Cuba Travel Guide
Is it possible to go Republic of Cuba on a budget? Learn how to conception your see alongside my Republic of Cuba go guide — featuring go tips, costs, things to do, where to stay, as well as more. Experience the best that Republic of Cuba has to offer!
The isle of Republic of Cuba was “discovered” as well as claimed for Espana yesteryear Christopher Columbus during his get-go voyage to the New World inward 1492.
While it’s been a pop go goal for years, due to an economical embargo, Americans haven’t been able to see easily until now.
Cuba Budget Travel Guide For 2019
What draws people to the tropical Caribbean Area isle of Republic of Cuba is much to a greater extent than than beaches as well as antique 1950’s cars, although in that location are plenty of those!
In Cuba, yous tin wander bustling urban heart streets, go hiking inward the mountains, larn almost the history of tobacco, or only soak upward the country’s 1950’s time-warp appeal. Get a sense of savor of what it’s similar to alive inward a socialist country.
While Republic of Cuba tin sometimes live a confusing as well as challenging identify for many travelers, I invite yous to laissez passer it a endeavor anyway as well as experience some Cuban magic for yourself.
There are many wonderful reasons to see Republic of Cuba for your adjacent vacation.
Planning H5N1 Trip To Cuba
Cuba is by as well as large pretty affordable, particularly compared to other Caribbean Area Islands, yet is to a greater extent than expensive than other parts of Latin America similar United Mexican States or Central American nations. With a special 2nd currency exactly for tourists, you’ll live forced to pay tourist prices most of the time.
Budget travelers tin live on around $50 USD per day.
Cuba’s local currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP- ₱) as well as it translates to ₱24 CUP for $1 USD. However equally a tourist, you’ll live using Cuba’s secondary currency exactly for tourists, the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC – $) which is pegged to the US Dollar. So $1 CUC = $1 USD.
You volition demand to commutation US dollars for CUC, but in that location is a special 10% penalization fee for this service. So it’s oftentimes cheaper to commutation Euros, Canadian Dollars, British Pounds, or Mexican Pesos for CUC instead.
If you’re an American, yous soundless can’t utilisation your credit cards or ATM cards inward Cuba. They won’t function because of the economical sanctions inward place.
So yous MUST commutation cash to fund your whole trip unless you’re on a pre-paid tour. The other alternative is buying a unusual pre-paid debit bill of fare from banks inward Canada or Mexico.
There’s an official currency commutation booth exterior the aerodrome inward Havana. You tin commutation your leftover CUC dorsum to US dollars (or whatever) when yous go out the province too.
How Much Does It Cost To Travel In Cuba?
TOTAL DAYS = 10
TOTAL SPENT = $900 USD
DAILY AVERAGE = $90 USD
Please utilisation these numbers equally full general guidelines only. Remember, everyone travels differently. Your personal go budget inward Republic of Cuba may vary.
When I traveled through Republic of Cuba for 10 days inward 2016, I spent a total of $900 for an average of $90 USD per day.
Some of the things I splurged on included renting a auto for to a greater extent than liberty to explore the isle on our own. Rental cars inward Republic of Cuba aren’t inexpensive — ours was $83 CUC per twenty-four hours (which nosotros hence split upward 4 ways alongside friends).
Scuba diving, tickets to Havana’s famous Tropicana Show, cigars, as well as a classic auto urban heart tour were some other activities I chose to include inward my ain trip. Your ain choices volition impact your go budget inward Cuba.
Where To Stay In Cuba
While yous tin honor fancy hotels inward Havana as well as all-inclusive resorts inward Varadero, the best accommodation options inward Republic of Cuba are called casas particulares.
Casas particulares are similar local guesthouses. The Cuban regime allows some residents to rent the spare rooms inward their homes for extra income, as well as equally a traveler, yous acquire a to a greater extent than local experience.
To honor a casa, yous only walk around a neighborhood, pop inward as well as inquire to regard a room, as well as arrive at upward one's heed if yous desire to rest there. Most are tardily to honor because they’re marked alongside a special sign that looks a fleck similar an anchor.
Prices volition vary depending on the region. H5N1 double room costs betwixt $25 – forty CUC alongside breakfast included. If staying alongside locals isn’t your thing, in that location are other options too. Just a lot to a greater extent than expensive.
- Casas Particulares: $25 – $40 per night
- Mid-Range Hotels: $90 – $150 per night
- Resorts & Fancy Hotels: $200 – $400 per night
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Airbnb is also a bully alternative for finding a cool plane to rest at inward Cuba.
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READ MORE: How To Find Cheap Hotels
Tasty Cuban Food & Restuarants
While many travelers complain almost Cuban nutrient as well as its availability, I establish nutrient inward Republic of Cuba pretty inexpensive as well as tasty. Not to shout out those famous Cuban mojitos for solely $1 or $2!
The lowest-cost options are Cuban sandwiches or Cuban pizzas at street-side stores called “paladares”. These meals tin cost equally piddling equally $1, but are super basic too. Cuban pizzas reminded me of frozen microwave pizzas. Nothing to write domicile about…
If you’re a dedicated foodie, as well as demand to a greater extent than choices, yous tin honor large plates of lobster, shrimp, crab as well as fish for almost $7 at restaurants close the coast. There’s also traditional Cuban cuisine called ropa vieja (old clothes) which is basically pulled pork alongside gravy, served alongside rice as well as beans for almost $5.
Larger restaurants are by as well as large laid upward for tourists, alongside high tourist prices around $15-$20 for a meal. Most Cubans can’t afford to consume at these places. They gear upward at home, using regime rations called Libreta de Abastecimiento to pay for basics similar rice, sugar, as well as cooking oil.
Transportation In & Around Cuba
Flying To Cuba
The major airports inward Republic of Cuba are inward Havana (HAV) as well as Santiago de Republic of Cuba (SCU). For years, many Americans traveled to Republic of Cuba through unusual gateway cities similar Cancun, United Mexican States City, or Toronto. However inward 2016 the US regime started allowing commercial flights to Republic of Cuba from the United States. New York, Miami, as well as Los Angeles all offering flights.
Buses In Cuba
Bus go inward Republic of Cuba is pretty comfortable. There’s i primary motorbus line of piece of occupation called Viazul. Cuban buses are cheap, but the routes fill upward up quickly, hence yous ordinarily demand to acquire your tickets inward advance either online or inward somebody at to the lowest degree a twenty-four hours or 2 early.
Cuban Taxis
Taxis are available inward the to a greater extent than developed cities of Republic of Cuba similar Havana, Varadero, as well as Trinidad. Official taxis, inward modern cars, volition live marked as well as some fifty-fifty receive got meters. Old classic auto taxis are to a greater extent than expensive, oftentimes alongside laid rates of $8-$10 per ride. Try to negotiate a toll earlier yous acquire in.
Almendrons are local shared taxis that run inward some cities. It’s the cheapest alternative at 0.50 CUC per ride, yet they aren’t tardily to figure out if yous don’t talk Spanish. They run on laid routes, only flag i downwards as well as boundary inward alongside everyone else. Usually onetime 50’s vans or Toyota Landcruisers.
Bicycle Taxis are some other option. Officially they aren’t allowed to pick upward tourists, but they soundless do. H5N1 ride costs almost $1 CUC. You could acquire kicked off early on if the driver notices constabulary nearby.
Renting H5N1 Car In Cuba
Renting a auto inward Republic of Cuba is possible, but it’s non easy. The online auto rental systems in that location by as well as large don’t function for foreigners. The best alternative is to inquire yesteryear e-mail or telephone almost a rental a few weeks or to a greater extent than earlier your trip. Don’t hold off to exactly present upward at the aerodrome as well as mass a rental car, they only don’t receive got plenty for the demand.
READ MORE: How To Find The Cheapest Flights Online
Visa Requirements For Cuba
For years it was possible for Americans to see Republic of Cuba through unusual gateway countries similar United Mexican States or Canada first. Then, President Obama opened a loophole for American tourism to Cuba, fifty-fifty though Congress hadn’t genuinely changed the law yet.
It was a sort of “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” situation. No i was enforcing the law.
You signed a slice of newspaper when yous got on the bird proverb yous jibe i of 12 special categories (that don’t include tourism), as well as no i checked.
Regular flights to Republic of Cuba from the US started up, as well as things were looking good!
However it seems President Trump is clamping downwards on that loophole as well as will live making it tougher again yesteryear banning People To People trips, the category most people were using.
Support For The Cuban People
Americans tin soundless go to Republic of Cuba independently, but you’ll demand to select an approved go category other than People To People tours, which Trump plans to ban.
Declare a category similar Support For The Cuban People when booking flights, lodging as well as when yous render to the US.
You tin construct an itinerary containing activities that come across the criteria for the category yous chose, or get aid from local experts to conception a legal trip (5% discount for Expert Vagabond readers!).
Foreign Gateway Cities
Another alternative is to wing into Republic of Cuba from a Foreign Gateway City similar Cancun, United Mexican States or Toronto, Canada. This is what I did, as well as I part to a greater extent than details almost that here.
Every traveler needs to purchase a Tourist Card for $20 ($50+ if traveling from the United States) regardless of nationality. This is most commonly done at the difference aerodrome itself, or online/through the post alongside your airline.
Best Things To Do In Cuba
Havana
It’s impossible to skip the capital of Havana on a trip to Cuba. Havana Viejo (Old Havana) is the historic urban heart center, as well as was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site inward 1982. The urban heart is total of beautiful onetime architecture, interesting people, as well as of course of report – all those incredible classic cars.
Highlights Of Havana
- Rent a classic auto for a tour through the city, $30 CUC for i hour.
- Visit some of Hemingway’s onetime hangouts, similar La Floridita as well as La Bodeguita del Medio.
- Smoke a Cuban cigar overlooking the body of body of water at Hotel Nacional
- Walk the Malecon boardwalk at nighttime alongside a box of inexpensive corner-store rum.
- Attend the globe famous Tropicana Nightclub for a colorful show.
Best Places To Stay In Havana
Varadero
Located on the Hicacos Peninsula almost 140 km from Havana, Varadero is a pop resort town for tourists. The ivory-white sand beaches are gorgeous! While many beaches inward Varadero are utilisation of individual resorts, there’s a large costless populace beach department too, which is exactly equally beautiful.
Highlights Of Varadero
- Grab a beach chair, purchase a few Cuba Libres, as well as function on your tan.
- Rent a kayak or sailboat as well as cruise downwards the coastline.
- Eat at i of Varadero’s amazing seafood restaurants.
Viñales
Viñales is a lush dark-green valley surrounded yesteryear mountains located W of Havana. It’s a fun small-scale town to see if you’re into nature, caving, stone climbing, or learning almost the fine art of cigar making. Viñales is Cuba’s tobacco capital, domicile of the best cigars inward the world.
Highlights Of Viñales
- Visit a tobacco farm as well as larn how to brand Cuban cigars.
- Rock climbing on the karst limestone cliffs.
- Rent an ATV for an off-road trip through the valley.
- Go horseback riding, or bring together a cave tour.
Trinidad
Trinidad is a picturesque colonial town lined alongside cobblestone streets as well as pastel-colored houses. It was the epicenter of the Castilian carbohydrate merchandise inward the 18th century, where carbohydrate barons acquire extremely wealthy off the dorsum of African slave labor. Many of the onetime buildings receive got been restored.
Highlights Of Trinidad
- Hang out on the steps of Plaza Mayor alongside a mojito to sentinel the sunset.
- Visit some fine art & history museums, similar Museo de Arquitectura or Museo Romantico.
- Climb the bell tower at Iglesia de San Francisco for bully urban heart views.
- Ride a bike to Playa Ancon, a beautiful white sand beach.
- Go swimming nether waterfalls at Topes De Collantes National Park
Budget Travel Tips For Cuba
While Republic of Cuba tin live affordable, it’s non an tardily identify to go on an extreme budget. It takes some work.
- Try eating at locally run paladares (little restuarants inward people’s homes) whenever yous can.
- Use the confusing-but-cheap local shared taxis, or split upward a 1950’s tourist taxi alongside other travelers.
- Stay alongside locals inward casas particulares whenever possible to hold accommodation costs down.
READ MORE: My Best Money Saving Travel Tips
Packing Tips For Cuba
So, you’re getting ready for your trip to Cuba, but you’re non certainly what to pack? Here are some tips for things to direct alongside yous on your journey.
- Bring a filtered H2O bottle to cutting downwards on plastic waste, as well as relieve coin too!
- Make certainly yous receive got a comfortable travel backpack or a sturdy go suitcase.
- Cuba uses US-style outlets. Traveling from Europe? You’ll desire a goodness universal go plug.
- Don’t forget my favorite go accessory, packing cubes to hold yous organized.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Travel Gear Guide
Off The Beaten Path inward Cuba
There is a cool national common called Topes de Collantes located almost an hours drive from Trinidad. It has many hiking trails that Pb to dissimilar waterfalls, as well as non many people see them.
Some of the best waterfalls are El Nicho as well as Vegas Grandes, both are over 100m high, as well as its a bully agency to experience some of Cuba’s mountains. You tin mass a tour from Trinidad, or proceed your ain similar nosotros did if yous receive got a car. Beware, the roads are pretty bad upward there!
Best Time To Visit Cuba
When is the best fourth dimension to see Cuba? Regardless of the fourth dimension of year, average temperatures inward Republic of Cuba are real pleasant ranging from 70s F to 80s F.
But the best fourth dimension to see Republic of Cuba is arguably from Dec to May, equally the climate tends to live mild as well as skies are oftentimes sunny.
The moisture flavor is betwixt June as well as October, alongside the heaviest pelting & hottest temperatures inward July & August. It’s by as well as large a less-desirable fourth dimension to see Cuba, as well as hurricanes are also a threat.
The tourist high flavor inward Republic of Cuba runs from Dec through March, due to bully weather condition as well as large numbers of Canadians escaping the wintertime snowfall inward their ain country.
If yous desire decent weather, as well as fewer tourists, April, May, as well as Nov are goodness choices.
Internet & Cell Phone Service
Internet inward Republic of Cuba isn’t available everywhere, but it’s possible to honor wifi spots inward most major hotels, large populace parks, as well as fifty-fifty some casas particulares. For a listing of all the known wifi hotspots inward Cuba, click here.
To acquire online yous demand to purchase an cyberspace scratch-card from ETECSA (Cuba’s national telecommunication company). They cost betwixt $2-6 for an hr of service. You tin purchase the cards inward forepart of the aerodrome inward Havana, at major hotels, at ETECSA kiosks, or from Cubans themselves.
To utilisation services similar Skype or Snapchat, you’ll demand to install a goodness go VPN earlier yous arrive. The cyberspace isn’t super fast, but it’s fast plenty to upload go photos to Facebook & Instagram if you’re patient.
READ MORE: International Cell Phone Service
Challenges To Be Aware Of
There are a few challenges to traveling inward Cuba. The lack of cyberspace tin live frustrating at times, equally we’ve all acquire comfortable finding our agency around alongside aid from Google Maps, or searching online for answers to go questions.
Galileo Maps ( IOS | Android ) has offline maps of Cuba, hence yous tin honor your agency around using a smartphone fifty-fifty without internet.
If yous don’t talk Castilian yous powerfulness oftentimes honor yourself at a loss inward Cuba, equally the bulk of people don’t talk whatever English. Without Castilian it’s hard to accommodate things, but non impossible.
While Republic of Cuba is a real prophylactic identify to travel, there are many scammers too. Especially around Havana. Some pop scams inward Republic of Cuba include:
- Being invited to a bar/club from someone off the street, hence getting stuck alongside a huge mysterious bar tab.
- Women shout out for yous to purchase milk for their babies, at inflated prices from shops that are inward on the scam.
Everyone isn’t trying to scam yous — but yous soundless demand to rest cautious as well as utilisation mutual sense.
READ MORE: 15 Common Travel Scams
Suggested Cuban Books & Movies
- The Other Side Of Paradise (Book) РH5N1 sobering portrait of post-Fidel Cuba. Change looms inward Havana, a urban heart of doubt cloaked inward clich̩.
- The Old Man And The Sea (Book) – Hemingway’s floor of an onetime Cuban fisherman, downwards on his luck, as well as his sea battle alongside a giant marlin.
- Our Man In Havana (Movie) – H5N1 vacuum cleaner salesman is recruited yesteryear the British hush-hush service to human activeness equally a spy inward Havana.
- Una Noche (Movie) – Trapped inward the desperate slums of Havana, immature Raul dreams of escaping Republic of Cuba to Miami.
- Lonely Planet Cuba (Guidebook) – H5N1 go guide to Republic of Cuba that includes history, advice, things to do, as well as places to stay.
Cuba Travel Guide: More Articles & Experiences
Planning to go to Republic of Cuba soon? Browse all my weblog posts from Republic of Cuba to acquire ideas & recommendations.
Enjoy Your Trip To Cuba!
Well, I promise yous enjoyed my budget travel guide to Cuba! It’s i of the most unique go destinations I’ve always visited, equally the whole isle feels trapped inward time.
Things are changing fast though equally to a greater extent than as well as to a greater extent than American tourists add together it to their bucket list.
Please brand certainly to back upward local Cubans alongside your go choices piece there, as well as let’s promise that relations betwixt Republic of Cuba as well as the US volition amend inward the future. ★
Bonus Travel Video! Exploring The Best Of Cuba
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