Green East of Cuba

Cuban food is often described by American palates as simple and carb-heavy—lots of rice, beans, and meat, but not enough fresh vegetables, salads, or fruit. Spicy, sour, and salty flavors are rare, while sweet dishes are more common. That said, many restaurants—especially the “paladares” (privately owned restaurants)—offer delicious, hearty meals. However, these spots can be pricier, with rates that are out of reach for most Cubans.

Hotel restaurants tend to be more affordable, but food quality varies widely. Upon arrival, you’ll often be greeted with a classic Cuban mojito. Expect to pay around $2.30 to $5.80 for a mojito and $1.10 to $2.70 for a beer. A good bottle of Cuban rum can be found for as little as $7.50.

While tap water in Cuba is often safe to drink, we recommend playing it safe and opting for bottled water. Prices for canned and bottled drinks typically range from $0.45 to $1.40, while in bars and restaurants, you’ll pay between $1.00 and $2.90.

You can get the eVisa from us, your tour operator (starting at just $32, including taxes, excluding shipping costs). You can also apply for the eVisa directly from the Cuban embassy or through most airlines. The eVisa is valid for 30 days of travel but can be extended on-site (once for an additional 30 days, for a fee of 25 USD, payable in cash, at the airport). When entering Cuba, you must present the eVisa along with your passport. This electronic visa, which you fill out online before traveling, will be verified upon your entry into Cuba. Be sure to keep a copy of the eVisa confirmation with you, as you will need it when departing the country. If you lose access to your eVisa details, this may cause unnecessary delays or discussions during your departure.

For US travelers, please ensure that your trip falls under one of the 12 authorized travel categories for Cuba, as tourist travel is restricted. These categories include family visits, professional research, or support for the Cuban people. Make sure you have all the necessary documentation for your trip.

Yes. You will also need a document written in Spanish confirming the validity of this international health insurance.

Without this, you may be refused entry. Ask your insurance company; they can issue you with this confirmation. We can recommend Hanse Merkur, ADAC, ERV or Allianzversicherung, for example. Experience has shown that nobody usually wants to see the document, but if you unexpectedly have to see a doctor, it is important to be able to present the receipt.

You can read more about the entry requirements here .

The Cuban currency is called Peso Cubano or CUP. Until January 2021, in addition to the CUP, there was also the Peso Convertible (CUC), which was only for tourists.

The safest way to exchange money is in the hotel, in the Casa, in official exchange offices or banks, although you should expect long queues at the latter. It is best to take cash in dollars with you and exchange it for Cuban pesos directly at the airport.

If you contact us, we will call you within 24 hours (Mon-Fri) to arrange a free and non-binding travel consultation with you. During the travel consultation, we will discuss the trip and create an offer within the shortest possible time.

When you are ready to book, we will send you a booking form, which you fill out digitally, sign and send back to us to officially initiate the booking.

We will then send you a booking confirmation in the form of a deposit invoice with 25% of the travel price. We will then start booking your offer with our local partners. If you also buy your tourist cards through us, these will also be included in the deposit invoice. Once the invoice is paid within 1 day, you will receive the tourist card (if booked) by post within a short time. The remaining amount (75% of the travel price) must be paid 4 weeks before the trip.

At least 14 days before the trip starts, you will receive your travel documents with information about the individual travel services, vouchers and emergency contacts. If you have any final questions, you can of course always clarify them with us and off you go!

Cuba’s power grid runs on 110V/60Hz, the same as in the United States, and uses American-style plugs. However, some accommodations may have 220V outlets, so it’s always good to check in advance.

One important thing to note: power outages are common in Cuba. To conserve electricity, scheduled blackouts happen, especially in non-tourist areas. These can sometimes affect water supply and communication services.

For a hassle-free trip, consider bringing a power bank for charging your devices and packing a flashlight, just in case.