FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

DO YOU HAVE A TRAVEL AGENT WHO CAN HELP ME?
Yes, contact EcoColors at (52)(998) 8843667 or 8849580. Fax (52)(998) 8849214. E-mail: info ecotravelmexico

DO I NEED TRIP INSURANCE?
We recommend that you purchase trip insurance in case of a sudden illness or death in your family, an airline strike, extended airline cancellations due to weather, etc.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

• Passport.
• Wash cloth. Some hotels do not provide them
• Insect repellent
• Sun Screen or Sun Block
• Swimsuit
• Light jacket or sweater
• Imodium, just in case
• Camera and film
• Prescription medicines
• Dress code in the Cuba is casual
• Hand Sanitizer. Soap in the restrooms is non exsistent
• Shampoo. Hotels do not provide it.
• Cash for beverages, souvenirs, personal expenses ( 300 USD suggested)

WHAT DO I NEED TO LEAVE AT HOME?

• Heirloom or expensive jewellery you would hate to lose
• Half the clothes you packed the first try
• Your cares and worries

DO I NEED A VISA AND A PASSPORT?
Yes and yes. Cuba will give you a visa, however, you must acquire the visa before you arrive, You can accomplish this by contacting the nearest Cuban Embassy or Consulate in your country, except for citizens of the USA, whom will be issued a visa onboard their flights to Cuba. Passports. Ensure that your passport has at least 6 months left till it expires, calculated from your departure date.

CAUTION/IMPORTANT

• DEPARTURE TAX OF 25 CUC. To be paid at the airport.
• Don’t bring flashy jerseys which identify you as American. Preferably wear plain jerseys and shorts. If asked, consider saying your Canadian.
• Ride together, do not ride alone.
• You WILL be confronted with people trying to sell you a room, cigars, rum, women, etc.
• There are no road signs.
• The best flight form Cancun to Atlanta is the 8 am flight. The airport is not crowed then and the flight is not either.
• Show this to the Cuban and Mexican customs agents, “ POR FAVOR, USTED NO SELLE MI PASAPORTE. GRACIAS. This means, “Please do not stamp my passport. Thank you”.
• Do not under any circumstances lose your passport while on the island. If you do, you will have to report the US interests section of the Swiss Embassy and confess that you are where you shouldn’t be.

The tour includes:

• 6 days guided cycling
• Air flight Cancun – Cuba – Cancun
• Bicycle rental
• Entrance fees
• Airport transfers
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
• Lodging (8nts)
• Local guide throughout
• Air-conditioned van

The tour does NOT include:

• Airfare,
• Beverages
• Telephone calls
• Laundry
• Gratuities for your guides
• Early arrivals
• Extra nights

WHAT'S INVOLVED IN GETTING THROUGH CUBAN CUSTOMS?
Visitors who are well prepared and adhere to a few simple rules should have smooth trips through customs, both when entering and leaving Cuba.
Key information to remember: Cuban customs laws prohibits any imports of pornographic material, narcotics drugs, live animals and firearms, although these last ones can be authorized by the organization in charge of this tourist modality when these are for the sport of hunting. Any possession, consumption and traffic of narcotic drugs and other substances are penalized, except for those of personal use accompanied by the corresponding doctor prescription letter.

DO I NEED ANY IMMUNIZATIONS TO GO TO CUBA?
The Cuban Government doesn't require you to have any immunizations, you may want to get a tetanus booster, if you are due, and maybe hepatitis. For
total medical information and advice for foreign travel, check with your health centre or your physician, and check out the online data at the CDC (Centre for Disease Control & Prevention) website: www.cdc.gov/travel/caribean.htm 

Also follow these tips.
Drink only the bottled water included in your hotel rooms. Do not drink the water from the spigots or showerheads. The water and ice at the restaurants we will be using is sanitary to drink. Do not use unbottled water or ice at unapproved restaurants. Do not eat items from local street vendors unless we tell you it is sanitary. Bring some Imodium, just in case.
Do not eat items from local street vendors unless we tell you it is sanitary.

WHAT'S THE TIPPING CUSTOM IN CUBA?
As in most parts of the world a tip for good service is always welcome, restaurants and bars usually expect from 5 to 10%. Chambermaids can be tipped 50 cents or 1 CUC (Peso Cuban Convertible) per room per night, taxis is discretional and bellboys normally expect 1 CUC per suitcase. Other tipped services are guided tours, which you do at discretion

HOW DO I CALL HOME FROM CUBA?
Cuba’s telephone network provides direct communications inside the country and out – with any part of the world. Some hotels and resorts also provide Internet connections. There are phones in the lobby and a few have a pay phone somewhere on the premises. To call home or office, the simplest way is to have the front desk make the connection (choose collect, or put it on your room and pay on check out). It will be an operator-assisted call and slightly expensive, so keep the conversation short. Many people buy the $100 pesos phone card to use in street corner phones; but often in the little time you have, there's a line or that phone doesn't execute out-of-country calls. So, to reduce frustration, pay more and get the front desk clerk's help

NOTES FOR FOREIGN VISITORS

• A fat tire bike is recommended (There are some dirt roads in the route).
• Some rental bicycles are available.
• Rear flashing lights are mandatory.
• Helmets are mandatory.
• Children under 12 will not be allowed on the ride.

Phone numbers: (998) 884 3667 / 884 9580