Essence of Cuba

Welcome to join our 4 days Cuba private tour! When you arrive at Havana Jose Marti International Airport (HAV), your English-speaking guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Cuba is a country of contradictions: colorful colonial architecture versus dilapidated residential buildings, happy salsa dance versus dismal poverty, and impeccable sands versus arbitrarily discharged waste… the list goes on and on. In this tour, you get to dip in all the aspects, enjoying historical heritage and tropical beauties Cuba offers, while reaping insights from your own eyes and your guide into Cuban life.

You might not know that, for the lack of food resources, most people here are still relying on the rationing system that goes back to 1962, which allows each household to buy a certain amount of basic foodstuffs monthly like rice and salt from "bodega" (state-owned shop) ( photos); with each purchase done, it is recorded on a ration card. However low the prices are, people just can’t survive off 5 lbs of rice per month, which is among the distributions, so they have to reach for expensive goods at places aimed for tourists and the rich. But on a greater timescale, with the government’s loosening on private-run business, competition will arrive, so will more resources with better prices. “Mipyme”, or private store selling “luxury” commodities such as tomato sauce and Hershey's cocoa powder, is such a recent experiment to introduce more free market forces. Just as new days will come, so will a newer Cuba!

● Things Travelers Need to Know as Consumers:

a. As Cuba still heavily relies on cash, you might not want to count on using credit card, which is not commonly accepted. Please note that credit cards and debit cards linked to Visa and MasterCard cannot function normally in Cuba, and any cards issued by the US cannot work in Cuba for the trade embargo.

b. Officially, 1 USD = 120 CUP (Cuban peso). The official conversion fee for US dollars is 8%, while it for other currencies like Euros, Canadian dollars and Pounds Sterling is 2%.
c. To exchange currency, there is an official currency exchange office at the ground floor of the airport’s Terminal 3, but the rate is not favorable; same for withdrawing from ATMs. For highest rate, you can exchange at informal market in Old Havana. Remember to consult your guide before exchanging currency, who will make sure you get the best deal!

● Other Things of Note:

As we put your health and safety in the first place, we hope you would note these things while you are on your own. First of the all, considering the tropical climate that is ideal for bacteria to thrive, be careful not to expose your eyes and digestive system to raw tap water, and this includes the ice cubes made from tap water. Another thing is that, if you come early today and would like to experience local life at nearby neighborhoods, please don’t risk your safety by staying near ramshackle buildings ( photos), which you will encounter from time to time, with some so decayed as to teeter on the verge of collapsing. Also, Cuba’s much-underdeveloped sewer system means you might encounter sewage right out on the streets; trust us, you don’t want to check them out!