Travel informacion
Airport tax
At departure you will pay 25 Euro per person. This will need to be paid at the airport.
Clothing
Light clothing for daytime and a sweater or cardigan for the evening, depending on what season you are in.
Just so you know; Cuban's will dress up smartly every chance they get, so when you are well dressed, it will surely be appreciated.
ElectricityTourist visa
The voltage is 110. An adapter and plug adapter are a necessity.
Food and drinks
In Cuba you can eat at eh so called "Paladares" or living room-restaurants. You eat at peoples home. There are street restaurants too, especially for tourists.
Food in Cuba is mainly chicken, rice, fried banana, beans and often they have lobster on the menu.
You are discouraged to drink the water from the tap. Always buy water in bottles.
Going out
At museums , theaters and music performances (matinee performances) there are often two different entree fees being used. Peso Moneda Nacional for the locals and Peso Convertible for the tourists.
At night the entree fees for disco's and concerts are all in Peso Convertible.
Health
For your visit to Cuba vaccinations are not compulsory. There is no Malaria on the Island.
We do recommend however to bring a mosquito repellent, like a spray.
For further information on health issues you can contact your local vaccination center.
Health insurance
From the 1st May 2010 its compulsory to prove to the Cuban government that you have a health insurance at your home country. You may prove this by bringing a copy of your health insurance contract.
If you are not able to provide this document on arrival, you will be obliged to obtain a Cuban health insurance on the spot.
American health insurances will not be accepted!!
Holidays
* 1st January, Revolution Day
* 1st May, Labour Day
* 25th-26th July, storming of the Monkade barracks
* 10th October, start of independence
Remembrance days, who are remembered by showing the same documentaries on TV every year;
*28th January, birthday in 1902 of Jose Marti, independence fighter for Cuba
*14th February, Valentine's day, day of love
*8th March, International woman's day
*13th March, day students stormed presidential palace , in 1957
*19 April, day of victory on the American intervention at Varkensbaai in 1961
*17th May, day of the farmers
*13th June, fishing contest Ernest Hemingway at the Marina Hemingway
*30th Juli, day of the revolution heroes
*8th October, day Che Guevara died in Bolivia
*1st November, red Sunday, day of voluntary labour
*27th November, day 8 medical students died during uprising in 1871
Language
The language used is Spanish
Passport
Your passport needs to still be valid for another 6 months on the day you return to Europe.
Pharmacies
In Nearly all cities with tourism you will find international pharmacies for foreigners. They go by European prizes.
Photography
Its strictly prohibited to photograph military objects, police buildings and airports. Other than that everything else is fine.
At some touristic places you will be ask to pay to take pictures. Please ensure to bring enough memory sticks and chargers for your equipment.
Internet
Everywhere in Cuba there are Internet cafe's. Costs are about 6 dollars an hour.
Money Matters
In Cuba two currencies are handled. The Peso Moneda Nacional is only used by Cubans.
Tourists pay in Peso Convertible, also called C.U.C. (24 Peso Moneda Nacional is 1 CUC).
Its the most economical to exchange Euro's for cash.
For Thomas Cook traveler cheques, in Euro, you pay a 3% commission.
With Visa and Mastercard payments you pay a 10% commission.
Its not possible to pay with American credit cards or with American traveler cheques.
Although Dutch banks ensure that you can use a Europas in Cuba, in reality this proves different.
Shops
Shops are open from Monday to Saturday from 10 to 18.00hrs and Sunday form 10 to 13.00 hrs.There are also a lot of handcraft markets available.
Taxi
*Panataxi's are for tourists and can be ordered through taxi central, they need to be installed with a meter, but often are defect.
*Cocotaxi's are motortaxi's especially for tourists. They can only take 2 people at the one time.
*Collective taxi's, mostly old timer American cars used by the locals. If you can use these taxi'sis up to the driver.
*Bike taxi's, these taxi's are also mainly used by the Cuban's.
Telephone
Cuba has an excellent telephone system. To call overseas you dial a 8, then the country code and then the area code without the 0.
To use a mobile phone your provider needs to be in liaison with Cuba.
Temperature
 | gemiddelde maximum
temperatuur (°C) | gemiddelde
minimum
temperatuur (°C) | gemiddeld aantal uren zon
per dag | gemiddeld aantal dagen neerslag
per maand | gemiddeld aantal
mm neerslag
per maand | orkanentijd
|
| January | 28 | 17 | 7 | 5 | ** | |
| February | 29 | 17 | 8 | 5 | ** | |
| March | 30 | 18 | 8 | 5 | *** | |
| April | 31 | 19 | 9 | 5 | *** | |
| May | 32 | 21 | 7 | 8 | *** | |
| June | 32 | 22 | 7 | 14 | *** | |
| July | 33 | 23 | 8 | 12 | ****
| |
| August | 33 | 23 | 8 | 13 | ****
| |
| September | 33 | 22 | 7 | 13 | ****
| *** |
| October | 31 | 22 | 7 | 14 | ***
| ** |
| November | 29 | 20 | 7 | 8 | ** | * |
| December | 28 | 18 | 7 | 5 | ** | |
Time difference
In daylight savings time (summer time)Europe is 6 hours later than Cuba. Outside daylight savings time (winter) its 5 hours.
Tourist visa
A visa is necessary and available through your travel agency or at the Cuban Consulate. Costs 20 Euro's.
Valid for 30 days from the day of arrival. Can be extended one's, at the department of immigration in Cuba.
The tourist visa exists of two identical half's. The first half is taken by customs on arrival. The second half is taken on your departure,as prove that you have left, so take good care of it!
