Folklore and Traditions - 10 Days

Cuba operates as a dual economy. Its hard currency is the Cuban convertible peso (CUC$), which you will exchange and use in Cuba. CUC$ come in the following denominations: 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. Please note that CUC$1 comes in both a coin and paper money configuration. The monetary unit used only by Cubans is the Cuban peso, also called moneda nacional or CUP.

Please note, as of December 2019, Cuba’s cash economy is now shifting to accept U.S. dollars (USD). Private vendors such as artists, paladars, taxi drivers and souvenir markets are now accepting payment in USD, but will provide change in local Cuban currency, the CUC. We recommend that you bring a mixture of USD in small bills in addition to larger bills. You may still need to exchange some money into Cuban CUC for state run stores, such as for local official stores where you might buy water or entrance to evening shows or activities. Exchange small amounts at a time to avoid collecting too many CUCs as you travel. Your guide will be able to provide you with more details when you arrive. Please note that CUC can only be converted back into USD in Cuba. The tax on the dollar at the time of the change has recently been removed. Only the current exchange rate applies, which is normally $ 1 USD = $ 1 CUC, although that may vary.

Yes, in order to obtain CUC$ (Cuban Convertible Pesos, the currency used in Cuba) at the airport, upon entry into Cuba, exchange your currency in currency exchange kiosks as you are exiting the terminal, provided the kiosks are open. If the kiosks are not open, you can purchase CUC$ in the departure hall, just to the right of the arrival hall after you exit to the outside.
Once in Cuba, the airport, tourist hotels, banks, and CADECA bureaus can exchange currency (US and Canadian dollars, Euros, British pounds, etc.) for you. Hotels are often the most convenient place to make currency exchanges. Be sure to have proper ID (passport) on hand.
Do not accept offers to exchange currency from anyone who approaches you on the street. It is illegal and a common scam practiced all over the world to take advantage of travelers, who are unfamiliar with new currencies. This is particularly applicable, due to the dual currency system used in Cuba.

Visitors are allowed to bring laptops for their own personal use.

As is the case at most airports worldwide, laptops must be removed from luggage and placed in bins when going through security when entering Cuba. Sometimes security personnel will ask for your passport number when you bring in a laptop computer. This is standard procedure and should cause no concern.

Smart and Mobile Phones
Some U.S. carriers, such as Sprint, AT&T and Verizon, now offer international roaming services for customers in the United States traveling to Cuba. If your carrier offers a roaming plan and your mobile phone is capable of roaming in Cuba, you should ask your carrier about any additional charges for voice calls, data, and outgoing text messages that you may incur during your trip. We advise that you contact your current carrier for the most up to date information on usage before leaving

Phone Rental in Cuba
Before you leave for Cuba, you can rent a compatible mobile phone from companies such as Cellular Abroad (offered by National Geographic), Cello Mobile, or Mobal for use in Cuba. In addition to daily rental fees, you should expect to pay approximately $3 USD per minute of call time and up to $1.50 USD per outgoing text message. Depending on the type of phone rented, data may also be available at an additional cost.

You can also now rent phones while in Cuba from Cubacel. There are Cubacel offices in Terminals #2 and #3 at José Martí International Airport in Havana. Cubacel charges a one-time refundable deposit of $100 CUC ($100 USD), plus a daily fee of $10 CUC ($10 USD). Additionally, you should expect to pay all of the applicable per-minute call charges – approximately $0.35 CUC ($0.35 USD) per minute for calls within Cuba and $1.85 CUC ($1.85 USD) per minute for calls to the United States. Outgoing text messages cost $0.16 CUC ($0.16 USD) to send within Cuba and $1 CUC ($1.00 USD) to send abroad, and data is not available.

Other Carriers
Although your mobile phone or device may not have international mobile service or signal in Cuba, many guests, including our staff, bring phones, tablets, and other devices to access their address or contact lists, and for email and text usage when connected to hotel WiFi. Other smart-phone functions, including camera, alarm clocks, music storage, flashlight and apps not requiring internet, will work.

You may purchase WiFi access by the hour or day at certain hotels. This will allow your smart phone—but not mobile phones—to access email and instant messaging applications. Access to WiFi is generally available only in hotels, is often slow, and can be expensive.

In summary, most guests appreciate that their trip to Cuba virtually requires them to unplug.

Travellers must declare quantities in excess of US $5000 to customs.

Guests may bring digital cameras, small video cameras, and smart phones into Cuba; however, entering Cuba with professional photography or videography equipment is subject to Cuban governmental regulations and requires special permission from the Cuban government. If you plan to bring camera equipment that exceeds what can reasonably be carried on your person, please write to info@summitour.com for more details or call us at 855 788 4253.

Yes, most tourist hotels in Havana and other large cities have either a computer or small business center, where you can pay for internet usage by the minute or hour. To access the internet from your hotel, you will have to purchase an internet access ticket. This ticket will have a printed password that will allow you to connect to the internet for a specified period of time.

Please understand that the connection speed in Cuba may be slower than what you’re accustomed to in the US and that internet is not widely available when traveling to the outer provinces.

Paladares are one of the best ways to enjoy local Cuban cuisine. A paladar is a small, family-run restaurant (private restaurant), usually in a converted part of a home. Many paladares appear and operate much like a normal restaurant. While our Cuban guides are not able to bring groups to a paladar, feel free to try one on your own. Visits to paladares are generally at the participant’s expense however some paladares are included in the tour.

These are some of the paladares we work with in Havana:
-Café Laurent Restaurant
-Atelier Restaurant
-Rio Mar Restaurant
-La Carriola Restaurant
-La Casa Restaurant
-La Flauta Mágica Restaurant
-El Divino Restaurant
-San Cristóbal Restaurant
-Finca Vista Hermosa
-Restaurante Mediterráneo

Yes. Cuba is among the safest countries to visit. There are strict sentences on crimes committed against tourists, which is a large reason the crime rate is so low. However, petty crimes, such as pick-pocketing and purse-snatching, do sometimes occur. We advise against bringing any expensive or irreplaceable jewelry to Cuba.

Also, recognize that hustlers on the street offering unbelievably cheap rum and cigars are not to be trusted, as their goods are often of lesser quality. As long as you take standard precautions to safeguard your possessions, you should feel at ease in Cuba.

Violent crime is virtually unheard of. If, for any reason, help is needed, police remain a visible and friendly resource for travelers.

Contrary to political differences between the U.S. and Cuba, the Cuban people receive Americans happily and with open arms.

Embassy of the United States and Consular Services in Havana:

On July 20, 2015, after 54 years, the Embassy of the United States reopened in Havana. Any need that would normally be resolved by a visit to your embassy or consulate while traveling abroad should be directed to the American services unit.

Embassy of the United States, American Citizen Services Unit:
Calzada, between L and M. Vedado, Havana, Cuba.
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Closed on U.S. and Cuban federal holidays)
U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call +53 7 839 4100 Outside of Office Hours, contact: +53 7 839 4100, dial 1 for English, then 0 to speak to an operator.
For the most up-to-date information, visit: Homepage

Compared to most countries, crime in Cuba is quite rare. Petty crimes, such as pick-pocketing and street hustling, do occasionally occur. Care should be taken against thieves or hustlers in crowded places, like tourist areas, public buses, discos, bars and theaters.

As a general rule of travel, carry only a copy of your passport and lock the original document and all other valuables in your hotel safe. Avoid carrying excessive sums of money with you (or wear a secure money belt if you do), try to avoid wearing showy jewelry, and keep an eye on any expensive items, like cameras. Always try to avoid leaving valuables in your luggage, especially in hotel rooms or airports. When flying, try to keep valuable items in your carry-on luggage.

Summitour Travel Agency has a philosophy of inclusion and shared humanity and, as such, welcomes people of all races, ethnicity, beliefs, abilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.

It is of great importance that our participants be aware of cultural norms and perceptions in the country where they are traveling. Cuba is changing dramatically, in regards to popular opinion and national policy towards the LGBT community, although homophobia remains a reality of daily life. It should also be noted, that despite a vibrant LGBT community, gay and lesbian establishments do not exist as they do in the U.S.

Cuba recently announced the opening of its first hotel dedicated exclusively to the LGTBI community, the Gran Muthu Rainbow hotel in Cayo Guillermo

If at any time during the program, LGBT travelers need support, they should not hesitate to call our U.S. office at +1 786 930 4479.

Swept by northeasterly trade winds, Cuba enjoys a tropical climate, with year-round temperate weather. The advice of many of our guests is to travel to Cuba when you can and worry less about the weather in Cuba. There are benefits of traveling to Cuba during any month or any season. Ultimately, you can’t go wrong.

InsightCuba runs a full selection of guided small group Cuba tours year around. Choose your tour, your departure date, and next thing you’ll know, you’ll be in Cuba.

Winter / Spring

Cuba’s tourist high season is typically during its drier season from December through mid-April. Temperatures average 69.8 °F in January. Needless to say, prices are a little higher during the winter and spring, and since it’s high season, there are generally more crowds than other times during the year. In the end, it’s all worth it.

Keep in mind that weather in Cuba can get cool at night during December, January, and February so be sure to pack a sweatshirt, sweater, or light jacket for your trip.

Summer

Temperatures are only moderately higher during the summer, with the warmest month being August (similar to our weather here at our headquarters in New York!). The benefit is that summer visitors enjoy less crowds and traveling to Cuba is often less expensive.

Fall

Temperatures begin to cool slightly and the peak season crowds still haven’t arrived. Meaning you’ll have more of Cuba to yourself.

Hurricanes

The official hurricane season in Cuba runs from June through November, with more rain occurring during these months due to tropical storm activity. However, according to the NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association), Cuba experiences the lowest frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms than other parts of the Caribbean.

It’s also worth noting that Cuba has highly developed disaster preparedness and civil defense networks for evacuations. We always suggest that you check the local Cuba weather forecast when packing for your trip.

If you have any additional questions on the best time to travel to Cuba or on the weather in Cuba, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our Travel Specialists to go over your travel plans.