Viva Cuba

Getting into, around and out of another country always has its challenges. However, being well informed before you leave takes the worry out of travelling, and helps your trip go smoothly. To make your visit to Cuba a breeze, we have compiled these useful tips for handy reference.

Packing for your trip

What you pack for your visit to Cuba will depend on the time of year and your itinerary. Here are few ideas to help you bring the right items for your plans.

-- Clothing

Cuba is a wonderfully warm, tropical island, so cotton and other light fabrics are ideal for outdoor activities. Keep in mind, however, that resorts, restaurants, tour buses and other public areas are generally air conditioned. During wintertime, which is slightly cooler, we recommend bringing a light overcoat. For the rainy season (May to October), rain gear or an umbrella will come in handy.
Casual is the order of the day in Cuba. However, visitors who enjoy elegant dining, theatre and other sophisticated entertainment tend to dress more formally for those occasions.

-- Electrical Equipment

Cuba’s electricity is 110 volts, 60Hz, but most hotels and resorts have 220 volts. Electrical outlets take flat plug prongs. If you’re bringing an electrical appliance, check before you leave to see if you need an adaptor or converter.

-- Clocks

You may be hoping for a vacation where time stands still. But if you do need to plan your time, remember that Cuba is on Eastern Standard Time. >From May through October, Cuba moves into daylight savings time (an hour ahead).

Entering the country

Every tourist should have a valid passport issued on his or her name and a
tourist card (Visa). It is important for you to know that your passport
should be valid for at least one week after the return date. If you are
planning to work, do business or study in Cuba you need another type of
visa; please contact Consulate General of Cuba.

-- If you are sailing to Cuba, be sure to contact port authorities before you reach jurisdictional waters (12 miles from the base line). Use these communication channels:
-HF (SSB) channel 2760 (national coastal network) and 2790 (tourism network); or
-VHF channel 68 (national coastal network) and 16 (tourism network).

Port authorities will ask you for the following information:

-name of yacht
-flag
-port of registry
-last port of call
-port of arrival
-estimated time of arrival (ETA)
-type of craft
-colour of craft
-number of persons on board.

You must follow the instructions given by the port authorities and remain on board until all legal formalities are concluded.

-- If you plan to fly to Cuba on a private plane, you must send an operational request for approval of your flight plan in a telex addressed to the:
Regimen de Vuelos de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba, La Habana
Telex: 51727 ACVCU

In the request, you must specify:

-whether the plane is private
-the type of aircraft
-registration number and class
-starting point
-pilot’s name
-expected date, place and time of arrival
-objective of the trip.

Clearing customs

Visitors who are well prepared and adhere to a few simple rules should have smooth trips through customs, both when entering and leaving Cuba. Key information to remember:

Cuban customs laws prohibits any imports of pornographic material, narcotics drugs, live animals and firearms, although these last ones can be authorized by the organization in charge of this tourist modality when these are for the sport of hunting. Any possession, consumption and traffic of narcotic drugs and other substances are penalized, except for those of personal use accompanied by the corresponding doctor prescription letter.

-- Inbound travelers

In addition to their personal jewelry, cameras and other valuables, visitors are allowed to bring into Cuba, duty free, two bottles of liquor, one carton of cigarettes and up to 10 kilograms of medicine. Gifts up to a value of $250 US can also be brought in. Of that, $50 is duty-free; the rest is 100 per cent taxable.

Narcotics and firearms, except for authorized hunting weapons, are not allowed into the country. No restrictions exist on the amount of money a visitor can bring into the country, but amounts over $5,000 US should be declared.

VCR and DVD players are now allowed into Cuba:

Cuban customs has lifted the restrictions on the importation of VCR and DVD players into Cuba. Starting May 1st, 2007 travelers can bring them into the country regardless the type, brand or model, including the built-in ones in other equipments.

Tourists are allowed to take their personal effects which include the articles (new or used) that they reasonably need for their holidays (according the length and purpose of the trip), plus: sport equipment, jewels, photographic camera, camcorder, cellular phones, blackberries, laptops, Ipods, MP3 players, video games, hair dryers, electric shavers, binoculars, one portable radio receiver, tape recorder, one portable music instrument and a sound recording device.

It's prohibited to bring into the country: narcotics, explosives, pornography, any item (including literature) intended to be used against the national security, animals and plants regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, GPS, walkie-talkies, cordless phones (for the household) that operate in bands different than 40-49 MHz and 2,4 and 5 GHz and household appliances: freezers, air conditioners, electric kitchens and furnaces, electric ovens, electric showers, electric fryers, electric water heaters, irons (travel irons are allowed), toasters and any spare electrical parts for the above.

For further information and complete list of the prohibited articles, please visit the website: www.aduana.co.cu

-- Outbound travelers

Be sure to save $25 CUC (Cuban Convertible pesos) in cash for your departure tax at the airport. Visitors leaving Cuba can take out 23 cigars, and 1.14 litres of liquor (two regular-sized bottles of 750ml). To export other items, such as art and antiques, obtain a permit from the National Registry of Cultural Objects. Most legitimate vendors have such permits, and can officially stamp your receipt.

Strict rules apply to taking plants and animals out of Cuba. The Convention on International Trading in Endangered Species (CITES) prohibits taking the following out of the country: indigenous flora and fauna; live or preserved specimens and articles made from parts of endangered species. However, articles made from species approved by the CITES Administrative Authority in Cuba may be taken out

Getting around in Cuba

-- Transportation

Cuba has excellent taxi services as well as car, van and motorcycle rentals. Tour buses in Havana and Varadero cover the major sites of interest. For special excursions, contact the tourism desk at your hotel. Economy travel on buses among major centres around the country is also available through Viazul. For information and schedules, visit www.viazul.com.

The country has eleven international airports, and eight local ones with domestic charters and air taxis. Of Cuba’s extensive, 50,000-kilometre network of highways and roads, 14,000 kilometers are paved.

-- Photography / filming

Photos and videos can be taken freely, except in restricted areas, such as military zones. Museums also have specific regulations.

-- Shopping

Shops in hotels, villas and airports sell Cuban cigars, rum and coffee, as well as snacks, arts and crafts, toiletries, books and souvenirs. Specialty stores in the main tourist regions also carry high-end European and other imports.

-- Currency

All the goods and services in Cuba are priced in Cuban Convertible pesos only, (including transportation and the departure tax from Cuba are priced and payable in CUCs).

Telecommunications

Cuba’s telephone network provides direct communications inside the country and out – with any part of the world. Some hotels and resorts also provide Internet connections.
Direct dialing codes within Cuba:

Ancón 419
Baconao 223
Baracoa 21
Caibarién 42
Camagüey (city) 322
Cayo Coco 33
Cayo Largo del Sur 45
Ciego de Ávila (city) 33
Cienfuegos (city) 432
Florida 32
Granma (entire province) 23
Havana 7
Holguín (entire province) 24
Las Tunas (city) 31
Matanzas (city) 52

Morón 335
Pinar del Río (city) 82
Playa Covarrubias 31
Playa Girón and Playa Larga 59
Remedios 42
Sancti Spíritus 41
Santa Clara (city) 422
Santa Lucía beach 32
Santiago de Cuba (city) 226
Santiago de Cuba (province) 22
Topes de Collantes 42
Trinidad 419
Varadero 45
Viñales Valley 8

Best months to visit Cuba

Taking into account the Tropical Climate of Cuba, we suggest you to travel in your winter season. From November to the beginning of May.

Cuba’s climate is moderately subtropical and predominantly warm. The island’s average temperature is 25.5ºC and average relative humidity is 78 per cent. It also sees an average of 330 days of sunshine a year. Cuba’s two clearly defined seasons are the rainy season (May to October) and the dry season (November to April).

Weather averages

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Des
Air temperature (ºC)	23.1	22.9	24.1	25.1	27.1	27.6	28.4	28.1	27.6	27.7	24.6	23.5
Water temperature (ºC)	24.6	24.3	24.6	25.3	26.2	27.3	28.0	28.5	28.3	27.5	26.3	25.2
Hours of sunlight	11.0	11.4	12.0	12.6	13.2	13.5	13.3	13.0	12.4	11.8	11.2	10.9
Rainfall (mm)	45	38	47	72	177	216	139	158	184	190	79	41
Rainy days	3	4	3	4	8	11	9	10	10	10	5	3
% relative humidity	79	77	76	74	78	81	79	80	82	83	81	80

Looking after your health

Travelling to Cuba are under no health restrictions, and require no vaccinations.

Health care and insurance:

We recommend carrying insurance on your trip from your local insurance company. In Cuba, insurance can be obtained from Asistur S.A., the country’s official travel insurance company.
All hotels have doctors on staff or on call who guarantee primary care. Every major resort area also has an international medical clinic that handles more complex medical conditions. These clinics are scattered across the country in Pinar del Río, Varadero, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Cayo Coco, Santa Lucía, Guardalavaca and Santiago de Cuba.

Getting married

Nothing is more romantic than a wedding on a tropical island. And Cuba has it all – theme weddings; splashy weddings; exotic weddings; quiet weddings; combined weddings and honeymoons.

Your travel agent and Cuban wedding planners can help you design a perfect day. Here are a few pointers to help you get started.

1- If you have never been married before, all you need is a passport that is valid throughout your stay in Cuba, and a tourist card (available from a travel agent, airline or the Cuban consulate).

2- If either the bride or groom has been married before, the previously married person must, in addition to the valid passport and tourist card, also produce the following documents:

if divorced: his/her birth certificate and Certificate of Divorce;
if widowed: his/her birth certificate, Certificate of Marriage and Certificate of Spouse’s Death.

Have your birth certificate and any divorce/marriage/death documents translated into Spanish and certified by a notary public and legalized by the Cuban consul in your country (service fee applies).

3- In addition, you must:

Create a sheet that lists your names, home address, occupations, level of education, nationality and the full names of your parents, living or deceased.
Attach the photo page of your passport to this sheet.
Fax copies of all documentation (including the extras described above if you have been married before) in both English and Spanish to your hotel in Cuba at least three weeks before your arrival there.
Bring all your original documents with you.

Your marriage will be formalized in the name stated on your passport. Your passport must therefore be correct, and the name on your passport must match that on all your other documents.

After your wedding, your Marriage Certificate will be prepared as quickly as possible and either given to you before you leave (time permitting) or couriered at the hotel’s expense to the home address on your documents. Your marriage is legalized by your Embassy in Havana and the Cuban Foreign Affairs department.

For more information, contact the Cuban Consulate in your country (see Passport)

Tourist Card

The Tourist Card allows its holder to stay in Cuba for 30 days from the date
of entry into the Country, and is valid for 1 entry into Cuba. For a stay of
more than 30 days and only up to 60 days maximum, you require visiting Cuban immigrations office in Havana to extend your visit period, or you can
request at any tourism office in Cuba, for farther information.

Children, regardless of their age, also require a tourist card, even if they
are registered on their parents' passports.

Passport

Entry requirements:
Every tourist should have a valid passport issued on his or her name and a
tourist card (Visa). It is important for you to know that your passport
should be valid for at least one week after the return date. If you are
planning to work, do business or study in Cuba you need another type of
visa; please contact Consulate General of Cuba.

Embassy of Cuba in Sweden:
Embajada de Cuba y Sección Consular
Sturevägen 9, 182 73 Stocksund
Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone: +46 (8) 545 83 277 (09:00 - 14:30)
Fax: +46 (8) 545 83 270

Consulate:
Telephone: +46 (8) 545 83 272 (10:00 - 16:00)
Fax: +46 (8) 545 83 273
e-mail: consularsuecia@swipnet.se
Embassy on-line

Embassy of Cuba in Finland
Postiosoite Fredrikinkatu 61, 3. krs, 00100 Helsinki
Telephone +358 9 680 2022
Fax + 358 9 643 163
e-mai: cuba@embacuba.inet.fi
Embassy on-line

Embassy of Cuba in Danmark
Kastelsvej 19, 3. tv DK-2100, Copenhague
Tel: (45) 39 40 15 10
Fax: (45) 39 40 15 10.
Email: embadin@hotmail.com
Embassy on-line

Embassy of Cuba in Norge
Oscarsgate 78 B, 0244, Oslo
Telephone + (47) 23 08 32 60
Fax + (47) 23 08 32 61
e-mai: enoruega@online.no
Embassy on-line

Forms of Payment

All the goods and services in Cuba are priced in Cuban Convertible pesos only, (including transportation and the departure tax from Cuba are priced and payable in CUCs).

The value of the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) is no longer at par with US dollars. It is 8% higher than the US dollar. To exchange US dollars into the CUC there is a 10% surcharge, while exchanges from Canadian dollars, Euros, UK pounds and Swiss Francs will not incur a surcharge. To check the daily exchange rate please visit: http://www.bc.gov.cu/English/exchange_rate.asp Travelers cheques that are accepted are: Visa, Thomas Cook & American Express. Credit cards that are accepted are: Visa & MasterCard. All travelers cheques and credit cards must be drawn and from Canadian financial institutions.

International flights to Cuba

Scheduled airlines are:

- Airfrance

- Cubana

- Aerocaribe

- Aeropostal

- AirJamaica

- Copa Airlines

- Lan Chile

- AirEuropa

- Aeroflot

- Martinair

- LTU

- Mexicana

- Blue Panorama

- Iberia

- British Airways

- AirCanada

- CaimanAirways

- Aeromexico

- Neos

- BahamasAir

- Air Caraïbes

- Tikaljets