What is needed in order to go to Cuba?

• Visa to access Cuba. You can get it at the closest consulate or embassy at or near your country. You can also try to apply for it using the travel agency which will provide your plane tickets. Have in mind this last option may be more expensive, since they tend to charge even twice the price of the visa value. The tourist visa is valid for 30 days and in Spain for example, costs 22 euros but this price varies in each country.
• Medical Insurance in Cuba(travel insurance covering medical expenses), can be obtained in your country; make sure before your departure that is valid in Cuba.
• Information regarding what can be taking in your luggage into Cuba to avoid having problems at the Cuban custom control: http://www.aduana.co.cu
• We advice you to contact the closest consulate or embassy to confirm the requirements to visit Cuba and the associated costs.
• Once in Cuba, to go through inmigration control you need to have the address ofthe place you will be staying at (hotel or address of the family house).

When is the hurricane season?

• Enrique from La Habana tells us during June 2010: "Generally the Cuban area which is most affected by hurricanes is the province of Pinar del Rio. Two years ago, we had for example a hurricane that covered almost all the island from west to east. In La Habana there have not been any hurricanes for almost five years and actually 28 years without any strong hurricane. Personally i think that the risk of a hurricane is minimum.

  The highest risk is during October but the hurricane season is supposed to be between the first of June until the thirtieth of November. During this period there is a slightly chance of a hurricane. These risk can not be taken for granted, that is why we have well known procedures in order to know how to react and what to do. The government always take preventive actions in case of one, to minimize the effects of it".

• Gemma, our Spanish contact, who has lived in Viñales and who has traveled five times to Cuba, tells us during June 2010: "Generally the hurricane season on the tropic starts in July up to the end of September, even so, Cuba only gets this well known hurricanes in form of just big storms such as cyclone which usually are stronger in Mexico. Two years ago we got tree mayor cyclones in Cuba, one after the next one, which devastated the Pinar del Rio area. In spite of this, in Cuba there are almost no hurricanes and that was a big exception."

Is Cuba dangerous for a tourist?

• No. You have to be careful of the pickpocketers who are around the main touristic places and who are very fast, we recommend no to carry passports or much money. Consider special care of the cameras and female purses (even if their are accompanied, always were them cross your body).
• We remark that there is no much problems besides the just mentioned, Cuba is a safe country for all the tourists.
• "Jineteros". These are cuban males and females ranging in different ages who offer their simpathy and willigness to help or to socialize with a tourist. They will try to convince you to go to their homes, usually trying to sell you cigars, Ron or trying to invite you for a meal, and you will end up by paying a lot of money for this because they will get a commission. Prices for this cigars or Ron will be around 10 times over the real price, and they will be probably fake.
• This "jineteros" are not agressive or violent persons, so we just advice you to kindly thanks for the offer and keep going with a warm smile.
• Currency and Money Exchange. You will be able to access the CUCs or Cuban Convertible peso. This bills have the "Convertible" word printed on them. Always check the change you get, because they can give you Cuban Pesos, which value is up to 24 times less than a CUC.

Which is the main transport used by Cubans?

• Between cities, tourists usually rent a car or use the train (which we do not recommend much because the time tables are not fixed and they tend to be extremely slow). Another option is to use Astro o Viazul.
• In Cuba-Enojoy we work wit Viazul who offers an excellent service, offering air conditioner, clean and conformable seats and who covers most of the country with a wide range of frequencies.

How are the family houses or private houses?

• Each house has its own way of working and offering their services. Many of them offer for example: dinner, lunch, cocktails, city tours, tours to the Cayos among other natural attractions. Of course, they will be always available to answer your questions or concerns about places to visit and costs if you want to visit those places by your own means (taxis or Guaguas which are a local transport) which is probably more cheap and adventurous.

  The owners of this houses make a living out of this business, that is why they are very concerned about safety, comfort and cleanliness.

How much money do I need to take or how can I calculate how much money will I have to consider for food and transportation on a day by day basics?

• Dinners and lunches should not cost more than 12 CUCs in restaurants, or 7 to 10 CUCs at family houses.
• Small distance taxi drives usually cost around 5 CUCs each eay (always try to negociate the price BEFORE you get in the taxi, and if you can, ask to the hose owners how much you should pay).
• Having this in mind, calculate around 50 CUCs a day.
• Of course you can always go for the cheaper way and have some snack for around 3 CUCs and get to know the cities by foot or taking the local transportation (which costs around 1/2 CUC each way). This way you can survive with less money a day.
• In La Habana, there is a typical restaurant, very nice and with excelent food and good prices called Taberna de la Muralla. It is highly recomendable to go there, and if you are lucky they may even have live music, which is a great cuban experience.
• Tours and tickets depend on the place, in La Habana the clasic places cost around 2 CUCs to 10 CUCs.

Are there any Family Houses at the Cayos or in Varaderos?

• Cubans are not allowed to own houses in Cayos or in beaches in Varaderos. These places are specially destinated for tourists, that is why they have so many hotel and resorts to host people (most of them run in a all inclusive way).
• Many of the the houses we work with are located near some of these areas and some of them offer excursions or the information of how to get there.

I am planning a 9 day trip to Cuba and i want to visit Varadero and other city, which itinerary should I consider?

If you like to really live the cuban life, then Cuba-Enjoy will recomends to stay in the nearest family house, meet the family and then take a day trip to Varadero. Maybe you can consider 1 night at La Habana, 2 nights at Vinales, 1 night at Matanzas, 2 free nights and then retourn to La Habana staying there an extra night and getting to the airport the next day. These 2 free nights (free of costs by Cuba-Enjoy) can be used as you like, and then go back to our services.

Which places can I visit near Vinales?( declared by the UNESCO as a world heritage site)

• Cayo Jutías. The easiest way to go there is buy an excursion by a travel agency which you will find many at the town like Havanatur y Cubanacan. It costs around 17 CUCs and includes roundtrip tickets, entrance to Cayo and a small lunch. 
• Cayo Levisa.The easiest way to go there is buy an excursion by a travel agency which you will find many at the town like Havanatur y Cubanacan. It costs around 35 CUCs and includes roundtrip tickets,the ferry and lunch . 
• Horse riding. To be organized with the family members. It cost around 5 CUCs per person per hour. Usually they go around the Valley, the mogotes, the cave, fields of tobacco, country houses, among other places for aorund 4 hours. This will cost around 20 CUCs a person. The person can choose the option of the small or long way or negotiate.

Which places can I visit near Santa Clara? 

• Cayo las Brujas. 
• Day trip to El  Nicho natural park 
• Tour Santa Clara. Plaza de la revolución, Mausoleo del Che, Monumento al Tren Blindado

Which places can I visit near Matanzas?

• Buceo en Playa Coral, you can coordinate with the House "2". It will cost aproximately 35 CUCs per person.
• Varaderos. There is a touristic bus at 10 CUCs (around 10 euros or 13 dollars), which takes all day long and enables you yo visit all the main places at Matanzas. It goes up up to Playa de Varadero. You can also take the Viazul bus (around 12 CUCs roundtrip) in the morning and get back in the afternoon.

Which places can I visit near Trinidad? (Declared a UNESCO world heritage city)

• Playa Ancón
• Cayo Blanco
• Valle de los ingenios
• Salto de Caburní

Our advice

• Cuba is huge, so we recoment to choose carefuly so you can enjoy each city having in mind the days you are going to be in Cuba.
• Try not to go to every single place, because that will be exhausting and you will not be able to enjoy everything. Do not be afraid to choose because is impossible to get it wrong, wherever you go you will have a blast, not only because the cubans are wonderfull people but also because the places are beautiful.

What happens when I make a package reservation at Cuba-Enjoy?

• We coordinate with our partner in La Habana (Enrique) who will make the bus tickets reservations at Viazul, asociated with the package purchased. He will also coordinate with the car that will pick you up from the airport and take you to your Family House.
• Enrique is in charge of the walk tours around La Habana and he will manage the date and time that you will need to be picked up in order to get to the next city (trasportation from the house to the bus station). 
• Whenever you arrive to a city, the chosen family will pick you up from the bus station and take you to their home. Same thing whenever you are leaving the house to get to the next city.
• Transportation between the family house and the bus station or airport will be coordinated by us and all the families in Cuba (all of this is includedn in each package).

Are the Cuba-Enjoy packets customizable?

• Yes, absolutely.
• If you are interested in modifying a packet shown on the site, number of days, cities or number of persons, contactCuba-Enjoy! and we will arrange a packet having in mind your needs.

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