Safety

All Cuban cities are quite safe as they are relatively free from the well-known street dangers encountered in other countries. The Cuban people themselves and travelers can equally walk the cities´ streets day and night without having to be concerned about criminal behavior.

Purse snatching and mugging are not unknown but are rare in the extreme and pose no problem for anyone with minimal street smarts. In major cities a friendly police officer can be found fairly quickly, and in tourist areas there is probably one on the next corner.

Care should be taken against pickpockets in crowded places like public buses, discos, bars and theaters. Still, few travelers to Cuba will likely experience anything more than the nuisance of an occasional peddler of artifacts or a young hustler wanting to be your guide. Cuba is extremely safe by any world standards, and the average visitor has no reason to worry about personal safety on the streets, in the hotels, at the beaches or any other place a traveler might visit.

Following are some precautions to avoid potential problems:

1. Do not show off your money in public.
2. Always keep valuables in a safety deposit box at your hotel instead of leaving them in your room.
3. Remove any jewelry that may draw a thief's attention before you go out for strolling.
4. Never wear a bag or purse on your street-side shoulder in order to avoid becoming a target of the 'snatch-and-ride'.
5. Never carry your passport/visa, credit cards, traveler's schedules or other travel documents in your shoulder bag or bum bag.
6. Ensure that you aware of the values of different local banknotes to avoid being deceived.
7. Be particularly cautious about your possession in crowded areas such as local festivals, markets, tourist sites, railway, bus stations, on trains and buses.
8. Always let your hotel or guides know where you are on your free days during your tour.
9. Respect the custom of the local ethnic groups.
10. Do not quarrel with anyone during your trip.
11. Any disputes should be reported to your local guides for resolution.
12. Avoid traveling in any areas or sites that are not open to foreigners.