Cuba

The hotel

After some research, we chose to stay in a Cuban casa particular. These houses are a very common type of accommodation in Havana, some Cubans rent rooms to tourists and it is a cheaper and super authentic way to get to know the city. We stayed at Casa de Concordia and had a great experience, the house is more of a guesthouse, as the owners don't live there.

Our room was super spacious, with good air conditioning, a good bathroom and everything was very clean. It is not luxurious accommodation, but it has all the necessary comfort. The breakfast was super delicious and complete and the staff treated us with the greatest care and affection in the world, we were the only guests on the days we stayed there.

At the time, we paid 220 CUCS for four nights, which nowadays is equivalent to 4.93 reais. What we liked most about this accommodation was the exchange we had with the local residents, every late afternoon we sat with Danny on the balcony, who was the manager of the house and the owner's brother-in-law, and we spent hours talking and learning about the country, its history and culture.

The house is opposite the famous La Guarida restaurant, in Havana Centro, a 4-minute walk from the Malecon and approximately 15 minutes on foot from Havana Vieja.

For those looking for traditional accommodation, the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana is an excellent option. Located in a historic building from 1890 in Havana Vieja, it is the first luxury hotel in the capital. We visited the hotel a few times during our stay, its rooftop is the most beautiful in the city, the restaurants are great and one of the only places that accepted credit cards, a very important point, as we were short on cash and were unable to withdraw money from the ATM. city.

The third stay option is the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, historic and super traditional, opened its doors in 1930 and carries all the magic of old Cuban glamour. However, when we went, we found the price to be high for a hotel that was very old and in need of renovations. I recommend going for a drink there to meet him.

To Go

• Plaza de Armas
• Palace of the Captains Generales
• Calle Obispo
• Castillo de la Real Fuerza
• Malecon
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Museum of the Revolution
• Rum Museum
• San Francisco Plaza
• Gran Teatro de Habana
• Prado Walk
• Capitol
• Taquechel Pharmacy
• Partagas cigar factory
• Art Factory

To Eat

• La Guarida
• La Floridita
• La Bodeguita del Medio
• El del Frente
• Café del Oriente
• 304 O'Reilly
• La Vitrola
• El Cocinero
• El Patio
• Rooftop of the Manzana hotel

Extra Tips

Itinerary

 We stayed in Havana for four nights, I thought it was the perfect amount of days to get to know the city at leisure, any more days would be tiring. It is a great destination for a long holiday or to get married in another destination in the Caribbean and Central America.

Local currency

 In Cuba, the currency used for tourists is the CUC, which is more or less equivalent to the dollar. I recommend buying euros and exchanging them for CUC, the dollar is not well accepted and credit cards practically do not exist. As I mentioned before, we took little money in cash and for some reason, we were unable to withdraw any more from the ATMs. Fortunately, we managed to finish the trip without getting into trouble, but I recommend taking a larger amount as a precaution.

Upon arrival, you can exchange money at the airport to pay for the taxi to go to the hotel and there are many exchange offices in the city.

Internet

 At the time we went, the internet wasn't working in the city, but we managed to get a better connection via Wi-Fi at our house and when we went to the Gran Hotel Manzana. Some hotels, squares and establishments have Wi-Fi and it is easy to find out when you are there.

Flight

We flew via Latam leaving Guarulhos with a stopover in Lima. COPA also operates this section with a stopover in Panama.

Guide

 We arrived in Havana without a guide or scheduled tours. Once there, we got an appointment at our house. Sandor was a great guide, he speaks Spanish, English, a little Italian and a little Russian and he explained the whole history of the country to us very well, and answered all the curiosities and doubts we had, we stayed with him for a whole day. I leave your contact details via WhatsApp below.

Sandor guide Havana: +53 5 4830367

Visa

You need to get a visa to go to Cuba, it is actually a piece of paper called a tarjeta del tourista, it is possible to get a visa at the airport when boarding but we preferred not to risk it and did it with a customs agent so as not to make a mistake. Nowadays I would do it alone, but for anyone who needs help, here's the contact details:

Amaro dispatcher - +55 11 98660-5919

Climate

The best time to visit Cuba is between the months of November and April, when it rains less. The temperature remains around 27°C all year round.

Security

Cuba is a peaceful and safe country, we walk a lot both day and night and we feel safe, even though we are alone. We felt a little uncomfortable with the chants in the street, something strong and cultural in the country, but nothing that made us feel threatened.

Locomotion

There is no Uber in Havana, the best way to get to know the center is on foot. There are traditional taxis from the 1950s and Coco taxis, a type of local tuk tuk. Always agree on the price before the race.