Introduction
Beguile you, confound, frustrate and bewitch you: Cuba does it all. Epic colonial architecture, libidinous young salsa dancers, Che Guevara murals, white-powder sandy beaches, swaying fields of sugar cane - the images of Cuba are as transfixing as they are timeless. This is an island of unique historical heritage floating amid a sea of encroaching globalisation.
Destination Facts
Capital: Havana (pop 2200000)
President of the Council of State: Ra ú l Castro
Government: Communist republic
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 110860
Population: 11500000
Languages: Catholic, Protestant, Santer í a (a mix of Catholicism and Yoruba beliefs)
Currency: Cuban Peso (CUC$)
Country Dialing Code: 53
Getting There
The best time to go to Cuba is between December and April, after the lashing rains of the hurricane season and before the hot and sticky discomfort of the scorching summer months. However this is also when planeloads of Canadians and Europeans arrive in pursuit of the southern sun, and room prices soar by up to 20%. Cubans take their holidays in July and August, so local beaches are very crowded at this time. Christmas, Easter and the period around 26 July, when Cubans celebrate the anniversary of the revolution, are also very busy. August to November is the worst time for hurricanes, while the winter months can bring in cold fronts when temperatures in the north and west of the island can dip under 15 º C (60 ° F). Weather aside, Cuba has few other hurdles for visitors. Culture vultures should keep a close eye on the annual arts calendar for festivals and events; baseball fans will certainly not want to miss the post season, which runs from April to May; and political junkies may want to catch important days in the socialist calendar, particularly D í a de los Trabajadores (Labor day; May 1) and Day of the National Rebellion (July 26).
Getting there and away
Almost all visitors to Cuba arrive by air, with scheduled flights arriving from Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe. The main gateways for US travellers continue to be Canc ú n, Nassau and Toronto. There are direct flights available from the USA, but to take them US citizens will need the permission of the US Treasury Department, which restricts travel to Cuba to journalists, researchers and a handful of other groups. Entry procedures are straightforward, as long as you have a passport valid for six months, an onward ticket and your tourist card filled out (be sure to put something under 'Address in Cuba'). There's a 25.00 airport departure tax. Thanks to the US embargo, very few cruise ships call into Cuban ports, and there are no scheduled passenger ships that service the country. Private yachts regularly call into Cuba's plentiful harbours and anchorages.
Getting around
Cubana de Aviaci ó n and its regional carrier Aerocaribbean have an extensive domestic air network that services all of the regional centres. V í azul is the only long-distance bus company available to non-Cubans, with punctual, (over)air-conditioned coaches going to destinations of interest to travelers. Very crowded, very steamy, very Cuban guaguas (local buses) can be useful in bigger cities. Public railways serve all the provincial capitals and are a great way to experience Cuba if you have time and patience, but a nightmare if you're keen to make progress and move about efficiently! The most useful routes for travelers are Havana-Santiago de Cuba and Havana-Santa Clara. Renting a car in Cuba is easy but, once you've factored in gas, insurance, hire fees etc, it isn't cheap. And beware - road rules in Cuba are open to interpretation and road signage varies between the poor to the non-existent. Many Cubans hitchhike as a means of getting around - here it's more like ride-sharing. Also sharing the roads are bicycles - Cuba is a legendary destination for cyclists.
Visa:
Regular tourists who plan to spend up to two months in Cuba do not need visas. Instead, you get a tarjeta de turista (tourist card) valid for 30 days (Canadians get 90 days), which can be extended for another 30 days once you're in Cuba. Those going 'air only' usually buy the tourist card from the travel agency or airline office that sells them the plane ticket (equivalent of 15.00 extra). Package tourists receive their card with their other travel documents. The USA officially prohibits its citizens from travelling to Cuba unless they obtain special permission; very heavy fines are imposed on visitors not fulfilling this requirement.
Weather
There are no great differences in seasonal temperature in Cuba, its pleasant subtropical climate being augmented by the gentle northeasterly trade winds. The wet summer season is between May and October, and the drier winter season runs from November through April. The average temperature reaches 27 ° C (81 ° F) in July and August and 22 ° C (72 ° F) in February. An average of 80% humidity exists all year round, with things just a little more sticky in the wet season. If you're coming between December and March, be prepared for cooler evenings. A light rain jacket is a wise precaution any time of year.
Warning
Up to 250,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Cuba due to Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike. Gustav struck Cuba's Isla de la Juventud before moving on to the mainland at Pinar del Rio. Ike came ashore near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin. Widespread flooding has caused extensive damage: travelers should monitor news reports and contact authorities before attempting travel across Cuba.
Beguile you, confound, frustrate and bewitch you: Cuba does it all. Epic colonial architecture, libidinous young salsa dancers, Che Guevara murals, white-powder sandy beaches, swaying fields of sugar cane - the images of Cuba are as transfixing as they are timeless. This is an island of unique historical heritage floating amid a sea of encroaching globalisation.
Destination Facts
Capital: Havana (pop 2200000)
President of the Council of State: Ra ú l Castro
Government: Communist republic
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 110860
Population: 11500000
Languages: Catholic, Protestant, Santer í a (a mix of Catholicism and Yoruba beliefs)
Currency: Cuban Peso (CUC$)
Country Dialing Code: 53
Getting There
The best time to go to Cuba is between December and April, after the lashing rains of the hurricane season and before the hot and sticky discomfort of the scorching summer months. However this is also when planeloads of Canadians and Europeans arrive in pursuit of the southern sun, and room prices soar by up to 20%. Cubans take their holidays in July and August, so local beaches are very crowded at this time. Christmas, Easter and the period around 26 July, when Cubans celebrate the anniversary of the revolution, are also very busy. August to November is the worst time for hurricanes, while the winter months can bring in cold fronts when temperatures in the north and west of the island can dip under 15 º C (60 ° F). Weather aside, Cuba has few other hurdles for visitors. Culture vultures should keep a close eye on the annual arts calendar for festivals and events; baseball fans will certainly not want to miss the post season, which runs from April to May; and political junkies may want to catch important days in the socialist calendar, particularly D í a de los Trabajadores (Labor day; May 1) and Day of the National Rebellion (July 26).
Getting there and away
Almost all visitors to Cuba arrive by air, with scheduled flights arriving from Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe. The main gateways for US travellers continue to be Canc ú n, Nassau and Toronto. There are direct flights available from the USA, but to take them US citizens will need the permission of the US Treasury Department, which restricts travel to Cuba to journalists, researchers and a handful of other groups. Entry procedures are straightforward, as long as you have a passport valid for six months, an onward ticket and your tourist card filled out (be sure to put something under 'Address in Cuba'). There's a 25.00 airport departure tax. Thanks to the US embargo, very few cruise ships call into Cuban ports, and there are no scheduled passenger ships that service the country. Private yachts regularly call into Cuba's plentiful harbours and anchorages.
Getting around
Cubana de Aviaci ó n and its regional carrier Aerocaribbean have an extensive domestic air network that services all of the regional centres. V í azul is the only long-distance bus company available to non-Cubans, with punctual, (over)air-conditioned coaches going to destinations of interest to travelers. Very crowded, very steamy, very Cuban guaguas (local buses) can be useful in bigger cities. Public railways serve all the provincial capitals and are a great way to experience Cuba if you have time and patience, but a nightmare if you're keen to make progress and move about efficiently! The most useful routes for travelers are Havana-Santiago de Cuba and Havana-Santa Clara. Renting a car in Cuba is easy but, once you've factored in gas, insurance, hire fees etc, it isn't cheap. And beware - road rules in Cuba are open to interpretation and road signage varies between the poor to the non-existent. Many Cubans hitchhike as a means of getting around - here it's more like ride-sharing. Also sharing the roads are bicycles - Cuba is a legendary destination for cyclists.
Visa:
Regular tourists who plan to spend up to two months in Cuba do not need visas. Instead, you get a tarjeta de turista (tourist card) valid for 30 days (Canadians get 90 days), which can be extended for another 30 days once you're in Cuba. Those going 'air only' usually buy the tourist card from the travel agency or airline office that sells them the plane ticket (equivalent of 15.00 extra). Package tourists receive their card with their other travel documents. The USA officially prohibits its citizens from travelling to Cuba unless they obtain special permission; very heavy fines are imposed on visitors not fulfilling this requirement.
Weather
There are no great differences in seasonal temperature in Cuba, its pleasant subtropical climate being augmented by the gentle northeasterly trade winds. The wet summer season is between May and October, and the drier winter season runs from November through April. The average temperature reaches 27 ° C (81 ° F) in July and August and 22 ° C (72 ° F) in February. An average of 80% humidity exists all year round, with things just a little more sticky in the wet season. If you're coming between December and March, be prepared for cooler evenings. A light rain jacket is a wise precaution any time of year.
Warning
Up to 250,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Cuba due to Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike. Gustav struck Cuba's Isla de la Juventud before moving on to the mainland at Pinar del Rio. Ike came ashore near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin. Widespread flooding has caused extensive damage: travelers should monitor news reports and contact authorities before attempting travel across Cuba.
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