Cuba

Spanish is the only official language. English is spoken by some staff in hotels and tourist restaurants, but far less widely in smaller towns and by taxi drivers, so a few Spanish phrases go a long way.

Internet in Cuba is state-run, slower, and pricier than in most countries — plan for less connectivity than usual.

• Wi-Fi: available mainly in hotel lobbies and designated public parks and squares, paid for with an ETECSA scratch card, often bought after a queue at an ETECSA office.
• Mobile data: a local ETECSA SIM lets you buy data packages, but speeds are inconsistent and coverage thins out in rural areas.
• Access: some international sites and apps load slowly or inconsistently; do not count on video calls or large uploads working reliably.

Tap water is not safe to drink in Cuba; stick to bottled or boiled water, including for brushing teeth in smaller towns. Pharmacies (farmacias) exist in most towns, but medicine and supplies can be limited. Bring a basic first-aid kit and any medication you need for the whole trip. No special vaccinations are required to enter, though a doctor may suggest routine boosters and hepatitis A protection given local food and water conditions.

Most visitors need a Tourist Card (Tarjeta del Turista) rather than a full visa, bought through an airline, a Cuban consulate, or an approved online agency before departure. It typically allows a 30-day stay, extendable once at a local immigration office; Canadian citizens usually get 90 days.

All travelers must also complete Cuba's online D'Viajeros customs and health declaration in the days before arrival, which generates a QR code needed at immigration.

US citizens face an extra rule: alongside the Tourist Card, they must travel under one of the categories authorized by US law, commonly "Support for the Cuban People."

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Cubans are generally warm and direct. A greeting (buenos días/tardes) before asking for anything is expected, even from a shopkeeper or a stranger you're asking for directions.

• Dress is casual almost everywhere, but cover shoulders and knees in churches.
• Ask before photographing people, especially in poorer neighborhoods — a small tip is customary if someone poses for you.
• Cubans discuss politics openly among themselves, but visitors should be cautious about voicing strong opinions about the government in public.
• Bargaining is normal for souvenirs and with unofficial taxis, less so in state-run shops with fixed prices.

Public holidays can close government offices and some shops, though many restaurants and casas particulares stay open to serve tourists. Book transport well ahead around 1 January and 26 July, when domestic travel peaks.

Shops generally open Monday to Saturday, often with a midday break, and run limited hours on Sundays.

• By air: domestic flights connect Havana with Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and other far-flung provinces — worth it if you are short on time and want to skip a long bus ride.
• By bus: Viazul runs air-conditioned coaches between major tourist towns and is the most reliable option for independent travel; book seats a few days ahead in high season. Viazul
• By shared taxi: colectivos run fixed routes between cities for a fraction of a private taxi's price; agree on the fare before boarding.
• By train: the rail network is slow and unreliable, and not a practical option for most visitors.

Cuban food centers on rice, beans, and slow-cooked meat, with Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences. Breakfast is usually simple — bread, eggs, and strong coffee — while lunch is the main meal for many Cubans, built around rice, beans, a meat dish, and fried plantains. Dinner tends to be lighter outside tourist restaurants.

Street food and snacks are cheap and widely available: pizza sold from a hatch, pastries, and fresh fruit from local markets. Rum-based cocktails are as much a part of the culture as the food, and a strong, sweet coffee is drunk throughout the day.

Most tourists eat at paladares (privately run restaurants), which tend to have better food and service than state-run restaurants. Casas particulares often serve home-cooked meals to their guests for an extra charge, which is usually worth it.

Havana is Cuba's capital and the start of most trips, with the colonial core of Old Havana, the Malecón seafront, and the country's biggest concentration of museums and nightlife.

Colonial towns:

• Trinidad, a cobblestoned 16th-century town near the coast, is one of the best-preserved colonial towns in the Caribbean.
• Camagüey, known for a maze of narrow, deliberately confusing streets built to slow down pirate raids.
• Santa Clara, home to the Che Guevara Mausoleum and a younger, more alternative arts scene.

Countryside and beaches:

• Viñales, a valley of dramatic limestone hills (mogotes) and tobacco farms in the west.
• Varadero, Cuba's best-known beach resort, with miles of white sand on a narrow peninsula.
• Cienfuegos, a French-influenced port city on a wide bay, nicknamed the Pearl of the South.

The east:

• Santiago de Cuba, the country's second city, with a stronger Afro-Cuban and Caribbean character and sites tied to the 1959 revolution.
• Baracoa, Cuba's oldest colonial settlement, isolated behind mountains and known for its chocolate and cacao farms.
• Holguín, a gateway to the beach resorts around Guardalavaca.