Cuba
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Capital
Havana
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Local time
2:01
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Population
11.42 m
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Driving side
Right
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Calling code
+53
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Currency
₱ CUP (peso)
Cuba
-
Capital
Havana
-
Local time
2:01
-
Population
11.42 m
-
Driving side
Right
-
Calling code
+53
-
Currency
₱ CUP (peso)
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Average Salary
$ 548
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Petrol price
€ 1.40 pl
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Precipitation
1 335mm /year
Geography & travel
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Country Area
110 860 km2
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Protected Area
12%
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Forest Area
31%
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Agricultural area
60%
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Railways
5076km
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Annual air passengers
1.22 m
Population
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Ethnicity
mulatto - 51 %
white - 37 %
black - 11 %
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Religion
Roman Catholic and Santería
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Literacy rates
99.8%
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Languages
Spanish
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Armed Forces
75 500
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Alcohol consumption
5.5 l/person
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Smoking
52.7%
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Diabetes
10%
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Tuberculosis
7 per 100k
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HIV
0.4%
Economy
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Industries
petroleum, nickel/cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar
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Agriculture
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans, livestock
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Natural Resources
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum
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Energy Import
49%
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Natural Resources
cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum
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Renewable Energy
18%
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CO2 Emissions
34 837kt
What not to do when visiting Cuba
Cuba Don't speak anything against the government.
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Cuba Don't forget that every kind of device which is capable of receiving signals from satellites is strictly prohibited on the island.
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Cuba Don't bring credit cards or travellers cheques from American-based banks, including AMEX, which are not accepted in Cuba. Visa, MasterCard, Cabel and Visa Electron are all accepted credit cards.
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Did you know?
The worlds smallest bird is the 'bee hummingbird' found in Cuba.
Cuba Don't photograph military or police personnel or installations - you may well be arrested for spying.
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Cuba Don't be unaware of customs restrictions of Cuba - check the Cuban customs website.
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Cuba Don't draw attention to yourself as a tourist, especially if you are with Cuban friends of the opposite sex as the police will be quick to ask your friends for identification.
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Cuba Don't forget to shake hands upon greeting someone and leaving - it's common to greet friends and family with a hug and kiss on the cheek. Informalities like addressing a stranger with "mi Corazon" (my heart), mi Vida (my life), or Carino (dear) are common.
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Cuba Don't show the homosexuality - it's frowned upon by Cuban society and law enforcement agencies.
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Did you know?
The largest exporter of sugar is Cuba.
Cuba Don't spit and blow your nose in public.
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Cuba Don't forget to take good care of your wallet and passport in crowded places - keep them in your front pocket, and leave valuables, important documents and the money in the hotel safe. Keep a photocopy of your main passport page.
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Cuba Don't litter - it's against the law.
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Cuba Don't drink tap water though it's drinkable - drink bottled water or avoid tropical illnesses.
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Cuba Don't get involved with drugs - penalties are very severe in Cuban law. Don't carry anything through customs for anyone else.
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Did you know?
Former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was completely obsessed with dairy.
Cuba Don't order Papaya Daiquiri or avoid using the word papaya in Cuba - it's actually vulgar slang of "vagina".
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Cuba Don't get frustrated when things change unexpectedly, don't go as planned.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Cuba Don't forget to watch out for money exchangers, count your change, short giving is a plague in Cuba. Only exchange in official places such as hotel, bank or Cadeca (official Governmental exchange bureau).
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Cuba Don't wear expensive things and jewellery.
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Cuba Don’t get offended by close and louder speaking in conversations - Cubans tend to speak very quickly, loud and stand close to one another, with occasional touching.
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Cuba Don't underestimate the power of sun. Bring sunglasses, hats and enough sunscreen - sun in Cuba is quite hot and the ultraviolet rays can burn you.
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Cuba Don't forget to learn Spanish greetings, and simple phrases, such as 'thank you' (gracias), and 'please‘ (por favour) it will earn you respect.
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Caribbean Don't sit under a ripe coconut tree - better to be safe than sorry, falling coconuts kill 150 people each year.
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Cuba Don't forget to look down, the old streets of Havana can be treacherous. There are uneven curbs, potholes, cracked cobblestones…you might want to forget the heels.
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Caribbean Don't take pictures of locals without permission.
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Cuba Don't be confused Cubans pointing by puckering their lips in the direction or person they are referring to.
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Caribbean Don't dive or snorkel without a floating marker on water.
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Caribbean Don’t be a victim of mosquito-borne diseases - protect yourself against bites by mosquitoes.
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Caribbean Don't forget to negotiate your taxi ride price before you take it.
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Cuba Don’t forget the hurricane season usually runs from June to November.
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Caribbean Don't really look for a deal - things are not that cheap in Caribbean.
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Tell us your experience
We love to hear from people who have travelled the world and know ‘what not to do’. Why not help other people on their travels?
Caribbean Don't forget coral-safe sunscreen - if you go to water excursions, some of them may not allow you to join without coral-safe sunscreen.
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