Cuba 2005

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Klemen and I decided to go somewhere together, the idea was ​​Cuba for 3 weeks. That was enough time to see the far east (Baracoa) to the far west (Maria la Gorda) and a lot in-between (Havana, Varadero, Santa Clara, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, Vinales and Isla de la Juventud). In the meantime, we did about 22,000 km (4x flight 18,000 km, 3,500 km on the island, bus, rickshaw, … 250 km ferry).

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map cuba
map cuba

As a Caribbean island, Cuba offers beautiful beaches such as those found in neighboring countries. So tanning on the beach, swimming and diving are core activities. In the cities, you can see colonial architecture, a visit to a museum, nightlife filled with music and rum. But the specialty is a social structure that cannot be found elsewhere, and thus a society that is unique for this country. An example would be a waiter who complains about system limitations when he brings you food while dancing.

Weather

Cuba has tropical weather, so it’s warm all year long. The best time is winter when there is no precipitation. We went in late October and avoided Hurricane Wilma by little and when we arrived tropical storms ended. During the time we were there, there were a few short storms that did not interfere with our plans.

before the rain
before the rain

Transport

It is possible to fly to Cuba from all continents. For Europe, Iberia is the premier company flying to Latin America. U.S. citizens must fly over another country e.g. Mexico. Internal flights are also possible inside Cuba. Trains are slow and not recommended. The main option for moving around Cuba is the bus. Viazul is a tourist transportation company, tidy and modern buses, with no sleepers. Locals also drive in bus-transformed trucks. It is possible to hire an official taxi or any of the locals for longer, specific transportation. The hitchhiking is supported by the state. Inside the city, there is a classic taxi, a coco taxi – tuk-tuk-like, a bici-taxi rickshaw. The ferry is available to Isla de la Juventud

public trnsport
public trnsport

Money

There are 2 currencies in the country: CUC convertible peso for tourist services/amenities 1: 1 ratio with $ and CUP 1:25 ratio to CUC for local products. Not many ATMs, so you better rely on cash. Check out what pays off ($ to € ratio). When we were there, the best exchange rate was for Canadian dollars? For the first and last time in my life, I had traveler’s checks, which came handy when they stole some money from us (checks are only valid when you submit your passport).

Food

The main dishes are beans and rice. The food is not too spicy. Of meats, the first is chicken, then pork, then fish. Beef is rare. Lobsters are also controlled. We tried an alligator on Isla de la Juventud. We eat mostly in casa particular, we took breakfast (eggs, fresh fruit juice) and dinner (fish or chicken, rice, beans, salad). This increased expenses to stay in and could be cheaper if you were shopping in the markets alone, but there is a 5 CUC difference, which is not worth mentioning.

dinner at casa particular
dinner at casa particular

Drink

Water should be bottled 1 CUC, be sure it is sealed when purchased. Beer – there are Cristal and Bucanero, but it’s really just the latter. Mojito and Cuba libre are popular cocktails, but it’s cheaper to buy a liter of rum and local cola (remember ron, hielo, tucola).

bottles of rum
bottles of rum

Sleep

The basis is casa particular. In their apartment, the local rents a room, which is usually double. The equipment is worn but everything is clean. It involves sharing a bathroom. They offer the above eating options. The locals are friendly and talkative. Spanish is an advantage here (I’m not speaking). We spent a couple of nights in hotels, looking for cheap options. The rooms were clean. But even at the renovated hotel, there was a cockroach, a tropical problem. We also spent the night on the bus, you save time and money, but you are broken the next day and you should check what really pays off.

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