Cuba - Lonely Planet [67]
Farmacia Homopática (Map; cnr Calles 23 & M, Vedado; 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat)
Farmacia Taquechel (Map; 862-9286; Obispo No 155, Habana Vieja; 9am-6pm) Next to the Hotel Ambos Mundos. Cuban wonder drugs such as anticholesterol medication PPG sold in pesos here.
Hospital Nacional Hermanos Ameijeiras (Map; 877-6053; San Lázaro No 701, Centro Habana) Special hard-currency services, general consultations and hospitalization. Enter via the lower level below the parking lot off Padre Varela (ask for CEDA in Section N).
Hotel Pharmacies Hotel Habana Libre (Map; 831-9538; Calle L btwn Calles 23 & 25, Vedado) Products sold in Convertibles; Hotel Sevilla (Map; 861-5703; Prado cnr Trocadero, Habana Vieja)
Money
Banco de Crédito y Comercio Vedado (Map; cnr Línea & Paseo); Vedado (Map; 870-2684; Airline Bldg, Calle 23); Vedado (Map; 879-2074; Av Independencia No 101) The last one – in post office between Terminal de Ómnibus and Plaza de la Revolución – is most convenient to immigration for visa extension stamps. Expect lines.
Banco Financiero Internacional Habana Vieja (Map; 860-9369; cnr Oficios & Brasil); Vedado (Map; Hotel Habana Libre, Calle L btwn Calles 23 & 25)
Banco Metropolitano Centro Habana (Map; 862-6523; Av de Italia No 452 cnr San Martín); Vedado (Map; 832-2006; cnr Línea & Calle M, Vedado)
Cadeca Centro Habana (Map; cnr Neptuno & Agramonte; 9am-noon & 1-7pm Mon-Sat); Habana Vieja (Map; cnr Oficios & Lamparilla; 8am-7pm Mon-Sat, 8am-1pm Sun); Vedado (Map; Calle 23 btwn Calles K & L; 7am-2:30pm & 3:30-10pm); Vedado (Map; Mercado Agropecuario, Calle 19 btwn Calles A & B; 7am-6pm Mon-Sat, 8am-1pm Sun); Vedado (Map; cnr Malecón & Calle D) Cadeca gives cash advances and changes traveler’s checks at 3.5% commission Monday to Friday (4% weekends).
Cambio (Map; Obispo No 257, Habana Vieja; 8am-10pm) The best opening hours in town.
Post
DHL Vedado (Map; 832-2112; Calzada No 818 btwn Calles 2 & 4; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri); Vedado (Map; 836-3564; Hotel Nacional, cnr Calles O & 21)
Post offices Centro Habana (Map; Gran Teatro, cnr San Martín & Paseo de Martí); Habana Vieja (Map; Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, Oficios No 102); Habana Vieja (Map; Unidad de Filatelía, Obispo No 518; 9am-7pm); Vedado (Map; cnr Línea & Paseo; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat); Vedado (Map; cnr Calles 23 & C; 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-noon Sat); Vedado (Map; Av de la Independencia btwn Plaza de la Revolución & Terminal de Ómnibus; stamp sales 24hr) The last one has many services, including photo developing, a bank and Cadeca. The Museo Postal Cubano ( 870-5581; admission CUC$1; 10am-5pm Sat & Sun) here has a philatelic shop. The post office at Obispo, Habana Vieja, also has stamps for collectors.
Telephone
Etecsa Telepuntos Centro Habana (Map; Aguilar No 565; 8am-9:30pm) There’s also a Museo de las Telecomunicaciones ( 9am-6pm Tue-Sat) here if you get bored waiting; Habana Vieja (Map; Habana 406)
Toilets
Not overendowed with clean available public toilets, most tourists slip into the upscale hotels if they’re caught short. The following establishments are all fairly relaxed about toilet security.
Hotel Ambos Mundos (Map; Obispo No 153, Habana Vieja) Tip the attendant.
Hotel Habana Libre (Map; Calle L btwn Calles 23 & 25, Vedado) To the left of the elevators.
Hotel Nacional (Map; cnr Calles O & 21, Vedado) Right in the lobby and left past the elevators.
Hotel Sevilla (Map;Trocadero No 55 btwn Paseo de Martí & Agramonte, Centro Habana) Turn right inside the lobby.
Tourist Information
Infotur Airport (off Map; 642-6101; Terminal 3 Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí; 24hr); Habana Vieja (Map; 866-3333; Obispo btwn Bernaza & Villegas); Habana Vieja (Map; 863-6884; cnr Obispo & San Ignacio; 10am-1pm & 2-7pm) Books excursions, sells maps, phone cards and transport schedules.
Travel Agencies
Many of the following agencies also have offices at the airport, in the international arrivals lounge of Terminal 3.
Cubamar