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Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean with a socialist government and a rich and diverse culture. Learn about its colonial past, revolutionary history, relations with the US and the Soviet Union, and current challenges and achievements.
- Double-Check Your Insurance
- Fill Out Your Passenger Information in Advance
- Every Visitor Needs A Tourist Card
- Cash and Currency: It’S Complicated!
- MLC Is A Currency with No Cash Form
- Only Some Credit Cards Will Work
- Pack Your Favorite Casual Clothes – and Men Need A Shirt
- Cuban Spanish Is Fast and Often Informal
- Cuban Cities Are Where The Streets Have Two Names
- Understand The Local Art of Queueing
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You are required to have medical insurance to visit Cuba and will need to bring digital or printed proof of your policy. Random checks are made at the airport. If you arrive without insurance, you’ll be asked to buy a Cuban policy at the airport for US$30.
Cuba uses an online form called D’Viajerosto gather traveler information, including immigration and health data, in advance of travel. Fill out the form digitally up to 72 hours before your arrival in Cuba.
To enter Cuba, all visitors need to present a completed tourist card. It’s usually available through your airline (ask when booking) and included in the price of your ticket. If not, you can purchase one through a Cuban travel agency. Costs range from US$50 to US$85. Citizens of 20 African and Asian countries require a formal visa to enter Cuba. Ch...
Money in Cuba is confusing, even to Cubans. Since the country abolished convertibles (CUC) in January 2021 and took the US dollar out of circulation in June 2021, there has been massive inflation and the emergence of a rampant black market. The knock-on effect is a bewildering dual economy. The official currency of Cuba is the Cuban peso (CUP), but...
The Moneda Libremente Convertible (MLC) is a currency approved by the Cuban government in 2020 that can be used in certain shops to buy higher-end goods. The currency doesn’t exist as cash and its value is pegged with the US dollar. It’s used mainly by Cubans with special magnetic cards. Tourists needn’t worry too much about MLC$, although prices w...
Credit cards are increasingly popular in Cuba and in many state-run businesses are the preferred (and sometimes only) method of payment. Despite promises made in the Obama era, credit cards linked to US banks are not accepted. Private businesses almost never have credit card machines, meaning your only option is cash.
Dress in Cuba is casual, so you can leave your high heels and tux behind. The only real dress code is in cinemas, theaters and nightclubs, where male patrons are required to wear long trousers and shirts with sleeves or half-sleeves.
If you speak Spanish, you’ll find that Cubans mostly use the informal tú form of address, rather thanusted. In the plural, ustedes is used over vosotros. If you don’t know someone, it’s best to address them as señor or señora, though you’ll hear Cubans use all kinds of substitutes such as socio, hermano, papa, chica/o and asere.
In most Cuban cities, the streets have two names: a contemporary one that is noted on maps and marked on street signs, and a pre-revolutionary one that is still used widely by the locals. This can become confusing, especially when locals, unaware of the new street names, start giving out directions or addresses using the colloquial nomenclature. Al...
Cubans have to endure a lot of long waits in boring queues, so they’ve invented a way of doing it that doesn’t involve standing in line. In a Cuban queue, you simply roll up at the bakery/clinic/visa office and yell out to the assembled masses, "Quien es último?"(Who’s last?). Hopefully, someone in a 400m vicinity will answer your polite entreaty w...
Learn what to expect and how to prepare for your trip to Cuba, from currency and insurance to culture and language. Find out about the dual economy, the street names, the queues and more.
Plan your holiday to Cuba with tips, guides and inspiration from the official travel and tourist information web site. Discover Cuba's culture, nature, history, beaches, cigars and more.
2 days ago · Learn about Cuba, the largest island of the West Indies and a socialist republic in the Caribbean. Explore its geography, history, politics, culture, and more with Britannica.
Cuba Travel is the official site for tourism in Cuba, a Caribbean island with diverse culture, nature and society. Find hotels, tours, events and more for your Cuban vacation.
Aug 29, 2023 · Some key dates in Cuba's history: 1492 - Christopher Columbus claims Cuba for Spain. 1511 - Spanish conquest begins under the leadership of Diego de Velazquez.
Dec 8, 2021 · Discover the diverse and fascinating attractions of Cuba, from Havana's art and architecture to Varadero's beaches and Santiago's history. Learn about the culture, nature and revolution of this Caribbean island with Lonely Planet's tips and insights.
