South & Central America
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Visa Requirements – UK passport holders do not require a visa for entry into Cuba for stays up to 30 days. However you do require a Tourist Card (tarjeta de turista) which will be stamped on entry and exit by Immigration and Customs. Citizens from other countries should check their particular visa requirements with the relevant High Commission or Embassy.
Health Requirements – Although no vaccinations are officially required for entry into Cuba, the following are recommended: Tetanus-Diphtheria, Typhoid, Rabies, and Hepatitis A.
We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 60 62782 or their website at www.masta.org for all professional medical advice.
Time – Cuba is 5 hours behind GMT and daylight saving time is observed from March to November.
Money – The US Dollar is no longer legal tender in Cuba. Two currencies now circulate in Cuba: Convertible Pesos (called Pesos Convertibles and abbreviated CUC) and Cuban Pesos (called Moneda Nacional and abbreviated MN). The Convertible Peso is widely used in the tourism industry.
You should check with your bank before you leave the UK to confirm that your debit/credit/cash point cards will work and will be accepted in Cuba. If your bank cannot confirm this then you should bring suitable Sterling or Euro alternatives, preferably in the form of travellers’ cheques. You should also be aware that there are virtually no cash-points (ATM's) available for drawing cash against Cirrus or Switch cards in Cuba. You should also be aware that Scottish and Northern Irish bank notes/coins cannot be exchanged in Cuba.
American Express travellers' cheques are no longer accepted in Cuba. Travellers' cheques and/or credit cards drawn on all other American banks are also not accepted in Cuba.
The use of the convertible pesos (CUC) to include the tourist industry has inevitably meant an increase in the number of forged CUC banknotes of all denominations but in particular $100.00. You are strongly advised not to change money anywhere than at the airport Cadecas, hotel exchange bureaux or banks. Individuals offering exchange facilities to avoid queues should be avoided, and where possible small denomination bills should be requested.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
Virgin Atlantic |
Gatwick /Havana |
Sunday and Thursday |
Direct |
Climate - a rough guide
Cuba boasts a very pleasant subtropical climate. Subtropical conditions prevail all year round however it is not as hot as other parts of the Caribbean. The average temperature in Havana is 77º F (25C) in summer and 71º F (22 C).
The country has two main seasons, the dry season from November to mid-May and the rainy season from mid-May to October but even then Havana, Santiago de Cuba and the other beach resorts rarely have more than two consecutive days of rain. Please note that in recent years the traditional seasons in Cuba, as elsewhere in the world, have become less predictable than before.
When to Go
The best time to go to Cuba is between December and April when it is drier and less humid. The hurricane season tends to run from August to November with higher rainfall and June also tends to be a wetter month. Mosquitos can be a nuisance along the coastal cayes around May and June, although they do not carry malaria.
|
Havana |
||||||||||||
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Temp (F) |
78/ 64 |
78/ 64 |
80/ 66 |
84/ 69 |
86/ 71 |
87/ 73 |
89/ 75 |
89/ 75 |
87/ 75 |
84/ 73 |
80/ 69 |
78/ 66 |
|
Rain (in) |
2.7 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
4.6 |
6.4 |
4.9 |
5.3 |
5.9 |
6.8 |
3.1 |
2.2 |
F (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain = Average Monthly Rainfall (inches)
