Cozy world - information portal. Practical tips for traveling to Cuba What you need to know about holidays in Cuba
What should a tourist know before going on vacation to Cuba? Cuba is not just a place for beach holiday or a banal trip to the sea, Cuba is a special culture and history and a real time machine. Cuba is a dream! But we still recommend thoroughly preparing for the trip. Here are some useful things to help you that are better to know before traveling to Cuba.
1. BRING CASH WITH YOU
It's really good idea at least for the first time. Not everywhere there are ATMs, not everywhere you can pay by card. And after 8 pm it’s so difficult to find a working ATM even in Havana. Some banks may even withdraw dollars from your ruble card, taking into account a commission of up to 25%.
2. PREFER EURO OR CANADIAN DOLLAR
The dollar is not held in high esteem in Cuba and that is why the exchange rate for it is unfavorable. In addition to the inadequate exchange rate, for each dollar exchange you will also be charged a commission. With the euro and the Canadian dollar (which is exchanged at a more favorable rate than the euro) in Cuba it is much easier. Although, since Cuba’s relations with the United States have recently become warmer, the attitude towards the dollar is also changing in the same direction.
3. NUANCES OF CUBAN EXCHANGE
Don't change money at the airport. As in many countries of the world, the exchange rate there is extremely unfavorable. Also, money should not be trusted to street money changers - this is an easy way to meet scammers. In tourist areas, as a rule, there are no problems with exchange. In Havana, for example, you can change money at the reception of some hotels.
4. CUBA HAS TWO CURRENCIES
The national currency of Cuba is the Cuban peso. There are two currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso and the convertible Cuban peso (CUC). The first currency is used in general stores and in other areas of Cuban life, but the convertible peso is used in tourist areas. Cook is essentially money for tourists.
5. SAVE RECEIPT FROM PURCHASES
Try not to buy anything worthwhile without a receipt - proof of purchase may be required anywhere. Without a check, things may even end up in confiscation.
6. BE READY TO BARTER
In Cuba, you can easily exchange your worn sneakers for something, for example, something tasty;) This is not a joke at all. Some tourists specifically take with them something that is valued in Cuba and can be exchanged for some interesting thing. In reviews of tourists, for example, canned tuna or nylon tights are often found as a means of barter.
7. DON’T FORGET ABOUT INSURANCE
Insurance must be arranged through your country's travel agency. It is better to have it with you, because if you do not have it, you will be asked to take out insurance at the airport, and this will cost more.
8. WEAK INTERNET
The Internet in Cuba is poorly developed. Some hotels have an Internet cafe, but Wi-Fi is not available everywhere.
9. PRINT ALL TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Just in case, have your airline tickets printed out. Internet and printers are not available everywhere in Cuba. It is also better to have photocopies of all documents with you.
10. VISA-FREE COUNTRY FOR BELARUSIANS
A visa to Cuba is not required for Belarusians, subject to a stay of no more than 30 days
11. LARGE SUITCASES CAN CREATE PROBLEMS
There is a small nuance that, of course, will not affect everyone, but it cannot be ignored. Some Cuban buildings have rather narrow doorways and staircases. With huge heavy suitcases this can be very inconvenient.
12. BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT CUBA
As on all islands in the area Caribbean Sea, in Cuba you need to remember about the hurricane and rainy season. The rains begin at the end of May, in June and last until August inclusive. All summer and until October there is a danger of typhoons with showers and winds. Best time to visit Cuba the dry season is from November to April. Swimming season lasts all year round in Cuba.
13. A FEW WORDS IN SPANISH
Even the simplest Spanish words from a phrasebook can add variety to your holiday. Locals love to talk to tourists, and if you answer them in a familiar language, they will definitely be friendlier.
14. BEWARE OF COOKIES!
It is good to give one cookie as a tip at a hotel. They will be grateful to you, because the average salary in Cuba is about 20 cookies.
15. DANCE SALSA!
Cuban salsa is known all over the world. You can take a couple of salsa lessons from the locals. You may not become an outstanding dancer in a couple of hours, but you will experience the local flavor to the fullest, and also have fun. If you are invited to dance somewhere, dress appropriately. Cubans do not like the fact that an official invitee can come in a T-shirt and beach shorts.
16. BRING BALLPOINT PENS WITH YOU
Local children love to accept small gifts from tourists. Ballpoint pens are held in special esteem.
17. RUM AND CIGARS
The most popular souvenirs are rum and cigars. When buying rum, be aware of excess baggage and customs regulations in the destination country. The most popular cigar brands in Cuba: Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo & Julieta, Hoyode Monterrey, Partagas.
18. TAKE A POCKET FLASHLIGHT ON A TRIP
If you are going to walk along the city streets in the evening, don’t forget a flashlight. In the evening the streets are not lit. In Old Havana, tourists are not recommended to appear after 22.00.
When getting ready for the trip, I read a lot of reviews on the Internet, which really helped me organize my stay in Cuba. As a token of gratitude, I decided to make my contribution to the preparation of a “savage” holiday on the island of freedom. So the information below is not an ironic amateur description of your adventures, but a series of practical information that may be useful to amateurs independent rest. Those who prefer organized “all-inclusive” tourism in Varadero with multi-colored bracelets on their hands are unlikely to find this reading entertaining.
1. Season, off-season
In Cuba, the most favorable season for vacation is the end of November - beginning of April. This is mild and warm (in our opinion so hot) weather with quite tolerable humidity. May-October is the rainy season and summer stuffiness. There are also hurricanes in October and November. However, having visited Cuba in October and previously made sure on Gismeteo.ru that water will ooze from the sky for the entire two weeks, I responsibly report: tropical rain almost always begins unexpectedly, ends in 10 minutes, and after another 5 minutes the sun is already actively shining. During the entire two weeks of our stay, we had to take out the umbrella once, and the raincoats purchased in advance remained untouched at the bottom of the suitcase. So there is no need to be afraid of rain, but it won’t hurt to prepare for it. But during the high season (especially December-January), you may have to wade through multilingual crowds of tourists who are fleeing to the south from the domestic cold, and also overpay for food, housing and entertainment (the price tag grows significantly). All prices below are correct as of October 2007.
2. Entry into Cuba
For citizens of Russia and Belarus (unlike, for example, Ukraine) visa-free regime for stays in Cuba of up to 30 days. To enter Liberty Island you are officially required to have a valid passport, return air ticket and confirmation of your hotel reservation (or travel voucher). In fact, the nice woman in green uniform at the José San Marti airport did not ask for a ticket or confirmation of the online reservation, which had been carefully printed out in triplicate in advance. Judging by the reviews of other “savages,” this is not an oversight by an individual official, but normal practice. In addition to your passport, to enter you need to fill out an immigration card, which is usually handed out on the plane or can be asked from the women in uniform before passport control. It indicates the hotel in which the tourist has booked a room. Nobody bothers you to write down any hotel you know in Havana on this card, for example Nacional, Parque Central, Inglatera, Sevillia or any other. This will be quite enough. The entry stamp is not placed on the passport (so that later there will be no problems with obtaining an American visa), but on this very immigration card, half of which must be saved for departure.
The only way to get from the airport to the capital is by taxi. The upper limit, which is announced immediately upon leaving the terminal, is 25 convertible pesos. Quite quickly they drop it to 20. But we firmly stood at 15. As a result, the taxi driver mafia gave in, and after a three-minute wait for the suffering dates with Havana, the tourists were put in a taxi with some thrifty Swede, who, apparently, refused to pay more than a chervonets. By the way, to immediately close the topic of the cost of a taxi from/to the airport, Pantaxi (local economical taxi on domestic Zhiguli) usually asks 15 convertible pesos from the city, but according to the meter from the center of Havana it will be exactly 10 (from the Vedado area, of course, more). Tested from my own experience. So if, with the help of hypnosis or strong suggestion, you can force a poor Cuban to travel such a distance on the meter, then you can save five.
3. Money
There are two currency units in circulation in Cuba: the regular peso (often called “peso cubana” by locals), which is used by mere mortals, and the convertible peso (CUC, “convertible” or sometimes “peso fuerte”), invented specifically for foreign tourists. Something like the Soviet foreign currency ruble. On price tags, both regular and convertible pesos are indicated with a dollar sign $.
One convertible peso can be exchanged for 24 regular pesos at Cadeca banks. These Cuban pesos are used to pay wages to workers in socialist industry (12-16 dollars per month) and with them they use cards in special government shops at ridiculous subsidized prices to purchase cereals, sugar, soap and other basic necessities. These stores, with their empty shelves, are painfully reminiscent of a general store during the collapse of the union. Judging by the guidebooks (Lonely Planet), there are supposedly good restaurants in Cuba where you can pay with these pesos. I admit, I have never seen anything like this, except for the scary-looking snack bars and cafeterias that offered cheese and ham sandwiches (5 Cuban pesos) and no less scary pizza (10 - 15 pesos). Cubans consume this fast food with pleasure, and if suddenly you had to stay on the island of freedom with absolutely no money or are craving something exotic (if you have a plentiful supply of immodium, chloramphenicol, or at least smecta), then you can try it. In addition, remote from hiking trails On the streets, for these rogue pesos you can buy freshly squeezed juices (1-2 pesos per glass), ice cream (1-3 pesos) or coffee (30 centavos! for a small cup). Real benefits from local pesos can also be obtained at agricultural markets, where the party and government have allowed rural workers to sell their surplus produce. There's a place to go for a walk! They sell pineapples, papaya (called “fruita bomba” in Cuba), guava, bananas, etc. practically free of charge. Prices range from 3 to 5 pesos per pound. One really huge papaya will cost about 15 Cuban pesos (that is, a little more than half of one convertible peso). Bring a folding pocketknife in your luggage to peel and cut fruit.
Convertible pesos (bills with the inscription pesos convertibles) are exchanged (October 2007) at the airport and in banks at the rate of 1.25 - 1.26 pesos per 1 euro. Those. for 100 euros they will give you from 125 to 126 “convertibles”. It’s better not to take dollars with you to Cuba, as they are exchanged with a 10% commission and for 100 bucks you can only get 89 “cookies”. The owner of the treasured foreign currency rubles in Cuba has access to taxis, good restaurants, hotels and normal shops with a limited selection of goods, although it is still incomparable to distribution shops.
Money can also be withdrawn from a card (but not issued by American banks), but apparently for a fairly significant commission. So the cash is everything, and save the card in case of an unforeseen financial disaster.
4. Prices
Taxi
Pantaxi (Yellow or white checkered Lada - the most economical option) from Havana to José San Martí Airport - 15 CUC, from the Vedado area to Old Havana - up to 5 CUC, from Old Havana through the tunnel under the harbor to the fortress with the lighthouse - 2- 3 cookies, from the center of Havana to the beach of Santa Maria Del Mar (15 km from the city) - no more than 15 cookies, from the center of Havana (Capitol) to the Viazul bus station - 5 cookies. Pantaxi has meters and you can offer to drive along it, which is usually cheaper. Tourist taxi OK with good new cars with air conditioning costs significantly more, both with and without a meter. Pedicabs do not formally have the right to carry foreign tourists, but they will very strongly offer their services for 1-3 CUC depending on the duration of the trip. This does not threaten the tourist, but the rickshaw may have problems with the law enforcement officers. There are also scooters in Cuba with yellow booths for two people - Coco taxi, which can sometimes be bargained for reasonable price, but more for the fans. I’m silent about pleasure carriages. It all depends on the season and your persistence.
Food in restaurants and cafes
Beer Cristal (light) in an aluminum can 0.35 ml - 1 cook, in a glass can - 1.5, Bukanero (stronger) - 1.5 cook. We managed to find draft beer (by the way, very good) in one place - in a tavern on Plaza Vieja in Old Havana - 2 CUC per glass. Austrian brewing equipment - Salm Brau. Anyone who has been to Vienna will understand what we are talking about.
Cocktails almost everywhere cost 2.5 cookies, but there are places where the price starts from 1.5 cookies for a glass of “cuba libre” (rum and cola), 2 cookies for a “mojito” (rum with lemon, soda, mint and sugar) and up to 2.25 for “ piña colada (rum with pineapple juice and coconut milk).
Coffee - 1 - 1.5 CUC per cup.
The price of a hot dish in normal restaurants starts from 4-5 cookies (chicken or pork), 5-7 cookies (fish, beef), 6-8 cookies (shrimp or lobster tail). Side dish (rice, rice and beans or fried potatoes) - about 1 cookie. Soups 1.5 - 3 cookies. Although there are establishments (for example, I ended up in such a very decent place in Varadero), where at lunch the price tag for a hot dish starts from 2.5 cookies, and in some advanced restaurant in Old Havana in the evening it can start from a chervonets and reach more than twenty for a lobster . Ask for bread, because... It is usually not brought without an order and is “valued” at 1 cookie. On average, for a normal dinner you need to shell out 8-12 cookies. Portions in Cuba are huge, so don't overdo it. For those who will be in Havana, I highly recommend the worthy restaurant El Coquito at Malecon 107 (second floor of the Asturian Sociedad, on the first there is some kind of bar and billiard tables). Very tasty cuisine at affordable prices, high-level service and a balcony overlooking the ocean and the Havana promenade. Unfortunately, there is no sign, but the number on the house has not fallen off yet.
When visiting Cuban restaurants, pay attention to the fact that, firstly, they like to shortchange tourists, and secondly, in a number of places a service fee of 10 to 20% is added to the bill (this will definitely be written on the menu). Tips are very welcome. At a minimum, you can round up the bill and leave “change” or, if you really liked it, give one or two cookies on top. Tea is always collected by musicians who perform music in cafes and restaurants. It will be enough to leave them 0.5 -1 cookies. You can immediately buy a disc of the band you like for 10 cookies (a little expensive; in a tourist store, good discs start at 6 cookies).
Sandwiches and pizzas for convertible pesos - from 1 to 3 cookies. For example, in the fairly widespread fast food chain El Rapido.
Rum? Rum... Rum! Havana Club Anejo Blanco (the cheapest, it is added to cocktails) in the store - 3.50 CUC per 0.7 liter bottle. and 5.2 cookies per liter. Three-year aged rum is somewhat more expensive, although you probably won’t feel much difference in taste. Excellent aged rum Havana Club Reserva or Santiago costs around 7.5-8 cookies per 0.7 liter. They are drunk separately, without mixing with cola and without ice. In taste and softness - like good cognac. The top bar is Havana Club aged seven years. Options for cheap and “tasty” drinking: buy a package of a mixture of pineapple juice and coconut milk (called piña colada and costs 4.20 CUC), rum and make cocktails yourself (believe me, cocktails are made from the same package in restaurants). It's the same with cola. Carbonated drinks in aluminum cans in cafes and restaurants, in discos - 1 CUC per can. Cola (local, of course) in one and a half liter bottles in the store - 1.5 kuka. Packaged juices - 2.1 CUC per liter.
Entrance to museums from 3 cookies (Capitol, climb to the top observation deck towers of the José San Martí memorial on Revolution Square, the house of the Spanish Governor General in Old Havana - highly recommend), 5 cookies (Museum of the Revolution - terrible boring, the Granma yacht, exhibited in a glass pavilion, can be seen from the street), up to 10 convertible pesos ( tour of the Partagas tobacco factory - don’t spare the money, it’s worth it).
Entrance to the disco is 3-5 cookies, usually one drink is included. You should definitely go to the local discos. How Cubans dance salsa... Even 70-year-old old people rock the dance floor, let alone young people.
A sun lounger or umbrella on the beach costs 1-2 cooks (unless you live in a hotel that is adjacent to the beach and charges this fee), entrance to the beach is free almost everywhere.
Gasoline - 0.75-0.85 CUC per liter.
Water in the store for a one and a half liter bottle costs 0.7 -1 kuk, in a cafe it usually costs 2 kuk, and for a half liter bottle it costs kuk.
Airport tax when leaving Cuba is 25 cookies.
5. Housing
Hotels can be booked online (unless, of course, you buy a package with flights and accommodation from a travel agency). www.venere.com sometimes offers quite interesting rates. Costs start from 30-35 euros per night with breakfast in a dirty three-star hotel out of season. The upper ceiling is lost in the clouds. For cheap options in Havana, I recommend Hotel Deuville on the Malecon embankment (intersection with Avenue Italia). Don't expect a palace and shuffling staff for pennies. The home is quite shabby both outside and inside. But on the plus side: location (5 minutes walk to the Prado, 10-15 minutes to the Capitol, half an hour to Old Havana), hearty breakfast, clean linen and towels, decent pool on the 6th floor overlooking central Havana and the ocean, bar 24 hours a day, as well as a daily disco (except Tuesdays), where hotel residents are allowed in completely free of charge. The guests are mostly middle-income, unpretentious foreigners from the most different countries world (from Australia to Poland). In Varadero, a good option that lives up to its three stars is Hotel Aquasul. Quite neat both outside and inside, it is located 200-300 meters from the municipal beach.
"Casa particular", i.e. private rooms that the good Fidel allowed Cubans to rent out to foreigners in their homes so as not to starve. This is a real opportunity to communicate with Cubans (even if you don’t speak Spanish), look at their life from the inside, get a lot of useful information and help in planning trips around the country. Casas can vary greatly in location, level of furnishings and friendliness of the owners, but do not differ much in price. 25-35 CUC per night for a room (two people can share it) in Havana and 20-25 CUC in the provinces. In the capital, rooms in the area of Old Havana or the Center of Havana (closer to the waterfront - Malecon) are preferable if you want to be in the thick of things and close to attractions and nightlife. However, at first glance, central Havana does not make a very rosy impression - beautiful but crumbling houses, sometimes dark and dirty streets, dubious characters around. This option is good for night adventure seekers who are ready for hardships, although there are also very decent kasas. The Vedado area is a quieter green area with villas, where it is good to stay with a family. However, it is a long way from Old Havana, so budget at least 10 cookies a day for a taxi unless you are a marathon runner or race walker. I can recommend the house at Prado 20 (José San Marti Avenue), which has already appeared on the internet more than once. Rooms are available for rent on almost every floor, excellent view and location, terraces are brilliant (I apologize for Ellochka the Ogre's vocabulary), but the place is popular, so there may not be room. By the way, a person with a suitcase on the street is immediately grabbed by the hand with an offer to show him a “casa particular” or “habitacien” (room). If there are no other options, then you can follow Susanin. You may have to look through several apartments until one catches your eye and the price will be at least 5 cookies more expensive for you, since the owners will pay a commission to the conductor. Another option, if you were unable to stock up on addresses from forums or specialized sites in advance (type casa particular Habana in Google), is to rely on white A5 size labels with a blue or green triangle and the inscription rentator divisia pasted at the doors of houses. This means that the room(s) are available for rent. In an apartment building, the elevator operator will happily respond to the magic word “casa” or “habitsien”, who will show what is available and where.
The owners of the kasa often cook for their guests. Breakfast of sandwiches, scrambled eggs, fruit, coffee and fresh juice will cost 3 cookies (up to 5 in Havana). Dinner per person - from 7-8 for chicken or meat to 8-10 for seafood. A very good option - tasty and very filling. The main dish is usually accompanied by salad (cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, etc.) and fruit. They can also pamper you with Cuban wine (in the store it costs 2.5 CUC for a bottle of red or white “cracker”).
A digression on the topic of sex.
Living in a casa, in addition to the advantages listed above, in some (but not all) cases makes it possible to bring guests, including overnight guests. In such, I repeat, few cases, the owners either do not live in the apartment and leave for the night, or give the guests a key to the entrance locks, and themselves sleep behind a locked bedroom door. Officially, of course, the bringing of any Cuban guests by tourists to the cash registers is strictly prohibited, and envious neighbors, watchmen and security guards at night parking shamelessly knock on the police. So, if the owners do not give the entrance key (they will open the door to a knock themselves at any hour of the night) or frantically wave their hands, saying “BUT MUCHACHA,” then there will be no need to arrange a brothelero. However, there are those rooms that the owners provide (unofficially, of course, and at great risk for themselves, but not for the tourist) for short meetings of foreign citizens and citizens thirsting for affection with local Juanitas or Pedro (don’t be surprised, for Spanish women in Cuba, both for faithful and reliable Russian women Turkey). Such a room usually costs 20 cookies, regardless of the duration of the meeting. The address of the nearest hangout will probably be known to the Cuban woman you like. Take care of your pockets - they are VERY likely to be carefully cleaned. By the way, to close the topic of sex tourism, I’ll add that in a few mid-range hotels, security guards sometimes work as pimps (the same twenty on top for services), priestesses of love (30 cookies) are very persistent in their desire to get a client and concentrate in Havana in the area of the Malecon embankment . Meeting even an ordinary girl still means either free drinks at a bar, or a gift (Gobsecki, don’t think that savages live on the island of freedom who have never seen a ballpoint pen or a mirror), or money for a taxi. Free love in Cuba it is very rare and the reason for this is the widespread poverty of the population. It is imperative to take protective and personal hygiene products with you and in large quantities. It’s difficult to find them in Cuba, so if you don’t use them, give them to the locals as a contribution to the health of the Cuban nation.
6. Transport around the country
Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about car rental, except that it is not only possible, but also wonderful. The downside is that signs on the roads are rare; you will have to pay a lot for a car.
There are two types of intercity buses: Astro and Viasul. Both are new, air-conditioned cars with uniformed, sedate drivers and conductors (Viazul is still more comfortable, but do not forget about something warm from clothes: the air conditioners work at full capacity). The difference is that Astros are designed for ordinary Cubans and take them around the country for ridiculous money. Therefore, the buses are full; without knowing Spanish, buying tickets for them can be a little difficult (but quite possible). On each flight, a certain number of seats are reserved and sold for convertible pesos to tourists. Viazuls are buses specially designed for foreigners, tickets for which are sold only for convertible pesos and cost on average 5 cookies more than the “tourist” seats in Astro. They go strictly on schedule. Reliable and basically inexpensive. Havana - Cienfuegos - 20 cookies, Havana-Trinidad - 25 cookies, Havana-Santiago de Cuba - 55 cookies. Places must be booked in advance (arrive at the station and sign up), especially during the tourist season from December to March. Probably, there is a reservation by phone (oh, I wish I knew Spanish - maybe the owners of the ticket office will help) and supposedly on the Internet (I definitely DO NOT BELIEVE this). During the off-season, buses run half empty and tickets are easily sold half an hour before departure. The stations at Astro and Viazul are most often common (the waiting rooms and ticket purchases are different), only in Havana Viazul has its own small station, located quite far from the center. Just tell the taxi driver “omnibus Viazul” and he will take you there. Pantaxi will cost no more than 5-6 cookies from almost any area of the city. Be careful with your luggage. It is accepted for transportation (just like on an airplane), given tags, carefully placed in the belly of the bus, but... still occasionally gutted. A locked combination lock will be enough to protect your property and mood. When issuing and loading luggage, they sometimes ask for a tip of 25-50 centavos (convertible, of course).
7. Security
Cuba is probably one of the safest countries in Latin America. This is where the notorious “order” is, which the fans of Joseph Vissarionovich so lack. The police are at every turn, both in uniform and in civilian clothes. A tourist is a “sacred cow,” so you can have a conversation with law enforcement officers only if they begin to advise you not to carelessly carry a camera or a woman’s handbag, joyfully waving it in the air while walking. But the locals have a hard time. Contacts between Cubans and especially Cuban women with foreigners are not very welcome, so if they see a local foreign tourist in the company, the police can check his documents and, if they are missing, take the Cuban citizen to the police station. They will not say a word to you and will not explain anything. And despite this, Cuba has a big problem with molesters on the streets. You need to be mentally prepared for this and endure it stoically. Every 5 minutes in Havana (especially Old Havana) and a little less often, but still often in the provinces, a person will approach you and joyfully shout in broken Russian: “hello, comrade” or “Russo!” or simply “how are you, where are you from, do you remember me?” They immediately begin to insistently introduce themselves, report some important news (“Don’t miss it, today is the first day of the salsa festival, let’s go show you,” they told us every day during our two-week stay), name your hotel (sometimes even the name found out at the reception) and so on. In 99 cases out of 100, the goals of the acquaintance are transparent:
A guide (with varying degrees of professionalism, he will take you around various nooks and crannies of the city, and then demand money for living and work);
- sell fake cigars (at the same time he will present a pass card to the cigar factory and tell a sob story about how they have to be stolen in order to feed the family. See below about cigars);
- just ask for money for living (uncle, give me ten kopecks) or for milk for children (in Cuba, children have enough milk, the Cubans themselves talked about this);
- propose a girl (“chica caliente”, “faki faki”, “muchach”);
- sell cocaine (I strongly do not recommend);
- to cheat a foreigner out of money (after such a nice conversation, a Spanish friend had no watch, glasses, phone or money left, although no one hit him on the head or threatened him with a knife; he doesn’t understand how this happened);
- exchange currency at a favorable rate (the result is a “doll” with fewer bills, or regular Cuban pesos, instead of convertible ones).
So the best answer to the pesters: “but comprendo” (I don’t understand) a calm continuation of the walk, without stopping or turning around when called out or persistent “excuse me”, etc. Once you give up, stop and engage in conversation, it will be much more difficult to get rid of it.
Pickpocketing (especially by passionate Cuban women) and a banal gop-stop are still possible and do happen, especially with those who have drunk in dark alleys far from the tourist trails. So don't carry all your money, documents or tickets with you. It is better to rent a safe at the hotel and store them there or, if you are staying at a cash desk, hide them at the bottom of a suitcase that is locked with a combination or padlock. If there is no lock, then there is a high probability (especially in a hotel) that someone’s caring hand will go through your suitcase. Some kind of internal pocket on clothing, with a small slit and fastened with a safety pin and button, would be good. Unattended items are stolen on beaches, so be on the lookout.
By the way, there is also a category of barkers who offer to go to their restaurant (bar, cafe) and enjoy music and food. If it is located right at the entrance to the establishment, then there is no need to be afraid and you can quite easily look in and check what is on the menu and what the price tag is. You can find a good place to suit your taste and budget. But if you need to go somewhere, “there’s literally 100 meters around the corner,” etc., then decide for yourself (see above).
Medicines (aspirin, iodine or streptocide, immodium and levomecycin, activated carbon, etc.) must be taken with you. Having passed by local “pharmacies” several times, I still didn’t understand what they were selling. Some rare jars and boxes on half-empty shelves. Be sure to take sunscreen with a good degree of protection. You won’t find it in Cuba, but you’ll burn your skin to blisters. Supposedly the first visit to the doctor is free. I don’t know, thank God I didn’t check.
8. Cigars
Like Mayakovsky: We say Cuba, we mean cigars, we say cigars, we mean Cuba. It’s amazing that even non-smokers want to buy real Havana cigars at a cheap price in Cuba. There are many types of Cuban cigars from the most elite Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo and Juliet at prices ranging from 3 to 10 or more cookies per piece, to machine-rolled Guantaramera at 1-1.5 cookies. Each type has different sizes (most often 4 main ones) and different thicknesses. The price depends on this. Cigars are sold individually and in cardboard boxes (3.5 pieces) and boxes (10.25 pieces). There are official stores everywhere, you can walk around and ask the price. If you are planning to buy cigars as a gift to someone who understands them at least a little, and you yourself are far from the world of tobacco, then it is better not to risk it, but to buy a smaller box, but in an official store. And there will be no problems with customs. As for the cigars offered on the streets, they can sell a frank awl, which is right there on Malaya Arnautskaya Street and is rolled from an unknown material.
If you have decided to take such a step and know so much about cigars that you can tell by eye or by smoking what they are slipping you, I’ll tell you. A smart merchant finally dragged us into some apartment in Trinidad under the pretext of showing us a cigar store (he caught loitering foreign tourists near a closed outlet). We go into the back rooms, the front door is padlocked behind our backs. Well, that's it, we're stuck. Nothing of the kind, the police are afraid of smugglers. They dump boxes on the table: you can open, look, smell and even smoke everything (if you like it, pay for the whole box, including the smoked cigar; if not, then theoretically you can pay nothing, but it’s unlikely that they’ll let you leave so easily - at least a couple you will have to pay cookies for a cigar or argue for a long time, threatening the police). The price tag for cigars that are actually stolen from the factory is from 25 to 40% of the store price. The boxes have holographic stickers, a numbered green tag with a coat of arms and the inscription “Made in Cube”, etc. Still, for testing, we bought one box of 10 cigars for 17 cookies (they asked for 20, its real price is about 50). At home they smoked it in a large group, including “experts”. The conclusion is this: the cigars were unanimously recognized as genuine, they did not disappoint in taste, smell and “smokiness”, they were only very dry (apparently they were carried around in a bag for a long time before they found the client). According to various sources, customs in Cuba allows the export of from 23 to 50 cigars (even the official store confirmed to us that the new rules increased the number to 50). So lottery fans can try to save money or lose a couple of dozen convertibles.
9. Beaches
It is not true that the best beaches in Cuba are in Varadero. Cuba has many great beaches. A very good place - Playa Del Este is 15 km away. east of Havana. White sand, palm trees, ocean. There are no beaches in Havana itself (there is some kind in the west of the city, but clearly not Bounty). Playa del Este is a fairly long series of beaches, the most famous and beautiful of them is Santa Maria Del Mar. You can get there by taxi for 15 convertibles. There is some kind of city bus that goes there, but we didn’t dare look for it, especially since one of the reviews found on the Internet talked about a three-hour wait (!) to board this ill-fated bus. It is easier to find travel companions and share a taxi between four people. There are hotels in Santa Maria Del Mar, sun loungers, umbrellas, police, beer and coconut milk sold right on the beach and all the other small pleasures of those who like to bask on the sand. Riding on a banana. I saw a jet ski in the distance. Very beautiful beaches on the Caribbean Sea in the Trinidad area (by taxi from the city 5-6 kuk). Spreading large trees grow right in the sand, in the shade of which you can sit comfortably without fear of sunburn. That's what the locals do. You can take a catamaran ride for an hour to the diving site with a mask and fins for 10 kuk per nose. There are also excellent beaches on the islands, and everywhere on the island. Developed resorts organize deep-sea fishing and boat/catamaran rides, etc. entertainment. So an excellent sea holiday in Cuba is guaranteed.
HAVE A GOOD VACATION, CUBA O MUERTE!
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levomecytin not levomecycin!
I consider the advice regarding levomecytin, which is an antibiotic and is not prescribed by oneself, but only by a doctor, to be bad.
Only Russians can take advantage of your advice; in civilized countries, all antibiotics are strictly prescribed.
Do you swallow it from all misfortunes? Beware of allergies in this case. LevometsiTin
But if a person of a different nationality comes into their midst, he may be very surprised by the habits and traditions of the inhabitants of this country, because they will not coincide with his own ideas about ‘normality’. We invite you to learn the national habits and characteristics of the inhabitants of Cuba, which will help you better understand this country.
They profit from tourists
There are two types of currencies in Cuba: pesos and cookies (CUC). Peso is money for Cubans. They pay wages, sell vegetables and fruits in markets, hygiene products and towels in stores. In cafes, Cubans also pay in pesos. But since 2006, Cuba introduced monetary unit CUC, designed specifically for tourists. Tickets to museums, exhibitions, and any type of transport are purchased in cookies. Even in shops and restaurants, foreigners will have to pay in cookies (1 cookie is approximately equal to $1, or 75 pesos). Very unprofitable.
Particularly smart travelers sometimes manage to exchange money in a store for local pesos and pay with them whenever possible. In this case, at the market a whole bag of fruit will cost only a dollar and a few kopecks. But keep in mind - the trick may work in Santiago and other regional cities, but definitely not in Havana. In the capital, tourists pay exorbitant prices for everything; here no one spares their wallets.
They hitchhike en masse
In Cuba, as a socialist state, it is customary to give each other lifts. Not stopping near a person voting on the road is considered bad manners. Travelers can use this to avoid spending money on a really expensive taxi. However, if your car is caught as a ride, then hold on! Passengers will get into your car without permission, even if you simply stopped in the forest to relieve yourself. Next they will use you as public transport- take you to the right address and pick up new passengers there.
Another popular type of transport is the rickshaw. Cubans use it as an additional means of transportation. If the house is far away and you need to get to it using several buses, then at the end the Cuban will take a rickshaw so that you can travel along the narrowest and most inconvenient roads. Drivers of such Vehicle, by the way, they look very attractive: broad shoulders, muscular legs. After all, they have to work in full.
They don't mince words
For a Cuban, the normal way to address a salesperson in a store is “linda” (beauty), “niña” (baby), “muneca” (doll). In a minibus, a Cuban will address the driver something like this: “Nino, dehame por aki” (“Baby, drop me off here”). To which he will respond: “Por aka mizmo, mom?” (“Right here, Mommy?”) It’s just wonderful, you just have to get used to it!
They have a masquerade every day
The first thing that catches your eye in Cuba is the abundance of colors in clothes. The Cubans themselves call themselves fancy dress (“masquerade dressing”). The approval of others plays a huge role: it is important how people react to your outfit, your way of speaking and your jokes. The Cuban's habit of smelling positively fragrant also relates to this point. A self-respecting representative of Liberty Island will never leave home without spraying himself from a fragrant bottle - and more, more! At the same time, everything is fine with their self-esteem. No matter what a Cuban looks like: tall, skinny, fat, clumsy - he is 100% confident in himself.
They pray for white sneakers
A Cuban traveling to another country is provided with lists from all relatives and acquaintances. Of course, many things simply cannot be bought in Cuban markets. You won’t find the brands that “hipsters” dream of on the island during the day. The list of necessary purchases is extensive: checkered shirts, tight jeans in the now fashionable “ragged” style, jackets and pullovers with a hood. But first on this list are white Nike sneakers. These are the ones that Cubans bring both to themselves and to their friends. White sneakers are a sign of chic, elegance and impeccable style.
They love beans and bananas
Beans and rice, rice and beans, rice with beans and a decorative piece of meat - these culinary variations make up the diet of the average Cuban. It is given variety by fried bananas and boiled yucca with butter and garlic, placed on the other side of the plate (yucca is something like a potato).
Banana is the most popular fruit in Cuba, but it is also used here as a vegetable: fried, stewed, whipped. Mango, avocado, guava and orange are also popular. Fruits are used to make sauces for meat and fish, pies, fruit salads and casseroles. Very unusual.
For drinks, a traveler should try lemonade with lime, freshly squeezed juices and, of course, cocktails with traditional Cuban rum.
They live without money
The Cuban salary is $10–100 per month. Doctors (medicine here is at a high level) and dancers (the latter have the opportunity to work with tourists and receive tips) earn the most. The rest do not die of hunger thanks to government support, little tricks and “handouts” from friends from abroad. A monthly food basket includes: a dozen eggs, a liter of vegetable oil, 2 kg of sugar and rice, a kilogram of beans, as well as some meat, chicken, fish and sausage. You won't have too much fun, but you can live.
A family of five often lives in one small apartment for a few dollars a month. But in such a home you can find a washbasin overgrown with moss, and children's rooms will look more like boxes with four walls.
Of course, you can’t do this without cunning and ingenuity. Therefore, do not be surprised if a woman with a baby comes up to you on the street and tells you that in order to preserve her own milk, she needs to consume proteins. Moved by compassion, you will be led to a store where you will buy not only milk, but also fruits and meat. And a block later you will meet a pregnant woman with the same request.
They don't use the Internet
This problem is still relevant for Cuba today, because the Internet to the island comes via satellite, and the United States is to blame for this, which once refused to install its underwater cable here.
Many hotels in Havana have access to the Internet and Wi-Fi and three or four computers working by the hour. Let's say from 8:00 to 17:00. And in almost all hotels in Havana the price for one hour of Internet is about 400 rubles. However, the navigation speed is not enough to download videos and photos. As the locals say, even in best hotels After opening four windows, the Internet begins to hang hopelessly.
They don't use an electric kettle
Why does a Cuban need this teapot?! Under socialism, you cannot afford unnecessary things, but you also do not feel an urgent need for the gifts of civilization. There is always the opportunity to boil water in a saucepan on a gas stove, and you can also cook rice there. It is difficult to buy good equipment on the island: washing machines, multicookers, computers and smartphones. It's prohibitively expensive. Only those locals who are friends with tourists can get laptops. Because local residents are largely protected from global influence, many do not even have pages on social networks. That's why their morning starts with a glass of mango juice rather than scrolling through their Facebook news feed.
They don't travel
Previously, Cubans could not travel because of the Iron Curtain, but now they simply do not have the money to do so. In addition, the embassy is not so free to issue a visa to fly away from Freedom Island.
There is a phrase: “Orgulloso de ser cubano,” which means “proud to be Cuban.” In general, locals are very proud of their country, although they dream of living anywhere but in Cuba. Such is the paradox. The desire to earn big money, wear clothes from famous brands and spend 30 cookies (the monthly salary of a Cuban) on dinner at a restaurant is limitless. Everyone wants to leave and find new life, but not everyone makes the necessary efforts and, even after leaving, they do not always get what they want. After all, there, overseas, money does not fall from the sky along with the rain, and the cold and competition are beyond the strength of Cubans, in whose veins hot blood flows...
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So, any journey begins with buying a ticket! A ticket to Cuba is a significant cost item for your tour, so finding an inexpensive flight is already a victory! We fly to Cuba regularly, mostly on direct flights, but we have also flown through Europe more than once, so I can answer you with all the knowledge of the matter!
How to choose the right hotel in Cuba
Choosing the right hotel in Cuba for a vacation is not an easy task - tourists look at photos, read reviews of other tourists, look at ratings on various sites, but still have doubts. And this is understandable, because sometimes hotel reviews are not objective and photographs taken by professional photographers do not reflect reality. The biggest disappointment in a vacation is when expectations do not match reality, when the money paid does not correspond to the level of service!
Transfers in Cuba
In Cuba, you can book a group or individual transfer for any number of people along the route you need. As a rule, Russian tour operators sell transfer services only to clients who have booked hotels in Cuba with them. Therefore, independent tourists who book hotels on the Internet through various booking systems are faced with the fact that they do not know how to organize a transfer to the resort.
Group transfers in Cuba
Group transfers in Cuba are carried out on comfortable air-conditioned buses of varying capacities, depending on the number of people booking the transfer. All buses in Cuba belong to the state companies TRANSTUR and GAVIOTA - only they have a license and permission to provide tourists with buses. At the same time, the main company TRANSTUR provides buses to all Cuban tour operators and the travel company Gaviota has its own fleet of buses.
Private transfer in Cuba
An individual transfer in Cuba can be ordered for any number of people, along any route and at any time convenient for the client. If a transfer is ordered to the airport for a specific flight, then no matter what time the flight arrives (for example, the flight is delayed), the transfer will still take place.
Domestic flights in Cuba
Cuba has many small regional and fairly large airports that accept international flights. For tourists, of course, first of all, airports are of interest, allowing quick access to the main resorts of Cuba and to the second largest city in Cuba - Santiago de Cuba.
Charter flight to Cayo Largo
Charter flight to Cayo Largo.
Dear friends, it is possible to get to the island of Cayo Largo only on a charter flight from Havana or Varadero, which is provided by the Gaviota company - it is she who decides what time the flights will be, how many flights there will be per day, whether or not there will be a flight from or to Varadero, on which Which tourist's flight will be boarded? Gaviota collects data from all tour operators and based on the collected applications and creates a flight program by the evening before departure - therefore, when buying a flight to Cayo Largo, you must be prepared for the uncertainty of your departure until the evening the day before departure.
Telephone communications in Cuba
The issue of telephone communication in Cuba worries literally all tourists going on vacation to the island. Many people wonder how to buy a local SIM card and use it for more profitable communications. In this article we will dispel all your doubts and tell you everything about the nuances of telephone communication in Cuba.
The best beaches in Cuba according to tourists
As you know, Cuba is famous for its snow-white beaches: the island with many adjacent small islands will allow anyone, even the most sophisticated tourist, to find the ideal place to relax. Each beach is interesting in its own way, we have selected the top 5 for you best beaches Cuba according to our tourists. The best beach in Cuba - everyone puts their own concept into these words, for some it’s snow-white sands, for others it’s an abundance of fish and wildlife. Some people love to ride the waves and the raging ocean, while others, on the contrary, love the calm in the ocean. Cuba is washed by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, and both have wonderful vacation spots that many Russian tourists do not yet know about.
Orchid garden in Soroa
El Jardin Botanico Orquideario Soroa- Botanical Garden, located in the town of Soroa, 80 km west of Havana.
In 1943 - this land was bought by the Spanish lawyer Don Tomás Felipe Camacho, after the death of his 19-year-old daughter during childbirth - he and his wife were looking for privacy and decided to plant a garden in the village of Soroa. His estate was called Rancho Pilila. An incredibly beautiful place in a mountainous area with panoramic views of the mountains has turned into beautiful garden
Ambos Mundos Restaurant
Restaurant with panoramic views of Old Havana on the roof of the hotel Ambos Mundos- this is a cool place where, both day and evening, you can enjoy excellent cuisine, traditional Cuban cocktails, traditional Cuban music and stunning views of Old Havana and the bay with fortresses opposite Old Havana.
Restaurant Los Doce Apostoles
Los Doce Apostles- one of the most famous state restaurants in Havana is located near the El Morro fortress, has a very interesting situation With beautiful view to Havana and the fortress, good cuisine and a long history. However, the restaurant can only be reached by car, so the place is not crowded.
Jazz Cafe
Jazz Cafe- one of the best places in Havana where you can enjoy good music and excellent inexpensive cuisine. The best jazz musicians in Havana work in this cafe 7 days a week, from Thursday to Sunday they perform 2 groups per evening, from Monday to Wednesday one group each.
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Cuba is an archipelago consisting of 1,600 islands and islets with a total area of 110,860 sq. km, two of them belong to the Greater Antilles - the island of Cuba itself and the island of Juventud Cuba is located in the western part of the Caribbean Sea and, due to its geographical location, it was called The key to the New World. The territories closest to Cuba are Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Jamaica.
Cuba is a real paradise for tourists, beautiful snow-white beaches with crystal blue waters, coral reefs and shallows for fishing, a variety of exotic flora and fauna But Cuba is famous not only for its magnificent nature, but above all for its friendly and hospitable Cubans, as well as its deep history. Many cities still preserve the traces and spirit of Spain's conquests of Latin America, the memory of the raids of corsairs and filibusters. To this day, the ancient cannons of Cuban forts and fortresses are aimed at the sea in anticipation of bloody pirate raids.
More than half a million tourists visit Cuba every year. This beautiful island of “freedom” attracts people from all over the world. Many people come to Cuba for treatment - plastic surgery, treatment of dermatological diseases, surgery, and cardiology are highly developed here. Attracts tourists and is rich cultural life islands. Numerous music festivals take place here. One of the most interesting events is the famous Cuban Carnival, which takes place in February.
Climate
Moderate tropical, greatly softened by warm sea currents washing the shores of Cuba, which makes holidays on the island comfortable throughout the year. Average annual temperature is + 26°C. The coldest month is January, when daytime air temperatures reach +25°C - +27°C, and the hottest month is August.
Nature
For many people, Cuba means beaches and sun, and this association is absolutely correct! You need to come here in order to visit a real fairy tale, relax your soul and body and discover heavenly pleasure, feel serenity, see tropical flora, unique animal world. Cuba has the most beautiful coral reefs. Islands and islets, 
forming the Cuban archipelago, they provide shelter for a wide variety of animals and birds. Characteristic feature The country's fauna is the complete absence of animals that are poisonous or dangerous to humans.
Beaches
There is no person who remains indifferent to this delightful country. Cuba's beaches are among the top three beaches in the world. Delightful white fine sand, warm and clear sea, enchanting ocean.
Cuban cuisine
“Love enters the house through the kitchen.” Cubans love to combine romantic dates with visits to restaurants and bars. But they prefer parties on the patio, where they can have fun and exchange news.
Cuban cuisine is influenced by various European, African and even Chinese culinary schools. This confusion led to the fact that even seasoned travelers admit: it is not necessary to travel all over the world in search of exotic things - it is enough to visit Cuba once.
One of the best national dishes- Creole ajiaco - a hearty spicy dish with pork and a lot of vegetables. Stewed or fried pork with a variety of spices and bananas, a dish of shredded pork “tasaho”, stewed chicken with rice “arroz con pollo”, fried and baked bananas “platanos” are delicious. minced beef with picadillo rice, rice and black bean dish "moros and cristia nos". World-famous Cuban boiled lobsters with lemon, turtle meat “tartuga”, assorted bananas and other ingredients - “fufu”, as well as exotic turtle eggs.
!!!Tap water should not be drunk even in a hotel, we recommend purchasing only mineral water in factory packaging.
Sport
Water sports are extremely popular in Cuba: diving, windsurfing, boat trips, fishing, there are entertaining water parks and other entertainment. On the very outskirts of Varadero, on the territory of a fairly large lake, there is a dolphinarium, which will be interesting to include in your excursion program.
In addition, scuba diving enthusiasts may be attracted by the discovery and exploration of shipwrecks that occurred in the area several centuries ago.
Currency
The import and export of foreign currency is not limited. An amount over 5 thousand US dollars can be freely exported if it is noted in the declaration filled out upon entry into the country, or if it was legally purchased in the country (a bank receipt is required). The export of national currency is allowed in quantities of up to 100 pesos in national currency and up to 200 in convertible pesos.
Duty-free import of up to 200 pieces is allowed. cigarettes or up to 250 g of tobacco, perfumes, medicines and household items - within the limits of personal needs. Duty-free export of cigars is allowed in quantities of no more than 23 pieces per person. Also, 1 photo and video camera (plus 5 cassettes for each), 1 binoculars, 1 portable stereo, 1 laptop computer (subject to mandatory export) are imported duty-free.
The import of cars, motorcycles and spare parts for them, pornography, narcotic and explosive substances, medicines without indicating the manufacturer's brand, weapons and some food products is prohibited.
When purchasing durable goods, jewelry or goods made from crocodile skin, it is necessary to request an export license from the seller, in the absence of which the goods will be seized during customs control.
Currency
The monetary unit of Cuba is the Cuban peso. At the moment, there are two types of Cuban pesos - non-convertible, intended for domestic circulation, and convertible Cuban pesos (CUC), intended for payments to tourists. The convertible peso is the main means of payment.
Credit cards Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard are accepted in Cuba. The only restriction is that they must not be issued by American banks. You can exchange currency at a Cuban bank, as well as in most hotels. It is recommended to bring euros with you.
Transport
There are three ways to get around Cuba, not counting walking. The first and cheapest is to travel by bus, which the Cubans themselves call dia-dia (sounds like “va-va”) Buses are both the main urban transport and a means of intercity communication.
You should not use public transport in Cuba. For tourists, there are so-called “tourist taxis”. These are always modern luxury cars equipped with air conditioning. Taxis can be ordered from any hotel. The route of tourist taxis is constantly monitored, which ensures your safety.
The third way to get around Cuba is by renting a car. The most popular and sought-after companies providing car rental services are Havanautos and Cubanacan.
It is worth noting that rental agencies are difficult to characterize as reliable companies. At gas stations, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have filled up all the gasoline you paid for. And remember that the rules traffic in Cuba it is sacred.
The road rules are standard, traffic is on the right, there are few cars on the roads, but there are many cyclists. Car license plates in Cuba have different colors. Tourist license plates are brown and enjoy certain benefits; the traffic police look leniently on minor violations by drivers of such cars.
Purchases
It is better to buy food in stores or supermarkets. You have to be careful in stores. Often, the number of items purchased is overestimated, especially when purchasing cigars or coffee. As souvenirs from Cuba you can bring black coral and jewelry made from it, items made from tortoise shell, especially bracelets and hairpins. 
Precautionary measures
Cuba - safe country, but, nevertheless, it is necessary to be careful, especially in the old part of Havana at night and in the evening.
Particularly dangerous can be the Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish, which is sometimes blown into shallow water by the wind in summer.
