![]() But, explore beyond the beaches and you’re in a different domain, a land of fecund forests and crocodile-infested swamps, abandoned coffee plantations and rugged mountains as famous for their revolutionary folklore as their endemic species.From 1 January 2021 the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) – previously the currency used by visitors – was removed from circulation as part of the Cuban government’s currency reform. The vast majority of Cuba’s tourists gravitate to the attractive arcs of white sand that pepper the country’s north coast and offshore islands. The most important ferry services for travelers are the catamaran from Surgidero de Batabanó to Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud, and the passenger ferry from Havana to Regla and Casablanca. It’s illegal to ride on sidewalks and against traffic on one-way streets and you’ll be ticketed if caught. Throughout the country, the 1m-wide strip of road to the extreme right is reserved for bicycles, even on highways. Spare parts are difficult to find – you should bring important spares with you. Often a one-way street is not clearly indicated or a speed limit not highlighted,Ĭuba is a cyclist’s paradise, with bike lanes, bike workshops and drivers accustomed to sharing the road countrywide. The lack of signage also extends to highway instructions. Not only is this distracting, it’s also incredibly time-consuming. ![]() Major junctions and turnoffs to important resorts or cities are often not indicated at all. ![]() The first problem is that there are no signs – almost anywhere. Driving here isn’t just a different ballpark, it’s a different sport. It’s actually cheaper to hire a taxi for distances of under 150km. Bank on paying an average of CUC$70 per day for a medium-sized car. Prices vary with car size, season, and length of rental. Renting a car in Cuba is easy, but once you’ve factored in gas, insurance, hire fees etc, it isn’t cheap. Víazul (is the main long-distance bus company available to non-Cubans, with fairly punctual and reliable air-conditioned coaches going to destinations of interest to travelers. dollar, the government charges a 10% penalty when converting dollars to pesos.īus travel is a dependable way of getting around Cuba, at least in the more popular areas. While Cuban currency is pegged to the U.S. The best plan is to carefully budget how much money you think you will spend on your trip and add 10% – just in case anything goes wrong. None of the paladares (small family-run restaurants), casa particulares (home-stays), or small tourism businesses accept credit card.ĪTMs and credit card machines are notoriously finicky in Cuba and you don’t want to be stuck with $US100 for a two-week vacation. Some hotels, car rental agencies, and instutitutions run by the government accept credit cards (again, non-American), but it’s best not to count on it. ![]() Beware that ATMs in Cuba have massive fees. If you’re coming from Europe or elsewhere, there’s a good chance that the ATMs at the airport and major tourist destinations will accept your card, but it’s best to doublecheck with your bank before travelling. American travellers should note that credit cards and debit cards issued by American banks are not accepted anywhere on the island. And whatever you do, explore beyond the borders of beautiful Habana Vieja (Old Havana), to discover the city’s distinct neighbourhoods.īring cash on your vacation. The atmosphere and architecture is particularly stirring in Havana, Trinidad, Remedios and Camagüey where grandiose squares and cobbled streets tell erstwhile tales of opulence and intrigue.Ĭome here to be mesmerised by the eclectic architecture, with a surprise around every corner to sway to the Cuban rhythms in surround sound as you stroll to be inspired by cutting-edge contemporary art and to taste the creative cuisine of the next gastronomic capital of the world. Bereft of modern interference, Cuba’s colonial cities haven’t changed much since musket-toting pirates stalked the Caribbean.
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