Cuba

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Visiting Cuba is like going back in time, is breathing history and feel in all forms the strength and effects of the revolution in the country. One of the few countries still communist and with a strong socialist proposal that makes you see firsthand a completely different reality of our little capitalist world. From the failures and successes, every new discovery makes you rethink and wonder what would actually be the best option.

Imagine a country without marketing, advertising, different brands for products… Welcome to Cuba! Here you will experience a reality that you ever imagined it would be like and this is definitely an intriguing experience. Havana is certainly the main attraction for offering the most magical experience, with its old buildings falling apart, American cars from the 60s scattered everywhere and for showing in every corner the authentic lifestyle of Cuban people.

But Cuba has much more than that… It has wonderful beaches, mountains, colonial cities and art and music of high quality. And more, Traveling in Cuba is like traveling with a soundtrack, due to a culture and a system that values art and brings out the desire in every possible talented person to be a musician. How the Cuban looks like? Hard to say. Perhaps the greatest mix we’ve seen so far, a mixture of Europeans, Latinos and Africans, which often makes it difficult to say who is local and who is not.

What was worth it: The magic of Havana, the colonial charm of Trinidad and the most impressive water in the world of Cayo Santa Maria.
What we wanted to do but we didn’t: The tobacco plantations in Viñales region and the mystical mountains of Baracoa.

A few tips:

• MONEY: Cuba is not as expensive as everyone says so, if you learn to live a little like the locals, avoid the high season and stay in family homes. There are two currencies in Cuba, CUC and Cuban PESOS (national currency). The CUC is almost equal to the dollar and is worth 24 Cuban PESOS. Both tourists and local use both currencies that can be exchanged at any CADECA (exchange offices). Services in CUC are always more expensive than in PESOS. So if you use the services in national currency as much as possible (such as public transport in cities, cafeterias cajetas …), your trip ends up much cheaper. But for tours and tourist transport you don’t have much option and it will be expensive.
• MONEY TO BRING?: Using credit card or withdraw cash from ATMs is a bad option because they charge extra fees for the card and all transactions in U.S. dollars, which inevitably happens every time you use the card. The best option is to take all the money with, but only EUROS or MEXICAN PESOS, which have a good exchange rate. Do not even think of taking DOLLARS, as above exchange rate they still charge around 10-20% of fee. It sounds abusive, but this is because of the U.S. embargo.
• TRANSPORT: If you take the tourist transport it is simple and comfortable and also more expensive, about 5 USD or more per hour. Such transport serves both tourists and locals who do not want to be in the waiting list for cheap transportation. Yes, there are cheaper options but the transport system is complicated and it can be sooo long, so we don’t even know how to explain. Consider also that for the cheap transport you may be taking the place of a local that probably needs it much more than you.
• THE PARADISIAC CAYOS: Cuba is famous for its idyllic islands with crystal clear Caribbean waters. We were there and the water is actually the most impressive we have seen in our lives! So it worths the visit. Some islands can only be reached via air, as Cayo Largo, but there are other connected by bridges, which is easier and cheaper to get. We heard that Cayo Santa Maria had one of the most beautiful beaches, so we went there. The only problem is that these islands have only “all inclusive” resorts and this is the only way to visit them. But don’t give up! Go to an agency in Cuba and check the packages, that usually worth it for what you have, all the food, drinks (including alcoholic – whisky, champagne, cocktails …) and entertainment included. Packages can range from 90-300 USD per day for 2 people, depending on the resort and room type.

Our itinerary (15 days)

We took a flight from Cancun to Havana, where we spent five days in the magical city. From there we took a tourist bus to Viñales. We left the next day because it was raining a lot, almost a cyclone, and we went by tourist minivan to Trinidad. After we had a private transfer in an old American car to the island of Cayo Santa Maria where we spent 4 days honeymoon at a “All inclusive” resort . Then we took a tourist bus to go back to Havana, from where we took our plane to Mexico City.

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