Cuba <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:cu-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Havana</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>Communist state<br/></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>Cuban peso (CUP)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 110,860 sq km <br>''water:'' 0 sq km <br>''land:'' 110,860 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>11,224,321 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>Spanish</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented</td></tr> </table> </div>  '''Cuba''' is a Caribbean Islands|Caribbean island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies 150 km south of Key West, Florida between the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, to the west of Haiti. Before the 1959 communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination for United States of America|United States citizens. Since the revolution, Cuba has been shunned by the United States and travel between the two neighbors has to be via a third country. These restrictions mean that much of Cuba's tourist and general infrastructure has been virtually frozen in the state it was in in the late 1950's as Cubans have been forced to make do. However the charms that attracted tourists to Cuba up to the 1950's have not gone away. If anything, the time of isolation has made Cuba an even more interesting and challenging destination to visit for the adventurous traveller. Image:cu-map.gif|thumb|400px|Map of Cuba ==Regions== === Western Cuba === *Pinar del Rio (province)|Pinar del Rio *Havana (province) (La Habana) *Havana (city) (Ciudad de la Habana) *Isla de la Juventud (special municipality) === Central Cuba === *Matanza (province)|Mantanzas *Villa Clara *Cienfuegos (province)|Cienfuegos *Sancti Spiritus (province)|Sancti Spiritus *Ciego de Avila (province)|Ciego de Avila === Eastern Cuba === *Camaguey (province)|Camaguey *Las Tunas (province)|Las Tunas *Holguin (province)|Holguin *Santiago de Cuba (province)|Santiago de Cuba *Granma *Guantanamo (province)|Guantanamo ==Cities== *Havana (city)|Havana - capital, decay and nightlife *Trinidad de Cuba World Heritage Site *Santiago de Cuba - party capital *Maria Gorda ==Other destinations== *Isla de la Juventud *Cayo Coco - beach resort *Cayo Largo - small island, has good nudist facilities *Varadero - nice beach resort *Valley de Vinales- nice scenery ==Understand== Due to the economy the infrastructure is very run down. Even in the best of hotels there might occasionally have only cold water or sometimes no water at all. Powercuts are frequent (except in tourist places that can afford a generator) and you need quite a bit of patience for busses and trains. On the other hand, you can have a true candlelight dinner or watch a tens of people sitting out in the street around a tiny black & white, car battery powered, TV all anxious not to miss an episode of some TV series. ==Get in== ===Visa and legal issues === A tourist visa (Visada Tarjeta del Turista) is necessary for travellers from most nations. This visa costs about USD 25. If your travel agent cannot provide this you should contact the closest Cuban [http://www.dtcuba.com/eng/buscar_embajadas.asp?action=get&codclas=6&clas=Cuban%20Consulates Consulate] or [http://www.dtcuba.com/eng/buscar_embajadas.asp?action=get&codclas=2&clas=Cuban%20Embassies%20abroad Embassy]. You will need a passport valid at least six months past the end of your planned return. The tourist visa is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days at any immigration office in Cuba. On arrival you must have a legal housing booking for at least three days. Otherwise you risk immigration to make a reservation for you and the price or the accommodations might not suit you. Beware to check out the Cuban [http://www.aduana.islagrande.cu/mapa3.htm customs] regulations. ===Warning for US travellers === For political reasons travelling to Cuba from the United States of America, one of its nearest neighbors, is not currently possible. Many US citizens travel by way of Canada or Mexico. American citizens should be aware that it is illegal for them to visit Cuba without a license. Licenses are only granted to journalists, people visiting relatives, and a few [http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cuba.html other reasons]. If the US government finds out about your visit, you may be subject to fines or even criminal prosecution at the whim of the United States government. The United States is represented by a Interests Section located in the Polish Embassy. Counsel Services are not available. American credit cards, ATM cards and traveler's checks are not valid in Cuba. ===By plane=== Jose Marti International Airport in Havana the main gateway and is served by major airlines from points in '''Canada, Mexico and Europe'''. There are also regular '''holiday charter''' flights to the various resorts, and these can sometimes be '''less expensive''' than those going to Havana. ===By boat=== There is no regular ferries or boats to Cuba from foreign ports. Yachters are expected to anchor at the public [http://www.dtcuba.com/eng/buscar_nauticas.asp marinas]. ==Get around== ===By bus=== Probably the best way to get around on Cuba is on the Viazul buses [http://www.viazul.cu]. These are incredibly well-staffed and luxurious buses with toilets which the attendant dutifully bleaches. Big comfy seats, and lots of legroom. Halfway through a six-hour journey to Trinidad from Havana, the attendant comes down the aisle offering candies on a tray. ===By plane=== Cuba's national carrier is [http://www.cubana.cu Cubana de Aviación]. If you want to reach a distant part of the island (like Santiago de Cuba from Havana), you can make this trip fast and comfortable with one of the domestic flights. ==Talk== The official language of Cuba is Spanish. The Spanish spoken in Cuba is only slightly different from that spoken in Spain. They like to swallow the last sound in a word and generally swallow the 's' sound. See also: Spanish phrasebook ==Buy== Until the end of 2004 there were 3 currencies circulating in Cuba: local Pesos (Peso), Convertible Pesos (CUC) and US Dollar (USD). USD and CUC was equal in value, and tourists could pay by USD to local people who changed in back to their local Pesos. Since November 2004 Castro made a change: USD is penalized with a 10% exchange tax, so it doesn't circulate in the country as before. Now the official currency which a tourist can own is CUC. It's only legal to own within the borders of Cuba, you're not allowed to take it out from the country (practically no-one stops and searches you at the customs line). CUC still has the same value as USD, so if you take Euros, Switzerland Francs etc. but not US Dollars, you can expect an exchange rate as if you'd change your money to US Dollars. As any third world country, most of the merchandise available is designed for tourists to take back home. The biggest Cuban export are Rum, Cigars and Coffee. All of which is available at government owned stores (including the duty free store at the airport) or on the streets. For genuine merchandise, you should pay the official price at the legal stores. Another thing Cubans do well is music such as salsa, son and Afro-Cubano. You can purchase CDs or tapes anywhere but it is recommended paying the average cost of US$20 to guarantee quality and to support the artists. ==Eat== The food in Cuba is notorious for being bland, however, this really depends on the hotel. One hotel which seems to have pretty good food reviews is Iberostar Tainos in Varadero. Cubans eat mainly only pork and chicken. Beef, fish, lobster, turtle, and just about everything else is illegal to sell outside of state owned hotels and restaurants. If you eat in a 'paladares' which are privately owned restaurants and you have turtle, you are not only eating endangered animals, you're eating illegal food. Even the jail sentence for a Cuban killing a cow is very strict. ==Drink== Cuban national cocktails include the Cuba Libre (rum and coke) and the Mojito (rum, lime, sugar, mint leaves and ice). Cristal is a light beer and is available in dollar stores where Cubans with CUCs (convertable pesos) & visitors may shop. Cubans prefer the Bucanero Fuerte, which at 5.5% alcohol is a strong (hence the 'fuerte') darker beer. ==Sleep== If you want to experience something of the real life of Cubans the best places to stay are in Casas Particulares (guest houses). They are cheaper than hotels and the food is invariably better than you would get in a hotel. Staying in someone's house, you may be shown family photos, and enjoy a more intimate and enlightening experience. ==Learn== The University of Havana offers both long and short Spanish courses. ==Work== The average official salary for Cubans is US$15. However, non-Cubans can obtain a work visa if they find a position with a legal establishment, such as the government, which renewable every six months. ==Stay safe== Cuba is generally a very safe country; strict and prominent policing, combined with neighborhood watch style-programs keep the streets safe from violent crime. Nonetheless, a certain degree of caution is advisable, especially in major cities. Visitors are advised to avoid coming to the attention of the Cuban police and security services. Drug laws can be draconian and their implementation unpredictable. The same may be said about the laws concerning prostitution. The importation, procession or production of pornography is strictly prohibited. ==Stay healthy== Cuba is considered very healthy except for the water; even the Cubans boil their water. The best solution is bottled water and lots of it (especially for visitors who are not used to the 30 C degree and plus temperatures). The island is subtropical and so the host to a number of diseases. An aggressive program of inoculations is worth considering when planning a trip to Cuba. Visitors who get sick in Cuba can easily see a doctor. Cuba's health care system is in good shape and the number of doctors per capita is higher than in Canada. Finding medication is often very difficult. It is highly recommended to stock up on off-the-shelf medication before heading to Cuba. Do not attempt to import psychoactive drugs into Cuba. ==Respect== ==Contact== ==External links== *[http://www.dtcuba.com/eng/ Office of Tourism] *[http://www.travel-impressions.de/cuba/cuba_mix/waves.htm Photos] WikiPedia:Cuba fr:Cuba {{stub}} ---- =CIA Factbook information= ---- ''The remainder of this article is an Wikitravel:CIA World Factbook 2002 import|import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a '''real''' Wikitravel country article according to our Wikitravel:country article template|country article template. Please Wikitravel:plunge forward|plunge forward and integrate it into the article above.'' ---- Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the country together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Havana portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a continuing problem. Some 2,600 Cubans attempted the crossing of the Straits of Florida in 2001; the US Coast Guard apprehended only about 35% of the individuals. ==Geography== ; '''Climate''' : tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October) ; '''Terrain''' : mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast ; '''Natural hazards''' : the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common ; '''Environment - current issues''' : air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation ==Economy== ; '''Economy - overview''' : The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a concern for firm political control. It has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase enterprise efficiency, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services, but is unlikely to implement extensive changes. A major feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the severe economic depression of the early 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. High oil prices, recessions in key export markets, and damage from Hurricane Michelle hampered growth in 2001. Cuba paid high prices for oil imports in the face of slumping prices in the key sugar and nickel industries and suffered a slowdown in tourist arrivals following September 11. The government aimed for 3% growth in 2002, but growth was held back by hurricanes, depressed tourism, and faltering world economic conditions, including low world sugar prices and a shortage of external financing. ==Communications== ; '''Telephone system''' : ''general assessment:'' NA <br>''domestic:'' principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, built during the period of Soviet support); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established <br>''international:'' satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) ==Transnational Issues== ; '''Disputes - international''' : US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease ; '''Illicit drugs''' : territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine and heroin bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 de:Kuba First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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