Nowadays Cuba has a modern digital phone network that covers the whole country and although the number of traditional and cell phones is not big you may find the necessary facilities to communicate with any other part of the country or abroad.

How the phone net works
To make a local phone call you may use the public phone booths that work with coins or pre-paid cards in Cuban currency (CUP), that's why we suggest you to change some dollars or euros in CUP (coins) because in this way the calls would be cheaper. You may also make phone calls in the telephone centers, post offices or with private phones, if you make a local call it must be charged in CUP (Cuban currency).
To make an international phone call you must use the telephone booths which work with pre-paid cards in Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) that could be found in hotels, airports and telephone centers or use a cell phone..

To call to Cuba
To phone to Cuba from abroad by means of tele-selection system you must dial:

1. International code of the country where you are.
2. Cuban code: 53.
3. Area code.
4. Number you want to comunícate.

Example: To call from Germany to Baracoa in Guantánamo you must dial

• 00- International German code.
• 53- Code of Cuba.
• 21- Area code of Baracoa.
• Number you want to communicate.

00 + 53 + 21 + Number you want to communicate.

To call from Cuba to another country
To make a phone call to another country by means of tele-selection system, you must dial:

1. Cuban International prefix: 119
2. Code of the country you want to phone
3. Area code
4. Number you want to communicate

Example: If you want to phone to Hamburg, Germany, you must dial

• 119- Cuban international prefix.
• 49- National German code.
• 40- Hamburg area code.
• Number you want to communicate.

119 + 49 + 40 + number you want to communicate.

See the Cuban area code list.

To visit Cuba you need a valid passport and a visa or a tourist card. You may ask for the tourist card at the Cuban embassies or consulates, travel agencies and airline offices, be sure it is stamped on the backside. (Embassy web directory)
If you are traveling to Cuba for other reason than tourism you may ask for a visa at a Cuban embassy or consulate. Cuban authorities do not stamp passports when entering Cuba.

No pornography, narcotic, drugs or fire arms are allowed to enter the country. In the case of fire arms you need permission if they are for hunting sports, this permission must be given by the entity in charge of this kind of activity.
Personal goods, video and photo cameras, jewels, tackles for fishing and some other sporting goods are duty free; you are also allowed to enter 10 kg of medicine in its original containers.
Tourists may import goods up to US$ 1000.00, US$ 50.00 of them are free of import tax and there is a progressive rate for the rest that may reach up to 200% of their values.
Tourist may export antiques, artwork and other cultural goods legally if presenting the legal documents as the bills signed by the corresponding authorities. Handcraft does not need any document for exportation. You may export goods up to 1000.00 U.S.D.
For exporting more than 50 cigars, you must show to custom officers the invoice given by Habanos S.A at the store where cigars were bought.
There is no limit to bring in money to the country but if the amount is over 5000.00 U.S.D or its equivalence in other currencies you need to declare it to the custom office. (Link to the official website)

There are some sanitary regulations but just for people who come from countries where cholera and malaria are endemic or for those whose countries were declared infected areas by the W.H.O. Those persons must show the international vaccination card.
You cannot bring in fresh fruits, vegetables or unprocessed food of animal origin. For pets you must show the health document.

Cuba is located in the Caribbean Sea that´s why we have a typical subtropical climate and due to its shape (large and narrow) it is influenced by breezes and winds.
Cuban winter season is brief and cool north winds provoke mild temperatures mainly in the central and western regions of the island.

When in Cuba you may better wear appropriate clothing for summer season so you?ll need fabrics made of cotton. T shirts, shorts and sandals are fine. Keep in mind the use of suntan milk and to wear sunglasses.
During winter just wear a sweater or a convenient coat could be enough especially at night.

You do not need to be vaccinated to visit Cuba.
There is medical attention in most of the hotels 24 hours a day.
There are specialized clinics in all important cities and tourist resorts. ASISTUR S.A is the Cuban company for tourist assistance offers medical attention that includes from medical checkups (in hospitals or ambulatory) to the control of medical expenses.

You may drink fresh water from the faucets, but make sure that it is boiled and filtered otherwise buy mineral water, which is easy to get in each and every store or market.

The most common AC used in Cuba is 110V/60HZ although you can find 220V/60HZ in hotels, offices, markets and in the majority of houses that rent rooms.
Bring your adapter, it is very difficult to find outlet for round plugs. Be sure to know the right AC when you are going to plug an appliance, in most of the cases there is no sign on the outlet to inform it.

Cuba is the safest country in the area with a low crime-rate notwithstanding that you have to take some precautions with minor thieves.
If you go out for a walk just bring the necessary amount of money you will need and do not ignore your personal goods.
Avoid improvised tourist guides, they are not professional and almost all of them do not know the history and the culture of the country.
You will feel safe in almost all streets and police officers will offer you help if it is needed.

We suggest you don´t take public transportation for local transport, as they do not run frequently and they are always very crowded. It is better to take a taxi, tourist bus or simply walk if the place is not so far.
If you want to travel along the country you may use Viazul buses (a tourist bus company) or rent a car. There are different car rental agencies with comfortable cars and with services through all Cuba especially in the most important tourist destinations.
When driving a rental car you should be careful since large animals such as cows and horses may be on the roads. Therefore we highly recommend to you not to drive after sunset. In the cities you watch out for people riding bikes.
It is useful to buy a map known as "Guía de Carreteras de Cuba".