Cuban tourism is on the increase in recent years. This nation is worldwide known for its incredible cigars and the Salsa music played almost in every bar and tavern. Cuba boasts of American cars from the 50s and it would be a crime not to take a trip through old Havana in one of these. Cuba also uses two currencies which may be confusing for some. The Cuban peso is used only by the locals while the convertible peso is used by the tourists and its value is pegged to the US dollar. If you’re a fast food chain lover you might as well forget it because the only KFC and McDonalds on the island happen to be in the US Guantanamo military base, which in turn allows the local restaurants to serve the incredible Cuban food to its full potential. There are certain areas in which a tourist should take precautions.

Travelling info

When travelling to Cuba from the Americas or Europe you’ll most likely be required to obtain a Cuban Tourist Card or a visa if you’re travelling from India or the middle east however certain nations do not require a visa for a period of time ranging from 28 days to an unspecified amount. (list provided in sources). People visiting for leisure purposes must apply for Tourist Card which is valid for a one time trip for up to 30 days stay and up to 180 days after its issue. It is advised to obtain the tourist card from a Cuban embassy in the tourists home country as any other source may be illegitimate or a scam. You are not required to obtain an International Drivers License although it may make things easier in case of a police control or a road violation etc. although you’ll have no problem renting a car. Car rentals are a rather expensive costing more than in the rest of the world, and to probably burst your bubble it won’t be a classic car from the 50s. All the rental cars are rather new although you’ll find a poorer choice than in the rest of the world.

Travelling hazards

Most roads in Cuba are in poor condition, they are riddled with potholes. Driving outside of the city and in rural areas is still scarce. When venturing out on a sightseeing trip on the rural roads you’re most likely to encounter other sightseers, mopeds bicycles and horse carts. When renting a car it is worth mentioning that your car will have a registration plate other than the cars of the locals. This is because all rental cars receive a plate with a red background. This signals that you’re a tourist and might make you a potential victim. There have been instances of scammers attempting to rob people by offering them help with their punctured tyres. It is advisable to stay vigilant in such cases. Beware that GPS will be no use to you as it does not work on the island. The Internet is also very limited and provided only by some networks mainly around Havana. You will be most likely forced to use your map reading skills when travelling anywhere around Cuba.

Environmental hazards

Out of all the large land creatures, only the Cuban crocodile can pose a threat to humans. The only place these creatures are found in are the areas of Zapata Swamp and the Isle of Youth. It is advisable not to come close as these are highly aggressive creatures. Cuba has no venomous animals that pose a life-threatening danger to humans and although their sting or bite might be painful their venom is not potent enough to kill a human. Cuban waters are considered to be a sanctuary for sharks however throughout almost 300 years only 40 attacks have been reported of which less than half was fatal. Public beaches and resort beaches are safe and sharks are rarely seen there due to the high activity of motorboats and humans. To avoid any such encounters people are advised to avoid non-public and unguarded beaches, and swimming after dusk when the sharks are most active.
The weather seems to create more danger for the people of Cuba than the earlier mentioned animals. Cuba experiences a cyclone season from late summer into early autumn. During that time tropical cyclones may arise and impede any sort of communication with the island whether it is by air or sea. Apart from the cyclones, extremely high temperatures during the months of June, July and August can be troublesome even for the native Cubans.

Health hazards

There are no required vaccines upon entry however it is recommended to undergo your routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, Hepatitis A and B, rabies and typhoid vaccines. Increased caution in preventing bug bites is advised as there have been reports of Zika and dengue fever carried by mosquitoes. There are no private clinics or hospitals, the entire healthcare system is provided by the government with the few exceptions of the large tourist resorts that have small clinics and physicians. As of May 2010 everyone entering Cuba is required to purchase health insurance. If not purchased before the trip you may buy one upon entering Cuba. Cuban healthcare is of a lower standard than the European although the physicians are competent however there are supply and bed shortages in clinics and hospitals and it is strongly advised to bring prescribed medicine with you including some over the counter medicine just in case the stay is prolonged for any reason. It is also advised to bring cash as most credit or debit cards are not accepted.
In case of an emergency dial 106.

Crime

There are no reliable statistics released from the Cuban state, however, when it comes to tourism violent crime or armed and unarmed assault is unheard of however bad snatching and pickpocketing along with more tourists are on the rise. You are still less likely to be robbed in Havana than in New York metro or London underground however these are still a possibility. Scams are also happening more often along with the tourist influx. There have been many reports of people offering help to those with punctured tyres and stealing their expensive belongings or quoting an astronomical price for the fixed puncture but after the serviced tyre it seems to be too late to negotiate the price. Perseverance and friendliness in refusing the help is the key to avoiding such incidents. Taking photos of the people or the number of plates of their cars can be helpful if being scammed. Narcotics possession of any kind or amount is illegal however you are unlikely to encounter or be offered any sort of drugs on your stay because of the efforts of the Cuban police force which is actively policing the coasts and rural areas for any trafficking or local production.

Summary

Since the end of the cold war and dawn of the 21st century, Cuba became an increasingly popular tourist destination and rightly so, its warm Caribbean climate, kind and warm people, vintage cars and beautiful cities make it an unforgettable experience for any visitor. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Vaccines)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cuba
(Vista/tourist cards)
https://www.howtotraveltocuba.com/cuban-tourist-card-and-visas/