Travelling to Cuba

Discover Cuba

Caribbean soul steeped with a drenching of American history, there’s nowhere quite like Cuba. Here’s our handy guide to everything you need to know.

Money

There are two official currencies in Cuba: the Cuban convertible peso (CUC) and the Cuban peso (CUP). The CUC is the country’s major currency and is pegged against the US dollar.

The CUP is a less used unit of currency, normally used for street food, small purchases in local shops or on local buses, and 1 CUC is worth around 26 CUP.

One Australian dollar is currently worth about Cuban pesos (CUC).

Here’s a rough guide to what you can expect to spend in Cuba, with prices in Australian dollars:

Travelling around Cuba

By bus

Buses are generally considered the best way to get around Cuba, and they’re incredibly cheap too (around $0.10!). There probably won’t be a timetable at the bus stop, so you’ll need to look out for your bus with a keen eye – or you could ask your hotel for help before you set off.

By taxi

Taxis are a common way to get around the cities of Cuba. The official metered taxis are known as tourist taxis (turistaxis) and cost around $1/km – they’ll be the modern Japanese or American cars. Private taxis known as máquinas will be the classic American cars, and you’ll need to agree a price for your journey before you leave. Communal taxis known as colectivos or almendrones are like small buses that run along a set route. They’ll cost you $10 a ride.

By bicitaxi

Bicitaxis are three-wheeled bikes that have room for two passengers. They’re a quick and easy way to weave yourself around the towns and they’ll only set you back around $1/km.