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Calle Mercaderes esquina Brasil (Teniente Rey)
Edificio Gomez Vila, Planta Baja, Oficina 101
Plaza Vieja, Habana Vieja, Cuba
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| Cuba Information |
Cuba is the biggest island in the Caribbean, it is located at the entrance to the Gulf of México. Cuba's nearest neighbors are: to the East, Haití ( 77 kilometers ), to the West, the Yucatan Peninsula ( 210 kilometers ), to the North, Florida Peninsula ( 180 kilometers ) and to the South, Jamaica ( 140 kilometers ). The Bahamas are very near, toward the Northwest of the eastern end of Cuba.
Cuba is a Caribbean destination without comparison, pristine and exotic hiding many secrets unpredictable. Boasting magnificent white sand beaches with clean sparkling turquoise waters. The water ranges from pale aqua to deep sapphire, the spectrum changing hourly as the relentless Cuban sun sweeps across the island sky.
Cuba is home to exceptionally friendly people, exotic flora, tropical climate and a vibrant nightlife. If you like the Latin beat, then this is the place to visit where hot Salsa music can be heard everywhere. All this and warm welcome from the Cuban people make this biggest Caribbean island very attractive for million of tourists every year.
Formed by around 4 195 smaller keys, cays and islets, it covers a surface of 110 922 square kilometers and 1 200 kilometers of extension, on a mostly karstic and flat territory. Its nature, diverse and prodigal, shows wide variety of plants, animals and more than 280 beaches, virgin islands, grottos, caves, mountains, forests, savannas and marshes.
The island assaults the senses. Travelers have the option of either walk around all day, swim or dive at its magnificent beaches, spend their nights dining on fancy International cuisine restaurants or wandering past old colonial buildings that are full of history all over the island. The visitor is greeted with strains of exotic rhythms - the salsa or rhumba - emanating from every corner.
Good news for the tourist is the growing choice of resorts and the number of new or refurbished hotels that are opening in towns across the country. In addition, an ever-increasing range of flights and hotels are opening up. Once faded and crumbling houses, with ornate wrought iron balconies, and central courtyards are now being lovingly restored.
The tobacco-growing area of Viñales with its intriguing limestone mogotes (outcrops), contrasts dramatically with the rugged tree-covered mountains of the Sierra Maestra. Cuba 's rich history as a Spanish colony is evident in the wealth of colonial architecture in major towns such as Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
Hile ecotourism is still not well developed and much of the island's extraordinary natural beauty remains to be discovered. An aquamarine sea laps the white, palm-fringed beaches of Varadero and offshore Cayos Largo and Coco . Here you can try your hand at blue marlin or barracuda fishing, just as Hemingway depicted in his novel The Old Man and the Sea, or dive to the coral reef and search for shipwrecks. The little visited Zapata Peninsula or the Bahia de Naranjo Nature Park offer the chance to swim with dolphins.
Capital:
Ciudad de La Habana
President:
Raúl Castro
Language:
Spanish
Opening hours for Commercial activities:
From 8:00 or 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 13:30 pm to 17:30 pm.
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| Cuba Tips and Information |
Migratory Regulations
Visitors should possess an effective passport, valid at least 6 months after departure, or a trip document stating their name and the corresponding visa or Tourist Card, excepting those countries that Cuba maintains Free Visa agreements with.
Tourist Cards can be requested at the Cuban consular representations. Sometimes also with travel agencies and airlines.
Payment Forms & Credit Cards
In tourist facilities and other service units, prices are set in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC). In Varadero, Cayo Largo del Sur, Jardines del Rey (Coco and Guillermo Keys), Santa Lucía and Covarrubias Beaches, and Holguín province (tourist resorts on northern coastline), you can also pay in euros.
Credit cards - except those issued by US banks or their branches in other countries - are accepted. Among those accepted are MasterCard, Visa International and CABAL.
The CUC is not an internationally circulated currency. When withdrawing cash with a credit card, the CUC will be converted first to the US Dollar, the amount in USD will be deducted from your account plus 3%. Example: if you want to cash CUC 100,00 with your credit card, USD 103,00 will be billed.
Cuban Convertible Pesos have unlimited legal course in the national territory. Cuban convertible pesos can be changed upon departure at bank offices at international airports and ports in Cuba.
Travellers Cheques are accepted, but are subject to a commission and in case of loss; they cannot be substituted in Cuba.
Official Commemorations
Although they are not holidays, they are also considered important dates: January 28: Anniversary of the birth of José Martí, Cuba's National Hero, in 1853. February 24: Anniversary of the beginning of the War of Independence, in 1895. March 8: International Woman's Day. March 13: Anniversary of the attack to the Presidential Palace of Havana, by a group of revolutionary youths that sought to execute the tyrant Fulgencio Batista, in 1957. April 19: Anniversary of the defeat of the mercenary attack at the Bay of Pigs, in 1961. July 30: Day of the Martyrs of the Revolution. October 8: Anniversary of the death of Major Ernesto Ché Guevara, in 1967. October 28: Anniversary of Major Camilo Cienfuegos’ death, in 1959. November 27: Commemoration of the execution of eight students of Medicine, by the Spanish colonial government, in 1871. December 7: Anniversary of Antonio Maceo's death in combat in 1896, an outstanding figure in Cuba’s War of Independence against the Spanish colonial rule.
Official Commemorations in January:
January 1st - Revolution Triumph
January 28th - Jose Marti's Birthday
July Official Commemorations:
26 - Asalto a los cuarteles Moncada y Carlos M. de Cespedes
October Official Commemorations:
October 10
Sanitary Regulations
There are only restrictive sanitary regulations for visitors coming from countries where yellow fever and endemic cholera exist or have been declared infection areas by the World Health Organization. In such cases, an International Vaccination Certificate is demanded. Products of animal and vegetable origin have entry restrictions. Animals may be imported, previous presentation of the corresponding certificate.
Currency
Cuba has two different currencies:
The Cuban Convertible Peso or CUC.
The visitor will mostly pay in Convertible Cuban Peso. The CUC can be exchanged for a number of foreign currencies - only notes, coins are not accepted - like the EURO, Swiss Franc and English Pound, US Dollar (vice versa). The exchange of the US Dollar in cash will be charged with a gravamen of 10% on top of the established bank commissions (not applied on transactions with credit or debit cards). Most items relevant to tourism like hotels, car rentals, most restaurant, luxury goods, Heineken beer and Nestle ice cream etc. are being paid in CUC.
There are banknotes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos, coins come in 5, 10, 25 and 50 Cents and 1 peso.
The Cuban National Peso (CUP) or Moneda Nacional (Nacional Money).
The Cuban Peso is used mainly by the Cubans to buy fruits and vegetables in the markets, a pizza on the street, for city bus fares, and to pay the gas, telephone and electricity bills. Most salaries are being paid in Cuban Peso’s.
There are banknotes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos, coins come in 1 centavo, 2 centavos, 5 centavos, 20 centavos, 1 peso and 3 pesos.
1 Convertible Peso = approximately 24 Cuban pesos
You can acquire 'Pesos Convertibles' at the airport, banks, various hotel lobbies and at the money exchange offices, called "CADECA" (you can find these offices everywhere in the country). You can also get Cuban National Pesos (CUP) in the CADECA or at any local bank.
All Cuban money is only valid inside Cuba, importation and exportation is not allowed.
In tourist facilities and other service units, prices are set in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC). In Varadero, Cayo Largo del Sur, Jardines del Rey (Coco and Guillermo Keys), Santa Lucía and Covarrubias Beaches as well as in the province Holguín (tourist resorts on the northern coastline), Euros will be mostly accepted.
Most likely you will find yourself in a situation where you are asked to pay in CUC for products priced in Moneda Nacional. Common sense will help a great deal!
Health Care & Medical Insurrance
As of May 2010, Cuba requires a travel insurance policy to cover medical expenses for all travelers, foreign and Cubans living abroad, in order to enter the country. The resolution states that the insurers issuing the policies, should be recognized on the island, and announced the sale of Cuban insurance policies at points of entry into the country for those unable to present an appropriate insurance policy.
In about 95% of hotels a doctor is present to provide primary care to patients. In addition there are eight international clinics that offer specialized treatment
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