Overview: Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, only 144 km (90 miles) from the shores of the United States. It is one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands and very interesting, too. Most Cubans are good educated and very friendly. A like any other areas in the world there are pros and cons. Since Cuba has a communist dictatorship, some strange behaviour is common. Travellers should be aware that they are not in a democratic country. Accommodations: All inclusive resorts, hotels of all categories, casas particulares. Activities: swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, tennis, bicycling. Time: UTC-5. Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October. Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida. Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W. Highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m. Currency: Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC). Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.9259 (2007). Cuba has two currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP) and the convertible peso (CUC); enterprises must exchange CUP and CUC at a 1:1 ratio. Credit cards: are excepted only in some banks, tourist hotels and tourist shops. Costs of living: even with the convertible peso Cuba is one of the cheapest Caribbean islands. Entry Requirements: European nationals must have a valid passport and a Tourist Card ("Tarjeta del Turista"), if coming for touristic purposes. US citizens must be licensed by the Department of Treasury in order to travel to Cuba, but travel to the country is strictly controlled and only select categories of travellers are licensable. Many US citizens fligh from Mexico to Cuba, since there is no passport stamping in Cuba. Airport: (Havana) Jose Martí International Airport (HAV). The airport is situated 15km (9 miles) southwest of Havana. Avoid illegal taxis. From Havana, take Avenida Rancho Boyeros until Avenida Van Troy. Departure Tax: (Cuban Convertible pesos) in cash. Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas. Ferry Terminal: from the Malecon in Havanna ferries are leaving to Jamaica, Cancun in Mexico and Key West in Florida. Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60 cycles, but most hotels and resorts have 220 volts. US two prongs thin plug are used in Cuba, English and European plugs are very hard to find. Telephone: the international country code is 53. There are two different cell phone networks (TDMA and GSM). Cuba currently have roaming agreements with several countries. Government type: Communist state. Legal system: based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal concepts, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. Ethnic groups: mulatto 51 %, white 37 %, black 11 %, Chinese 1 %. Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented. Literacy: 99.8% (2002 census). Industries: sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals. Agriculture-products: sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock. Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land. GDP - per capita: US$ 4,500 (2007 est.). Unemployment rate: 1.9% (2007 est.).
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