I had three people ask about how we went to Cuba and the logistics while there. So, here are some of the details. I looked into hiring a car and guide but to put everything together seems daunting. Then I happened to look at ElderTreks list of trips and they had several Cuba trips for 2010. ElderTreks is a Canadian tour company and is also the company that I used for my Ethiopia trip. Ethiopia is not easy, particular in the south, so I figured if ElderTreks could make a relative smooth trip of Ethiopia they just might be able to do the same for Cuba. I was not disappointed.  ElderTreks limits the group size to 16 people which gives them flexibility that larger tours do not have.

 

As US citizens we are not able to travel to Cuba from the states. Our government even tells us that we are not allowed to go without special permits. So, rather than deal with all of the red tape we have to use a work-around. The trick is to go to another country first and then go to Cuba.

 

Air Canada has a direct flight from Toronto to Havana. Canada has a trade policy with Cuba so Canadian citizens are welcome and can easily travel to and from Cuba. It seems that most Canadians who do go to Cuba only go for the beaches. They go for a week or so and never venture from the resort areas. It is a shame since Cuba's charm is in the old parts of Havana, the smaller towns and villages, the farms, and the national parks.

 

We did not want to fly to Canada so we flew to Cancun, Mexico. In Cancun we spent the night and took an Air Mexicana flight to Havana the next day. After purchasing your ticket in Cancun you take the ticket to a visa booth, pay a departure tax of $15 in US dollars and are issued a visa. Upon arriving in Havana, the customs officials look at your passport and only stamp the visa. When ready to depart Cuba you again go to a window at the airport and pay a departure tax which is 25 CUC ( a CUC stands for Cuban Convertible Peso).  Cuban citizens use Cuban Pesos which are about 26.5 pesos to the dollar. The CUC is about .95 to a dollar. Foreigners are not allowed to use anything but CUCs. There is a money exchange booth at the airport but it usually does not accept US dollars. I exchanged Euros but Canadian dollars, British Pounds, or Japanese Yen would also work. Credit card or ATMs using American banks will not work in Cuba. Take cash.

 

I was questioned about doing Cuba on one's own. This is not something that I would undertake. It could be done but you would miss a lot of cultural exposure. The Cuban government owns EVERYTHING and can change your hotel without notice. You would have to hire a Cuban guide and a taxi for the entire country. Cuba does not tell where you can go but does tell you where you can not go. Our tour leader was loaded with Cuban knowledge and experience. He took us to places on the "can't go" list. We visited farms, people's houses, schools, grandparents home, school, cigar factory, rum factory, small local restaurants, markets. and etc. It was not a cheap trip but it was a trip that was done right.

 

Should anyone want more information you can visit this web site: www.eldertreks.com or contact Maureen Atkinson at maureen@eldertreks.com.