Havana

Under the 2001 Mongolia–Cuba agreement, Mongolian citizens with any passport can stay up to 30 days visa-free. You need a passport valid 6+ months, a return ticket and medical insurance valid in Cuba — without it you must buy one from Asistur at the airport. For longer stays, get a visa from the Cuban Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.

Tip: Some Cuban official sites list only China as visa-exempt; get written confirmation from the Cuban Embassy before buying tickets.

One online form combining personal, health and customs declarations — fill in a separate one for each child. Complete it within the 72 hours before your flight, then save the QR code on your phone and print it.

Power is cut daily on a schedule in Cuba, and the whole national grid collapsed several times in 2026; fuel, food and medicine are scarce. Canada advises against non-essential travel. Bring a power bank, a torch, your own medicines and water-purification tablets; choose a place to stay with a generator.

State taxis (yellow or black, marked 'Taxi') wait at arrivals: $25–35 to Old Havana or Vedado, 30–40 minutes. Meters don't work, so agree the fare before getting in and pay in cash dollars or euros.

Private guesthouses (casas particulares) usually offer airport pickup — the most reliable option for late arrivals, fuel shortages and blackouts. Confirm on WhatsApp and ask for the driver's name.

Tip: Write your guesthouse address and phone number on paper before landing — your phone may have no internet.

ETECSA's tourist SIM: Básico 4 GB for 7 days ~$14; Plus 10 GB for 30 days ~$35. Get it with your passport at Havana airport or an ETECSA office, or pre-order online.

When the power goes, mobile towers switch off and internet becomes slow or disappears. Most international eSIMs do not cover Cuba. Download Maps.me and Spanish for Google Translate at home; WhatsApp calls are the cheapest way to talk.

Taxis are the practical way around the city: state taxis, old American cars (máquinas — shared, on fixed routes) and three-wheelers. Always agree the fare first. Apps such as La Nave and Cuba Taxi work in Havana but need internet.

Viazul tourist buses: Havana–Varadero ~2.5 hours, ~€15; Havana–Viñales ~4 hours, ~€16. Buy tickets online in advance. Shared taxis (taxi colectivo) are faster and pick you up at your door. In 2026 trips are sometimes cancelled for lack of fuel.

Because of US sanctions, Visa and Mastercard cards from any country stopped working in Cuba on 6 June 2026. UnionPay and MIR cards work in theory, but ATMs and terminals are often without power. Bring all your spending in small, clean, untorn US dollars or euros; hospitals demand cash dollars.

Tip: Split your cash between several places to limit the damage from loss or theft.

The official floating rate for the Cuban peso (CUP) was ~693 CUP = $1 in early October 2026; the informal street rate ~775–780. Tourist hotels, restaurants and taxis mostly take dollars or euros directly; small purchases need pesos. Change at CADECA exchange offices or banks — changing on the street is illegal and full of scams.

Family-run private restaurants are far better than state ones: ropa vieja (shredded beef), moros y cristianos (rice with black beans), lechón (roast pork), tostones (fried plantain). Many paladares fit dinner around the power-cut schedule, so book a table ahead.

Don't drink tap water — use bottled water and purification tablets. Bottled water, baby food and special diets are sometimes unavailable, so bring what you need if travelling with children. Breakfast at a casa particular (fruit, eggs, coffee) is usually good.

Tip: A small tip in restaurants is customary; for musicians too.

Police 106, ambulance 104, fire 105. You may need Spanish, so ask your host for help. Register your trip on consul.mn and keep the contacts of the Mongolian mission accredited to Cuba.

Hurricane season runs June–November, peaking August–October, when flights and buses may be cancelled. Blackouts can last over 24 hours — always keep water, a torch and a charged power bank. In tourist areas, watch out for pickpockets and currency-exchange scams.

Foreigners are treated at the Cira García international clinic in Miramar. Hospitals lack medicines and supplies, and bills are paid in cash dollars before you leave. Travel with insurance that includes evacuation and a full supply of your own medicines.

Don't photograph police, soldiers or government buildings. Avoid public arguments about politics or the country's leaders. Ask before photographing locals — some will ask for money.

Cubans are warm and talkative; a cheek kiss as a greeting is normal. During shortages, small gifts from soap to medicines are gratefully received. A few Spanish words — 'hola', 'gracias', 'por favor' — go a long way.

Internet is weak and power cuts are frequent, so download Cuba in Maps.me and Spanish in Google Translate at home. Save screenshots of your bookings, flight, insurance and D'Viajeros QR code.

elTOQUE — the daily informal exchange rate; check before changing money. Viazul — intercity bus tickets. WhatsApp — the main way to reach your casa particular, drivers and guides.

In 2026 Cuban flights are often cancelled or rescheduled; Air Europa refuels in Punta Cana on the way back. Check with your airline 1–2 days before departure and be at the airport 3 hours before an international flight. Book your airport taxi in advance — fuel shortages can make taxis hard to find.

Cigars and rum leave within set limits — keep the receipt from an official shop; 'cheap' street cigars are usually fake. Spend leftover pesos before you go; they can't be exchanged outside Cuba.