Cuba: Various travel information
How do you get to Cuba?
With a few exceptions, visitors from Europe will choose to travel by plane.
Air connections
There are 12 international airports in Cuba, some of the important ones below. Havana Airport (José Martí Internacional) is 18 km south of the city. It is served by a number of European routes. Iberia flies to Havana from Düsseldorf, Geneva and Zurich. Other airlines that fly to Cuba include Aeroflot, Air France, AOM French Airlines, British Airways, Martinair and Spanair. In the arrival terminal you will find rental car rentals, tourist information and a 24-hour exchange office. Apart from taxis, there are no connections to the capital.
Varadero (Juan Gualberto Gómez)
This airport is served by scheduled airlines and charter airlines such as Condor. It is approx. 30 km to Varadero. Again, apart from taxis, there is no public transport into the city.
Holguín (Frank París)
Holguín is served by some airlines such as Air France and Martinair in connection with Havana Europe and also by charter airlines.
Travel in the country
Air connections Cuba has a well-developed network of airlines. Cubana de Aviación flies to all major cities such as Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Moa and Baracoa. It is best to reserve your flight in Havana or Santiago de Cuba, as the smaller Cubana offices are not very reliable.
Cubana de Aviación (main office)
Calle 23, esq. La Infanta
Vedado, La Habana
Tel: 0053- 7- 836-4950
Email: pax@avianet.cubana.cu
www.cubana.cu
AeroCaribbean is a Cubana charter company, but they also operate domestic flights, all major cities and the Cayos are served.
AeroCarribean
Calle 23 no.64 esq. La Infanta,
Vedado, La Habana
Tel: 0053- 7- 879-7525
Fax: 0053- 7- 836-5016
Aerotaxi connects smaller places like Nuevo Gerona on the Isla de Juventud or Pinar del Río
Calle 27 y M No. 102
Nuevo Vedado, La Habana
Tel: 0053- 7- 53-5348
Fax: 0053- 7- 836-4064
Bus
Due to the bad fuel situation, there are only a few buses and they are very overcrowded. In Havana, besides the city buses (guaguas), there are also the so-called camellos, converted semi – trailers that can accommodate 300 people. The buses do not run frequently and often not all those waiting can fit in. In the rural areas there are so-called camiones, private trucks, the price is very low, but officially only Cubans are allowed.
The buses run irregularly, there is no timetable, they are always overcrowded and often fail completely. The stops are not signposted, you can recognize a bus stop by the large number of people waiting on the roadside. The trip costs 20 centavos of the Cuban peso. The use of the relatively inexpensive taxis is recommended for the visitor. For overland trips to the provinces, there is the Víazul bus line, tickets must be purchased one day in advance. They are available at the bus station itself or on the info tour in Obispo No. 358 in Habana Vieja.
Bus office Víazul in Havana/Casa Matriz
Avenida 26 y zoológico
Vedado, La Habana
Tel: 0053- 7- 881-1413/881-5657
Email: viazul@transnet.cu
Overland
There are two large bus companies in Cuba; Astro and Víazul. Astro is only intended for Cubans, for foreigners there is the Víazul line, which goes to all major cities. The buses are very comfortable and most of them are on time. Due to the inexpensive conditions, the bus is the best way to travel in this country. Tickets must be reserved at the train station one day in advance.
Víazul bus office in Havana
Casa Matriz
Avenida 26 y zoológico
Habana
Tel: 0053- 7- 881-1413/881-5657
Email: viazul@transnet.cu
Railway
Cuba is the only Caribbean island with a railway network. Since the tracks are often very worn out, the trains move slowly. The hygienic conditions on the trains are not exactly the best either. The departure and arrival times are not always adhered to, and there are often delays of several hours. Traveling by train is very cheap, but not always recommended.
Roads
The roads in Cuba are not always in very good condition; there are only partially two-lane motorway sections. The signage is not very well equipped so that you have to ask often on the way. It should be noted that there is pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the autobahn, and agricultural vehicles or carts of oxen often cross the road.
Emergency
Police: 7 – 820116 (in Havana)
Rental cars
In Cuba there are several state rental companies, such as Cubacar, Transtur and Nacional Rent a Car. Many companies have their offices directly at the airports, but there are also many hotels where you can rent a car. To rent a car you need a passport and driver’s license and you must be at least 21 years old.
Ferry connections
There is a ferry connection to Isla de Juventud. It is best to inquire at the tourist information office as times change frequently.
Ship
Due to the US blockade, there are no official passenger ferries and only a few cruise ships dock in Cuba (Riviera Holiday Cruises, Sunquest Vacations and West Indies Cruises). It is possible to moor with a private yacht, but you should notify the official authorities beforehand.
Traffic rules
As is known, traffic in Cuba is on the right.
In order to avoid trouble with the police or even the courts, one should strictly adhere to the traffic rules applicable in the country. The maximum speeds shown can of course be reduced or increased by traffic signs. Regardless of the information provided here, it is advisable to obtain detailed information from the ADAC, the AvD, prior to departure.
Maximum speeds
In addition to the general speed limits shown, the speed limits indicated by signs must be strictly observed.
- Urban: in built-up areas there is a speed limit of 50 km/h
- Country roads: there is a speed limit of 90 km/h on country roads
- Expressways: some special expressways have a speed limit of 90 km/h
- Motorways: there is a speed limit of 100 km/h on motorways
Blood
alcohol limit In Cuba there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.2 parts per thousand for drivers of motor vehicles.
International license plate
The international license plate of Cuba is:
| C. |
Cuba: embassies, consulates and tourist office
Representations of Cuba in Germany
The building in which the embassy of Cuba is located is a beautiful and well-protected villa on Stavangerstrasse in the Pankow district of Berlin. The embassy is in a quiet, bourgeois area of Pankow. The Stavangerstraße branches off from Gotenstraße, which in turn is a cross street with Bornholmerstraße. The embassies of Ghana, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina are in the vicinity of the Embassy of Cuba.
Embassy of Cuba
Stavangerstraße 20
10439 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 44 71 73 19
Email: consulberlin@t-online.de
Web: www.botschaft-kuba.de
German representations in Cuba
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Havana
Calle b nr. 652, esq. A y 13
Vedado, La Habana
Apartado 6610
Tel: 0053- 7- 33 24 60
0053- 7- 33 25 69
0053- 7- 33 25 39
Email: info@havanna.diplo.de
Web: www.havanna.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Cuba
Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Havana
Avenida 5ta A No. 6617, esq. a calle 70
Miramar, Havana
Tel: 0053 – 7 – 204 28 25
Email: havanna-ob@bmaa.gv.at
Representations of Cuba in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Vienna
Kaiserstrasse 84
1070 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 877 81 98
Email: secembajador@ecuaustria.at
Swiss representations in Cuba
Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Embajada de Suiza
5ta Avenida no. 2005
entre 20 y 22, Miramar, Playa
La Habana 11300
Tel: 0053 – 7 – 204 26 11
Email: hav.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/havana
The Swiss embassy in Havana is still responsible for Jamaica.
Representations of Cuba in Switzerland
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Bern
Gesellschaftstrasse 8
3012 Bern
Postfach 5275
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 302 211
Email: embacuba@bluewin.ch
Web: https://www.botschaft-konsulat.com/ch/Schweiz/2186/ Cuba-in-Bern
Tourist office
Cuban Tourist Office in Germany
Kaiserstr. 8
60311 Frankfurt
Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 28 83 22
Email: info@cubainfo.de
www.cubatravel.cu
Cuba: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
Germans, Austrians and Swiss need a passport that must be valid for at least six months, as well as a tourist card, which can be obtained at the embassy.
When entering via another country, you can buy this tourist card from the airline at the airport.
A return ticket must be presented upon entry.
Issuing of visas in Germany
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
Stavanger Strasse 20
10439 Berlin
Tel: 0049- (0) -30- 44 737023
Fax: 0049- (0) -30- 44 737038
Email: embacuba-berlin@botschaft-kuba.de Issuing visas in Austria and Switzerland See under Representations of Cuba in Austria and Representations of Cuba in Switzerland.
Departure fee
In many countries, a fee must be paid when leaving the country. Such a fee is no longer charged when leaving Cuba.
Import and export of foreign currency
- Localcurrency Local currency may not be imported or exported.
- Foreigncurrencies Foreign currencies can be imported or exported in unlimited quantities.
Import and export of goods
Upon entry are allowed
- two liters of alcohol
- a carton of cigarettes
- Things for your own needs, as long as they do not exceed the “appropriate” number (this is at the discretion of the customs officer)
- expensive or special things (new), such as electronic devices, must be declared at customs
are forbidden
- Pornographic or “anti-government” newspapers, magazines or books
- Weapons, ammunition or explosives
When leaving are allowed
a special feature there in connection with the Endangered Species Act, Cuba breeds crocodiles in reserves and farms may only be performed with appropriate papers bumpered products from crocodile skin. When exporting works of art, a form must be presented that was given to you when you bought it in the gallery. Cigars can be exported up to a value of 1,000 US dollars, from 25 cigars proof of purchase must be presented.
The
export of Polimita snail shells is prohibited
Travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings
In the event of accidents, acts of violence or illness, good medical care is often life-saving, but at least it is of crucial importance for the course of the disease and the subsequent prognosis.
Infectious Diseases
In Cuba, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany or Central and Northern Europe:
- Malaria, there is no risk of malaria in Cuba.
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Cholera, an infection risk only exists for travelers who can come into contact with contaminated water or contaminated food
- Dengue fever disease
- Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoeba, lamblia, salmonella, shigella and worm infestation, as well as all kinds of viruses and bacteria
- Hepatitis A and B, an infection with hepatitis B, is only to be expected in people who can come into contact with blood or in those who seek sexual contact.
- tetanus
- rabies
- Typhoid fever, an infection risk only exists for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
Vaccination recommendations
When traveling to Cuba, the following vaccinations recommended:
- Cholera, but only among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
- Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist in your home country
- Hepatitis A and B, a vaccination against hepatitis B, is only required for people who may come into contact with blood or for those who seek sexual contact.
- Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus should always exist in the home country
- Rabies, but only in high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals
- Typhoid, but only in travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
Vaccination requirements There are no vaccination requirements when entering or staying in the country.
Malaria
prophylaxis No malaria prophylaxis is required when traveling to Cuba, as the country is malaria-free.
Most people in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007.
There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory co-payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge:
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.
As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens Service
Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Cuba: currency and shopping
The national currency of Cuba is the
peso cubano
In addition to the peso cubano, there is also the peso convertible, which is the actual means of payment for visitors to the country.
The convertible peso has the value of the US dollar. This substitute currency can only be changed back into another currency in Cuba.
Bank opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The CADECA exchange offices are also open on weekends, sometimes until 10 p.m.
Shop
Shop opening times
- Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: closed
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
In the first place, of course, are the famous Cuban cigars, such as Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Patárgas, Habana and many others. They are available in different variations, individually packaged, or in beautiful cedar wood boxes. In terms of price, the cigars are much cheaper than in Europe. A must for the passionate cigar smoker.
Cuban rum is in no way inferior to cigars. International is of course the Habana Club, which is available in Cuba in different degrees of maturity, 3 años, 5 años, 7 años and the oldest, 15 años. Of course there are other national brands in addition to the Havana Club, such as Cubay from Santiago de Cuba.
By the way, the Barcadí we know has not come from Cuba since 1959, but is made in the USA and the Dominican Republic, among others. The original Barcadí recipe is now being sold under the name Havana Club for patent reasons.
Beautiful paintings and handicrafts can also be bought as souvenirs. For larger images, an “Autorización de Exportación” is required for export.
