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Voykit pocket guide · Cuba
Guantánamo
Skip unless you have a specific reason: the city has little for tourists and the US naval base is off-limits. Half a day is enough for the stone zoo and cathedral.
Guantánamo is a provincial capital in eastern Cuba, best known for the US naval base that bears its name. The city itself has a few sights — a 19th-century cathedral and a quirky stone zoo — but most travellers use it as a transit point to Baracoa or Santiago de Cuba. The base is not accessible to visitors.
- Country
- Cuba
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, hurricane risk)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CUP
- Money
- Currency is the Cuban peso (CUP). There are three official rates: 24 and 120 CUP per US dollar for state accounting, and a managed "floating" rate launched in December 2025 (about 680 CUP per US$1 in late September 2026). The informal street rate tracked by elTOQUE was about 730 CUP per US$1 on 26 September 2026. Rates move weekly — check before you go (checked 2026-09).
- Daily spend
- Budget CUP 1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid CUP 2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High CUP 4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- ETECSA is the only operator; tourist SIMs and eSIMs are sold with passport at the airport and ETECSA offices (check eSIM).
- Emergency
- Police 106 · Ambulance 104 · Fire 105
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, L · 110 V and 220 V · 60 Hz · Casas often have both; check before plugging in.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% in cash.; Casa hosts, drivers, musicians: US$1–5.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water; bottled water can be scarce, so bring a filter bottle or tablets.
- Toilets
- Often without seats or paper; carry tissue and small coins for attendants.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | CUP 30–60 |
| Meal at a paladar | CUP 300–600 |
| Beer (bottle) | CUP 60–100 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | CUP 200–400 |
| Bici-taxi ride | CUP 50–100 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GAO · Mariana Grajales Airport
- Cubana de Aviación flies from Havana; check flight availability
Typical fares
- Airport → centre
- about CUP 500, 15 min (check)
- Bus Guantánamo → Baracoa
- about CUP 500, 2–3 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking covers the centre. Taxis (bici-taxis and coco-taxis) for longer trips; negotiate the fare before getting in.
See and do
Known for
- Mariana Grajales Airport (GAO)
- St. Catherine of Ricci Cathedral
- Zoologico de Piedra (Stone Zoo)
- Proximity to Guantánamo Bay naval base
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Baracoa | Bus or shared taxi via the coastal road, about 2–3 h | 2–3 h |
| Santiago de Cuba | Bus or shared taxi, about 2 h | 2 h |
| Moa | Bus or shared taxi, about 1.5 h | 1.5 h |
Sleep
- City centre
- Near the cathedral and main square; basic casas particulares and a few hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyo |
| I don't understand | No entiendono en-TYEN-doh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, or a cheek kiss among acquaintances; avoid: Rushing straight to business
- Casas: Respect the family's routine and water use; avoid: Leaving air conditioning on in blackouts or low supply
- Shortages: Share useful supplies if asked; avoid: Handing out gifts in the street
- Politics: Let hosts lead; avoid: Pushing people to criticise the government
Scams and watch-outs
- The US naval base is strictly off-limits to tourists; do not attempt to enter.
- Fuel shortages can affect bus and taxi services; confirm schedules locally.
- Cash is king: credit cards from US banks do not work in Cuba.
Guantánamo is generally safe for tourists, but petty theft can occur. Avoid walking alone at night in poorly lit areas. The US naval base is off-limits.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guantánamo yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mariana Grajales Airport (GAO)
- St. Catherine of Ricci Cathedral
- Zoologico de Piedra (Stone Zoo)
- Proximity to Guantánamo Bay naval base
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Guantánamo (city), revision 5239203 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239203
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Guantánamo
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has an embassy in Havana; most other countries have embassies in Havana. Check your government's travel advice.
Cash only; US credit/debit cards do not work in Cuba.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/guantanamo-city). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.