Cuba, Money.

Currency: Cuban Peso (peso) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of peso 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 3. Coins are in denominations of peso1, and 40, 20, 5, 2 and 1 centavos. The US dollar is also legal tender since 1993 and it is very difficult for visitors to use anything else. In some tourist and large, urban areas, the Euro is also accepted. Hard currency must be used in most transactions.

Currency exchange: Money should be exchanged at official foreign exchange bureaux, banks or international air- and seaports, which issue receipts for transactions. ATMs are currently only available in Varadero and Havana, but cash can be obtained in banks with visa credit or debit cards. At official tourist shops, purchases are made only in CUC, it is therefore advisable not to change too much hard currency into pesos.

Credit & debit cards: Visa and MasterCard are increasingly accepted provided they are not issued by a US bank, but check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. American Express and other cards issued by US banks are not accepted.

Travellers cheques: US Dollar, Sterling and other major currencies are accepted, but US Dollar cheques issued by US banks are not acceptable (including overbranded cheques from other banks worldwide). The white exchange paper received upon encashment must be retained.

Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaring amounts exceeding  5000 on arrival; export is allowed up to the amount imported and declared. Generally, a maximum of pesos 10 may be reconverted to foreign currency for re-export at the end of the stay but it may only be reconverted on presentation of a correctly filled out official exchange record

Cuba, Duty Free

Duty Free: The following goods may be taken into Cuba by persons aged 18 years and over without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 3 bottles of alcoholic beverages; gifts up to a value of US$50 (articles up to US 200 will be subject to customs duty payments); 10 kg of medicines.

Prohibited items: Natural fruits, beans or vegetables; meat and dairy products; weapons and ammunition; video cassettes and household appliances; all pornographic material and drugs.

Electricity: If you plan to travel to Cuba with electrical devices, it`s important to remember that the voltage on the archipelago is 110 - 115 V, although some tourist establishments also have 220 V. Cuban outlets accept flat or American plugs, so it`s advisable to bring small 110 V electrical apparatuses, as well as an adapter suited to the type of plug used in the United States.

Weights and Measuress: In Cuba, the metric decimal system is the officially established one, although the British system is also used. The temperature is measured in degrees Celsius, although in daily speech Cubans tend to refer to it as Centigrade.

Work hours:

If it`s your first time in Cuba, you should know that most of its offices are open to the public, for any kind of business, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon, when they close temporarily for lunch. Two hours later, at 2:00 p.m., they reopen until 5:00 p.m.

Stores and markets generally stay open Monday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and on Sundays they close at 2:00 p.m. The farmers` markets, where meats, fruits, vegetables, and beans are sold in Cuban pesos, open Tuesday to Saturday at 6:30 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m.; on Sundays they close at 1:00 p.m.

Banks, on the other hand, are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., without closing for lunch.

The establishments known as CUPET (initials that identify the Cuba Petróleo company), which sell gasoline, car products, foods and some industrial products, are open 24 hours of the day. Fast food chains such as El Rápido, Burgui and Rumbos, also work late into the night. PhotoService, which offers photographic services and sells a wide range of convenience items, is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Cuba, Health:

1- Typhoid may be a risk in remote rural areas.

Food & drink: Mains water is chlorinated and, whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafoods and fruit are generally considered safe to eat.

Health care: Cuba’s medical services are good and some emergency treatment may be available to visitors at no cost. However, health insurance is necessary, as foreigners must pay most of their own health care costs.

Visas and Documents

In order to enter Cuba, one must have a valid passport or equivalent travel document, issued in the bearer`s name and with the corresponding entrance visa, which can be acquired in any Cuban diplomatic office abroad, travel agencies or airlines authorized to issue them. This card only authorizes a stay in Cuba for recreational activities or pleasure. If the traveler is interested in engaging in business or journalism, he or she should request a change of visa through the Cuban agency involved.

It is important to remember that a Cuban visa can be used within a period of six months from the time it is issued and a tourist visa allows the bearer to spend a maximum of 30 days in the country. The tourist visa costs about $ 20 CUC.

If the traveler wishes to stay longer than the number of days listed on the visa, in addition to arranging another return flight, he or she must extend the visa. In this case, we recommend that you inquire at the hotel desk before making any changes. Tourists pay $25 CUC to extend the visa for another month. The tourist`s maximum stay in Cuban territory is three months.

Frequent asked questions about Passports, Visas & Cuban Tourist Cards. FAQ content

Do I need passport to travel to Cuba…?
Yes,of course you will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from your entrance to Cuba.

Do I need visa…?
No, doesn't need a visa properly, but you will need what is denominated a tourist card. You may only have to request a tourist card in the Cuban embassy of your country. If you are a United States citizen , to enter through Canada, Mexico or the Bahamas, the travel agencies in those countries they can provide you with the tourist cards (and if you enter via Cancun, you can request the Cuba tourist card in the same Cancun airport.)

I need the address of the lodging to obtain the Visa and to fill the tourist card to my arrival to the Havana airport. Will you give me the address …?
Yes, As soon as you confirm your reservation, we will reply you the confirmation, with the complete address of the lodging, the License number and the name of your host and his phone number. .

Do the Cuba immigration agents, stamps the American tourist passport …?
No they don´t stamps the American Tourist passports.
Instead of stamping your passport they will stamp a separate document, which you should keep during your stay in Cuba. .

Is there any departing Cuba tax …?
Yes, be sure to save twenty CUC for this departure tax (US currency).

Cell Phones in Cuba

Cuba use the technology TDMA and GSM, but not in all areas. TDMA is the standard US frequency used in Cuba and, is nationwide. For those with GSM phones on the frequencies of 1900 and 900 there is local coverage in both Havana and Varadero only.

If your phone is duel band GSM (1900 and 900) then you will simply need to order the chip from us. If your phone is the TDMA or multi-band including TDMA then, it will need to be programmed upon your arrival. Reprogramming is sometimes not possible because some phones are blocked by the supplier to there own network.

Cell phones companies in Cuba:

• Cubacel: TDMA technology
• CCOM: GSM technology