FAQ's

There are currently a few types of currencies and exchange rates in Cuba. Might be very confusing and tricky if it is your first time here, that’s why you should read carefully:

1- Most of our economy is based on the use of cash (almost everything you buy/sell/rent/etc is done using cash)

2- There are “only” two official currencies in Cuba which you can use; *CUP (Cuban Pesos) and *MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible). The first one can be found as cash or in cuban “credit cards”, the second it only exists virtually (in the cuban “credit cards”).

3- One MLC is equivalent to 1 USD or 1 EURO, despite of that you cannot pay at official stores with those currencies, only with the credit card.

4- This means you could use your credit/debit card in any store or official establishment in cuba unless the credit/debit card is attached to any American Bank.

5- By the formal market of exchange (Banks and Currency Exchange Houses)1 USD, 1 EURO and 1 MLC it is approximately equivalent to 120 CUP.

6- By the informal market (taxi drivers, landlords, relatives of a friend, etc) the exchange rate is way much better. It changes almost every single day but might be between 300 and 400 cup per each USD and/or EURO.

Feel free to visit https://eltoque.com/ the most popular, yet not recognized by the official means, website where the currency exchange rate is published in real time everyday.

7- No matter what, lots of services working for tourism are gonna be fine charging you in USD or EUROS, this means you don’t necessarily have to exchange/convert all the cash you bring to cuban pesos at once.

If your planning your trip to cuba, it is highly advised by the team of Cuba In-Sights you take these items with you since it’s mostly likely you’ll need them and equally highly probably you won’t easily find them:

-Sun protection: Sunscreen, hats and/or caps, sunglasses, long sleeve shirts. Specially if your visiting Cuba during the summer (From May until September)

-Cash: Cuban economy is mostly based on its use.

-Medicine: Basics like pain killers, digestive pills, fever reducer and/or any other you take on a regular basis or that your doctor prescribed for you.

-Toiletries: Toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, soap. Believe it or not might tricky at some point needed finding any of this.

-If traveling with kids: layette and any food essential to them.

-VPN: The use of some apps and websites might be restricted in the country you’ll only be able to use it if a vpn is activated. (Airbnb – PayPal – Appstore – Check and/or manage you bank economy app, others)

Cuba’s internet’s sole provider is a state-owned company called ETECSA. You have two ways to access internet in Cuba Via WiFi at: -Hotspots (Usually parks) -Hotels -Resorts -Airport -Airbnb’s (aka casas particulares ) How: It could be free at some hotels, resorts and casas particulares. If it’s not, and also for hotspots and the airport, you’ll need a WiFi card You can buy them by hours: -At the airport -At any ETECSA office (you’ll probably have to queue at some of those offices) ***(You’ll need to show your passport at these two locations) For a higher price (USD): -Some casa particulares hosts offer them -Some people on the street near the ETECSA offices sell them. Not recommended, might be a scam. get company of a local you trust in order to get the real one. Via Data: -You need a Cuban SIM card -You can get one online and pick it up at any ETECSA office or at Terminal 3 at the airport at the Cubatur booth. Recommended option The started package has a price of 25 USD and includs 2.5 gb of data, 20 sms and 20 min. of regular calls -Some casa particulares hosts offer SIM cards for free or rent them but the prices varies from host to host.