Cuba Campervan Hire
With its history and great choice of natural attractions Cuba has much to offer. But most visitors agree that Cuba is a country so individual and extraordinary, that to be truly understood and appreciated it has to be experienced in person.

Cuba can portray itself as the archetypal image of a Caribbean island with its sandy, palm-fringed shores washed by crystal-clear waters and cooled by breezes carrying the scent of frangipani, mango and guava. But Cuba has so much more to offer those who venture away from her beaches; to the towns and cities boasting Spanish colonial architecture and grand plazas, where classic automobiles labour along streets and country roads, and the hip-swaying sounds of salsa music fill the night air. Together with cigar smoke and rum cocktails, baseball, and everywhere visual references of the 1959 revolution, these picture-postcard portraits of Cuba encompass a more complete illustration of the largest island in the Caribbean.

Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba on his way back to Spain after his second voyage to the New World in 1492 and was the first European to remark on its beauty. Today, despite continued US sanctions, the island state is starting to exploit its glorious attractions and offers visitors an alternative Caribbean holiday.

Cuba is so large that it allegedly confused Columbus, who thought he had discovered a continent and not an island. It sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; the main island is 746 miles (1,200km) long with an irregular coastline that offers hundreds of bays and beaches. The years of political isolation have protected Cuba from mass tourism; the main towns and villages retain a crumbling colonial charm and are generally devoid of resorts that blight some of its neighbouring islands.

Time: Local time is GMT -5.

Electricity: Most older hotels use 110-volt power, while newer hotels use 220 volts. A variety of outlets are in use, but the flat and round two-pin plugs are most common.

Language: The official language is Spanish, but English is also spoken by some in the main tourist spots.

Health: No vaccinations are officially required, however visitors are advised to take precautions against typhoid if travelling to rural areas. Most of the more serious tropical diseases are rare in Cuba, but viral meningitis and dengue fever do occasionally break out, including in urban areas like Havana. The best prevention against dengue fever is mosquito repellent and suitable clothing to avoid being bitten. Hepatitis A is common. Food is considered safe. Bottled water is available and advised for the first few weeks, although mains water is chlorinated. Cuban medical facilities are mediocre and many medicines are unavailable, so those requiring regular prescription drugs should bring them, along with a copy of the prescription and a doctor's letter to facilitate entry through customs. Health insurance is strongly advised.

Safety: Cuba is considered free from any threat of global terrorism, but has an increasing crime rate. Visitors are warned that theft from baggage during handling is common, and valuables should not be packed in suitcases. Be wary of pickpockets and bag snatchers in major tourist sites and on buses or trains. Crime is on the increase and visitors should be particularly careful after dark in Havana; on 29-30 October 2005 there were two incidents in Centro Habana at about 2am, where foreign nationals were stabbed and robbed, and visitors are advised to take taxis after dark rather than walk. Beware of thefts from rooms in casas particulares (private homes). Tropical storms and hurricanes may occur between June and November.

Customs: Visitors should address Cuban men as 'senor' and women as 'senora'.

Communications: The international access code for Cuba is +53. The outgoing code is 119 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 11944 for the United Kingdom). Cellular phone companies have roaming agreements with many international cell phone companies, but not the United States. Cell phones are available for rent. Public telephones are widely available for domestic as well as international calls, but international calls are expensive. Pre-paid phone cards are available. Internet cafes are located in the main towns and cities.

Money:
The official currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP), divided into 100 centavos, but the 'tourist' currency is the Peso Convertible (CUC), which replaces the US Dollar as currency in tourist related establishments like hotels, restaurants and so called 'dollar shops'. US Dollars are no longer accepted as payment, and a 10% commission is charged to exchange them. The CUC is almost equal in value to the US Dollar. Some places only accept Cuban pesos and others only Pesos Convertible (usually tourist related establishments). Money should only be changed at official exchange bureaux or banks to avoid scams confusing the two currencies. Visa and MasterCard are generally accepted in major destinations as long as they haven't been issued by a US bank; Diners Club has limited acceptance, and American Express is not accepted anywhere on the island. Travellers cheques are less readily accepted than credit cards, but all major currencies are acceptable, except for US bank issued cheques. No US-issued credit or debit cards will work in ATMs, but those holding other cards issued in other countries should be able to get pesos at most major tourist destinations. Euro or Sterling travellers cheques drawn on UK banks are accepted at Cuban banks and Bureaux de Change.

Climate:
The climate is hot and humid all year round, divided into a dry season (November to April) and a rainy season (May to October). The dry season is the busiest and prices are higher at this time. September to October is hurricane season.

HAVANA

Situated on the north coast of the island and built around a natural harbour, Havana (La Habana), is one of the most lively and colourful cities in the Caribbean. Much of the city's charm can be found among the narrow, derelict streets packed with crumbling buildings and fascinating people. Every open door and overhanging balcony allows glimpses of rocking chairs and colourful washing accompanied by the strains of music. On the streets Chinese-made bicycles, yellow, egg-shaped coco-taxis and two-humped camello (camel) buses weave among the melee of 1950s Chevy's and Russian Ladas.

The historic old town, Habana Vieja or Colonial Havana, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and fast becoming a tourist Mecca. The Spanish left behind some superb colonial architecture and many of the great buildings and grand plazas are being restored to their former glory. Centro Habana boasts some of the most important museums and architectural highlights, including the Revolution Museum, and the National Capitol, resembling the US Capitol Building in Washington DC. The trendy suburb of Vedado boasts high-rise buildings and modern hotels, and draws locals and visitors alike with its theatres, art galleries, restaurants, cafes, and cabaret shows; however most of the city's sights are in Habana Vieja and Centro Habana. The five-mile (8km) seawall, or malecón, stretches from Vedado to Habana Vieja and is lined with architectural gems in various states of dilapidation or restoration.

TRINIDAD

One of the most visited towns in Cuba, Trinidad maintains a charming colonial atmosphere with its uneven cobbled streets, quiet plazas, churches, red tiled roofs, wooden shutters and wrought-iron grilles. Bicycles and horse-drawn carts bump along streets lined with untidy pastel-coloured houses, where open doors afford brief views of folk on rocking chairs and wooden birdcages, and the strains of salsa music drift out from cool courtyards where the intricate steps of the dance are practiced.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, Trinidad has thankfully escaped the modern tourist infrastructure and large hotels usually accorded a popular destination and retains its welcoming and tranquil atmosphere. Surrounded by sugarcane plantations, and situated between the Topes de Collantes mountains and the Caribbean Sea, Trinidad's location also provides easy access to the beach, mountains and the beautiful surrounding countryside, where vestiges from the 18th and 19th centuries in the Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills) testify to a time of prosperity during the sugarcane boom.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA

Santiago, the original capital of the island of Cuba, was founded in 1514 and is today the centre of the province of Santiago de Cuba in the south east of the island, 485 miles (780km) from the present capital, Havana.

It is a hilly city with sloping streets, surrounded by the Sierra Maestra mountain range, and boasts some monuments and museums associated with Cuba’s long struggle for national independence. Santiago also claims to have the oldest home in the Americas, the Case de Diego Velazquez, residence of the Spanish governor of old, which is a highlight of the city’s historic quarter.

Santiago is also known for its annual carnival and its closely situated natural areas, including the 80,000-hectare (197,684-acre) Baconao Park, which begins in the city and ends in the lagoon of the same name. It is climatically the hottest part of Cuba with average temperatures of 90°F (32°C).

Cuba Passport & Visa Requirements
Entry requirements for Americans: US citizens must be licensed by the Department of Treasury in order to travel to Cuba, but travel to the country is strictly controlled and only select categories of travellers are licensable. Tourist travel is officially impossible due to the US Embargo and travel for business reasons is heavily restricted. US citizens who are licensed require a passport valid for at least three months and a visa for entry.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British nationals must have a valid passport. A visa is also required.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian citizens must have a valid passport. A visa is also required.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australians must have a valid passport. A visa is also required.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport. A visa is also required.
Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand citizens must have a valid passport. A visa is also required.
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a valid passport. A visa is also required.
Passport/Visa Note: A Tourist Visa Card, costing US$25 or equivalent, may be issued by tour operators, travel agents or airlines for a single holiday trip of up to 30 days, provided land arrangements are pre-booked and paid. A return ticket or proof of onward travel is required, as well as sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay (US$50 or equivalent per day). Passports of nationals with diplomatic representations in Cuba need to be valid only at the moment of entry, but passports of nationals without diplomatic representations in Cuba must be valid for two months beyond date of entry.
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

Cuba Contacts
Ministerio de Turismo, Havana: +53 (0)7 334 323 or www.cubatravel.cu
Cuban Interest Section, Swiss Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 797 8518
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7240 2488
Embassy of Cuba, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 563 0141
Consulate General of the Republic of Cuba, Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9698 9797
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 346 2215
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 475 0899
US Interests Section (USINT), Havana: +53 (0)7 33 3551
British Embassy, Havana: +53 (0)7 204 1771
Canadian Embassy, Havana: +53 (0)7 204 2516
Australian Embassy, Washington DC, USA (responsible for Cuba): +1 202 797 3000
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, Havana: +53 (0)7) 204 9671/6
Irish Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Cuba): +52 (01)55 5520 5803
New Zealand Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Cuba): +52 (01)55 5283 9460
Emergencies: 26811

AIRPORTS

Havana Jose Marti International Airport (HAV)
Location: The airport is situated 11 miles (18km) from Havana. Time: Local time is GMT -5. Contacts: Tel: +53 (0)7 649 5777 or 266 4644. Transfer between terminals: A bus services the three terminals. Transfer to the city: Taxis are available. Car rental: Car rental is available from the Arrivals hall. Facilities: Cadeca provides foreign exchange; bars, restaurants and shops, including duty-free, Internet access and travel agencies are also available. Parking: Short-term parking is available. Departure tax: 25 CUCs (Convertible Pesos).

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