From World travel guide

Cuba is a Caribbean island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies 150 km south of Key West, Florida between the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, to the west of Haiti.

Before the 1959 communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination for United States citizens. Since the revolution, Cuba has been shunned by the United States and travel between the two neighbors has to be via a third country, unless one is traveling under a license from the US government, in which case direct flights from the US to Cuba can be arranged. These restrictions mean that much of Cuba's tourist and general infrastructure has been virtually frozen in the state it was in in the late 1950's as Cubans have been forced to make do.

However the charms that attracted tourists to Cuba up to the 1950's have not gone away. If anything, the time of isolation has made Cuba an even more interesting and challenging destination to visit for the adventurous traveller.

Contents 1 Regions 1.1 Western Cuba 1.2 Central Cuba 1.3 Eastern Cuba 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 5 Get in 5.1 Visa and legal issues 5.2 Warning for US travellers 5.3 By plane 5.4 By boat 6 Get around 6.1 By bus 6.2 By car 6.3 By plane 7 Talk 8 Money 8.1 Banks 9 Eat 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Getting out 17.1 Export of goods 18 External links 19 CIA Factbook information 19.1 Geography 19.2 Economy 19.3 Communications 19.4 Transnational Issues

Regions

Western Cuba

• Pinar del Rio
• Havana (province) (La Habana)
• Havana (city) (Ciudad de la Habana)
• Isla de la Juventud (special municipality)
• Maria la Gorda
• Matanzas

Central Cuba

• Mantanzas
• Villa Clara
• Cienfuegos
• Sancti Spiritus
• Ciego de Avila

Eastern Cuba

• Camaguey
• Las Tunas
• Holguin
• Santiago de Cuba
• Granma
• Guantanamo

Cities

• Havana - capital, decay and nightlife
• Trinidad de Cuba World Heritage Site
• Santiago de Cuba - party capital

Other destinations

• Isla de la Juventud
• Cayo Coco - beach resort
• Cayo Largo - small island, has good nudist facilities
• Varadero - nice beach resort
• Valley de Vinales- nice scenery

Understand

Due to the economy the infrastructure is very run down. Even in the best of hotels there might occasionally have only cold water or sometimes no water at all. Powercuts are frequent (except in tourist places that can afford a generator) and you need quite a bit of patience for buses and trains.

On the other hand, you can have a true candlelight dinner or watch tens of people sitting out in the street around a tiny black & white, car battery powered, TV all anxious not to miss an episode of some TV series.

Get in

Visa and legal issues

A tourist visa card (visada tarjeta del turista) is necessary for travellers from most nations. This visa, which is really little more than a piece of paper on which you list your vital stats, costs about USD 15-30, but can often be had for free. If your travel agent or airline cannot provide this you should contact the closest Cuban Consulate or Embassy. You will need a passport valid at least six months past the end of your planned return. The tourist visa is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days at any immigration office in Cuba.

On arrival you must have a legal housing booking for at least three days. If you've written in the name of a good hotel on the tourist card, the officials should rarely ask for proof.

Cuban customs regulations may seem strict, but in practice, tourists are rarely checked.

Warning for US travellers

For political reasons, legally travelling to Cuba from the United States of America, one of its nearest neighbors, is not currently possible. Many US citizens travel by way of Canada or Mexico.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal American citizens to travel to Cuba, per se. It is illegal for Americans to spend money in Cuba. Americas should therefore be aware that it is illegal for them to visit Cuba without a license issued by the US Treasury Department. It should also be noted by that those looking to evade these regulations, that should the US Government become aware that you have travelled to Cuba, OFAC will assume you will have spent money in Cuba if you stay more than one day. The issue is further complicated by OFAC's stance that one may not receive goods or services for free from any Cuban national. These new restrictions are outlined in an OFAC policy statement from June 2004.[1]

Licenses are only granted to journalists, people visiting relatives, and for a few other reasons [2]. If the US government finds out about your visit, you may be subject to fines or criminal prosecution. Currently, the National Lawyers Guild www.nlg.org and the Center for Constitutional Rights www.ccr-ny.org provide legal representation for people accused of violating the Travel Ban.

The United States is represented by an Interests Section located in the Swiss Embassy. Counsel Services are not available.

Credit cards, ATM cards and traveler's checks drawn on American banks are not valid in Cuba. American Express is not accepted regardless of which country it was issued in.

By plane

Jose Marti International Airport in Havana the main gateway and is served by major airlines from points in Canada, Mexico and Europe. There are also regional flights from others caribbean islands. An official taxi to Havana center costs 15-25 CUC but you can find cheaper ones (not legal).

There are also regular holiday charter flights to the resorts like Varadero, and these can sometimes be less expensive than those going to Havana.

By boat

There is no regular ferries or boats to Cuba from foreign ports. Yachters are expected to anchor at the public marinas. Also, most ports are closed and you are not allowed to walk around there.

Get around

By bus

Probably the best way for a foreigner to get around on Cuba is on the Víazul buses [3]. These are well-staffed and luxurious air-conditioned buses with toilets. Big comfy seats, and lots of legroom. Refreshments and bathroom breaks are provided. Víazul buses are mostly used by foreigners and rich locals. For popular routes like Havana-Vinales you'll need to book your ticket a day before departure to secure your seat, you may not get a ticket if you just show up right before departure.

Alternatively there is the regular Astro bus system for local people and it also services smaller and non-touristic cities. Foreigners are charged higher prices, but it is still 3-4 times cheaper then Viazul. Pre-booking is mandatory and this requires Spanish skills. However, these buses often miss their schedule, break down and are overcrowded.

It is also possible to cover some distances on special tourist minibuses, vans carring 4-5 tourists. The cost is a few dollars more but highly recommended if you are not planning to sleep the whole distance, plus, you can ask the driver to stop along the way.

By car

Official taxis are pretty expensive for long distances. For example cost of Havana-Vinales route is about CUC 90-100. However, there are some locals who are willing to illegally ride "taxi" with their old car for somewhat less money, if you are open to adventures (and don't mind smell of gasoline).

Car rental starts from CUC 65/day + full tank of gasoline. Generally traffic is sparse, especially in coutryside. Gasoline costs CUC 0,75/Regular and 0,90/Super per litre.

By plane

Cuba's national carrier is Cubana de Aviación. If you want to reach a distant part of the island (like Santiago de Cuba from Havana), you can make this trip fast and comfortable with one of the domestic flights.

Talk

The official language of Cuba is Spanish. The Spanish spoken in Cuba is only slightly different from that spoken in Spain. They like to swallow the last sound in a word and generally swallow the 's' sound. See also: Spanish phrasebook

Money

Until the end of 2004 there were 3 currencies circulating in Cuba: local Pesos (CU), Convertible Pesos (CUC) and US Dollar (USD). USD and CUC were equal in value, and tourists could pay by USD to local people who changed in back to their local Pesos.

Since November 2004 Castro made a change: USD is penalized with a 10% exchange tax, so it doesn't circulate in the country as before. Now the official currency which a tourist can own is CUC. For currency exchange take Euros (EUR), because EUR exchange rate is about 10% better than of US dollars.

It is a common wrong thinking that tourists can't change local pesos (CU) at banks. Yes they can, however, goods you can buy for local pesos are limited. But to buy some fruits and snacks from street vendors it is a good idea to have some local pesos. But don't change more than EUR 10-15 at time, because as said, their use is limited.

As any third world country, most of the merchandise available is designed for tourists to take back home. The biggest Cuban export are Rum, Cigars and Coffee. All of which are available at government owned stores (including the duty free store at the airport) or on the streets. For genuine merchandise, you should pay the official price at the legal stores.

Another thing Cubans do well is music such as salsa, son and Afro-Cubano. You can purchase CDs or tapes anywhere but it is recommended paying the average cost of US$20 to guarantee quality and to support the artists.

Tourists are permitted to import or export a maxiumum of 100 Cuban pesos or 200 convertible pesos at any one time.

Banks

Banks are generally open until 5pm. When going to a bank take enough time, because service is usually slow and many people may already be waiting. There are no classical live queues in banks -- instead you sit down and a guard will point who is next when a counter is freed. Foreigners may get preferred treatment in exchange for a small tip.

Eat

The food in Cuba is notorious for being bland, however, this really depends on the hotel. One hotel which seems to have pretty good food reviews is Iberostar Tainos in Varadero. Cubans eat mainly only pork and chicken. Beef, fish, lobster, turtle, and just about everything else is illegal to sell outside of state owned hotels and restaurants. If you eat in a 'paladares' which are privately owned restaurants and you have turtle, you are not only eating endangered animals, you're eating illegal food. Even the jail sentence for a Cuban killing a cow is very strict.

Drink

Cuban national cocktails include the Cuba Libre (rum and coke) and the Mojito (rum, lime, sugar, mint leaves and ice). Cristal is a light beer and is available in dollar stores where Cubans with CUCs (convertable pesos) & visitors may shop. Cubans prefer the Bucanero Fuerte, which at 5.5% alcohol is a strong (hence the 'fuerte') darker beer.

Sleep

If you want to experience something of the real life of Cubans the best places to stay are in Casas Particulares (private houses licensed to offer lodging services to foreigners). They are cheaper than hotels (average CUC 20/room) and the food (breakfast CUC 3-4, dinner CUC 7-10) is invariably better than you would get in a hotel. Staying in someone's house, you may be shown family photos, and enjoy a more intimate and enlightening experience. However, many hosts may look artificially too friendly, perhaps something to do with the business side of your stay.

Learn

The University of Havana offers both long and short Spanish courses.

Work

The average official salary for Cubans is US$15. However, non-Cubans can obtain a work visa if they find a position with a legal establishment, such as the government, which renewable every six months.

Stay safe

Cuba is generally a very safe country; strict and prominent policing, combined with neighborhood watch style-programs keep the streets safe from violent crime. Nonetheless, a certain degree of caution is advisable, especially in major cities. Visitors are advised to avoid coming to the attention of the Cuban police and security services. Drug laws can be draconian and their implementation unpredictable. The same may be said about the laws concerning prostitution. The importation, procession or production of pornography is strictly prohibited.

Stay healthy

Cuba is considered very healthy except for the water; even the Cubans boil their water. The best solution is bottled water and lots of it (especially for visitors who are not used to the 30 C degree and plus temperatures).

The island is subtropical and so the host to a number of diseases. An aggressive program of inoculations is worth considering when planning a trip to Cuba.

Visitors who get sick in Cuba can easily see a doctor. Cuba's health care system is in good shape and the number of doctors per capita is higher than in Canada. Finding medication is often very difficult. It is highly recommended to stock up on off-the-shelf medication before heading to Cuba. Do not attempt to import psychoactive drugs into Cuba.

Respect

Getting out

You must pay a departure tax of 25 CUC at the airport.

Export of goods

• Cigars. If you are planning to take big quantities (several boxes or more) of cigars with you, be sure you have purchased them officially from an approved shop that gives you proper purchase documentation. If you buy cigars cheap on streets and you don't have official purchase invoice then your cigars may/will be confiscated. Americans are no longer allowed to bring Cuban Cigars back into the US, regardless of their value, if they have an OFAC license, or even if they were given as a gift.

• Paintings and artwork. Officially you'll need permission to export paintings that are larger than 70cm/side. When you buy artwork from approved shop then they'll give you also the required document, that consists of one paper and one stamp that will be glued on back of your painting. Serial numbers on the stamp and paper must match. Cost of the document is about CUC 2-3. In reality, it is possible that no one will be interested in your paintings.

External links

• Office of Tourism
• GSM providers & coverage map

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CIA Factbook information

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The remainder of this article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and integrate it into the article above.

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Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the country together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Havana portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a continuing problem. Some 2,600 Cubans attempted the crossing of the Straits of Florida in 2001; the US Coast Guard apprehended only about 35% of the individuals.

Geography

Climate 

tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain 

mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Natural hazards 

the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment - current issues 

air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Economy

Economy - overview 

The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a concern for firm political control. It has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase enterprise efficiency, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services, but is unlikely to implement extensive changes. A major feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the severe economic depression of the early 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. High oil prices, recessions in key export markets, and damage from Hurricane Michelle hampered growth in 2001. Cuba paid high prices for oil imports in the face of slumping prices in the key sugar and nickel industries and suffered a slowdown in tourist arrivals following September 11. The government aimed for 3% growth in 2002, but growth was held back by hurricanes, depressed tourism, and faltering world economic conditions, including low world sugar prices and a shortage of external financing.

Communications

Telephone system 

general assessment: NA
domestic: principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, built during the period of Soviet support); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Illicit drugs 

territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999

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