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Trip Information

Handy Information

  1. All trips start and end in Havana
  2. Upon your arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation by your pre-arranged driver, please let us know your arrival time at least 5 days in advance
  3. On Day 1 of your tours there are no meals provided nor activities planned, due to the varying arrival time of each participant
  4. On day 1 your guide will hold a welcome meeting at 6pm
  5. On your last day your checkout time is 12pm, you may leave prior to this time as required
  6. Please let your guide know on your last night what time you will require your airport transfer so it can be arranged
  7. Additional accommodation either prior to or after your tour finishes can be arranged upon request at an additional cost
  8. A single room can also be arrange to all or part of your trip upon request, prior to your arrival, at an additional cost
  9. Approximately 10 day prior to your arrival you will be provided with a ‘Joining Instructions’ email outlining your accommodation in Havana. Your driver will also have this information
  10. You will need to arrange your own visa/Tourist card for Cuba prior to arrival
  11. Since 2010, Travel Insurance is compulsory for entry into Cuba, please ensure that you have sufficient coverage for medical, repatriation and COVID as a minimum required by immigration officials at the airport. If you do not have sufficient coverage, you may be required to purchase further coverage from Asistur.
  12. You will be required to complete a health declaration and PCR testing upon arrival. You will need to remain in your accommodation, isolated till you receive your negative test results. Should results be positive, you will be taken to medical care and provided treatment.

Passport and visas

  • Please check with your local Cuban embassy as to requirements for your Cuban visa/tourist card and arrange it prior to travel
  • US Travellers (citizens, residents or transfers) must comply with the latest regulations set out by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Currently there are very limited visa options for US citizens travelling to Cuba, please ensure that you comply with requirements.
  • If you hold a tourist card, please ensure that you have the hard copy document with you at all times.
  • Please check with your travel agent prior to traveling with regard to any transfer visa and or possible quarantine requirements in place.
  • Your passport must have at least 2 month validity upon entry to Cuba.

Medical and health information

  • All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. Our trips are not strenuous, however certain activities, such as Scuba Diving, will require you to be in a fit state. Should our leader assess you as unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to yourself and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude you from all or part of a trip without refund.
  • You should check with your airline and you your doctor for up-to-date medical travel requirements and information such as necessary vaccinations before departure. Whilst our leader will have a first aid kit with him, it is a great precaution to have your own travel first aid kit.
  • Please ensure that you bring mosquito repellent with you for your trip.

Food and dietary requirements

  • Meals will be included as per your itinerary, please ensure that you advise us of any dietary requirements prior to travel. Please note that whilst vegetarian and vegan options (as well as any intolerances) can be accommodated, there tend to be a lesser variety and the same cost as any other meal.
  • There are very limited snacks available in Cuba; especially after the pandemic. If you’d like to snack, we recommend you bring your own. Please check import requirements for food items prior to your travel.

Accommodation

  • Premium Guesthouse rooms with their own bathroom and air-conditioning as a minimum.
  • Your pre- and post-tour accommodation will be in Old Havana, Vedado or Central Havana

Transport

Private vehicle

Money

  • Please take in consideration the items that are already included in your itinerary and calculate your budget for your trip according to any additional activities that you may wish to conduct ad well as drinks, entertainment, tipping etc. We recommend around 50USD a day
  • Make sure that you allow yourself an emergency find
  • Please bring a mix of payment options, credit cards may be necessary by some service providers to limit cash handling, however in most instances, cash is still the best option in Cuba

TIPPING

  • If you’re happy with the service you receive, providing a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate and highly appreciated.

CURRENCY INFORMATION

  • From January 1, 2021 Cuba is changing it’s monetary system to a single currency of Cuban Peso – CUP. At this stage the rate is set as 1CUP=24USD.
  • Other exchange rates have not been set.
  • It is always best to exchange your funds at a CADECA.

What to bring

  • Suitcase or duffle bags with wheels are most suitable. Please remember not to overpack as you will be carrying your own bag.
  • Dry season weather can be surprisingly cool. So it is recommended that you bring a warm jumper.
  • Rain jacket, even in the wet season can come in handy
  • Closed shoes for trekking
  • Comfortable shoes for sight seeing as the roads tend to be highly uneven
  • Sun protection is a must -sunscreen, hat and sunnies
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Water bottle so we can limit plastic waste
  • Copies of your important documents in a water tight pouch
  • Adapters to ensure you can use your electronic devices
  • Battery packs
  • Medical kit – including first aid and any medicines you may need
  • Swimming clothes
  • Toiletries – and may be some extras, the locals truly appreciate it!

What not to bring…

Unnecessary jewellery. Although a safe is available in your room, it’s better not to have to worry about it

LAUNDRY

Laundry service is available at your case at approximately USD$5 per kilo. Do bear in mind the season and duration spent in the place you may think of using laundry services, as they do not have electric driers available, so your clothes may not dry in time.

GIFTS

Whilst this is not compulsory, locals do appreciate small gifts as a token of your appreciation. Think of things like toiletries, school books, small toys for children, they are hard to come by in Cuba.

Phone and internet access

INTERNET IN CUBA

To access internet in Cuba, you will need to purchase a Wi-Fi card at ETECSA. Cards come in 1 or 5 hour blocks. You will then need to find a Wi-Fi spot, and use the details on the card to connect. Wi-Fi spots can be found in public squares, hotels and some restaurants. WhatsApp is a great way to keep in touch with your family.

Climate and seasonal information

There are two main seasons in Cuba, the Wet Season from May to October and the Dry Season from November to April. In the Wet Season, there may be cyclones in the area, we monitor the situation and adjust our travels if and as necessary.

Your Tour Guide

  • Each small group tour is accompanied by a Tour Guide. They are there to show you around, assist you with any queries, answer any questions, recommend restaurants and entertainment option and assist with any queries you may have.
  • They can give you great insight into the culture, history and social aspects of Cuba.
  • They are also your point of contact in case of emergency.

Safety

  • In first instance check your government advisory site for any updates about travel prior to leaving your home country
  • In country your guide will provide you with optional activities that do not form part of your itinerary, however, Simply Cuba makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time
  • Your guide may also cancel or amend any activities that is part of the itinerary if deemed unsafe.
  • As for general safety, pick-pocketing and petty theft is also present in Cuba, just like in another touristy city. Please ensure that you stay vigilant.
  • Seatbelts are to be worn in the vehicles fitted with them

A couple of rules

  • We do not tolerate violence (verbal or physical) or any sort of harassment, including sexual harassment, aimed at our employees, any of the group members or when interacting with locals.
  • Use or possession of illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips.
  • We encourage responsible drinking, and expect that you follow local rules.
  • Patronising sex workers will not be tolerated on our trips.
  • By travelling with us you are agreeing to adhere to these rules. Your guide has the right to remove any member of the group for breaking any of these rules, with no right of refund.
  • If you feel that someone is behaving inappropriately while travelling with us, please let us know immediately.

Travelling on a group trip

  • Our guide will work with the group dynamics to create a cohesive team. It helps to make the experience better for all if you practice cultural awareness when dealing with people from other walks of life. Bring an open mind and heart and be ready to learn along the way.

SINGLE TRAVELLERS

Unless you request a single room, our single travellers will be roomed with same gender travellers on their trip.

Problems and emergency contact information

  • Should you be faced with any issues on your trip, please raise with your guide immediately who can assist you
  • Should you not be near your guide, you can contact him by the phone number provided to you upon joining
  • Should you need to make an urgent call you can use *99 prior to dealing the guide’s number for a reverse charge call
  • If you cannot reach the tour leader using the above number, you may try our representative located in Australia +61 403 694 317

BOOKING ENQUIRIES / ISSUES

For general enquiries or questions about your booking, please contact us at: tours@simplycubatours.com

ITINERARY CHANGES

Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. We will provide most up to date information to you in your joining instruction with regard to your itinerary. Your guide will keep you up to date with any changes once on tour if and as required.