Memo to a Tourist about Cuba

Memo to a Tourist about Cuba

Cuba is located in the western Caribbean Sea, 180 km from Florida, 210 km from Mexico, 77 km from Haiti and 140 km from Jamaica. The archipelago consists of 1,600 islands and islets with a total area of ​​110,860 sq. km, two of them belong to the Greater Antilles – the island of Cuba itself and the island of Youth.

Cuba is not only magnificent nature, it is, first of all, friendly and hospitable Cubans and an interesting history. Many cities still keep traces of the Spanish conquerors, the memory of corsair raids.

The world famous resort of Varadero is located 140 km from Havana on the Atlantic coast. The surroundings of Varadero are very picturesque, and many kilometers of white sandy beaches and azure ocean waters attract thousands of tourists here. The capital is Havana, where the José Marti International Airport is located. The duration of the flight is 13 hours.

According to SHOPAREVIEW, Cuba is a tropical country and on average 330 days a year are sunny. The climate is greatly softened by warm sea currents washing its shores, which allows you to relax on the island throughout the year.

The hottest and rainiest months are from July and August, during which time there are strong but short showers in the afternoon, and you can always enjoy the sun in the mornings.

The average annual temperature is 25.5*C. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of 21*C, and the warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 30*C. The average water temperature on the coast in winter is 25*C, and in summer – 28*C. Average humidity 78%.

Language
The official language is Spanish. Many people speak English, Russian and French.

Religion
Most believers are Catholics and adherents of the so-called Santeria, a syncretic cult based on African pagan beliefs, mixed with the cult of some Christian saints.

Time
Behind Moscow time by 8 hours, in summer – by 9 hours.

Currency
Currency Cuban convertible peso (CUC) = 100 centavos. 1 US dollar is equal to approximately 0.8 CUC, and 1 EURO – 1.15 CUC. Credit cards issued by European banks are not accepted everywhere, so it is better to go to Cuba with cash.

Customs regulations
It is forbidden to import pornographic materials, medicines without indicating the brand of the manufacturer. Import and export of foreign currency is not limited, national – is prohibited. The export of singing and exotic birds, bark and wood of valuable species, skin and feathers of exotic animals and birds, cultural values ​​is prohibited. Cigars without presenting a certificate of purchase can be exported up to 23 pieces. Coffee – no limits. Roma – no more than 3 bottles. Export of paintings larger than 30×30 cm is allowed only upon presentation of a certificate. Airport tax 25CUC (paid upon departure at check-in).

Connection
Telephone code 53. Havana – 7, Varadero – 45, Cayo Coco – 33, Holguin – 24, Cayo Largo – 45. To call Russia, you can use pay phones. The cost of a conversation with Moscow is approximately $5 per minute. Dialing order: 119 + 7 (Russian code) + area code + phone number. Cuba has GSM 900/1800 mobile phones.

Transport
Using public transport is quite difficult, because the buses run very rarely and are often crowded. We also do not recommend using rail transport, because. trains run irregularly and are very old. Taxis are the most common mode of transport for tourists. Car rent. You can only rent a car for citizens who have reached the age of 21 and have a driving experience of at least 2 years. To conclude a rental agreement, you need a credit card. Rental price – from $ 45 per day, depending on the class of the car, plus the cost of insurance. The cost of gasoline is $1 – $1.2 per liter.

Souvenirs and shopping
As a souvenir, you can buy a variety of paintings, wooden figures, black coral jewelry, guayber shirts, Che Guevara T-shirts, Cuban rum, coffee and, of course, real Cuban cigars. Also good products made from tortoise shell, especially bracelets and hairpins. When buying crocodile skin products, ask the seller for an export license. A good gift from Cuba would be tumbadora or bongos – percussion musical instruments used in African melodies.

Tours to Cuba

Would you like to enjoy the azure serenity of the sea while drinking a refreshing mojito under the shade of emerald palm trees? And watch a shark sleeping at dawn or make a breathtaking dive to the wrecks of sunken ships? Or learn to dance incendiary salsa from temperamental and cheerful Cubans? Or maybe you are drawn to go fishing for marlin, who became famous thanks to the courage of the Old Man from the legendary story of Hemingway?

Then your tourist choice should certainly fall on Cuba – a bright, sunny and freedom-loving island of mysterious evergreen forests and inviting fabulous beaches, picturesque crystal waterfalls and beautiful fragrant orchids, hot fun carnivals and thoughtful Cuban cigars.

Vacation in Cuba is an immersion in a bright, fantastically beautiful, life-affirming world where music, love and a positive attitude to life reign! It is not surprising that many vacationers, having once visited sunny and cheerful Cuba, dream of returning here again.

A beach holiday in Cuba is, first of all, a tropical fairy tale on the luxurious snow-white beaches of Varadero, where during the day you can bask on the shores of the azure sea, go diving, take part in a “water safari”, take horseback rides or get acquainted with local attractions, and at night – have fun with might and main in numerous restaurants, nightclubs and disco bars to the incendiary rhythms of Cuban music.

Those who want to combine beach pleasures with a whirlwind of entertainment in the Cuban capital should pay attention to the resort area called the “Havana Riviera”, the beautiful pearl of which is Santa Maria del Mar with a coral sand beach, coconut palms and ancient picturesque cliffs.

You can relax in Cuba not only on the island of the same name, but also on the nearby islands of the Cuban archipelago, the most famous of which is the island of Youth, beloved by pirates in the past. Half of this picturesque island, which is also called the “Isle of a Thousand Names”, is occupied by a nature reserve. Lovers of wild, untouched nature will be happy to meet with the rainforest, the rarest flora and fauna. But we especially love Juventud by fans of scuba diving. After all, the famous El Coloni diving center is located here, which is a traditional meeting place for underwater photographers.

Whichever corner of Cuba you choose for your vacation, the sunny and freedom-loving island will surely captivate you with its magical beaches, amazing Cuban melodies and hospitable, bright smiles of resilient Cubans. And you will definitely want to return to Liberty Island to once again experience the magic of life-loving Cuba, at the meeting with which you begin to understand that it is not difficult to be happy: you just need to love every moment of our life the way Cubans do.

Memo to a Tourist about Cuba