Shopping in Cuba - outlets, shopping streets and boutiques

Cuba has a truly enchanting nature and keeps inspiring people with its signature revolutionary spirit. Local people are very hospitable and kind, but the poverty that many people live in is astonishing. Liberty Island is not the best destination for shopping or one of the worst, to be honest. Of course, this doesn’t mean that there are no good souvenirs on the island. Souvenir shopping is a completely different type of shopping, and tourists certainly want to have a memory of their exciting vacation. There are two national currencies in Cuba – the convertible and non-convertible one. Both have the same name – peso. The convertible peso or CUC is a special currency for tourists and all foreigners. One CUC is equal to one U.S. dollar. The non-convertible peso or CUP is the currency that Cubans use in their daily life. The exchange rate of CUP is significantly lower – one CUP is equal to 24 U.S. dollars. Tourists cannot get this currency, exchange offices work with the convertible peso only.

Banks usually open at 8:30 a.m. and stay open until 3 p.m. on workdays. There is a lunch break that usually starts at noon and lasts one and a half hours. On Saturdays, the banks work only two hours without any breaks starting from 10:30 a.m. Sunday is the day off. It is possible to pay with bank cards in dollar and euro at shops, hotels, or tour agencies. The price is indicated in peso but the withdrawal will be made in the currency of the card using the 1:1 exchange rate. In order to be eligible for a card payment, your purchase must be over 20 CUC. This means that tourists need to have cash for small purchases. The exchange rate is the same in all regions of Cuba but the commission charged can be different. There is no commission when you exchange euro to peso. Cards issued by the U.S. banks are not accepted anywhere in Cuba. This is a political decision.

What souvenirs can tourists bring from their vacation in Cuba? What items can make great gifts for family members, friends, or colleagues? There are several internationally famous goods that have become the signature products of Cuba – coffee, cigars, and rum. In order not to buy a counterfeit product, take into consideration the recommendations mentioned below. Tourists are allowed to export no more than 2 liters of the licensed rum only. Santiago and Havana Club are the most famous brands. In order not to buy a fake, buy rum in the state shops only. If you do not like rum, consider buying a drink with lower alcohol content, such as Guayabita del Pinar. This liqueur appeared at the end of the 19th century and has been produced continuously since that time for more than a hundred years. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The assortment of cigars is so diverse that it is easy to get lost. Cigars differ in type, brand, color, size, and packaging. Tourists often find it hard to make their choice when they see stalls full of different cigars. The choice is a bit easier for smokers because they can try smoking a cigar of their choice in a special smoking room. For a non-smoker, it is virtually impossible to choose something. How should one shop for cigars in this case? First of all, pick the right place to buy cigars. This must be a shop that gives receipts to its customers. Branded shops of cigar manufacturers are the best idea. There are also networks of tobacco shops in Cuba such as Habanos S.A and La Casa del Habano.

Do not buy cigars in small shops and from private individuals. Always take the receipt that is a proof that the cigar shop works legally. Tourists also need the receipt for the customs – foreign guests can export 200 cigars if they have a receipt. Without the receipt, it is allowed to export only 50 cigars. Cuban cigars are famous for their signature quality. They are well-known in the world and valued by many tobacco connoisseurs. Naturally, some counterfeit manufacturers try to sell fakes to tourists. It is important to remember that a quality Cuban cigar cannot cost less than 10 U.S. dollars. If the price is significantly cheaper, you are about to buy a fake. An excursion to the oldest tobacco factory on the island, Partagas, is a great opportunity to learn more about different types and flavors of cigars. Partagas has been making cigars from the mid-19th century.

Coffee is popular in all parts of the world, and this is also a good gift. It is almost impossible to buy counterfeit coffee because the production of this product is controlled by the state. Cuban coffee is available in most shops. Serano, Turquino Cubita, and Arabica Serano Washed are the most popular brands in the country. There is one efficient way of choosing the favorite coffee brand and type – to drink a cup of it. Sampling coffee is not a problem because it is available in every café. Of course, you will need to drink several cups of different coffee but you will be sure that you buy the product that you like the most.

A colorful and bright men’s shirt called guayabera and a wide-brimmed sombrero hat are also stylish and interesting gifts from Cuba. A typical souvenir – fridge magnet – is also widespread in Cuba. There are magnets with different images of the beautiful Cuban nature, architecture, revolution, and so on. Goods with the image of Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara are also very popular. Such souvenirs are always in high demand. Pay your attention to hand-carved wooden figurines of Cubans and Africans – these national handcrafts look original and authentic.

Female travelers are usually particularly interested in buying original jewelry with pearls, tortoise, black corals, silver, and even crocodile teeth. The latter is the most expensive. However, tourists need to be attentive when they buy jewelry because it is illegal to export some materials. Black corals, shells from the beach, tortoise, books older than 50 years, antiquities, and weapons are just some of the items, the export of which is banned. To be able to take some goods home, tourists need to have a receipt and an export license – sellers must give these documents. To protect oneself from potential problems, it is always a good idea to ask the complete list of the banned items at the hotel, tour agency, or the embassy of your country.