Cuba

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WorldCaribbeanMiddle AmericaGreater AntillesCuba
Cuba
Cubamap.gif
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Map
Cubaflag.png
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Flag
Capital Havana
Language Spanish
Currency Cuban Peso (CUP)
Time zone CST (UTC−5) , DST: CDT (UTC−4)
Calling code +53

Cuba is the largest Caribbean island, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies 145 km (90 miles) south of Key West, Florida, between the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, to the west of Haiti, and northwest of Jamaica.

There are two main island groups to explore along the southern shore of Cuba. Your sailing area from the two main bases, Cienfuegos or Trinidad incorporates the Canarreos Archipelago and the Juventud Islands or Jardines de la Reina Archipelago.

The full background and history of Cuba is best observed on [wikipedia:Cuba|Wikipedia]

The Cuban people welcome outsiders with open arms, and although Customs and Immigration are slow they are generally more welcoming than most.

Charts

British Admiralty
BA1217 – Straits of Florida South Part
BA2579 – Cuba
BA3799 – Ensenados de Mora to Cayo Anclitas
BA3800 – Cayo Anclitas to Puerto Casisd
BA3865 – Cuba —eastern sheet
BA3866 – Cuba —middle sheet
BA3867 – Cuba —western sheet
Source
Chart Number - Chart Name

Weather

The local climate is tropical, though moderated by trade winds. In general (with local variations), there is a drier season from November to April, and a rainier season from May to October. The average temperature is 21 °C in January and 27 °C in July. Cuba lies in the path of hurricanes, and these destructive storms are most common in September and October.

Weather links

Sources of weather forecasting here.

Passages

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Islands

Communication

Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets


Navigation

Add any navigation notes such approaches, dangers etc here. If this section does not apply, remove it.

Entrance

Private vessels may enter at Hemingway Marina in Havana or Acua Marina in Varadero. There are no visa requirements. Expect to hand out several $10 bills to facilitate your entry.

Arrival

Details?

Departure

Details?

Customs and Immigration

Customs

Details?

Immigration

A tourist visa card (visada tarjeta del turista) is necessary for arrivals from most nations. This visa, which is really little more than a piece of paper on which you list your vital statistics, costs between 15-25 CUC (or 15-25 Euro), depending on where purchased. It is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days at any immigration office in Cuba - beyond this you would need a pretty good reason. Canadians are the exception, getting 90 days on arrival and can apply for a 90 day extension. Your passport needs to be valid at least six months past the end of your planned return.

Regular visitors who renew their 30 day visa are eligible to depart the country (to any destination) and return immediately enjoying a further 60 days (30 days plus a 30 day extension). You are only allowed two consecutive stays in this manner.

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda (28 days), Barbados (28 days), Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, CIS (except Ukraine and Uzbekistan), Dominica, Grenada (60 days), Liechtenstein (90 days), Macedonia, Malaysia (90 days), Mongolia, Montenegro (90 days), Namibia, Singapore, Slovakia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia (90 days), Turkmenistan who can stay 30 days without visa.

Fees and Charges

Restrictions

Health and Security

Health

Submit any health warnings/information. Remove any of these sections do not apply to this particular country.

Security

Cuba is generally a very safe country; strict and prominent policing, combined with neighborhood watch style-programs keep the streets safe from violent crime. Nonetheless, a certain degree of common-sense and caution is advisable, especially in major cities. Visitors are advised to avoid coming to the attention of the Cuban police and security services. Drug laws can be draconian and their implementation unpredictable. The same may be said about the laws concerning prostitution. The importation, possession or production of pornography is strictly prohibited. Visitors are therefore advised not to involve themselves in the following three areas: politics, drugs, or pornography/prostitution. It should be noted however that Cuba is not totalitarian by any means, and usually mild comments concerning the regime will not lead to arrest or other penalties. In fact, many employees and locals will often openly agree with the criticisms, especially away from the major cities.

A few well-established scams exist:

  • Real-looking discount cigars of dubious authenticity being offered by street touts.
  • Friendly locals inviting tourists to bars for a drink (normally a Mojito) or to a restaurant; the tourist will be charged two to three times the normal price, and the spoils split between the establishment and the friend.
  • Short-changing in bars or taxis or giving national pesos (CUP) in change for convertible pesos (CUC).
  • Beware of credit card scams.

Berthing

Key to symbols: |Island icon – island |Port of entry icon – port of entry |Marina icon – marina |Anchorage icon – anchorage |Needs data icon – needs data ||
  • Baracoa Baracoa/wiki/Baracoa Harbour icon – harbour |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Cayo Coco-Guillermo Cayo Coco-Guillermo/wiki/Cayo_Coco-Guillermo Island icon – island |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • El Colony El Colony/wiki/El_Colony Harbour icon – harbour |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Hemingway Marina Hemingway Marina/wiki/Hemingway_Marina Port of entry icon – port of entry |Marina icon – marina |
  • Marina Maria La Gorda Marina Maria La Gorda/wiki/Marina_Maria_La_Gorda Marina icon – marina |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Marina Puertosol Cayo Largo del Sur Marina Puertosol Cayo Largo del Sur/wiki/Marina_Puertosol_Cayo_Largo_del_Sur Port of entry icon – port of entry |Marina icon – marina |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Marina Puertosol Cienfuegos Marina Puertosol Cienfuegos/wiki/Marina_Puertosol_Cienfuegos Port of entry icon – port of entry |Marina icon – marina |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Marina Trinidad Marina Trinidad/wiki/Marina_Trinidad Port of entry icon – port of entry |Marina icon – marina |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Marina Internacional Puerto VitaMarina Internacional Puerto Vita/wiki/Marina_Vita Port of entry icon – port of entry |Marina icon – marina |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Santa Lucia Santa Lucia/wiki/Santa_Lucia Harbour icon – harbour |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Santiago de Cuba Santiago de Cuba/wiki/Santiago_de_Cuba Port of entry icon – port of entry |Harbour icon – harbour |Needs data icon – needs data |
  • Varadero Varadero/wiki/Varadero Port of entry icon – port of entry |Harbour icon – harbour |Needs data icon – needs data |

Transportation

List transportation (local and/or international.)

Friends

Submit details/contacts of cruiser's "friends" that can be contacted in advance or on arrival - who can offer information and assistance to our cruising "family".

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

References

Books, Guides, etc. Use the Reference template or not at your discretion. For example:

Rod Heikel, Greek Waters Pilot, Imray Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852889718, expands to
Rod Heikell, Greek Waters Pilot Imray, Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852889718
  • Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number
  • Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number

You may want to remove the above entries and use instead a link to the Country or Region that lists the relevant references. If so enter, after removing xx, the following:

See [[Country or Region#References_&_Publications|Coutry or Region]].

If you do not use the above link, please remove it.

Comments

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