Backpacking Cuba: The Ultimate Travel Guide
The largest island in the Caribbean also packs the most punch. Travellers will be staggered by its astounding history, architecture, music, dance and hospitality. Backpacking Cuba is easy, exhilarating and extremely rewarding. If you want to go travelling in Cuba without staying at a resort and without taking a guided tour of Cuba, then this is the guide for you.
We spent a month backpacking Cuba and when our time was up, we didn’t want to go home. You can stay with local families, wander through tobacco plantations, explore cities lost in time, dive & snorkel some of the world’s most unexplored reefs and of course, laze on bleach-white Caribbean sand.
Cuba is alive with an energy that permeates through every aspect of its culture. The music, the dance, and the history all come to life under the same contagious and relentless vibe. From the moment you land in Havana, until the time you fly out, you’ll be invigorated by the country’s undying spirit. It’s time to leave the cultureless resorts behind, say good-bye to Varadero and explore the real Cuba. It’s truly one of the most fascinating travel destinations on our planet.
information.
NOTE: All figures are quoted in US Dollars unless otherwise stated.
Budget for Cuba:
$50 – $100 / day for a Couple
$45 – $65 / day for Solo Travellers
Backpacking Cuba can be incredibly cheap. If you frequently spend CUP and eat at peso food stands 3 meals a day, a couple could easily get by on around $50 / day. But you should keep in mind that these cheap meals don’t offer a lot of variety, so if you really want to experience Cuban cuisine, you should up your Cuba budget to include some meals in nicer restaurants (which always charge in CUC).
Tours are of good value in Cuba but they will quickly add up. Entrance fees in Havana are quite expensive so your time in the capital will probably cost you more than the rest of the country (unless you completely avoid museums / history while you’re there).
Let’s break these costs down:
Budget Accommodation: (Average $20 / night)
Casa Particulares (Cuban home stays) are a fantastic option for budget travellers in Cuba. In fact, we recommend that everybody who is travelling in Cuba stays in casas because they offer the best value and the best travel experience.
For $15 – $20 / night, you get to stay with a local family, enjoy home cooked meals (extra $5 – $10 each) and learn about the Cuban way of life, but you still get your own private room and bathroom. Usually there is an entire section of the home reserved just for travellers.
There is often a kitchen available for your use and in our experience, the families were always fantastic. Check out Airbnb, Booking.com, HostelWorld and HostelsClub as they have a lot of great Casa Particulares that are very affordable.
*Note: If you want to join Airbnb, click here to sign up and receive $35 off of your first stay!
Eating: ($0.50 – $15 / meal)
I know, that’s a pretty big difference in meal costs. But when you’re backpacking Cuba, if you eat at a local National Peso (CUP) food restaurant, you can get a small pizza or an egg and cheese sandwich for just 50 cents!
But if you want to step it up and eat in a nicer restaurant (charged in CUC) then you’ll have to spend at least $5. The good news is that this meal cost tops out at around $15, so you can get a huge lobster meal for this price… or even less.
We highly recommend that you eat at least one meal at each Casa Particular that you stay in while you’re backpacking Cuba. The food is fresh, home-cooked and absolutely delicious. In our experience, these were by far the best meals we had.Don’t Forget Travel Insurance for Travelling in Cuba!
You’ll need to have travel insurance in order to travel to Cuba. It’s actually mandatory that all travellers have insurance, and you may or may not be asked to show proof of insurance on arrival.
Entrance Fees: ($5 – $10/person)
Entrence fees For backpacking Cuba This is where you’ll see the full might of the dual currency in Cuba at work. Locals will pay around 7 CUP (28 cents) for many museum entrances in Havana, while tourists will have to pay 7 CUC ($7).
That’s 25 times more for visitors!
Some museums are less than this, but they average around $7 / entrance. The good news is that, aside from entrance fees, when you pay for something using CUP in the rest of the country, you should get the same rate as the locals.
If an apple is 1 CUP for a local, it will be 1 CUP for you too. The CUC is not a “tourist currency” and locals have to use it to buy “luxury” items as well. But entrance fees will cost you more. In Havana, our budget went through the roof because we visited so many history and art museums.
Alcohol: ($1 Beer, $3 Cocktails)
beers in CubaAlcohol is very inexpensive, even for budget backpackers in Cuba, especially when compared to some other Caribbean islands.
Generally you can get a local Crystal or Bucanero beer for a buck or two, while cocktails will rarely cost more than $3. Some expensive restaurants will charge much more than this, but with so many great, cheap bars and clubs popping up all over Cuba, there’s no need to break the bank on booze.
If you really want to save money, pick up your booze from the local supermarkets. You can get a litre of Havana Club Rum for around $5! A bottle of wine will cost around $10 – $15. Surprisingly, beer is very close to the same price in restaurants as it is at the store. Usually it’s worth the pleasant ambiance, live music and beautiful views to just pay for beers at restaurants.
Tipping:
tipping for service in Cuba
Tipping is very much a part of Cuban culture. If 10% service isn’t already added to your bill, you’ll be expected to tip between 10% and 15%. Unfortunately, service in Cuba is rarely worth tipping for and if it’s added to the bill, you’ll have no choice but to pay it.
If it’s not already added you can leave without tipping, but you will be making a statement that you didn’t enjoy the service.
If you manage to get a taxi to use the meter, a small tip is welcomed, but if you’ve agreed on a price before taking off (recommended) then no tip is necessary.
If you stay at a fancy hotel and a porter brings your bags to your room, a small tip will be expected. There is no need to tip at your Casa Particulares, but a small gift from your home country would be very much appreciated.
Cuban Currency
Cuban Money Independent Travel Current Exchange Rate: $1 USD = 1 CUC $1 USD = 25 CUP
IMPORTANT
There are two currencies in Cuba. The CUC (Convertable Peso) and CUP (National Peso). The dual currency system can be confusing for travellers, but this section will help you to understand how it works.
CUC (Convertible Pesos): This is the currency you will be using most often when backpacking Cuba. While you can still procure and spend CUP, the CUC (pronounced “kook“) is your main currency because you will need it to pay for restaurants, hotels, transport, souvenirs, alcohol, etc.
The CUC is pegged equal to the USD and can be obtained from ATM machines, or via Cadecas (Cuban money exchange booths) around the country.
CUP (National Pesos): This is the currency that the locals are generally paid in (unless they’re in the tourism business).
1 CUP is about 4 cents CUC and you won’t be able to withdrawal this currency from local ATMs with foreign debit or credit card. It’s not possible to pay for hotels or luxury items using CUP, but you can buy cheap produce, street snacks, local transport and eat at basic restaurants with it. Locals often refer to CUP as simply “peso” although they sometimes call CUC the same thing so it can be confusing.
We recommend carrying around 250 – 500 CUP in your wallet at all times so that you can take advantage of peso meals and produce when you have the opportunity. Keep the CUP in a separate pocket in your wallet so that you don’t confuse them.
Is CUC a “Tourist Currency”? NO. Cubans need CUC to pay for the same items as you need it for. At supermarkets, nice restaurants, internet “cafes” and on Viazul buses for example, locals will be charged the same as you and they will have to pay with CUC.
This is not a currency made up just to charge tourists more. The locals have to use it as well. Casa Particular owners and people in the tourism industry are paid / tipped in CUC, so they are significantly more wealthy than their government employed counterparts who are paid in CUP.
How do you tell the difference? Basically the easiest way to tell if you’re spending CUC or CUP is to look on the bill for the word “Pesos Convertibles”. This will tell you that it is CUC.
The colors are also different, but overall the bills look surprisingly similar, so it is recommended that you study and get used to them when you first arrive in Cuba. A common and easy scam in Cuba is simply giving tourists back change in CUP instead of CUC.
cuba dual currency national peso and convertible peso
Beware of Scams: Aside from giving your change back in the wrong currency when you buy something, Cubans are notorious for a few other little scams.
Always count your change whenever you purchase something.
While you’re backpacking Cuba, you may be surprised at how often the change you are given is incorrect. Always check your bill before paying, there will almost always be extra charges. Also, only buy things with price tags on them if possible.
Water should never cost more than 0.70 CUC for 1.5L, but tourists are often charged upwards of 2 CUC. In Cuba’s intense heat, that can add up quickly as you slam back over-charged agua. Scams are far more common in Havana than compared to the rest of the country.
backpacking cuba travel to havana
Exchanging Money: When you’re backpacking Cuba, it’s best not to bring USD because when you convert USD to CUC or CUP, you will be charged an extra 10%. The best currencies to bring are Mexican Pesos, Canadian Dollars, Euros, Great British Pounds etc. and convert that money at Cadecas in country.
To avoid fees from Cuban ATM machines, we recommend bringing all of the money you will need in one of the forieign currencies listed above. Yes, that’s a lot of cash to carry while travelling, but it will save you 3% or more off of your total trip.
As long as your bank isn’t associated with an American institution (ie: Citibank, Bank Of America etc.) you will be able to withdrawal money from your debit card and your credit card at ATM machines in Cuba.
These transactions will incur a 3% “currency exchange fee” on top of any fees your local bank may charge. This fee will not be charged when converting cash at Carecas, which is why we recommend you bring sufficient cash for backpacking Cuba.
Must-See Places When Backpacking Cuba
There are far too many “must-see places” to list here. We spent a lot of time backpacking Cuba and we still have much to see. If you plan to travel Cuba all the way from east to west, we recommend flying one direction because it is a very long way to go.
Jump To: Must-Have Experiences | Off The Beaten Path | Pros | Cons | Transport | Visas | Health | Weather | MORE CUBA BLOGS
Havana
Ah, Havana. Cuba’s vibrant, energetic, historical and colourful capital. Few introductions into a country can be as exhilarating as landing in the Havana airport, hopping in a 1950’s classic car, cruising through busy back streets and arriving at your Casa Particular which is situated in a 400-year-old building. Welcome to Havana and welcome to Cuba.
The capital is a microcosm of what the rest of the country has to offer. The music, the dance, the food, the energy and the culture is all here in Havana and you can feel it the moment you get off of the plane.
travelling havana cuba
A game of soccer on the streets of Central Havana
Some of the best sites, live music and museums are found here. Your time will most likely be spent wandering around Habana Vieja (Old Havana), the city’s Spanish Colonial quarter which boasts hundreds of well restored buildings, churches, homes and museums.
A walk along the malecón is likely to be a highlight of your trip here as well. We recommend walking the length of the malecón in the morning, during sunset and at night to get a real feel for the bustle of this famous seaside street. Also don’t miss La Cabaña Fort and cruising the malecón in an old car (touristy, but fun).
Havana Car ride independent
Havana is very safe and while you shouldn’t be too flashy, crime rates are very low here and walking around at night is safe in most areas.