Cuba Travel Guide
As we all know, Cuba was once a colony of Spain. After the two wars of independence at the end of the 19th century, the United States occupied Cuba. For the following half century, the United States also controlled Cuba through Cuba's puppet government. Therefore, Cuba was once known as the "back garden of the Americans." At that time, the capital Havana was a prosperous metropolis, full of neon lights and dancing every night. This situation continued until 1959, when Castro led the nationalization of property after the victory of the Cuban Revolution, causing all the rich to flee Cuba, leaving only real estate that they could not take with them and the old cars that are still racing on the streets of Cuba.
U.S. government has always been very hostile to this new regime under its nose. After the U.S. mercenary attack on Cuba failed in 1961, an economic blockade that has lasted for more than half a century began. Since then, Cuba's material shortage has never been interrupted. Decades of U.S. embargo have also left Cuba unchanged for decades. Cuba's mystery and Caribbean customs are the main elements that attract tourists here. Old Havana, the colonial customs of Trinidad and Santiago, the classic cars running on the streets, the resort beaches of Varadero, Che Guevara, Hemingway, Latin music, cigars and rum, etc. are all Cuba's business cards.
Best Travel Time The best travel time for Cuba is December to April, when there is neither rain nor hot weather. But the downside is that there are tourists everywhere, and housing prices are 20% higher than usual, especially in resorts. In addition to considering the seasons, local cultural festivals are also a good choice. For baseball fans, April-May is the season to watch the Cuban Baseball League playoffs. Those interested in the local political atmosphere in Cuba can travel on Labor Day on May 1 and National Day on July 26.
Transportation China tourists traveling to Cuba from China need to apply for a Cuban tourist visa in advance at the Cuban Embassy (green paper commonly known as a tourist card). If you are traveling from a third country, you don't need to go to the Cuban embassy in advance. Instead, you can buy the same tourist visa for US$25 when you check in for your boarding pass. Before 2014, the entry and exit stamp would only be stamped on the travel card and not on the passport. From 2014 onwards, all tourists entering and leaving Cuba will have the bright rose red entry and exit stamp stamped on their passports, and entry into the United States will have no impact.
There is a saying that China passports can enter Cuba for free without purchasing a travel card. Some airlines do not require China travelers to purchase travel cards when checking in for boarding passes, while some airlines insist that they need to purchase them, and travelers must confirm with the airlines before checking in for boarding passes. There have also been cases where travelers who have not purchased a travel card in advance have been interrogated at Cuban customs for 1-2 hours before they can enter the customs after re-applying their visas.
In addition, there are currently no direct flights between China and Cuba. They need to take London, Paris, Canada or Mexico to transfer to the capital Havana. Reference fare for connecting flights in London: RMB 8400 for one way and RMB 14300 for a round trip. There are many transportation methods available to visit Cuba. Cuba's road and railway transportation are very developed, but if you want to truly explore Cuba, it is recommended to rent a bicycle to tour. Cubans are generally very enthusiastic, security is good across the country, and they can go out alone at night.
To apply for a Cuban visa, you can submit the application in person or entrust others to the Consular Department of the Cuban Embassy in China. For specific information on applying for a tourist visa, please contact the local consulate directly for the latest information.
Step 1. Preparing Materials To apply for a Cuban tourist visa, you need to prepare application materials according to the requirements of the consulate. All materials are as follows: 1. A private passport valid for more than 6 months.
2. A copy of the front page of the passport.
3. Round trip air ticket to Cuba from China.
4. Order at a hotel in Cuba.
5. For overseas medical insurance with a term of 30 days, only the original policy issued by PICC Life, Health or Ping An Property Company is accepted at this stage.
6. Download and complete the tourist visa application form in English.
7. A passport-standard 2-inch ID photo posted on the application form.
8. A household registration book or temporary residence permit proving that you live in the area where you apply for.
Step 2. Submit your application and pay your fee to the consulate to submit your application. It is recommended to contact the consulate in advance to determine working hours. At the same time as submitting the application, you will pay the visa fee. The visa fee is RMB 111 per person, RMB 444 per person for expedited purposes, and RMB 185 per person for an agent.
Step 3. The waiting time for processing Cuban visa applications is generally 2-3 working days.
Step 4. When you collect your passport, you can go to the embassy to collect your passport on the date specified on the receipt. You can go there in person or entrust someone to collect it on your behalf. If you need someone else to collect it on your behalf, you must present the following relevant certificates, including the original receipt of the Cuban Embassy's visa fee and the original receipt of signature, the original power of attorney signed by you, the front and back of your ID card, and the client's ID card.
Address of the Embassy in China: No. 1 Xiushui South Street, Jianguomen Waiwai, Beijing City Tel: 010 - 65322822 Fax: 010-65321714 Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 8:30-11:30. Closed on January 1st and 2nd, May 1st, July 25th, 26th, 27th, October 10th, December 25th, December 31st and China holidays.
For travelers who buy Cuban specialty products such as cigars and rum, the United States has currently allowed some goods produced by Cuban private companies to enter the country. All products produced by Cuban public companies, as well as animal and plant products, tobacco, alcohol, metals and other products are still within the entry ban. When travelers travel to the United States after traveling in Cuba, if they have prohibited products in their luggage, they will be confiscated and punished if they are discovered by U.S. customs. For specific regulations on carrying goods into the United States, please check the regulations issued by the U.S. government.
Note: Although Cuban customs has no limit on the number of regular cigars purchased with invoices, if you continue to travel to other countries after Cuba, you must check online the number of cigars allowed in other countries. If you buy more than 50 cigars, Cuban customs will take people to a special small room to check the invoices during customs clearance at the airport. If there are invoices and match the quantity and model of cigars, they will be released directly; if there are no invoices, all of them will be confiscated. If a large number of cigars are placed in checked baggage, customs will call the passenger's name on the airport radio and then take it to a small room to check the invoice. If you don't hear the broadcast and the customs will pronounce China's names according to the Spanish pronunciation, sometimes it is difficult to tell that they are calling yourself), then the luggage will be directly detained.
Currency exchange Note: While traveling in Cuba, it is best to bring euros or Canadian dollars to exchange for CUC. If you use US dollar cash to exchange for CUC, you will need to pay a 10% handling fee when exchanging, that is, 1 US dollar ≈0.87 Cuban CUC. As of January 2013, the exchange rate between the euro and Cuban CUC is 1 Euro ≈1.31 Cuban CUC.
Currency can be exchanged at banks and currency exchange points. The name of the exchange point is CADECA, the full name is Casa de Cambio. Travelers can also use CUC to exchange CUP here, but because CUP is not widely used, it is recommended to exchange less. The exchange rate at the hotel is a little worse than at the exchange point outside, especially after the bank closes at night. There are usually long queues at currency exchange points, because local people's wages are all CUPs, but the range of CUPs that can be used in Cuba is very small. To buy many daily necessities and electrical appliances, CUCs are required, so there are many people waiting in line every day to get their wages exchanged for CUCs.
China's UnionPay cards can now be cashed out at ATMs in Cuba, based on the US dollar exchange rate of the day. However, domestic banks deduct relevant handling fees for each transaction. Different banks need to call the bank to inquire; at the same time, local Cuba deduct a handling fee of 3%. You cannot swipe your card to spend. Hua Xia Bank is more suitable. The first payment per day will be made. There is no domestic handling fee, and only Cuba will deduct 3%.
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Communication and Network Mobile, Telecom and China Unicom mobile phones for international roaming that are open in China can be used in Cuba. You can make direct calls, but the charging standards for each operator are different. The U.S. policy on mobile phone numbers in Cuba has changed, and major U.S. operators have launched roaming Cuba services, such as ATT and Tmobile.
At present, ordinary tourists in Cuba cannot buy local sim cards because Cuba's fixed and mobile communications are still very limited and cannot meet the needs of domestic customers. However, you can rent a card. When renting a card, you usually need to rent a mobile phone. The total is US$12 per day. The Cuban number is 6CUC for one minute in China, which is the same as using your own number in China, so there is no need.
There are few areas and places in Havana that cover Wi-Fi, including Airport Terminal 3 and some hotels. Many hotels offer 30-or 60-minute Internet access cards, which generally start at 1CUC/30 minutes or 2CUC/1 hour. Havana covers 3G networks, and the network speed is good, but the price is relatively expensive, about 108 RMB/M. China Mobile's data traffic: 6 yuan for 3M (the daily fee is capped at 60 yuan, and the traffic is unlimited on the day of Beijing time)
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Consumption level Cuba's consumption level is divided into two types according to its monetary system. Currently, there are two currencies circulating in Cuba, namely CUC convertible peso (commonly known as red peso) and CUP Cuban peso (commonly known as local peso). 1CUC=24CUP. For tourists, CUC is used for all hotel accommodation, all restaurants dining, and all shopping. CUP is only used to buy vegetables and fruits in open-air markets, take buses, and eat in some state-owned restaurants. Haircuts, etc.
For tourists, the exchange rate of CUC is equivalent to that of the U.S. dollar. A cheap house in Casa costs 20-25CUC per night, and a minimum of 5-10CUC per night. These are unaffordable prices for ordinary Cuban people. However, if you use CUP to eat in state-owned restaurants and buy vegetables and fruits in the market, it is very cheap. You only need 20-30CUP for a meal. However, restaurants and shops that use CUP are in short supply and often cut off supplies.
Once upon a time, the Cuban government only allowed foreigners to use red pesos. Now foreigners can use both red pesos and local pesos. All state-owned commercial establishments and private owners have accepted foreigners to use red pesos for consumption, but many private owners will use local pesos when they are on the right hour. Everyone needs to be vigilant at all times and keep in mind the exchange rates of red pesos and local pesos to prevent being deceived.
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Food The Cuban people are a nation that loves to enjoy all kinds of happiness. When traveling to Cuba, don't miss tasting Cuba's roasted lobster, San Diego's roasted suckling pig and Copria's ice cream. Over the centuries, Cuba has developed its own unique cooking and sweet tooth making methods. Just as the famous Cuban poet Nicolas? Ji Lian wrote: "Mixed blood, mixed blood, everything is assimilated..." Cuban cooking and sweets, which are complete in color, aroma and taste, are just like the formation of the Cuban nation. They can be said to be a collection of the achievements of all nations and have their own unique characteristics.
The hands of white, black and yellow people from three continents of Asia, Africa and Latin America have developed Cuban cuisine into the most delicious food culture. Small pot soups of Iberian culture in Spain, African condiments and cold mixed amaranth, purslane and sugar radish; China's delicious sweet and sour fish and meat, glutinous rice food and a wide variety of vegetables grown in suburban vegetable gardens... have all become an integral part of Cuba's food culture. Ashiaco soup is a typical cultural delicacy and a symbol of Cuban cuisine. Potatoes, carrots and chicken or pork, the most common folk products, plus avocado, make the best Asiaco. According to legend, eating asiaco can drive away evil.
Strong soups from Galicia and Asturia are very popular dishes among Cubans. Cuba's traditional cuisine is kidney beans, pork and rice. The most popular meat in Cuba is pork. In addition, Cuba also likes good cured meats, fried pork skins or fried beef, mutton offal and lamb meat. The most typical cuban cuisine is fried chicken mixed with onions and potatoes, turkey filled with rice and black beans, braised sea bream or salmon trout with onions and potatoes, fried dried shrimp on yellow rice, fried pork brain, taro, pumpkin and tender corn.
Cuba is the world's sugar bowl, and Cubans like sweets the most. Cuba has a variety of confectionery products. In villages and small towns, there are Christmas fried cakes made of tapioca and flour, Kusuvi sweet cakes, Malaravia sweets, small buns with honey, tender corn with milk, passion lotus sweets, sweet milk foods, A variety of sugar-stained fruits, wax gourd and cocoa sweets...
Special dishes The first of Cuba's famous dishes is "Queen of the Caribbean". This is a dish made of Caribbean prawns. It is delicious and can be eaten in restaurants in the new area of Havana. There are also cocktails made with Cuba's specialty blue wine, which is also a good accompaniment. If you want to taste the unique boiled rabbit meat, you can go to the coneito restaurant in the south of the city. If you want to eat the traditional local dishes of Guoma, you can go to the bodeguitar adelmedio restaurant in the Old Havana area, just near the Cathedral Square. Hemingway likes the style of this restaurant very much. Over the centuries, Cuba has developed its own unique cooking and sweet tooth making methods. Just as the famous Cuban poet Nicolas. Ji Lian wrote: "Mixed blood, mixed blood, everything is assimilated..." Cuban cooking and sweets, which are complete in color, aroma and taste, are just like the formation of the Cuban nation. They can be said to be a collection of the achievements of all nations and have their own unique characteristics.
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Cubans cook a wide variety of dishes. Cuban dishes on marble tables, cedar wood tables or crystal tables look appetizing; the tempting aroma, tender and colorful colors, precious seasonings, and vegetables and cured meats are delicious dishes. Small pot soups of Iberian culture in Spain, African condiments and cold mixed amaranth, purslane and sugar radish; China's delicious sweet and sour fish and meat, glutinous rice food and a wide variety of vegetables grown in suburban vegetable gardens... have all become an integral part of Cuba's food culture.
Ashiaco soup is a typical cultural delicacy and a symbol of Cuban cuisine. Cuba's most famous anthropologist made it clear that the Cuban nation, also known as the Ahiaco nation, brings together all the cultures of the world there.
Gongri: Known as Cuba's finest cooking, it is a rice made of white rice and colored beans. Mulo rice: also known as Mulos and Cristiano, it is a rice made of black beans and rice.
Erasciago Corioyo: The name sounds awkward, but the ingredients are actually very simple. It is actually a traditional dish made of vegetables, fruits and a variety of meats cooked together.
Cuban cocktails: Cuban cocktails can be seen in every tourist hotel in Cuba. The most famous accompaniment is Havana Club rum. Other more famous cocktails include Mosido, Free Cuba and Dakiri.
Shopping Cuba's specialties include sugar cane, cigars, rum, coffee, health medicines and handicrafts.Among them, sugar cane, cigars and rum are known as the "Three Treasures of Cuba". Visa and Master credit cards can be used in high-end hotels and restaurants, but credit cards issued in the United States cannot be used in Cuba. When swiping an international credit card, you need to pay a 3% handling fee, which is 1 US dollar =0.97CUC. However, POS machines are not popular and can only be used in hotels, some supermarkets and a small number of stores. There is no need to enter a password when swiping your card.
Rum recommendations: The world-famous rum brands are "HavanaClub" and "Varadero". However, there are many other brands to choose from, the best of which is "DosMarinos", also known as "Paticruzado"; and "Matusalém", a brand from Santiago that is dedicated to the upper class. The bad brand is "Aguardiente", which is relatively strong and sour, and is generally drunk by local talents. There is also a "Guayabita" from Pinardel Río, which is a mixture of guava and rum. The sweet one has many flavors, such as coconut, mint, banana and pineapple, and is worth recommending. Rum can be bought in boxes at the airport so that you can carry it easily. Prices are generally around $15-$30.
Cuban cigars Cuban culture is deeply rooted in the intoxicating aroma of tobacco. Cubans smoke 250 million cigars every year, and the other 65 million "Havana" cigars are exported abroad. Most cigars are hand-rolled to maintain their superior quality. Many "heavy smokers" believe that "Havana" cigars are the best cigars in the world. There are 35 existing cigar brands and more than 500 varieties in Cuba. Some cigar factories only make cigars with certain flavors, while others only make certain models of cigars. Located in a beautiful Italian-style building on the outskirts of Havana, the EI Laguito Cigar Factory produces the world's best cigars-Trinidad-an extra-long cigar made specifically for Cuban President Fidel Castro, who once gave it as a gift to foreign diplomats and dignitaries. Taste Cuban cigars and visit the cigar factory for a unique taste.
Europeans believe that only tobacco leaves and cigars grown in Cuba are the best. So starting in 1510, Cuba sold them in batches to Europe. There are many tobacco factories in Cuba, but the famous brand cigar manufacturers are all in Havana. Havana cigars represent the highest level of Cuban cigars and have become synonymous with Cuban cigars. There are two ways to make cigars: machine rolling and hand rolling. Generally speaking, hand-rolled cigars are better than machine rolling cigars. Cigarette workers are real artists. To make Havana cigars, you must first choose the best tobacco leaf. In addition, cigarette workers must also devote themselves to it, using their dexterous hands, skillfully cutting tobacco leaves, skilled cigarette technology, and finishing just right... Every time after making a cigar, the cigarette maker always looks at his masterpiece proudly and with self-appreciation.
To feel the comfort and brilliance of smoking a cigar, you must first bring the cigar to your lips to taste it. There are other criteria for testing cigars: origin of tobacco leaf, cigarette case, occupation and very comprehensive production process. Despite the high price of cigars, good smokers only need Havana cigars and ask for Havana cigars. Being able to smoke Havana cigars is a matter of pride and enjoyment. People with high purchasing power generally ask to taste Havana cigars in upper-class activities, and also use this luxurious product to give to their friends. People say that a good smoker of Havana cigars only tastes the delicious taste of cigars in his mouth and does not swallow them. After tasting it in his mouth, he slowly spat out the smoke, and the smoke gradually formed various beautiful patterns. He watched with fascination as the smoke rose slowly or quickly with the wind. White smoke, blue smoke, gray smoke or tricolored smoke formed various shapes that no one could think about.
Recommendation: Be sure to buy one marked "hechoinCubatotalmenteamano" and made purely handmade in Cuba), with both the government seal and the "Habanos" mark. If there are no of the above items, the quality will not be first-class. The price of cigars varies according to the quality. A small box of 10 small cigars costs around US$10 to US$15, and high-end ones can be sold for 300 RMB each. Generally, the quality of the products sold at the airport is relatively guaranteed. There are sometimes very cheap cigars to buy in state-owned shops on the roadside. One is only 7 soft Peso1 RMB =3Peso).
Entertainment At 21:00 every night, the sound of guns on the Cabana Heights kicks off, and the charming nightlife of Havana, Cuba kicks off. The custom of shooting guns has a history of more than 300 years. Guns ordered the gates of Havana to be closed to protect Havana from pirate attacks. When visiting Cuba, you must experience the nightlife here, and the bar is the best place to go. Although it is not as romantic as Paris and Vienna, it has a kind of Latin fanaticism, because the bars in Havana are still good places to enjoy Latin dance. The most famous place is "Crazy America" on the outskirts of Havana. This is known as the largest bar in Latin America can accommodate 3000 people, and there are song and dance performances with forest background every night. But the cost is very low. Dining and watching singing and dancing costs only 5 pesos, but seats must be reserved in advance.
In the bar, you can often see the whole family sitting around and chatting, or a few friends drinking. Of course, there are also couples who go out and dance when they are happy. The enthusiasm of the Latin nation can be seen at a glance. Another feature of Cuban bars is that there are no waitresses. Cuban music is a continuation of Spanish and African music, with the original Cuban rhythm: salsa, many of which are traditional sept. In the vast expanse of Latin America, the terraces and races are extremely diverse, so there are also various styles in music.
Tips for
* Cuba is an island country, and hand luggage also needs to be X-rayed when entering the country. All fruit and vegetable products, meat, eggs and dairy products will be confiscated. In addition, if there are too many electronic products such as USB flash drives in checked baggage, they will be required to be unpacked for inspection and confiscated. Please do not check valuables and luxury goods with higher unit prices to prevent loss.
※ The weather in Cuba is relatively hot all year round, especially from June to September, which is very hot. Sunglasses, sun hats, sunscreen, brightly colored bikinis and swimming shorts are must-have for traveling in Cuba.
※ Cuba adopts daylight saving time. In summer, there is a 12-hour time difference with Beijing, and in winter, there is a 13-hour time difference with Beijing.
※ Hotels in Cuba do not provide toothbrushes, toothpaste and slippers, and you need to bring your own. In hotels, a tip of 1- 2 CUC per day is customary, but it is not required for accommodation at Folk Casa. The voltage is 110V and the frequency is 60Hz.
※ It is best to carry cool oil and mosquitoes with you to avoid biting. In hotels where you stay, it is also best to use electric mosquito-repellent incense as dengue fever can be found in individual provinces of Cuba.
※ Most shops, supermarkets, museums and tourist attractions in Cuba are closed after 14 p.m. on Sundays. Working hours from Monday to Saturday are until 17 or 18 p.m.
※ Lunch in Cuba usually starts at 13 o'clock, and dinner is a main meal and starts at 7 o'clock in the evening.
※ Tipping is not required in ordinary restaurants. High-end restaurants usually add a 10% service charge when checking out, and if it is not on the bill, you can leave an appropriate tip. Hotels usually tip 1 CUC every day. For the buffet and bar of the All-inclusive hotel, it is recommended to identify certain waiters and tip them once a day or two, or when ordering multiple drinks at a time. When giving tips, try to use CUC (the value of the CUP is too small), and try not to use foreign coins (such as Canadian dollar 1 and Canadian dollar 2) as tips. Because the currency exchange office does not accept foreign coins, Cubans cannot exchange foreign coins in Cuba. If you can only save it and exchange it privately with foreign tourists, which is inconvenient.
※ If a Cuban wearing fancy clothes takes the initiative to take pictures of you, or comes over to play for you, please prepare change as a tip. Otherwise, please shake your head immediately, wave your hand, say No, and decline them.
※ At 21:00 every night, the sound of cannons on the Cabana Heights kicks off, and Havana's charming nightlife begins. The custom of shooting guns has a history of more than 300 years. Guns ordered the gates of Havana to be closed to protect Havana from pirate attacks.
※ The order of Cuban names is: first name-father-mother name. Generally address by first name or father's surname, or both. A woman still keeps her original name after getting married. Overseas Chinese usually take a Spanish name and place it before the surname.
※ Cubans generally call each other comrades. This is especially true in the workplace. In social situations, when dealing with unfamiliar people, no matter their age or social status, they are called comrades. Including what ordinary people call the country's top leaders. Foreigners are also called comrades on most occasions, but on informal occasions, some call them sir and some call them sir. In short, the term "comrade" is quite common in Cuba.
※ If you are stopped by the police when driving your car in Cuba and asked to pay a fine in cash on the grounds that you violated a certain traffic rule, do not pay it. Traffic fines in Cuba are not payable in cash, and most police officers make extra money in this way.
※ The overall social security situation in Cuba is relatively good, but it is precisely because of its good reputation that we should not take it lightly. It is best not to go out alone after dark, especially in the Laocheng District.
※ It is best to tie the camera with a plastic bag after using it on the beach. On the one hand, the sea water is corrosive. On the other hand, the white sand on the beach is very thin. If the wind blows, it will not penetrate seamlessly and is extremely difficult to clean up.
※ A small submersible camera will definitely make you feel more powerful. Choosing one three meters underwater is enough.
※ Cuba's universal free medical care system is world-renowned. But free medical care is only effective for Cubans. Hospitals with Policlinica signs on the street are generally hospitals, but according to regulations, these hospitals cannot accept foreigners. If there is an emergency, these hospitals may help you deal with it according to the degree of emergency. However, for formal medical treatment, or if you are considered to be an infectious disease, you will still be required to go to a hospital that specializes in receiving foreigners. If it is not really impossible to solve it yourself, I would rather not go to a hospital in Cuba. First, the registration fee is 25CUC. Secondly, the author himself has reservations about the technology of hospitals that receive foreigners.