Guide to Planning a Trip to Cuba

When planning a trip to Cuba, health considerations like vaccines and travel protection are among the primary matters requiring attention. However, organizing such a trip involves numerous other aspects worthy of reflection. If you already know popular activities in Cuba that interest you most, in this post we will provide comprehensive details so you can relax and envision the experiences awaiting you. Cuba stands out as one of the top Latin American nations to explore.

how to plan A TRIP TO CUBA

We make it even simpler for you. With this content index, you can go directly to what interests you on this complete guide to planning your trip to Cuba.

• BEST TIME TO TRAVEL CUBA
• VISA
• VACCINES
• MEDICAL INSURANCE
• ACCOMMODATION
• TRANSPORT
• CURRENCY
• INTERNET
• ESSENTIAL IN YOUR LUGGAGE

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL CUBA

Cuba experiences tropical conditions with mild and warm temperatures year-round. The drier season, and consequently, peak season, extends from December through March. Furthermore, the months of July and August additionally represent high season, where demand increases despite rainy weather.

The slow season corresponds with the wet season, which extends from May to November. If you travel to Cuba during this period, it is highly probable that it will rain at minimum once per week. If you happen to visit during the hurricane season between August and October, you will benefit from very low prices, although you run the risk of rainy days.

We had no choice and traveled in October. We were a little worried about a hurricane affecting the northern areas we visited. However, we could not have been luckier. Rain fell on 3 of the 15 days of our Cuba trip, but it did not dampen any plans made, and we benefited from very low prices – not just flights, but lodging, transportation, and more, as shown in the budget for the trip.

If I were to suggest the best month to travel to Cuba, I would propose April, which is the low season with low tourism, budgets, and pleasant weather conditions.

VISA

It is essential to possess a visa / tourist card for traveling to Cuba. To obtain the visa, an individual must have a legitimate passport that does not expire within 6 months from the date of the visit. The tourist visa is compulsory to enter the country and is solely provided for leisure and tourism reasons. It remains valid for 30 days and can be extended for an additional 30 days directly at any immigration office within the nation.

When you travel to Cuba with a tourist package, travel agencies usually carry out the procedures of the tourist card in your place, but you will have to do the paperwork. However, it is very simple and here we explain how:

• Cuban Consulate: The price is 22 euros. The only thing necessary is time, since the opening hours at the consulate of Cuba, in Madrid for example, is only from 09:00 to 16:00 on weekdays.

• Organization: Numerous organizations facilitate the procedures to acquire the visa. Several exist but the most widely known and which we utilized is Onlinetours. The price remains uniform: 22€. Reimbursement would be necessary for visa delivery by mail, which stood at 2€. We received the visas through expedited mail within two days.

Note: If you are entering Cuba from the US, please note that this type of visa/tourist card is invalid. You would have to get the visa directly at the American airport. The price varies depending on the airport. From Miami, for example, the price of the visa is $100.

VACCINES

There is no special vaccination requirement to visit Cuba. However, it is always advisable, regardless of the country visited, to obtain at least the first three of the following immunizations:

• Tetanus Diphtheria.
• Hepatitis A
• MMR
• Hepatitis B

Other health issues that need watchfulness are Dengue and Zika. Contracting an illness is quite rare but if manifestations arise, it is necessary to visit a doctor promptly. Since the two are obtained through mosquito bites, the best means to avert them is through using an insect repellent containing a substantial proportion of DEET. For expecting females, as infection during gestation can induce severe distortions in the fetus, it is recommended that they refrain from traveling to Cuba.

For all other cases, it is unnecessary to be concerned. Despite using repellent, an immense number of mosquitoes bit us and here we are still!

HEALTH INSURANCE

Even if Cuba is considered one of the least dangerous nations in Latin America, securing travel coverage for Cuba is obligatory. Upon entry to Cuba, visitors will be asked about insurance; without any, locals require purchase of the country`s national plan, Asistur, costing approximately 2.5 CUC daily.

We also acquired it through Onlinetours, taking advantage that we were already using them to apply for the visa and that they were reputed to deliver a quality service. The cost was a total of 17€ each, for the 16 days we were there.

In addition to being compulsory, having insurance is entirely prudent. Health care is a high-quality service in Cuba, and as such, the cost of treatment is also elevated.

OUR EXPERIENCE

To provide an example, in Trinidad I suffered from a parasite infection that seemed to stem from what we thought to be ice water or tainted food. We went to the international medical center, and the cost for a morning of hospitalization, serum, and a gastric test was almost 400 CUC (360€ about). 17€ for the insurance very reasonably covered. However, bargain can sometimes prove costly. I will explain in this comparison of best travel insurance choices for Cuba, between communications to the insurance, the doctor, etc., I had to pay 150€ myself.

For that reason, I opt to purchase insurance that addresses all possible needs in the case of an accident. According to my experience, Heymondo is one of the most dependable travel insurance providers and the one I suggest for your trip to Cuba.

The visa/tourist card, along with medical insurance and name of the accommodation where you are going to stay constitute the essential requirements to legitimately enter the country. In case you need affordable travel insurance,Heymondo is also the best choice.

ACCOMMODATION

Among all the existing possibilities, we wanted to stay in homes of Cuban families, known as Casas Particulares, which involves renting a room in such a house. Though this has been legal since the start of the 2000s, it had only become more popular during the past three or four years.

One advantage of private homes is the flexibility they provide. When arriving in an area and seeing a section you enjoy, look for attractively constructed buildings displaying the casas particulares sign out front. You can ask to stay if you like the room after viewing it. The price is negotiable. We paid between 30 CUC (27€) in Havana and 10 CUC (9€) in Viñales per night.

Hosting travelers in private homes and bonding with Cuban families is a very enriching experience. The money from rent is the primary sustenance for many households on the island. If they have available space, they will work diligently to satisfy the needs and get the proper licenses to operate. The income from a week`s rent can only be earned through a month of work for the state.

As I mentioned in the previous section, you must provide details about where you will stay in Cuba, so at minimum you need to know the address of your lodging for the first night. We rented the initial two nights through Airbnb, since private houses are accessible on this platform.

Earn a $50 monetary reward at Airbnb

In addition to the lodging, they often try to sell you other activities, for instance: breakfast, dinner, excursions, shows, transport, etc. Generally, when you are moving through several points of the island, your private homes recommend another dwelling to lodge in for your subsequent destination. The second major economic means available to them, after leasing of their homes, are remunerations that they earn via recommendation.

CAMPING IN CUBA

Although from what we initially understood, you are not permitted to freely camp, we ultimately met a few girls who had been camping on Cayo Jutías for a couple weeks and encountered no issues.

Camping is not very common for outsiders. Generally, there are few set places for this but with little information about where to find them. Because lodging is quite affordable generally, we decided not to bring our tent. This was a decision that we later regretted, especially during our visit to Cayo Jutías.

TRANSPORTation

There are multiple approaches to travelling around Cuba. We did not have the time to try them all, although some seem adventures in themselves. Here are the various options detailed to assist in planning your trip to Cuba.

Viazul buses

These state-operated buses provide routes connecting the main areas of the island. Its pricing and facilities aim solely at tourists. Viazul buses are very well-equipped, featuring air conditioning and comfort. Locals commonly advise against using them, instead recommending taxi or shared taxi services, claiming the Viazul takes much longer than stated at the station and offers discomfort without punctuality. From our experience, the sole Viazul we utilized, from Viñales to Havana, arrived on schedule, maintained air conditioning, provided comfort, and faced no delays.

It is advisable to book ahead during high season and bring a jacket as the air conditioning is usually very strong.

Transportation routes, timetables and pricing can be found here.

PRIVATE BUSES

Many hotels in Cuba organize private shuttles between different cities. The cost is a bit more than Viazul buses. This option is used on the Havana-Cienfuegos route, paying 2 CUC extra compared to the Viazul alternative. However, you need to consider that Havana is a large city and the Viazul station is on the outskirts. To get to the bus terminal, we would have had to take a taxi and ended up paying the price difference anyway. Private buses depart from hotel entrances located in city centers.

My advice is that to explore outside ,look for some hotel near your private home and inquire about these bus services. Ultimately, you will save money this way by not having to take a taxi to the Viazul bus station.

SHARED TAXI

As we had previously noted, numerous taxi operators were situated near the Viazul stations who suggested avoiding the bus in favor of booking a shared taxi together. These were licensed taxis seeking passengers wanting to head to a common location, permitting the expense of the journey to be shared among them. We frequently used this method as it provided more scheduling and touring flexibility than Viazul. For example, the direct route connecting Trinidad to Viñales wasn`t offered by Viazul yet we were able to utilize a shared taxi to complete the trip. The cost of shared taxis generally ran a couple CUC below Viazul buses.

Although you can save some time with shared taxis, they tend to be rather more uncomfortable compared to Viazul buses, as the latter offer more seats than the car actually has. On a long and hot journey, it can be really unpleasant.

BOTELLA

These vehicles are trucks that drive along predefined routes connecting different places and carry as many travelers as possible in the rear section. Some have tarpaulin covers to shield passengers from the sun. We could see a few that had benches for sitting while others everyone had to stand. This form of transportation is widely utilized by Cubans due to its low cost. Due to lack of time as the routes are notably longer than Viazul buses or shared taxis, we did not use it. On our next Cuban adventure, we will surely try it.

OFFICIAL TAXI

You can identify them by their yellow coloration. There are also official taxis in Havana that use taximeters to calculate fares. We did not use this service because even when amounts are quantified, it is usually still more expensive than negotiating well with a shared vehicle.

CALLILAC

These vibrant taxis are a delight for any tourist exploring Havana on foot. They are commonly utilized as a sightseeing vehicle whereby the driver reveals different points of interest throughout the city, rather than purely for transportation. Its cost is not affordable, thus we did not employ one, though photographing them was sufficient for our purposes.

COCOTAXI

We only witnessed this fun means of transportation in Havana. Being something exclusively used by visitors, costs are generally higher. We did not utilize it.

BIke TAXI

We had to use them on two occasions. The first time in Havana when rain started after leaving a show, and the second time to reach the hospital in Trinidad when I wasn’t able to stand. Personally, I do not prefer someone having to take me to destinations through physical effort too much. If given the choice, I favor riding a bicycle which we did for many days during the trip. Nonetheless, bike taxis were very handy on these two instances.

TRAIN

The trains arrived late in Cuba, so they are not very developed. The tours are endless and it is a mean that even the Cubans avoid. We did not try it.

CURRENCY

Regarding monetary and currency issues, Cuba is a really exclusive nation where we will come across two distinct forms of legal tender. This must be taken into account when planning a trip to Cuba.

CUBAN PESO (CUP)

This national currency is largely employed by locals. The worth is exceptionally low (1€ = 28.7 CUP). With this currency, you will have the means to pay for goods and services generally used by neighborhood people: bus, coffee, nearby eateries, etc. We rarely applied it since most of the things we paid were priced in the other currency. They can be acquired in the formal trade centers (CADECA) that you will find in all the major cities. However, you will initially have to exchange to CUC before exchanging to CUP.

CONVERTIBLE CUBAN PESO (CUC)

This currency is predominantly utilized by tourists. It will be the currency you employ to pay for the vast majority of items. The exchange rate is congruent with the dollar (1€ = 1.12 CUC). Caution against exchanging at the airport office, since the exchange rate they enforce is much more expensive than other exchange offices.

DIFFERENtiating THE CURRENCIES

Pay close attention to the difference between the two types of currency, especially bills. The simplest way is through the images on the bills. Historical Cuban figures appear on CUP while monuments built to honor these characters appear on CUC, the currency that has greater value.

We carried coins and bills separately in two distinct pockets to prevent them from becoming disorganized. We also carefully examined our change to avoid being deceived. Thankfully, we did not experience the well-known scam involving changed swapped for Cups, where tourists pay in CUC but receive change in CUP instead.

Another suggestion we want to provide is to execute the exchange exclusively at the state`s certified CADECA. It is also a known scam wherein some Cubans invite you to a CADECA where they claim a more beneficial exchange rate, then a fake “official CADECA” imposter gives you counterfeit bills or Cuban pesos instead of convertible pesos.

INTERNET

Connecting to the Internet in Cuba is a luxury that we totally disregarded. Our recommendation is that you take every second in Cuba to immerse yourself in the island and disconnect from all external life. In a few years, it is possible that Cuba will stop being that special place where children still play outside without electronic devices.

If I still have failed to persuade you to leave the hyper-connection behind the border, I will explain how to utilize the INTERNET here.

ETECSA, the Cuban telecommunications company, has offered INTERNET since 2014. However, this INTERNET is quite unbearable. You can only connect to the Wi-Fi network from certain points. The hotels or private houses that claim to have INTERNET, what they mean is that they have access to the INTERNET. However, to connect you will have to buy a 30-minute, 1 hour or 5 hours prepaid card. The cards are bought at kiosks of ETECSA or resold by hotels and other establishments at a slightly higher price. The official rate is 1.5 CUC per hour. You have 30 days to spend the card, otherwise, it will expire.

Considering that over half of the Cubans who work for the state make less than 100 CUC a month, to say that the Internet has arrived in Cuba seems to me to be a half-truth, since they can hardly afford the connection and even when they get it, it is extremely slow.

INDISPENSABLEs IN YOUR BAGGAGE

Contrary to expectations, in this segment I am not cautioning you to bring sunscreen or insect repellent.

Cuba operates under a communist governing system with international limitations on commercial exchanges. All Cubans are allocated a monthly ration that is intended to cover basic necessities like food. However, even with paid work, combining the ration allocation is still insufficient to meet needs.

Many Cubans are forced to utilize unconventional means in order to meet basic needs and acquire necessities. They refer to it as jinetear and it represents the central source of income for many residents where tourism is prominent. As a result, locals in those cities are known as jineteros. As visitors to Cuba, it became exhausting always expecting someone may want to take advantage of you or provide assistance while anticipating something in return. This represents a complicated societal and political issue with roots originating from circumstances linked to Cuba`s history and way of life.

This creates measurable differences, for example, between someone from Havana and someone from Santa Lucía. We met a Cuban from Havana with an iPhone 7, on the other hand, a night guard in Cayo Jutíaswho was thrilled when we gave him a flashlight with dynamo. That’s how extreme the differences can be in Cuba.

Regardless of the blockade or the inherent political system, it is a complex situation that cannot be altered. However, I will recommend some crucial things in your luggage if you want to help with the daily lives of the locals.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Writing tools that are inexpensive and take up minimal space. The children will come to ask you to give them some.

It was unfortunate that providing pencils not only brought happiness but also was requested by adults in rural areas, where alternative economic opportunities were limited.

MEDICINES

A simple pain reliever is a luxury. Medicines that alleviate suffering, such as for migraines, are not considered necessary products so people enduring chronic pain live a real struggle. This is a great gift you can offer. If you prefer, like we did, you can trade medicines for old publications or some other souvenirs.

FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS

What was most striking about the ration card to me was the tiny number of kits that correspond to each woman a month. I took pads and tampons with me to give away, and if I did the trip again, I would try to take a menstrual cup and change the life of a Cuban woman for 5 years.

CLOTHES

During our trip, we were regularly asked for clothes, but as we were essentially traveling with just what we wore and laundered, we lacked the ability to give anything away. Ideally, one might carry older garments to Cuba to distribute at the journey`s end.

And with this, we conclude the total guide for planning your trip to Cuba, where we discussed the best time to visit the island, visa,vaccines and necessary medical insurance, how to grasp the monetary system, where to reside, how to travel around the country or connect to the INTERNET , and things that you mustn`t miss in your luggage.

WE WILL ADD THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK IN THE COMMENTS TO THIS GUIDE TO PLANNING A TRIP TO CUBA.