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 centers 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
Cuban Currency: what you should know…
Here you will find the most relevant information about how to pay, what currency to bring, where to exchange it and the rates that apply. We hope this information help you in your travel.
National Currency
National Cuban currency is Peso Cubano (CUP). One Peso Cubano is equivalent to 100 cents. Bills of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pesos circulate in the country, as well as fractional coins of 1, 3 and 5 pesos and 5 and 20 cents.
Where to exchange money?
The exchange of freely convertible currencies (foreign currency) for Cuban peso (CUP) is carried out at airports, banks, hotels, exchange houses (CADECA) and shopping malls; always respecting the current exchange rate of the different currencies according to the fluctuation in the world market.
There is also a great infrastructure of banking services throughout the national territory that includes the network of Banks and Automatic Teller Machines (ATM).
You can select one of the destinations shown below to see their locations and contact information.
Exchange rates.
What currency to bring to Cuba?
Any of the currencies described above may be exchanged for Cuban pesos (CUP) without any limitation and respecting the current exchange rate.
These are the freely convertible currencies that may be exchanged for Cuban pesos (CUP). Please note that in order to know the current rate you should go to the website of the Central Bank of Cuba. https://www.bc.gob.cu/historigrama/138
and www.banco-metropolitano.com.cu
Magnetic cards that can be used
Visa, MasterCard, Access, Eurocard, Banamex and American International Service (AIS) magnetic cards can be used in Cuba.
No cards issued by U.S. institutions work in Cuba, so it is recommended that you verify beforehand that your card is not associated with a U.S. banking institution and secondly and of great importance that you always have a cash backup to avoid setbacks. You can also buy in the networks of national stores that operate in freely convertible currency.
The Cuban Peso is not valid or exchangeable outside the Cuban territory, so at your departure you must change it to the currency you deem convenient.
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.
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.gob.cu
Outbound travelers
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
Forms of Payment
All the goods and services in Cuba are priced in Cuban pesos only, (including transportation and the departure tax from Cuba are priced and payable in CUCs).
To check the daily exchange rate please visit: : https://www.bc.gob.cu/historigrama/138
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.