Money & Credit Cards

Cuban Currency (1 CUC = 1.13 USD)

As a foreigner, you will be expected to pay for everything in Convertible Pesos known as CUCs. The days of spending U.S. dollars in Cuba are long gone, so you will need to convert your dollars into CUC at the hotel lobby. Conversion rates are standardized and you will receive the same rate at hotels or banks. There is a standard fee included when exchanging currency. If you exchange $100 USD, you will receive 87 CUC. If you have CUC remaining in your wallet at the end of you time in Cuba, you may convert them back to U.S. dollars at the airport. There is another national currency, also called the Peso that is in wide circulation in Cuba. Cuban pesos exchange at a rate of roughly 24 pesos to the dollar. However, few stores will accept pesos from foreigners. Pesos are mostly useful on public transport, at the cinemas, at the neighborhood farmers markets, and are the currency used only by locals.

** Once you have exchanged your U.S. dollars for CUCs,
be sure to set aside 25 CUC and keep it in your hotel room safe. **
** All travelers are required to pay a 25 CUC departure tax at the Havana airport upon leaving Cuba. **

How much money should I bring to Cuba?

If you run out of money in Cuba you will find it impossible to replenish your funds. So err on the side of safety. In an era when most Americans pay for everything with credit cards, many of us have forgotten what it feels like to have a wallet full of cash. It is not uncommon for U.S. travelers to Cuba to run out of cash because they were afraid to carry greenbacks. Do not make this mistake! Please carry a sufficient amount of money to Cuba. Each hotel room provides a security box to protect your valuables. It is better to return with unused money than to go broke in Cuba.

What can I buy in Cuba?

Cuban goods are sanctioned by the U.S. Embargo and can be confiscated at your port of entry. The exception to this regulation is informational materials such as books, films, artworks, posters, photographs and CDs. It is NOT permissible to bring back purchased goods such as Cuban cigars, rum or coffee, even if the items were purchased at a “duty-free” shop in the Havana Airport. However, you may purchase and consume these items while in Cuba.

Buying Art in Cuba

U.S. regulations allow importation of artwork into America. There are no limitations placed on American tourists buying art in Cuba. When buying art in Cuba, several things need to be considered. Firstly, that the seller of art provides the buyer with the proper documentation that allows the art to be exported out of the country. As you leave Havana, airport officials will ask any traveler with a cardboard tube containing rolled artwork to provide exit papers that show the piece was inspected by a government official and deemed appropriate for export. This procedure is done to ensure that a priceless piece of Cuban patrimony is not smuggled out of the country. This permit, in the form of a stamp, can only be provided by one office in Havana Vieja and the process normally takes one day to complete. The artist you purchased the artwork from will take care of this stamp. You will need to provide your passport number.

Photographs or prints are exempt.

If you should fail to get the necessary paperwork, you will likely need to pay a small fee at the airport of 15 CUC per piece of art. If airport officials believe your art is of significant importance, they may seize your art and ask you to return to the airport with additional information. Obviously, this option is non-workable. Therefore, it is best to get the proper paperwork ahead of time.

Credit Cards

Unless your credit cards and Traveler's Cheques are issued by a non-U.S. bank or company, they will be of no use in Cuba. This time, you can leave home without your American Express. Most foreign bank cards are accepted in the larger tourist spots throughout the island. Credit card operations in Cuba do not always run smoothly. Cash advances are usually possible only on Visa and MasterCards (provided they are not issued by North American banks) at certain banks, and will require your passport and payment of a commission fee.