Cuba! We love it because there’s no better place for a cheap and easy last minute 1-week or 2-week all-inclusive getaway.
Where else can you get away with paying less than $1000/person for one week in paradise, with flights, accommodations at 4-star resorts, meals, white sandy beaches, entertainment, and unlimited drinks and mojitos made of authentic Cuban rum – all included? Oh, the joy of the all-inclusive resort getaway!
So, Why Ditch the Resorts?
Don’t get me wrong, two or three days of resort life is bliss.
But as a backpacker and restless writer, more than two days of resort-dwelling became imprisonment! I was itching to get away from the air conditioned buses, seasoned Cuban travel guides, and resorts filled with other tourists!
The solution to my restlessness was to never return to an all-inclusive or Cuba unless absolutely necessary. That was until tripatlas.com/new‘s own Maureen and her husband, Forbes, ventured out to go where few Canadians have gone before: Backpacking in Cuba.
Your Guide to Backpacking in Cuba: 5 Tips to Discovering Cuba the ‘Real’ Way
Backpacking through Cuba is much less popular in Canada than it is in the UK and in Europe. In fact, you’ll find young college students, middle-aged parents and even older retired folks visiting Cuba with backpacks. Contrary to popular belief, Cuba is in fact a safe place to visit and the people are both down to earth and kind.
What backpacking offers you is the freedom to go from city to city, home to home, wilderness activities and experiences untouched by your typical all-inclusive holiday. So, if you’re looking for more than just lying on the beach sipping mojitos – here’s what you need to know about Adventures in Cuba with a Backpack.
1) Casa Particular or Particulares. A Casa Particular or “private home,” is a local Cuban family home that has been open to tourists for meals and/or accommodations. This is where you’ll find all kinds of glorious authentic Cuban food. They’re the “bed and breakfasts” of Cuba and have been regulated by the government since 1997. So, you have nothing to worry in terms of “sketchy” activity. The average cost is about $25-$30 with breakfasts costing $3 and dinners for $6.
The best thing about staying at a Casa Particular is that you can get the experience of what Cuba is really about – not resort hotel rooms – but family, people, culture, music, food and more.
“We stayed at a lovely old colonial home, with 50s decor and beautiful high ceilings and intricate designs. Mom, grandma and the kids running through made you feel as you were visiting long lost relatives . . .who didn’t speak a word of English. The language barrier wasn’t much of a problem as long as you’re good at charades!” said Maureen of her experience at staying at one such Casa Particular.
When visiting smaller towns like Viñales, you’ll get off the bus to find a crowd of local “Touts” – family members from Casa Particulares – who hold up photos of their homes and accommodations, advertising to get you to stay at their home. You can find the “casas” by looking out for the signs posted on the homes.
2) Dollar Dollar Bills. In Cuba, there are two types of currency, one for the locals (the Peso or CUP) and one for tourists and visitors (the Convertible Peso or CUC). The rate of CUP:CUC is about 1:24. Most vendors, tour operators and stores will charge you CUC’s because they are worth more in value, so most tourists purchase only CUC’s. Here’s a tip: purchase some CUP’s that will let you buy street pizzas or food from market stalls that come up to less than a dollar!
3) What to Bring. If you’re going to try and backpack through Cuba, here are the top things that Maureen and Forbes suggested you bring. Pack extra toilet paper as there is often no toilet seat, nor toilet paper. “Bring with you some peanut butter or hot sauce because the food is pretty bland. And don’t forget your sunscreen, cigar clipper and lighter!” warned Forbes.
4) Where to Go and How to Get There! Popular spots in Cuba include the cities of Santiago, Trinidad and Havana. Forbes and Maureen journeyed their way from Trinidad to Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Matanzas, Havana and Viñales. Other towns to check out include Sancti Spiritus, Baracoa, Holguin, Camaguey, and others.
Viñales is located nearby tobacco plantations, where Maureen and Forbes spent a day horseback riding and taking to the fields. Another favorite attraction of theirs was the Museo de la Revolución or Museum of the Revolution, located in the Old Havana district of Havana.
Like a lot of things in Cuba, there are two types of buses: Astro Bus, an extensive national bus network for locals and Via-azul, a smaller bus network that is designated for tourists and travels between major towns/cities.
Traveling by train and railway is also a great way to get from place to place in Cuba.
5) Learn a Little Spanish. When going on an adventure such as this through foreign lands like Cuba, it is advised to learn the local language. in our case, Spanish! So, we asked Maureen and Forbes what the essential phrases for surviving a backpacking trip in Cuba were. Forbes gave us two: “Uno cerveza, por favor,” and “Donde esta la baño?” or, in English, “One beer please,” and “Where is the bathroom?”