Difference between revisions of "Cuba"
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'''Cuba''' is an island nation in the [[Caribbean]]. | '''Cuba''' is an island nation in the [[Caribbean]]. | ||
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| + | In '''Cuba''' there are maybe more hitchhikers than cars - private cars are very rare. Everybody is hitchhiking in Cuba. You will see hitchhikers at nearly every crossing, bridge or highway junction. Cuban hitchhikers never uses a [[sign]]. If you look like a western tourist everybody want to work as a private taxi for you (which can be expensive) - make sure how much it costs when entering a car or state clearly that you don't want or can not pay something. Your chances for getting a free ride are low especially if don't speak good spanish. Infact there is not much traffic in Cuba and there are also a lot of other hitchers on the road, which can make waiting times long. Furthermore hitchers will often be picked up on the back of trucks (together with many other people). The trucks go slow and the roads are sometimes in a bad state. | ||
On '''Cuba''' people with a private car are required to pick up hitchhikers. This sounds good but actually less then 40% of the cars passing by are private cars and traffic in total is pretty low already. There are yellow police officers ("amarillos") who stop cars and oblige the driver to give a lift to the people waiting on the street. There is a small cost involved - about 20 pesos from one city to the next. As the amarillos collect the money during the daytime, the government gets the money, hence it can be easier to hitchhike at night when the driver gets the money. Nevertheless the amarillos who are supposed to stop the car and ask the driver where he/she is going complain that less and less cars actually stop. | On '''Cuba''' people with a private car are required to pick up hitchhikers. This sounds good but actually less then 40% of the cars passing by are private cars and traffic in total is pretty low already. There are yellow police officers ("amarillos") who stop cars and oblige the driver to give a lift to the people waiting on the street. There is a small cost involved - about 20 pesos from one city to the next. As the amarillos collect the money during the daytime, the government gets the money, hence it can be easier to hitchhike at night when the driver gets the money. Nevertheless the amarillos who are supposed to stop the car and ask the driver where he/she is going complain that less and less cars actually stop. | ||
[[File:Amarillo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[User:fabzgy|Fabzgy]] took this pictures while hitchhiking in [[Cuba]], the two guys dressed in yellow pants and shirts are the "amarillos"]] | [[File:Amarillo.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[User:fabzgy|Fabzgy]] took this pictures while hitchhiking in [[Cuba]], the two guys dressed in yellow pants and shirts are the "amarillos"]] | ||
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| + | == Weather == | ||
| + | Cuba has a tropical climate with a dry season from october to april and a humid season between may and september. In summer it will be between 30°C and 37°C at daytime but with very high humidity which really makes you sweat. During summer the sun is strong so do something to protect yourself (woman sometimes take an umbrella, on the road people often wait under bridges or in small bus stop houses). Also heavy tropical rainfalls with local flooding can occur at any time, be prepared. Also carry enough water with you. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Eat and Drink == | ||
| + | In touristic places you will be asked very often if you want to eat in a paladar, which is a private restaurant in private places. This is mostly better and cheaper then in an offical restaurant. But always choose the restaurant on your own, don't go with the guys who asked you because they will get a provision which you will have to pay, sometime they also want you to invite them. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A typical meal is rice with beans and some meat. For most europeans it is not very tasty. Keep some salt and pepper with you. | ||
| + | Market's don't have a good choice of products. A good idea is to buy fresh fruits from the street. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Don't drink tap water in Cuba. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Sleep == | ||
| + | Wildcamping, or sleeping (in a sleeping bag) on the beach is strictly forbidden in Cuba. But if you don't have a sleeping bag or tent (it is warm) you can do it. There are a lot of mosquito's. If you do it with tent or sleeping bag do it hidden there is many police in Cuba. Best is to pitch up your tent when it is already dark and leave early in the morning. | ||
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| + | Casa particulares are like bed and breakfast and cost 20-30 CUC per night. They have a blue anchor on the housedoor. It is usually very simple but clean. | ||
| + | |||
| + | All inclusive hotels can be the hitchhikers luxus if you really need something to eat (and drink). You can smuggel yourself in easily if you carry colored straps with you, check out what colors the tourist wear at there arms and choose your color. Enter the hotel via the beach, check some room numbers (if you are asked for a room numer) and eat as much as you can. Even some hotels don't have straps for the guests. If you try to do this, look a little bit like a canadian AI tourist and not to rotten and don't get caught. They have plastic couches on the beach. You will use this to stay overnight :) | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Health == | ||
| + | There is no malaria on cuba. Look out for your [[hygiene]] and for the sun. Don't drink tap water and don't eat to much stuff from the streets and you will be ok. Sometimes there is dengue in Eastern Cuba. Ask the locals and protect from the mosquitos. | ||
== Cities == | == Cities == | ||
Revision as of 13:02, 21 July 2011
 Cuba | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Capital: | Havana |
| Population: | 11,394,043 |
| Currency: | Cuban Peso (CUP) but tourists use the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) |
| Hitchability: |  (very good)
|
| Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots | |
| <map lat='21.23' lng='-79.55' zoom='5' view='0' country='Cuba'/> | |
Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean.
In Cuba there are maybe more hitchhikers than cars - private cars are very rare. Everybody is hitchhiking in Cuba. You will see hitchhikers at nearly every crossing, bridge or highway junction. Cuban hitchhikers never uses a sign. If you look like a western tourist everybody want to work as a private taxi for you (which can be expensive) - make sure how much it costs when entering a car or state clearly that you don't want or can not pay something. Your chances for getting a free ride are low especially if don't speak good spanish. Infact there is not much traffic in Cuba and there are also a lot of other hitchers on the road, which can make waiting times long. Furthermore hitchers will often be picked up on the back of trucks (together with many other people). The trucks go slow and the roads are sometimes in a bad state.
On Cuba people with a private car are required to pick up hitchhikers. This sounds good but actually less then 40% of the cars passing by are private cars and traffic in total is pretty low already. There are yellow police officers ("amarillos") who stop cars and oblige the driver to give a lift to the people waiting on the street. There is a small cost involved - about 20 pesos from one city to the next. As the amarillos collect the money during the daytime, the government gets the money, hence it can be easier to hitchhike at night when the driver gets the money. Nevertheless the amarillos who are supposed to stop the car and ask the driver where he/she is going complain that less and less cars actually stop.
Contents
Weather
Cuba has a tropical climate with a dry season from october to april and a humid season between may and september. In summer it will be between 30°C and 37°C at daytime but with very high humidity which really makes you sweat. During summer the sun is strong so do something to protect yourself (woman sometimes take an umbrella, on the road people often wait under bridges or in small bus stop houses). Also heavy tropical rainfalls with local flooding can occur at any time, be prepared. Also carry enough water with you.
Eat and Drink
In touristic places you will be asked very often if you want to eat in a paladar, which is a private restaurant in private places. This is mostly better and cheaper then in an offical restaurant. But always choose the restaurant on your own, don't go with the guys who asked you because they will get a provision which you will have to pay, sometime they also want you to invite them.
A typical meal is rice with beans and some meat. For most europeans it is not very tasty. Keep some salt and pepper with you. Market's don't have a good choice of products. A good idea is to buy fresh fruits from the street.
Don't drink tap water in Cuba.
Sleep
Wildcamping, or sleeping (in a sleeping bag) on the beach is strictly forbidden in Cuba. But if you don't have a sleeping bag or tent (it is warm) you can do it. There are a lot of mosquito's. If you do it with tent or sleeping bag do it hidden there is many police in Cuba. Best is to pitch up your tent when it is already dark and leave early in the morning.
Casa particulares are like bed and breakfast and cost 20-30 CUC per night. They have a blue anchor on the housedoor. It is usually very simple but clean.
All inclusive hotels can be the hitchhikers luxus if you really need something to eat (and drink). You can smuggel yourself in easily if you carry colored straps with you, check out what colors the tourist wear at there arms and choose your color. Enter the hotel via the beach, check some room numbers (if you are asked for a room numer) and eat as much as you can. Even some hotels don't have straps for the guests. If you try to do this, look a little bit like a canadian AI tourist and not to rotten and don't get caught. They have plastic couches on the beach. You will use this to stay overnight :)
Health
There is no malaria on cuba. Look out for your hygiene and for the sun. Don't drink tap water and don't eat to much stuff from the streets and you will be ok. Sometimes there is dengue in Eastern Cuba. Ask the locals and protect from the mosquitos.
Cities
Hitchhiking a boat out of Cuba
You can search at the Marina Hemingway (Tel: 204 5088 from La Habana) in Jamanitas, La Habana. You can get there by taking the P1 Bus to Playa and change there to a Bus to Santa Fe (420). The round trip should cost not more then 0.80 Moneda Nacional.
There are boats leaving to Florida, Mexico and other Caribbean Islands. High Season is from December to March/April but there are always some boats. Ask around at the Port office, these people know who is in the marina and who is planing to leave.
Note: The Emigration requires you to go with your captain 72 hours before departure to the Imigration office to enrol you on the list of passengers. If you can't make it 72 hours before departure a little tip might do the trick as well.
External links
- Hitchhiking My Way Around Cuba: Cubans are required to pick up hitchhikers, August 31, 2006
- Hitch a Boat from Cuba to Mexico: Fabzgy's experience in 2008.
- Waiting On A Deserted Road For Whatever Comes Next [1]
