The hygienic conditions for processing and preparing food in Cuba are generally good, which means that the risk of catching dangerous diseases through food is low. Salads and freshly prepared cold dishes are also generally hygienic. Unlike in other Central American countries, you can buy and consume open lemonade or soft ice cream on the side of the road without having to worry about infection. But here too, anyone who knows that they are sensitive to unfamiliar food should be careful. Even on our group trips, diarrhea occasionally occurs, as can be the case in any southern country. It is better to be cautious than to have a “ruined” vacation. Everyone knows themselves and their body
At the moment, the import of GPS-enabled devices, including GPS-enabled smartphones, is (actually) prohibited. As I said: “actually”. We have never heard of a case in which Cuban customs officials confiscated a cell phone from someone upon entry. The same applies to GPS trackers.
We keep hearing that GPS-enabled devices don’t work in Cuba. That’s not entirely true. In the Sierra Maestra, we had a GPS tracker with us on our hike and it worked perfectly.
In the meantime, the laws in this area are being relaxed step by step. Nevertheless, GPS navigation systems are still not allowed in Cuba. It is best to get a map in advance or install an offline map. That’s what we do when we travel with Cuba Buddy. One recommendation that we use ourselves is Map of Cuba offline.
If you need more tips, please feel free to ask us. The current apps have the advantage that they contain street directories, maps, points of interest, etc. and you can also enter your accommodation, for example.
We can also recommend Maps.Me, as the app works great offline. Install the apps while you are still in Germany and start them to test them. Often some settings still need to be updated or maps downloaded. So really take a short time in Germany and test all the apps. Try to see it as the start of your Cuba adventure. That way it will be more fun and easier.
Due to the enormous differences in income and purchasing power between tourists and locals, tips are very important. For many people working in tourism, they are the main source of income and often amount to several times the actual salary, which in Cuba, depending on the profession, is between 150 and around 1000 Cuban pesos per month (equivalent to around 6-40 US dollars). We recommend not being too lavish with tips. A factory worker has to work for 24 CUP (= 1 US dollar) for a day. The porter in the hotel earns this amount in 5 minutes thanks to a generous tourist. A little tact is required here.
Driving in Cuba is no problem and very safe. But try to free yourself from the all-too-German driving style, because in Cuban traffic you will find every type of driver, from the Caribbean-relaxed to the temperamental. Road conditions and signage depend entirely on the region, as in all of Latin America. Tourist destinations and main roads are almost comparable to German quality workmanship, although on remote routes “pothole alert” and “no signs” are often the order of the day.
Petrol stations are available nationwide. However, you should of course expect national peculiarities, such as a petrol station that simply hasn’t been supplied or that unfortunately doesn’t have electricity when you visit (important when paying by credit card).
However, nighttime journeys should be avoided due to the various small peculiarities in traffic and, for example, the street lighting, so that everyone arrives at their destination safe and sound. Please do not let this text put you off: driving in Cuba is always more than worth it. Exploring uniquely beautiful landscapes on your own or getting to know the country and its people in a completely different way is always best done by car.
Important: There are occasional fuel shortages in Cuba. During such times, we explicitly advise you against using rental cars during our travel consultation, as these shortages can lead to you standing in queues for hours or simply not being able to get any petrol.
Climate information: You should expect a hot, subtropical climate in Cuba all year round. A constant wind moderates the heat. In summer there is more rainfall than in winter and temperatures are around 25-30°C. In winter around 20-25°C.
Best time to travel: November to April.
The main travel season in Cuba is from mid-November to mid-April. The temperatures are a little lower during this time than in the other months, although there are generally very little temperature fluctuations in Cuba. The temperatures are between 25°-28° with a water temperature of 25°. From November to around March/April it is also tobacco season and you get a great insight into the tobacco harvest.
Cuba can experience heavy rainfall, tropical storms and sometimes landslides from June to November (hurricane season). We recommend that you follow regional weather forecasts and heed the advice of local security authorities during your trip.
Current information is available online at www.nhc.noaa.gov and www.weather.com.
You can find more information about the best time to travel here .
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