As I’m writing this I am still travelling in Cuba, and I’m really enjoying it. Havana and the Viñales Valley were amazing, and Varadero and Trinidad are still to come. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I was very excited about spending 10 days exploring the country. I did a lot of research, and there is certainly plenty to read about visiting Cuba. But what do you really need to know before you go? From visa to money, food and accommodation, here is my personal summary and travel guide to help you.
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Visa and Declaration Form
Firstly, there is the visa application, followed by the online declaration form. Both are quite simple, you just need to make sure they’re done before you travel. You can purchase your visa at www.evisacuba.cu and complete the customs registration online. Be sure to print a copy of your customs registration, as it makes entry into Cuba much easier.
So, now you have completed the main step before visiting Cuba! Continue to read about the other things you need to know.
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Money
One of the main things you need to know when visiting Cuba is the money situation. You will definitely need cash here. Euros and USD are widely accepted, although I personally only used USD. Paying by credit card is generally not possible, although some hotels may accept cards. To make things easier, I made sure all my hotels and transfers were paid upfront, so I only needed cash for dining and shopping. Although shopping options are limited, and I only purchased a few souvenirs.
There are no ATMs and queues at local banks are incredibly long (mainly locals trying to get cash). Credit card payments, as mentioned, are almost non-existent. Interestingly, I encountered many locals trying to sell me their local currency. This is surprising given the clear shortage of Cuban pesos (CUP). Yet, in almost every restaurant where I paid with USD, I received change in CUP. As a result, I ended up carrying both USD and local currency. Definitely something you need to know before visiting Cuba.
Another important tip you need to know: always check the exchange rate at every place or restaurant. Rates change frequently, and each establishment seems to set its own. During my visit, the rate ranged between 400 and 460 CUP for 1 USD, but this may be very different when you travel. So make sure you confirm the rate before ordering.
Read more tips below…
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Internet
What else do you need to know? When it comes to the internet, I had no issues at all in Havana and at the hotels I stayed in. I was actually wondering what everyone was complaining about. I organised a Gigsky eSIM, and it worked well. It also seemed reasonably priced compared to other options, although at USD 45 for 3 GB, it was still quite expensive.
Once I left the city, I had no internet at all. Not in Viñales Valley, not in Varadero, and nowhere else. Whether it was due to a “power outage” or simply “not working today,” the locals didn’t seem too bothered by it. I honestly doubt that anyone has reliable internet outside Havana, no matter which SIM card you use.
For your information, there is a small counter at the airport selling SIM cards, although I’m not convinced it would offer better coverage. Internet coverage is certainly not a priority here.
Be also aware that you can’t access many websites within Cuba. Online banking, certain apps, and even some regular websites are blocked or only accessible with a VPN. This is important to know before visiting Cuba, so make sure you organise and prepay as much as possible, if not everything, before entering the country.
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Cuba Hotels and Casas
When I was planning my trip to Cuba, it wasn’t easy to find nice hotels. Booking.com and my other travel platforms didn’t show Cuban hotels at all, so I had to dig a little deeper. Luckily, I did, because that’s how I discovered some beautiful boutique hotels, and I had wonderful stays in Havana. Read more about my stay in Havana here – From Havana to Viñales Valley, the best of Cuba.
In Cuba, there are two main accommodation options: casas particulares, which are home stays with locals that help support them financially, and boutique hotels, which I personally opted for. These boutique hotels are small, full of character, and located in stunning historic buildings, with beautiful interior design and very personal service. This is my preferred way of travelling, and it’s something I would highly recommend when visiting Cuba. Especially if you want internet and electricity.
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What else do you need to know?
Getting around
After reading various blogs and comments from other travellers, I decided to have everything organised before entering Cuba. As previously mentioned. The triangle of Havana, Varadero, and Trinidad seems to be the most common route, so I asked the amazing team at one of my hotels to arrange all my drivers in advance. They were fantastic, and once all the trips were finalised, I was also able to pay everything upfront by credit card. This meant I didn’t have to worry about using my cash for transport while in Cuba.
The only cash I spent was on tipping the drivers. Which, for them, is almost a day’s worth of income. They were very happy!
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Visiting Cuba continues…
Restaurants and Food
There is a clear lack of produce in Cuba, so bring everything you need with you. Really, everything. From face creams to headache tablets and even snacks, there is very little available. The few items you can find are local produce such as bananas, pineapple, onions, and tomatoes. Basics we often take for granted e.g. milk, mushrooms, or avocados, are hard to find or simply not available. I couldn’t even buy sparkling water in local stores (and by ‘stores’, I mean a small table or room where locals sell whatever they happen to have available).
Rum and Cuban cigars, on the other hand, are everywhere. Obviously!
I also had plenty of lobster, which was both cheap and amazing. Did you know lobster was originally considered food for poor people and even prisoners? Before the 1800s, it was sometimes viewed as a pest due to the sheer number of lobsters found. Delicacy or not, it was absolutely delicious in Cuba.
And so
And this is my summary of the things you need to know when visiting Cuba. I hope it helps you plan your trip. Cuba is certainly unique and absolutely worth a visit, and once you know what to expect, it will be an amazing experience. I still have Varadero and Trinidad to visit, and my 10 days in Cuba will be over before I know it. Cuba has its challenges, but it is a beautiful country!
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