Best Travel Time and Climate for Cuba
Rainy season
Cuba has a warm tropical climate with two distinct seasons. There is a rainy season from May to October in summer and a dry season from November to April . Hurricanes can occur during the rainy season. The hurricane season starts in June and lasts until the end of October. The average temperatures vary from 20 ° to 35 ° C. The area of the forest in Cuba has increased in recent years, but it is decreasing worldwide. There are more than 70 nature reserves in which endemic plant and animal species can be found.
Tip
Tipping habits have recently changed and it is recommended that tourists tip a small amount, not necessarily a percentage. Sometimes taxi drivers, hotel porters, waiters and omnipresent musicians expect a tip (or even ask for it). Most Cubans make an average of £ 13-15 a month, so it’s no surprise that many Cubans turn to tourism as a good tip can easily triple their salaries. However, many Cubans, especially in rural areas, are proud people. Giving someone directions or taking them over to their home for coffee can be an insult.
Currency and expenses
According to eningbo, Cuba has a dual currency, the Cuban Peso (CUP) and the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), which was introduced as an alternative to the US dollar. Some places only accept Cuban pesos and others only accept convertible pesos (usually tourist establishments). US dollars have not been accepted since 2004 and an 18% commission is charged for exchanges. So you’d better swap euros and pounds for Cuban convertibles. You can find ATMS in major cities like Trinidad and Havana, but outside of these it can be difficult and even here they often don’t work.
Food and drink
Eating out in Cuba is an experience enjoyed for the atmosphere and ambience rather than the quality of the food. This is due to food shortages and restrictions on private businesses. Most of the country’s restaurants are state-owned and offer healthy, but not gastronomic, cuisine. Eating in a “paladar” is a very fun experience. Paladares are small, private, family-run restaurants, often found in a family home, that create a unique atmosphere. The chefs at Paladares tend to be more resourceful with the food available and the best meal you will have in Cuba is often served in a paladar. Vegetarians are not in good hands in Cuba, as vegetables are often cooked in fat.
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and part of the Greater Antilles. In addition to the large main island, more than 4,100 smaller islands belong to the island state. At almost 2,000 meters, Pico Turquino is the highest mountain in the country.
General information
Cuba is undoubtedly a wonderful travel destination. Visitors flock to the sun-drenched shores, mostly on all-inclusive package tours, because it is cheap compared to other Caribbean islands: they often do not leave their holiday complex. We are not concerned with the package deal of the market, but rather focus on developing bespoke tours around Cuba to discover the country’s fascinating history, passionate people and beautiful landscapes.
We use knowledgeable local guides to help you make the most of your time and experienced drivers to cover surprisingly long distances. At the time of writing, the Federal Foreign Office recommends avoiding internal air travel within Cuba. Therefore, we do not recommend flying across the country as a means of transport. Although Cuba is now focused on tourism to ensure its future prosperity, the country is a law of its own when it comes to service levels and food quality. Our trips are designed to discover the less visited places, avoid high-rise hotels, and while not luxurious, they are in unique locations that contain the essence of the country.
UK passport holders need a Cuban Tourist Card to visit Cuba. We can arrange this for you. Cuba is not only a fantastic country to visit on your own, but also very easy to combine with Costa Rica or Mexico.
Language
Cuba’s official language is Spanish. English is only widely spoken in the tourism industry. Therefore it is always an advantage to speak one or the other term Spanish, especially in rural areas.
Best travel time
Cuba has a warm tropical climate with two different seasons. The best time to visit is from December to May, when you expect dry, sunny days and lots of blue skies. The rainy season begins in June, and before that, visitors to Cuba would not have given up travel altogether between August and October, even if there is a risk of hurricanes. However, with the increased interest in visiting Cuba, pressures on hotel availability mean that many are willing to risk unpredictable weather to see the country sooner rather than later, and a visit in the off-season is still going to be be an atmospheric experience.
Climate in Havana
The maximum temperature in Cuba is 32 ° C in August. In January and December the thermometer rises to a maximum of 26 ° C. The summer (June to September) with average 31 ° C hot . In the winter months it is around 27 ° C very warm . During the day, the average annual temperature in Cuba is a warm 28.9 ° C.
At night it gets coldest with 18 ° C in January and February. The thermometer rarely falls below 24 ° C in July, August and September. While the nights in summer are averages of pleasantly warm 24 ° C, the thermometer drops to a warm 19 ° C between November and March. The temperature at night is on average a pleasant 21.3 ° C throughout the year.
The water temperature is up to 28 ° C, in February and March the sea has a maximum of 24 ° C. In the summer months from June to September the water is very warm with an average of 28 ° C. Between November and March the values are a pleasantly warm 25 ° C. Over the year, the sea has an average temperature of 26.6 ° C.
With 11 rainy days, September and October are the rainiest months of the year. The February , March and April are with 4 days of rain, the driest months of the year . From June to September Cuba is quite dry with an average of around 10 rainy days each, the winter (November to March) is also quite dry with 5 rainy days. An annual average of 7.4 days of rain falls per month.
Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and part of the Greater Antilles. In addition to the large main island, more than 4,100 smaller islands belong to the island state. At almost 2,000 meters, Pico Turquino is the highest mountain in the country.
Cuba has a warm tropical climate with two distinct seasons. There is a rainy season from May to October in summer and a dry season from November to April . Hurricanes can occur during the rainy season. The hurricane season starts in June and lasts until the end of October. The average temperatures vary from 20 ° to 35 ° C. The area of the forest in Cuba has increased in recent years, but it is decreasing worldwide. There are more than 70 nature reserves in which endemic plant and animal species can be found.
