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CUBAN CURRENCIES - Currency
Converter
 There
are two currencies used in Cuba.
The "Peso Cubano" (Cuban Peso)
and the "Peso Convertible or CUC" (Cuban
Convertible peso), this last one known as "chavito".
Dollar is not used anymore.
For an Euro, you
get around 24 Pesos Cubanos.
For an Euro, you get around 1,40 CUC (Convertible pesos or
chavitos)
Cuban
Peso can be used, for instance, to buy vegetables
and fruits at agro-markets; to go to the cinema (ticket costs
2 Pesos Cubanos); also for going to the theatre, traveling
in buses Astro, eat in some restaurants (not all), etc.
Convertible
Peso (CUC or chavito), can be used to pay accommodation
in hotel or private houses, in supermarkets, restaurants in
tourist areas, taxis, etc.
Where
can you get a better currency exchange?
Currency exchange should be done at the differente houses
in the country. The better exchange you can get is at CADECA’s,
(Casas de Cambio, in English, Currency Exchange Houses) .
These are small houses that could be found everywhere.
Currency
change rates varies according to differences Euro-USD in international
markets. (You may see the updated currency exchange in http://www.bc.gov.cu/Espanol/bancos_comerciales.asp)
IMPORTANT
CUC equivalence
is the same of USD international rate, but the government
charges an extra 10% when changing from USD to CUC.
Also the money taken out from credit cards* is charged with
this percentage, even if the account is opened in Euros, they
previously make the change to USD and then to CUC. The best
thing to do is carry out with cash in Euros or other currency
different from US Dollar.
If your country
uses USD dollar, the most convenient for you is change into
Euros before travelling to Cuba.
When leaving Cuba,
at the airport, you can change CUC into your local currency
at banks and currency exchange houses (CADECA).
(*) Credit
cards and traveller checks are accepted only if not expended
by US Banks (American Express, for instance) or its branches
in other countries. Credit cards expended by European and
Canadian Banks are well accepted: Visa International, Mastercard,
EuroCard, Cabal and BFI.
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