Caribbean, and of Cuba.

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
Complex geology and varied topography have given rise to a diversity of ecosystems and species unmatched in the insular Caribbean and created one of the most biologically diverse tropical island sites on earth. Many of the underlying rocks are toxic to plants so species have had to adapt to survive in these hostile conditions. This unique process of evolution has resulted in the development of many new species and the park is one of the most important sites in the Western Hemisphere for the conservation of endemic flora. Endemism of vertebrates and invertebrates is also very high.

Desembarco del Granma National Park
Desembarco del Granma National Park, with its uplifted marine terraces and associated ongoing development of karst topography and features, represents a globally significant example of geomorphologic and physiographic features and ongoing geological processes. The area, which is situated in and around Cabo Cruz in south-east Cuba, includes spectacular terraces and cliffs, as well as some of the most pristine and impressive coastal cliffs bordering the western Atlantic.

Source: https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/cu