Cuba Tourism » Havana

Havana Transport Options

Happy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:29:23 +0000

As a visitor to Havana, you have several transport options. There are several advantages and disadvantages to each of them. Let’s explore them a little closer.

I need to say this first – to get the most out of your visit, explore as much of Havana as you can on foot. Not only is this the most price conscious transport option, it will also allow you to see places and things you wouldn’t catch from a moving vehicle. But since not everything is conveniently close, you will occasionally need to utilize other means of transport around town:

Trains

The Estanción Cristina is only 3 kilometers south-west of central Havana. It’s a good and inexpensive way of getting around greater Havana.

Buses

Metro Buses should be tried by a tourist as they are truly an extra ordinary experience. They are those huge buses hauled by trucks capable of carrying 300 passengers.

As of Spring 2008, notorious El Camello busses – those huge careers that look like a two humped camel pulled by a semi truck – have been phased out and are no longer in operation. They were replaced by modern buses from China. One typical part of Havana was history, but was replaced with more convenient and luxurious means of transportation.

El Camello Split Level Buses Resemble Two Humped Camel, Photo: uncorneredmarket, Flickr

Cars

Renting a car is certainly the most convenient way to travel as you can set your own schedule and stop wherever and whenever you like. The challenges sneak up on you if you don’t know the area very well. The streets are not marked very well so it’s easy to get lost. Still the best way to travel within Cuba and each time I visit the island, I do pick up a rental.

Getting rentals in busy season can be challenging, however there are plenty of car rental offices in Havana. If one tells you they have no more cars, just move on to another.

Taxi

Taxis eliminate the issue of getting lost, which can easily happen if you drive a rental car. Tourists are supposed to only ride in official tourist taxi cars, which are modern and air conditioned. Those charge in Cuba Convertible Pesos (CUC) and are not the cheapest.

As an alternative, you can try to hop on a Taxi Collectivo – a taxi for locals. Those are the old American tanks with Taxi symbols on their roofs. The rate is low but tourists are not supposed to ride them.

Coco Taxi

Another must-try by every visitor to Havana. Coco Taxis are those small things that look like yellow football helmets on scooters. Coco taxi seats two people and is inexpensive.

Coco Taxi is a Fun Way to Explore Havana, Photo: Mr Jaded, Flickr

Getting to Havana via Varadero = Cheaper

Happy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:32:43 +0000

I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and flights directly to Havana are always needlessly pricey, so I fly to Varadero, which is significantly cheaper to fly to, because it’s the most popular destination and then transport to Havana by whatever means I have available.

Transfer to Havana from Varadero by Viazul Bus

Viazul buses go to Havana from Varadero four times a day. Departure times from Varadero are:

8 am
11.25 am
3.30 pm
6 pm

They reach Varadero airport in approximately 25 minutes. The cost to Havana is cheap – only CUC$ 10.80 per person and you’ll be there less than 3 hours (CUC is Cuban Convertible Peso – tourist currency you will be using in Cuba). Viazul buses are modern and air conditioned.

Transfer to Havana from Varadero by Train

Trains are painfully slow and not recommended. Unless you’re really adventurous and have crap loads of time to kill, look for another means of transfer.

Transfer to Havana from Varadero by Taxi

Taxi would be the most expensive means of transfer, but it’s the fastest and most convenient. It costs CUC$ 80 to pay for a taxi from Varadero airport to Havana, however you may be able to gather other travelers you’ll meet around airport and if four of you jump in a taxi, it will work out reasonably cheap per person.

Havana via Varadero = Cheaper

If you don’t have anyone to go with, then just get a taxi by yourself. It costs CUC$ 80.00 – if you add this cost to the price of plane ticket to Varadero, it still worls out cheaper than a ticket directly to Havana. At least for me who lives in Edmonton. If you have a reasonably priced direct flight to Havana, fly direct. But also check out the option of flying to Varadero and then transferring to Havana. At worst it will cost you CUC$ 80, so if plane ticket to Varadero is $200 less than to Havana, save yourself some cash. Varadero is 134 km away which can be done in less than 2 hours by car.

Hitch-hiking is also an option and frequently used by adventurous travelers on a budget.

For information on getting to Havana directly, visit: Ways to Get to Havana from Abroad
For additional information about Havana, visit: Havana – Complete Guide

Ways to Get to Havana from Abroad

Happy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:01:38 +0000

There are several ways to get to Havana from abroad. Depending on where in the world you are, this guide will help you determine your best way to get to Cuba.

Getting to Havana by Plane

Coming from abroad, you will fly in by plane. The most convenient airport is José Martí International Airport only 25 km (16 miles) southwest of Havana. There are regular flights direct to Havana from several locations in Canada, Europe, other Caribbean islands, Central and South America.

Coming to Havana from abroad, you will be landing at Terminal 3 of José Martí International Airport. Terminal 3 is for international flight. Terminal 2 is for charter flights from the USA and Terminal 1 is for domestic flights (it’s inexpensive to fly internally – within Cuba).

Cuban Customs

Bear in mind that Cuban customs official are rather strict. Observe what articles are illegal to import to Cuba (example are porn videos, certain electronics, etc.). If anything that’s illegal in Cuba is found in your luggage, it will be seized on sight and you can pretty much say good-bye to it.

Cuban customs are also notorious for slowness. You may be excited to get the vacation started, but it may take a while before you are passed through customs and don’t even get me started about baggage reclaim. Don’t let it scare you, though. It’s not always that bad, but be prepared for a little wait before you actually enter Cuba.

Getting to Havana by Ship

Getting there by ship doesn’t work very well and is not recommended. If you’re a mariner wishing to enter Cuba by sea, you should contact Cuban embassy in your country prior to leaving to make sure all arrangements are made.

For additional information regarding Havana, visit: Havana – Complete Guide

Tipping in Havana

Happy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:13:01 +0000

Always leave a tip. Tipping is expected not only in Havana but in whole of Cuba. Local people make less money a month than you pay for pizza at home. Tips help them get better lifestyle. Unless you have had wet mop splashed in your face and soup spilled across your new dress, you should tip.

The downside is, that you will spend more on tips in Havana than you did in any other country you had previously visited. It gets irritating at times as everyone will want a tip for everything. You smile at a musician in the restaurant, he will want a tip, you take a picture of a child on the street, he will want a tip – Cubans expect a tip for everything. If you can afford it, you can rest assured that your money is going towards good cause, but it gets rather tough if your budget is not that high.

How Not To Spend Too Much on Tips

The best thing you can do is to quit looking like a tourist. Do not show off wearing anything expensive. And I’m not only talking about jewelry. Don’t wear designer clothes and sportswear form top makers, such as Nike or Reebok. And do not walk around with your camera hung around your neck. You will see that once you try to blend with the crowd, you will be bugged far less about tipping everyone for everything.

How Much to Tip

Cubans will be happy with 10% tip. Once again – keep in mind that their monthly salary is about as much as two pints of beer at home. CUC$ 1.00 is a decent tip for most services and will be appreciated (CUC is Cuban Convertible Peso). CUC$ 0.50 is often more than enough.

Tipping Gets You Anywhere in Havana

Anything can be done in Cuba in exchange for a little tip. If you need someone to bend the rules or turn around and pretend that they can’t see, depending on difficulty, CUC$ 1.00 – CUC$ 5.00 will be your ticket.

Tipping Bands is a Custom

This part can be difficult to comprehend as cultural difference in this regard is significant between western countries and Cuba. Bands will always expect a tip from everyone who’s sitting on a patio or the beach or anywhere else a band shows up. This is normal in Latin American cultures. Even local Cubans who will be at the bar enjoying the music will leave a tip for the band.

This approach differs from Western cultures. For a westerner, it is easy to perceive a band as some form of group of buskers or street bums looking to rip people off. It is not so in Latino cultures. Mariachis and troubadours don’t get paid by the venues and all locals know playing for people is their bread. In Cuba – if you don’t pay the band, it is as if you were stealing from them.

Make sure you have some change ready before you sit down. Most bands also sell their own CDs. It is often better to purchase a CD as you won’t be expected to tip on top of the price of their CD. For you as a tourist, tip is a money that goes out your pocket for very little or nothing. Buying a CD makes it a little more bearable as you have something to show for your money.

Tipping in Foreign Currency

Cubans have hard time exchanging foreign currency. You may think you’re doing them a favor by tipping them in Canadian dollars or Euros, but you’re not. You’re giving them a headache. Cuban Convertible Pesos are the best currency to tip in.

Besides – foreign coins are completely useless to them. Only bills are exchangeable. So if you’re a Canadian, smallest bill you have available is $5 – that’s a big tip. But that’s not the point. Just imagine you work at a restaurant in your home town in Canada and you get a welthy tourist from Honk Kong whom you serve. Upon leaving, he’d give you a tip in Chinese money. Just what the heck are you going to do with it? And it is much easier to exchange foreign currency in Canada than it is in Cuba. Simple rule of thumb – tip Cubans in Cuban pesos.

For additional information on Havana, go to Havana – Complete Guide

Havana Price Guide

Happy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:56:17 +0000

This Havana Price Guide is meant to give you an idea of how much a sample item costs in the capital of Cuba. Please note that prices are in Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) and are just for guidance. Prices may change anytime and be different during your visit to Havana:

Gas: CUC$ 1.00 / liter
Bottle of water: CUC$ 0.60-1.00
Bottle of beer: CUC$ 1.00
Highballs in a bar: CUC$ 2.00
Slice of pizza: CUC$ 0.20-0.40
Internet: CUC$ 6.00 / hour
Bike rental: CUC$ 4.00 / day

Prices of hotel rooms vary depending on hotel and typically start at CUC$35 / night. It’s best to stay at Casa Particular instead of a hotel when visiting Havana. You’ll receive much better hospitality and home made food will be much better than whatever you get in a hotel restaurant. Havana doesn’t have all inclusive hotels. Casas Particulares in Havana start at $25 per night.

For additional information on Havana, visit Havana – Complete Tourist Guide

Havana Events and Festivals

Happy — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:58:20 +0000

Havana is a host city to many great events and festivals to suit anyone’s taste. If you can synchronize your visit to Havana with an event or festival of your liking, you will likely end up having the best vacation ever. This guide will help you determine which is the best time for you to visit Havana.

Carnival in El Moro Castle, Havana, Photo: deVos

Events are organized in chronological order starting in January, ending in December.

The Havana International Book Fair

Date: end of January to beginning of February
Venue: El Morro
Event: Commercial book fair

The Cigar Festival

Date: end of February
Venue: Palacio de las Convenciones
Event: One of new events in Havana. Learn about history of cigars, visit cigar plantations and factories. Great place to buy finest Habanos

International Percussion Festival

Date: mid April
Venue: Teatro Nacional
Event: Lots of great musical acts with competitions for domestic and international percussionists

Cuba Pista Cycling Cup

Date: second week of April
Venue: All over Havana
Event: Cycling competition, bicycles all over Havana and a great event to smoke Habaneros

May Theatre

Date: Second week of May
Venue: Casa de las Américas
Event: Great event for theater lovers. Lots of great performers and international competitors

Havana International Guitar Festival and Competition

Date: Second week of May
Venue: varies
Event: Great event for fans of guitar music. International guitarists performing in competitions.

International Ernest Hemingway White Marlin Fishing Tournament

Date: Beginning of June
Venue: Marina Hemingway
Event: Great fishing competition

International Boleros de Oro Festival

Date: Second half of June
Venue: varies across Havana
Event: For fans of boleros

The Havana Carnival

Date: Weekends between mid-July and mid-August, also in end of February, beginning of March
Venue: In front of the Capitolio and along the Malecón
Event: Colorful parades, lots of good time, pretty girls, awesome costumes, drums, music and dancing

The Festival of Caribbean Culture

Date: In June or July
Venue: Various theaters throughout Havana
Event: Showcase of cultural traditions from various islands in the Caribbean

The Havana International Theatre Festival

Date: Every second September
Venue: Various theaters throughout Havana
Event: Theater plays

Que Siempre Brille el Sol baseball tournament

Date: End of September
Venue: Baseball stadium in Havana
Event: Cubans are mad for baseball

The Havana Festival of Contemporary Music

Date: 10 days in October
Venue: UNEAC and various theaters throughout Havana
Event: Music concert with various bands

The Havana Ballet Festival

Date: in late October
Venue: Gran Teatro
Event: International ballet event

Havana International Festival of University Theatre

Date: End of November
Venue: Theaters across Havana
Event: Showcase of student drama

The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema

Date: beginning of December
Venue: cinemas across Havana
Event: Foremost film festival in Latin America. Big event

The Havana International Jazz Festival

Date: Mid December
Venue: Theatres and the Casa de la Cultura de Plaza
Event: One of world’s biggest jazz festivals. Includes workshops and masterclasses.

Havana Weather

Happy — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:58:59 +0000

When it comes to weather, not only Havana, but whole of Cuba is exact opposite of Canada. Here in Canada we say that we have two kinds of weather – cold and brutally cold. In Havana they also have two kinds of weather – hot and brutally hot.

Havana weather in July and August counts as brutally hot. Those months are not very suitable for adventures and explorations unless you’re really used to being in high heat. As if extreme heat was not enough, humidity also reaches its peak during those months. If you’re like me and sweat a lot, the hot months will make you soak in your bodily juices all day long.

Best Weather in Havana

Late November seems to be safely past hurricane season yet still pre peak season. It already gets busy in Havana, but not as busy as in December. The weather in November is favorable so the likelihood of having a beautiful and enjoyable vacation is great.

April and May are by far the best months for a visit to Havana as weather is most favorable. Rainfalls and humidity are at year’s low so likelihood of having nice sunny days throughout your whole vacation is high. Weather is nice and hot, but not too hot. In addition, there are no hurricanes in months of April or May. That’s when I would schedule my trip to Havana for.

For additional information on Havana, go to Havana – Complete Guide

Best Time to Visit Havana

Happy — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:26:13 +0000

Havana is a lively town with a lot to offer whole year round, so really – the best time to visit Havana is anytime. You will not be bored and you will get a lot from the visit regardless of when you take your vacation. However, to make the visit as enjoyable as possible, you should evaluate several factors and match them to your personal preferences. This guide is to help you find your own best time to visit Havana.

If you’d like to experience any of countless cultural events that take place in Havana, schedule your visit around that time. Go to Festivals and Events in Havana for detailed guide on these events with dates and description.

Mild climate of Cuba is pleasant any time of year. Winter months are warm, but easier to handle as average temperatures are in mid 20s °C (high 70s °F). Summer gets warmer and may be more challenging for adventures, but will be fine if you’re having just a relaxing holiday by a sea or within proximity of a pool to cool down. Average temperatures in summer are in low 30s °C (high 80s °F). For more detailed information go to Havana Weather.

September and October are the worst months for hurricanes. Some years are fine and Cuba gets almost completely spared, but some years the island gets hit by a bad hurricane and it is advisable to avoid all unnecessary travel if there are hurricane warnings for the area. For more information go to Cuba Hurricanes Season Information.

Visiting Havana in Low Season

There are advantages and disadvantages to visiting Havana in low season. Each reason can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on point of view. Low season in Havana lasts from May to October.

Advantages:
There will be fewer tourists around in low season. You will get more attention from locals, service will be faster in restaurants and place to sit will be readily available. It is also likely that a plane ticket will be cheaper. If you enjoy doing your thing without much fuss going on, this would be your best time to visit Havana.

Disadvantages:
Low season gets rainy and hot plus you’ll need to keep an eye on hurricane warnings. September and October are the worst months for hurricanes. Rainfall even in low season isn’t that bad either – it typically only lasts a day or two and is quickly followed by hot sun that dries it up.

Some touristy spots are not open in low season so you’ll miss out on what they have to offer, though.

Visiting Havana in High Season

If like big parties with lots of people around and a city full of energy and pulse, schedule your vacation for high season (between December and April and in July and August).

Advantages:
You will likely meet with other travelers from Canada or Europe which makes for a lot of fun and often forges good new friendships. Everything is open and in full swing of things.

Disadvantages:
It could get overwhelming, especially if you visit Havana on some really busy days, such as Christmas or New Years Eve. Unless you book months in advance, you may not be able to get the room you want or the car rental of your choice (if any at all).

Overall Best Months to Visit Havana

April and May are hands down the best months to visit Havana. Weather is very pleasant – it’s hot but not scorching hot, it doesn’t rain too much and there are no hurricanes.

Unless you time your visit for Easter, Both April and May will offer fairly low season treatment with good availability and low rates for hotel rooms and car rentals. Plane tickets and package holidays to Havana in these months are also priced lower. You’ll get the best of all worlds that way.

For additional information on Havana, go to Havana – Complete Guide

Havana – Complete Guide

Happy — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:55:17 +0000

This is a complete guide to Havana. It contains all information you would expect from a complete guide to a city like Havana. To ensure better navigability and searchability of topics, this complete guide to Havana has been split into separate pages for each major part of a guide. Convenient links are provided so you can easily navigate and find the part of guide that has information you seek.

Havana – Complete Guide

Bottom line – there’s no place like Havana. If brilliance of Spanish colonial buildings doesn’t leave you in awe, the ruins of centuries old architecture that still carry the spirit of the times long gone will. And if historical spectacles don’t tickle your strings, wait till you experience sheer joy of locals who never seem to get tired of music and dance. Havana, the capital city of Cuba has something for everyone.

Havana - Complete Guide, Photo: localsurfer, Flickr

Havana vs. Other Metropolitan Cities

I’ve travelled the world and have visited many metropolitan cities, but there is none that matches up to Havana. There are several aspects to consider:

City that never sleeps – yes, there are other cities that never sleeps and one in particular is famous for this attribute, but Havana retains its own character that hasn’t changed for decades
Safe – even a single young girl can wander the streets of Havana at night and remain safe. Havana is the safest capital city I know of. Rule of thumb dictates that one should always be aware of their surroundings and never go overboard, but there is not other city in the world that would be comparably safe and crime free
Rich cultural life – there is such superabundance of interesting museums, galleries, ballets, theaters, and other art establishments in Havana, that you’ll be in nirvana if you’re an art nut
Rich history – Havana Vieja is sponsored and recognized by UNESCO as one of world’s most breathtaking historical sights
Beautiful beaches – splashed by the calm waters of Caribbean Sea, Playas del Este is a tropical paradise to die for
Picture taking opportunities – whichever way you look, there will be something spectacular to photograph in Havana. Whether it’s the outdated way of life, vintage American gas gushers or an old woman on the steps smoking giant cigar, you better stock up well on memory cards and batteries cause you’re gonna run out.

Havana Continental Architecture, Photo: localsurfer, Flickr

Cuba Tourism » Havana

Havana Transport Options

Trains

Buses

Cars

Taxi

Coco Taxi

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Getting to Havana via Varadero = Cheaper

Transfer to Havana from Varadero by Viazul Bus

Transfer to Havana from Varadero by Train

Transfer to Havana from Varadero by Taxi

Havana via Varadero = Cheaper

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Getting to Havana by Plane

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Tipping in Havana

How Not To Spend Too Much on Tips

How Much to Tip

Tipping Gets You Anywhere in Havana

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Havana Events and Festivals

The Havana International Book Fair

The Cigar Festival

International Percussion Festival

Cuba Pista Cycling Cup

May Theatre

Havana International Guitar Festival and Competition

International Ernest Hemingway White Marlin Fishing Tournament

International Boleros de Oro Festival

The Havana Carnival

The Festival of Caribbean Culture

The Havana International Theatre Festival

Que Siempre Brille el Sol baseball tournament

The Havana Festival of Contemporary Music

The Havana Ballet Festival

Havana International Festival of University Theatre

The International Festival of New Latin American Cinema

The Havana International Jazz Festival

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Havana Weather

Best Weather in Havana

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