{"id":4285,"date":"2025-01-02T11:52:42","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T16:52:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourepublic.com\/blog\/?p=4285"},"modified":"2025-01-02T11:52:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T16:52:48","slug":"cuban-currency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourepublic.com\/blog\/cuban-currency\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cuban Currency Explained for Travelers (2025 Update)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The official Cuban currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP) \u2014often referred to as \u201cPeso Cubano,\u201d \u201cmoneda nacional,\u201d or simply \u201cMN\u201d. As a traveler, it\u2019s also the currency you\u2019ll use for most transactions during your stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, due to frequently changing monetary policies and wildly fluctuating exchange rates, handling money in Cuba isn\u2019t always straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about getting and spending Cuban Pesos, including how to more than double the value of your home currency on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US Dollar is the Best Currency to Bring to Cuba<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should absolutely bring US dollars to Cuba, even if you are not traveling from the US<\/a>. This is because you will pay for most of your expenses on the island in CUPs, and the US dollar has the best exchange rate!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"US<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That is if you exchange your USDs in the informal market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get More Cuban Pesos in the Informal Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cuban Pesos have two exchange rates: the CADECA exchange rate, and the street exchange rate.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"CADECA\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

CADECA (“Casas de Cambio”)<\/a> is the government’s currency exchange house. Their offices are in many airports, hotels, cruise ports, banks, and shopping centers. They buy foreign currencies following the exchange rates established by the Banco Central de Cuba<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

CADECA is the safest place to sell your home currency, although you can more than double your Cuban Pesos in the informal market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The informal market means selling your hard currency through hosts and friends. You could exchange money with street vendors, but the risk of being scammed is higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get a fair estimate of the value of Cuban Pesos in the informal market, check El Toque’s Cuban currency exchange tracker<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n