Cuba

Here, in the middle of the sea, gambolling on the waters with my naked Antilles, I greet you, Tropic. Sports, spring greet, which sleeps of my salty lungs through these scandalous islands daughters of yours.

(Guillén, West Indies Ltd, 1934)

Location

Cuba is an archipelago composed of the island of Cuba, the Island of Youth, and another 4195 cays and islets. It is located at the entrance of the Mexican Gulf, at a distance of 48 miles (77 kilometers) from Haiti; 87 miles (140 kilometers) from the Bahamas; 91 miles (146 kilometers) from Jamaica; 112 miles (180 kilometers) from Florida; and 130 miles (210 kilometers) from Cancun.

Dimensions and Population

The island of Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean. Its territory contains a total surface of 110 922 km, from which 105 007 km² correspond to the island of Cuba, 2200 km² to the Island of Youth, and 3 715 km² to the rest of the islets and cays. It has 1200 km of longitude, and over 11 million inhabitants; most of them are descendants from Spaniards, Africans, and Asians. In Havana City, the capital of this country, live more than 2 million people.

Official Language

Spanish

Climate

The climate of the island is moderate subtropical, and two well-defined stations can be seen: rainy (from May to October), and dry (from November to April). Annual temperature average is 77, 00 F (25 C) .January is usually the coldest month, and July the hottest. Annual humidity average is 81%, and rain regime is of 1.375 mm a year. Superficial water surrounding Cuban shores keep a temperature of 78, 80 F (26 C) and until 86, 00 F (30 C), due to the influence of the warm currents of the Caribbean, submerged in the Gulf Current.

Relief

Cuban island is characterized by its long, narrowed shape. Although plains prevail, four mountain groups can be identified: The Guaniguanico Range (in the West), Guamuhaya Range (in the middle), Sierra Maestra Mountains and Sagua Baracoa (in the East). The highest point of the country is Turquino Royal Peak (1974 m above sea level), located in the Sierra Maestra Mountains.

Hydrography

Due to the geographical configuration of Cuba, river currents are not very wealthy, and their amount of water is determined by rains regime. The most important rivers are Cauto River, in the oriental region, with 370 km length; the Zaza River (145 km); the Sagua la Grande River (144 km); the Caonao River (132 km); the Agabama River (118 km); and the Mayarí River (107 km).

Flora and Fauna

Cuban Flora has over 7. 000 species; the most outstanding ones are the Royal Palm, the cedar, the pine, the mahogany, and the majagua. There are 6 Biosphere Reserves in this country: Guanacabibes Peninsula and Rosario’s Sierra in the West; the Zapata Swamp in the centre; Baconao and Cuchillas of Toa in t he East. The Royal Palm is the national tree, and the Butterfly is the national flower.
Cuban Fauna has a plentiful assortment of species. However, there are no dangerous animals for human life in this country. It is the home of the smallest bird in the world: the zunzuncito (mellisuga helenae), and there is also a large variety of land and sea-snails, of different sizes and great beauty. For instance, there are a lot of oysters, molluscs and quelonios such as caguamas, turtles, jicoteas, tortoiseshells; and well-known crustaceans like lobsters and shrimps. In this island also live a great number of lizards, like the iguana; diverse and little lizards and chameleons, as well as crocodiles, whose habitat is located in swampy areas like the Peninsula of Zapata.
There are, on the other hand, few varieties of reptiles, and none of them is noxious to man’s life. The most abundant is the Santa María one. In Cuba live extraordinarily beautiful and bright coloured birds, such as the flamenco, the tocororo, the heron, the crane, the parrot, the hummingbird, among others. Also exist in this island species like the manatee and the almiquí, which are in extinction danger. The national bird is the tocororo, because of its colourful feather, which has the same colours of the Cuban flag.

Immigration Regulations

Every visitor should have an in-force passport on his/her name and the corresponding visa or tourist card, except for the countries to which Cuba has free-visa agreements with. Tourist Cards, individual as well as for groups, can be requested at Cuban Consulates Representations, travel agencies, and airlines´ offices.

Airport Fee

Departing fee of international airports in Cuba is $25.00 Convertible Cuban pesos (CUC).

Customs Regulations

-Personal effects, two liquor bottles, a cigarettes package, and up to 22 pounds (10 kg) of medicines are duty-free. Also, you may bring in other articles up to a value of US $250.00; from this amount, US $50.00 will be duty-free and a 100 % duty will be due on the remaining US $200.00 worth.
-It is not allowed:
• To have narcotics. The possession, traffic, consumption, and the selling of drugs or any kind of narcotics are forbidden.
• Pornography. It is banned to bring in any sort of pornography material.
• To bring blood derivates.
• Phones and cordless microphones.
• Household appliances
• Firearms; except for those duly authorized for hunting
• The exportation and/or importation of Cuban pesos.

You may bring as much cash as you want into the country. However, we recommend that you declare amounts of US $5000.00 or more, because you will have to present a Custom declaration in order to take out such amounts.
When leaving Cuba, you can take with you 23 Habano cigars, either loose or packaged, without having to present any documents. For a larger amount of cigars, you should present in the customs a copy of the bill of sale from the store where you purchased them. The cigars should be in their original packages, which should bear the official authorization
In order to take works of art or antiques out of the country, you must request permission from the National Registry of Cultural Assets, of the Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture. Payment of overweight to the airline at the origin point does not exempt you from paying, when arriving to Cuba, the corresponding duty according to the articles´ value.
All Cuban international airports charge an exit fee of 25 convertible Cuban pesos.

Health Regulations

International Vaccination Certificate is demanded only to visitors coming from countries where there is endemic cholera and/or yellow fever; or which have been declared as infection zones by the World Health Organization (WHO). The entry of products of animal and/or plant origin is restricted.

Medical Attention and Insurance

Most Cubanacan hotels have medical services, which provide primary health care. If you aren’t covered by an insurance policy while travelling, you can obtain one in Cuba through the traveller’s aid company.

Currency

Cuban national currency is the peso. Circulate notes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos; and metallic currencies of 1 and 3 pesos. There are also pieces of 1, 5 and 20 cents. The national convertible peso also circulates with the following denominations: notes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos and currencies of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. In tourist facilities and other units of service, the prices are fixed in CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso), for what it is recommended to exchange any convertible currency to CUC. Credit cards accepted are Master Card, Visa, Cabal, and BFI, as long as they are not issued by North American banks. Euro currency circulates only in the Tourist Poles of Varadero, Holguín, Cayo largo del Sur, Covarrubia and Jardines del Rey.

Electric Current

Current of 110 volts, 60 Hertz is the most commonly used; as well as plugs with flat prongs. Some hotels and facilities also have 220-volt outlets.

There is a wide range of transportation services, with offers including taxis, cars rental, buses, and motorcycles. Visitors can also opt for air and terrestrial means of transportation to travel through the different provinces of the country. Almost all Cuban hotels have car rental and taxi’s services 24 hours a day.

To call to Cuba

First dial the prefix for leaving the country where you are and then the number for Cuba (53). Next, dial the area code for the province, and finally the telephone number wanted. Most hotels offer direct-dialling international and national telephony and e-mail services. There are also mobile telephony services, which you can request even at your arrival at the airport.

Culture

Cuba possesses a highly esteemed culture, and during the last years it has been the hostess of many important international festivals, such as the Festivals of ballet, cinema, plastic arts, and cigars. Cuban people stands out for its cheerful and musical character, deeply ingrained to its traditions and customs. There are many cities with a very rich and old cultural patrimony, declared, in many cases, World Heritage. Among them are Havana City, Trinidad, and others as Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo. In the whole country reigns a welcoming atmosphere very attached to cultural, culinary and historical traditions, but always stands out the hospitality for which Cubans are identified worldwide.

Beaches

Cuba is among the main destinations of sun and beach of the Caribbean. Cuban coasts are acknowledged by its quality and high cleaning level. They present ecosystems with a remarkable conservation degree and beaches favoured by the protection of the coralline formations located around the coasts. Northern coast longitude is of 1.993,98 miles (3209 km), and the Southern one is of 1.576,42 miles (2537 km). There are multiple natural bays, and over 300 beautiful beaches such as Varadero, Guardalavaca, Santa Lucía and Ancón.

Music

Music is the most authentic artistic expression of Cuban people. Many important Cuban creators have bequeathed to the world rhythms like Chachachá, Mambo and Rumba. Of all Cuban arts, music is the most well known around the world. Popular and dancing music have made Cuba famous. Also, they have made people from diverse latitudes enjoy, especially since the 30th, when it began to extend out of the territorial limits of the island.

Cocktails

Cuba’s Rum is internationally well-known for its unique flavour. This is a result of its elaboration, based on the best honeys of Cuban sugar’s cane. That’s why it is a powerful, slight, dry, transparent and unmistakable product. Because of its centenary fame, stand out rums like Havana Club, Mulata, Caribbean Club, and Varadero, among others. Generally, each tourist facilities have the so-called “cocktail of the house”; among the most famous ones there are: the Mojito, the Mulata, the Saoco, the Cuba Libre, and especially the Daiquiri, considered as one of the ten best cocktails of the world.

Creole meals

Creole food is rich in flavours, varied and complex because it often goes beyond plates which are thought as strictly Cuban. The Creole ajiaco, of which exist many versions, is the national plate. Basically, it is a group of vegetables and orchard fruits with several meat types cooked at the same time. Some glories of the Cuban culinary are the congrí (white rice with red beans cooked together) and the Moorish rice, also called Moorish and Christian, that is the stew of black beans with rice.  

Nautical Sports

The limpid and warm sea surrounding Cuba is one of its most valuable tourist attractiveness. The fact that most Cuban bathing resorts are generally protected by formations of coralline reefs provides exceptional conditions for the practice of diverse nautical sports. Diving has a privileged place, because it is carried out in waters whose average temperature oscillates between 23° C. and 30° C, and where horizontal visibility reaches about 98,43 feet (30 meters). Under the seawaters of this archipelago there is an alive, silent, multicoloured world full of legends. That is why those who visit it experience the indescribable feeling of discovering a world of hidden beauties. It is, without question, a fascinating universe, enriched for centuries with stories about pirates, corsairs, colonizers, galleons and sunken battleships. Those elements have transformed these depths into the most valuable ones in the Caribbean area.

Religion

Cuba is a lay country where cult's freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic. The most widespread religion is the catholic one. Catholic churches of the whole country celebrate religious services daily, and direct celebrations of national or local religious festivities. Afro-Cuban religion is deeply rooted on people, as a result from the syncretism between the Catholic saints and African deities. The Caridad del Cobre Virgin is the most worshipped, because she is the Catholic Patron of Cuba, and she receives the name of Ochún in the Afro-Cuban religion.