BajaNomad - How would I get to Cuba?

How would I get to Cuba?

Howard - 8-13-2014 at 02:51 PM

Not that I will go as it is illegal to just take a vacation to Cuba, BUT lets say I did want to go, departing from Loreto or La Paz or even TJ, what is the best way?

I am looking for some first hand information on what airlines and routes you took, IF you were going to do it. I assume that through either Mexico City or Cancun. What airlines would you use, approximate costs, etc.

I realize that it might be a delicate matter but any information would be appreciated.

[Edited on 8-13-2014 by Howard]

bajabuddha - 8-13-2014 at 03:08 PM

I'd just grab a small dinghy and head for The Keys with 23 of my best friends to help paddle..... (j/k!) :lol:

chuckie - 8-13-2014 at 03:09 PM

There are several agencies that specialize in getting US citizens from Mexico to Cuba with no hassles. I havnt done it for a while but an internet search should dig them up. Wasn't too expensive as I remember it, worst was getting from La Paz-Mexico City...CUBA and Cubans are great...

Wally - 8-13-2014 at 03:09 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havana_airport

SFandH - 8-13-2014 at 03:12 PM

I think you can still get there from TJ with a stop in Monterey. Certainly from Mexico City. Probably from Cancun too.

[Edited on 8-13-2014 by SFandH]

mtgoat666 - 8-13-2014 at 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Howard
Not that I will go as it is illegal to just take a vacation to Cuba, BUT lets say I did want to go, departing from Loreto or La Paz or even TJ, what is the best way?

I am looking for some first hand information on what airlines and routes you took, IF you were going to do it. I assume that through either Mexico City or Cancun. What airlines would you use, approximate costs, etc.

I realize that it might be a delicate matter but any information would be appreciated.

this board is occasionally a good place for gringos to solicit advice on committing crimes :lol:

p.s. if you plan to commit crimes, don't do your planning in internet chat forums! even elvis8clouseau, with scooby do master chief detective decoder ring, can follow internet clues using google. just ask around verbally... :lol:

[Edited on 8-13-2014 by mtgoat666]

Loretana - 8-13-2014 at 04:02 PM

Howard,

Ask Alexander. He is a Canadian, so he goes there legally and often.

<http://www.loretorealty.com/>

Bush Pilots taking legal trip to Cuba

Stickers - 8-13-2014 at 04:30 PM

Cuba 2014
Departs: Oct 6, 2014
Returns: Oct 10, 2014
Status: Open

Charming, Adventurous, Colorful, Exciting, Exotic, Fascinating, Passionate, Enchanting, Musical, Forbidden, Prohibited…. and we have the license for you to go.
Join Jack, Claudia, and other BBP members as we add another page of adventure, fun, and laughter into our book of memories as we do our second group trip into the magical country of Cuba.
Because you cannot legally take your aircraft into Cuba and even if so, the price is too prohibitive, we are leaving our airplanes at home for this trip and will meet up in Florida where we will take a charter flight to Havana…..
And once there, it will be five days of exploring the beauty and culture of Cuba as well as meeting with various department heads of Cuba’s Aviation Sector regarding overflight authorization, safety, emergency procedures, and overflight routes you might receive.
In addition, we have been invited to visit the museum of the Revolution as well get up close to some of the aircraft and vehicles that put Castro into power.
And yes, I had a 1952 Ford Convertible as well as a 57 Chevy hardtop when I was young. I would really be surprised if you did not find and ride in your very first car....brings back lots of memories. Only in Cuba.

[Edited on 8-14-2014 by Stickers]

Cuba_Ford_535480f86a385.jpg - 15kB

windgrrl - 8-13-2014 at 05:18 PM

Fly to Calgary or Vancouver, then book an all-inclusive Canadian trip to Cuba, then go on tours around the country from there. There are very inexpensive charter packages available (Sears, Westjet, etc.). Dense touristy areas have experienced increased crime, due to poverty and sanctions, but the travel advisory is no biggie:
http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba

As an American, you could have a few options to travel to Cuba legally and those may expand in the near future. Then look out - big time development.

It's an amazing country, very beautiful, sugar sand beaches, warm people, wonderful arts and culture, layers of Spanish, Russian and Us history around every corner. We'd winter there if they had any wind.

bajabuddha - 8-13-2014 at 05:19 PM

"... even elvis8clouseau, with scooby do master chief detective decoder ring, can follow internet clues using google."

Oh..... my.... gawd...... :rolleyes:

i'm on the floor....

CortezBlue - 8-13-2014 at 07:33 PM

Well as a Mexican Perm Resident we can travel from Cancun to Habana in about 1 hour.

However, my wife being an educator, we were invited to take a cultural exchange trip, but it was VERY Expensive.

So we will probably take the Cancun option in the near future.

PS. we did learn that bringing bars or soap is a preferred tip for waitresses etc.

[Edited on 8-14-2014 by CortezBlue]

motoged - 8-13-2014 at 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
... even elvis8clouseau, with scooby do master chief detective decoder ring, can follow internet clues using google. ...
[Edited on 8-13-2014 by mtgoat666]

So, he is probably loading up the cartoon canon any minute now....his intel sources are providing a direct lead to this topic as we read it :biggrin:

As for Cuba.....do it before it turns into Miami....friends who have gone there liked Cuba a lot. Too bad most tourists stay in the north end....lots to appreciate at the south end (aside from Guantanamo )...

Santiago is a World Heritage site.....

:cool:

gnukid - 8-13-2014 at 07:44 PM

Book a trip from la paz to DF to havana - flight and hotel with layover is quite cheap $600. Hotel national cuba, tropicana, and hemingway marina hotel among many options.

churro - 8-13-2014 at 08:32 PM

I dont think is unlawful to go to Cuba... I think it is unlawful to spend USD there

woody with a view - 8-13-2014 at 08:50 PM

swim!

motoged - 8-13-2014 at 09:37 PM

USA dollars are accepted for currency conversions in Cuba....as are Canadian and Euros....Cuba has two "levels" of accepted currency within the country

Stickers - 8-13-2014 at 11:13 PM

It used to be $75 to fly from Cancun to Havana, a very short flight.

.

bajabuddha - 8-13-2014 at 11:17 PM

Howard, if you do get there, please fill us in afterwards. It's very high on my bucket list. I'm jealous as all get-out! :yes:

going to cuba

captkw - 8-14-2014 at 03:00 AM

Hola Howard..folks from the usa go all the time !! check out "latitude 38" for real trip info and its not illegal to go there,,but its illegal to spend dollars as in trading with the enemy !! what a sick USA,,anyway go have great time !!! and check out "papas place" and do some fishing!!

A Gold Mine of Collectable Cars

SFandH - 8-14-2014 at 06:07 AM

Link to Photos

Buy a boatload, make a handsome profit.

[Edited on 8-14-2014 by SFandH]

CortezBlue - 8-14-2014 at 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by churro
I dont think is unlawful to go to Cuba... I think it is unlawful to spend USD there

Without a government permit, it is illegal for a US citizen to go to Cuba. It is a $250K fine. However, I have been told if you go the Cubanos don't stamp your passport, but instead slide a piece of paper into your passport and stamp that.

Bajajorge - 8-14-2014 at 09:08 AM

Why would you want to go to Cuba? Or maybe I should use the same answer as mountain climbers use, "cuz it's there". :biggrin:

durrelllrobert - 8-14-2014 at 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged
USA dollars are accepted for currency conversions in Cuba....as are Canadian and Euros....Cuba has two "levels" of accepted currency within the country

My (Candian) wife just got back from there and had to convert Canadian dollars to Cuban pesos and the conversion rate used was the official USA rate even though they will not accept US dollars for exchange. :?:

willardguy - 8-14-2014 at 09:31 AM

searching for Joe Merchant on the Hemisphere Dancer? :cool:

805gregg - 8-20-2014 at 05:47 PM

The Cubans are still trying to get out and you want to go why? I read a ride report from 2 Canadians that took their motorcycles there, after 3 weeks they were in such a hurry to leave, they forgot their motorcycle boots, fun at first but to much poverty and getting hassled to stay here and eat there so the perps get a kick back, best to avoid until the Castro's pass on

chuckie - 8-21-2014 at 05:07 AM

Yeah, well, Canadians.....

Marc - 8-21-2014 at 06:17 AM

Back in 2000 my boys and I booked a flight from Nassau to Havana. No problem. Flight back to Nassau. A problem. Seems US Immigration has a post there.
Best way is to join a club or educational society for a group excursion.
Anyway here we are with our guide. A gal with advanced degrees making about $100 a month.
BTW they confiscated about $1,500.00 worth of cigars.

bill erhardt - 8-21-2014 at 07:32 AM

Howard.....If you go, consider staying in the Ambos Mundos hotel in Havana. Ernest Hemingway had a room there while he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls. The bar on the first floor looks like Hemingway should still be there. If you want to strike out on your own you can rent a car in the lobby. Southwest off the Ocho Via and north of the Bay of Pigs are salt flats famous for bonefish. if the flats are closed for fishing the fresh water streams in the area are not really fresh and can also provide some great fishing. That part of the island is honeycombed underneath and up to 10 or 15 miles inland there are upwellings of salt water in the streams. Marine ecosystems around the upwellings support salt water fish including small tarpon which are great fun on light spinning tackle. And, check at the mouths of small tributary streams for black snook. When I was there anything red would turn the trick.

Do it.

motoged - 8-21-2014 at 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chuckie
Yeah, well, Canadians.....

Are these the guys that forgot their boots?

durrelllrobert - 8-21-2014 at 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc
Back in 2000 my boys and I booked a flight from Nassau to Havana. No problem. Flight back to Nassau. A problem. Seems US Immigration has a post there.
Best way is to join a club or educational society for a group excursion.
Anyway here we are with our guide. A gal with advanced degrees making about $100 a month.
BTW they confiscated about $1,500.00 worth of cigars.

Castro has long complained that Cubans expect too much from the government, which pays each of the 5.1 million Government employees flat monthly salaries of just $20US. But they also provides free education and health care and heavily subsidizes housing, transportation and basic food.

Marc - 8-21-2014 at 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bill erhardt
Howard.....If you go, consider staying in the Ambos Mundos hotel in Havana. Ernest Hemingway had a room there while he wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls. The bar on the first floor looks like Hemingway should still be there. If you want to strike out on your own you can rent a car in the lobby. Southwest off the Ocho Via and north of the Bay of Pigs are salt flats famous for bonefish. if the flats are closed for fishing the fresh water streams in the area are not really fresh and can also provide some great fishing. That part of the island is honeycombed underneath and up to 10 or 15 miles inland there are upwellings of salt water in the streams. Marine ecosystems around the upwellings support salt water fish including small tarpon which are great fun on light spinning tackle. And, check at the mouths of small tributary streams for black snook. When I was there anything red would turn the trick.

Do it.

Here is the hotel. And it has a great bar!. I sat as his favorite stool (or so they say).

Rhum

baconjr - 8-24-2014 at 07:12 PM

Rhum, music and cigars...

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajorge
Why would you want to go to Cuba? Or maybe I should use the same answer as mountain climbers use, "cuz it's there". :biggrin:

Obvious

baconjr - 8-24-2014 at 07:15 PM

Rhum, music and cigars

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajorge
Why would you want to go to Cuba? Or maybe I should use the same answer as mountain climbers use, "cuz it's there". :biggrin:

Marc - 8-25-2014 at 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by baconjr
Rhum, music and cigars

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajorge
Why would you want to go to Cuba? Or maybe I should use the same answer as mountain climbers use, "cuz it's there". :biggrin:

And the girls just LOVE me!

fish101 - 8-25-2014 at 08:50 AM

Hey Howard, Like Loretana said: Check with Alexander here in Loreto as he goes quite often. Also, several others from Loreto have gone as well, flying out of La Paz as a group last year and had a good time. I think your friend Rita went as well. So, its not a problem getting there from here. Next time your in Augie's talk to Lupita about her trip to Cuba. She had a wonderful time.

chippy - 8-26-2014 at 08:11 AM

We went to Cuba via DF. The Cubans didn´t stamp passports from the USA. We stayed at the Hotel National in while in Havana. Its a good hotel with some great history. It didn´t hurt that the Buena Vista Social Club was playing there during our stay.
The beaches around Varadero are pretty nice. Mojitos and real piña coladas with Havana Club rum :yes: