How many attractions to plan: Plan
6 to 8 headline sights over two weeks, no more than one or two per stop. Transport eats half of each travel day, power cuts and fuel shortages break schedules, and the heat from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. makes sightseeing miserable in most months. Cuba is a place where
wandering and conversation are half the attraction, so leave blank afternoons. Pack the day more tightly and you pay for it in exhaustion and missed buses.
Which kinds to prioritize: If you are on a tight budget, favor
street-level attractions: old town walks, live music in plazas, beaches, and rural valleys, all free or nearly so. History and culture travelers should pay for
a local guide in the main colonial cities, because museum labeling is thin. Nature and active travelers should put money into …
read more 👉 How many attractions to plan: Plan 6 to 8 headline sights over two weeks, no more than one or two per stop. Transport eats half of each travel day, power cuts and fuel shortages break schedules, and the heat from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. makes sightseeing miserable in most months. Cuba is a place where wandering and conversation are half the attraction, so leave blank afternoons. Pack the day more tightly and you pay for it in exhaustion and missed buses.Which kinds to prioritize: If you are on a tight budget, favor street-level attractions: old town walks, live music in plazas, beaches, and rural valleys, all free or nearly so. History and culture travelers should pay for a local guide in the main colonial cities, because museum labeling is thin. Nature and active travelers should put money into horseback rides, hikes and snorkeling in the west and east, and skip the city museums that charge more than they deliver. Beach seekers do best at the quieter coast of the central region. Avoid the Varadero resort strip unless you want a bed and a buffet.What it costs: A backpacker budget runs US$45 to 70 a day: a casa particular room at US$20 to 35, breakfast and dinner at the casa for US$5 to 12 each, and local transport on top. Museum and fort entry fees run US$1 to 10. Half-day guides cost US$10 to 30, a cave or boat trip US$10 to 25, and a shared taxi between nearby towns US$5 to 15 a seat. Viazul bus tickets for long routes cost roughly US$15 to 50. Tourist sites often take only cash, and card machines and ATMs are unreliable, so carry the entire trip budget in euros or US dollars, ideally in small notes.Safety and etiquette: Violent crime against travelers is rare, but petty theft in Havana and Trinidad is common, so keep phones and cameras out of sight on crowded streets. Touts (jineteros) approach visitors with offers of cigars, restaurants and rides. A firm no and a keep-walking attitude works, and never buy cigars from the street, where fakes are common. Do not photograph military or police buildings, and leave drones at home, since they are restricted. Carry a passport copy. Dress modestly in churches. Tip guides, musicians and casa hosts a dollar or two, and ask before photographing people, because many expect a small payment. Power cuts can leave streets dark at night, so carry a small flashlight and avoid unlit walks.
The reward is rooms of locals dancing after the lights go out, and that costs nothing.