After nearly 30 years of managing two currencies in one economy, 2021 was the year that Cuba finally took steps to return to a single currency economy.

On the 1st January 2021 the Cuban Government initiated a 6 month period of monetary unification  ( known officially as Tarea Ordenamiento ) and gradually removed the CUC from circulation, leaving the CUP (Cuban Peso) as the sole Cuban currency.  The CUC  ceased to exist in 2021, marking the end of Cuba’s dual-currency system.

As a reminder, the CUC was initially created in 1994 to eliminate the circulation of USD within Cuba and was pegged CUC1:USD1.  The USD had become the currency of choice within Cuba after the Soviet Union collapsed and withdrew support from Cuba, creating economic freefall on the Caribbean island.   The CUC was, in essence, a US dollar dressed in Cuban clothing and enabled the Cuban Government to control hard currency circulating on the island.  It has been used in Cuba for the purchase of all imported goods ( including food, clothing, electronics, building materials ), services and any tourism-related cash transactions.. Travellers would typically exchange GBP/EUR/CAD/AUD in cash for CUC upon arrival or withdraw CUC directly from ATMs using their foreign debit cards.

Concurrently ,the CUP, aka Moneda Nacional or Peso Cubano, had been the base currency of the Cuban economy and the one used for all economic planning and transactions as well as being the currency  in which Cubans receive their salaries, buy their food and pay for utilities and public transportation.  The CUP has now returned to being the sole domestic currency in Cuba, with an official exchange rate of USD 1 : CUP 24

Any USD currency exchanges in Cuba are subject to an additional 10% tax so it isn’t a good idea to bring US Dollars in to the country.  Much better to leave your USD at home, and instead travellers should bring an alternative currency (e.g. GBP/EUR/CAD/AUD) to exchange locally for CUP.

At the time of writing, the most widely accepted currency is the EUR and we strongly recommend travellers to Cuba bring cash EUR in small denominations.  Many establishments will accept payments in EUR and , in fact, will actively prefer EUR to CUP ( Cuban Pesos ).

Cuban supermarkets, and small shops within hotel premises, have stopped selling goods in cash.  As the Cuban economy is slowly digitalised, these shops now only  accept bank card payments with prices expressed in USD.  Cash payments are no longer possible in these shops. Foreign debit and/or credit cards can be used, however it’s important to inform your bank of travel plans prior to making transactions in Cuba to ensure that your card will work.

 

• Cuban Pesos ( CUP ) is now the only official currency for  all cash transactions.
• When withdrawing cash from ATMs using international debit cards, CUP cash is now dispensed.
• Exchange only a small amount of your money into CUP on arrival, and discuss with your guide what payment options are available.  Sometimes it’s better value to pay in EUR cash.
• Traveller expenses in Cuba (e.g. meals, drinks, tips, optional activities, souvenirs etc.) will be calculated in CUP but check payment options in EUR first.
• Government owned shops selling food or clothing ( and all shops within hotel establishments )  will accept card payments only, not cash, with prices advertised in USD.
• It is prohibited to take CUP currency out of Cuba ( it is recommended to change back any unused CUP before arriving at the airport )
• Duty free shops and cafes in airport departure lounge only accept payments using bank cards or in foreign currencies.