5 Things To Note Down Before Visiting Havana

The Cuban capital is a fascinating place, and one that’s easy to spend a week in. Here’s what to know before you go to Havana.

* Cuba is still a communist country

The Cuban government remains the same as the one which overthrew the dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Fidel Castro might be dead, but his brother Raul remains in power. Despite recent economic reforms that allow certain kinds of private enterprise, Cuba is still a communist country.

* Change might be coming

These economic reforms have allowed for an explosion in entrepreneurship, from taxis to restaurants to fashion designers. Some commentators believe that further reforms might come when Raul Castro resigns as leader.

* There are two currencies

Cuba is a rarity in that there are two official currencies on the island. The first is the Cuban peso (CUP), in which state workers are paid. The second is the Cuban convertible peso (CUC) which is used by tourists and those locals that have access to it. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the coins and notes so you don’t get ripped off; one CUC is worth around 25 CUP.

* There is no advertising

One thing that might be shocking is the lack of visual contamination from advertising in Cuba. You might see the occasional government billboard, but it’s a rarity even in Havana. In fact it’s quite a refreshing break from the bombardment of adverts in most countries.

* The United States has imposed a trade embargo for decades

Since 1958 there has been a US embargo on Cuba in some form, and it was extended to include almost all imports in 1962. This has caused Cuba to be isolated from global markets and reliant on isolated deals with major allies such as the Soviet Union and Venezuela.