Cuba’s casas particulares
Cuba is extraordinarily, famously, enigmatic. Communist yet Catholic, Latin American as well as Caribbean, highly educated yet painfully poor: the island is filled with contradictions and the recent warming of relations with the US, as well as the death of Fidel Castro, have not made the Cuban mindset any less mysterious. For anyone wanting to spend time with Cubans, to learn about their culture, history and what daily life is like, casas particulares are the way to go. The literal translation is simply “private house”, and they’re effectively the original Airbnb. Hosts rent out one or two rooms in their homes, typically with a double, twin or triple beds. They’re basic but clean, and tend to feel a bit more personal than a guesthouse or traditional bed and breakfast.
As tourist numbers swell in Cuba, the casas are now essential in providing enough beds for the quantity of visitors to the island. And while they are far from luxurious, they are generally considered to be a lot more pleasant than many of the 3* hotels, with much more attentive service. But the biggest selling point is the insight they give into Cuban life. You’re not just getting a good look at the inside of someone’s home, you’re listening to their music, eating their food, and finding out what they do for work and play. And just as importantly, in a country whose citizens are not permitted to leave, you’re giving them a way to discover the rest of the world, as you share your own stories in return. These homestays are the highlight of any cultural holiday to Cuba.
Our Cuba Holidays
Cuba cultural holiday
Immerse yourself in Cuban culture on this 8 day adventure
From
US $690
8 days
ex flights
Cuba salsa dance holiday
Learn to salsa with the pros in Santiago de Cuba, with tuition, day trips and nights out included
From
£1560
15 days
ex flights
Self drive Cuba family holiday
Family holiday Cuba for parents & children
From
€1590 to €2990
15 days
ex flights
Cuba holiday, culture and nature
A mix of nature and culture; discover what makes Cuba tick
From
£1375
15 days
ex flights
Cuba highlights holiday
Explore Havana, visit tobacco hills & doze on dreamy beaches
From
£895
8 days
ex flights
Cuba highlights and beach holiday
Balance Cuba’s culture & natural beauty with sunny paradise.
From
£1648
15 days
ex flights
Cuban casa holiday
Go local in Cuba staying in friendly family B&Bs throughout
From
£1255
15 days
ex flights
Discover Cuba holiday, 15 days
Experience the real Cuba on this 15 day cultural adventure
From
US $1360
15 days
ex flights
Cuba cultural tour, 9 days
Fun and legal tour for American travelers
From
£1280 to £1600
9 days
ex flights
Small group tour to Cuba
Discover the fascinating diversity of Cuba
From
£905 to £995
20 days
ex flights
Cuba cycling holiday
Cycle the quiet country roads of Cuba
From
£2299 to £2699
9 days
inc UK flights
Cuba tour, The Revolutionary Trail
Follow in the footsteps of the revolutionaries
From
£1725
10 days
ex flights
Trekking holiday in Cuba
Hiking and exploring the unspoiled national parks of Cuba
From
£270 to £580
4 days
ex flights
Classic Cuba cycle holiday
Cycle Cuba - Beaches, Mountains and Revolution!
From
£1899 to £1999
15 days
ex flights
Classic Cuba holiday, 11 days
Get into the Cuban swing over just ten days.
From
£1195
11 days
ex flights
Cuba adventure tours
Authentic Cuba using guesthouses and local guides
From
£340 to £390
8 days
ex flights
Cuba small group holiday, 8 days
Explore the history and the nature of the Caribbean wonder
From
US $2350
8 days
ex flights
Skyline Trail cycling tour in Western Cuba
Cycle the spectacular Skyline Trail through Western Cuba
From
£1109 to £1199
8 days
ex flights
Cuba tour, small group
Discover the old and new faces of Cuba
From
£1925 to £2500
21 days
ex flights
Eastern Cuba self drive holiday
Discover lesser explored Eastern Cuba by car
From
£1828
13 days
ex flights
Cuba tailor made holiday, nature and culture
Explore the highlights of Castro's Cuba
From
£2360
14 days
ex flights
Scuba diving and tour in Cuba
Scuba diving and roundtrip Cuba with homestays and/or hotels
From
€995 to €1790
15 days
ex flights
Small group backroads and beaches tours to Cuba
Explore off the beaten track locations
From
£1635 to £1899
9 days
inc UK flights
Cuba cultural holidays, 15 days
Fun and legal way to experience Cuba's diversity
From
£1760 to £2040
15 days
ex flights
Mexico & Cuba Tour
Fun, sun, history and culture in Mexico and Cuba.
From
£3695 to £4115
22 days
ex flights
Cycling holiday in Cuba, 7 days
Explore Cuba on two wheels in one week
From
£920 to £1115
7 days
ex flights
Cuba small group tour, classic Cuba
Colonial cities, Cuban casas & the Caribbean coast
From
£1995
12 days
ex flights
Frequently asked questions
Do the hosts speak English?
Generally, no. Those that do will likely speak functional rather than conversational English; bring your phrasebook!
Can I have an en suite room?
Some rooms will have en suite facilities, although most share a bathroom with other guests, rarely with the hosts themselves. The earlier you book, the more chance you have of finding an en suite room.
Are they very private?
This depends on the layout of the house. Casas where the bedrooms lead off a central living space – in traditional colonial style – will offer less privacy than those where your room is away from the family’s living area, or has its own annexe. Sometimes you will have your own key, other times you will have to knock on the door (although someone always seems to be home!). But your hosts will be respectful of your personal space. For the most part, guests enjoy the interaction with the family, and this is usually one of the unexpected highlights of their Cuba holiday.
Which facilities are available?
There will usually be a fan in your room, air conditioning is rarer (especially as the large shuttered windows of the older houses don’t seal off the rooms). You’ll be provided with sheets and a towel; it’s a good idea to bring an extra towel for the beach. Bring all toiletries, be prepared to walk up a flight of stairs or two, and don’t expect a computer, internet or WiFi; this is typically accessible via outdoor hotspots, often found around the main plazas (your hosts can advise). Hosts will often offer a laundry service. Some casas will have a garden, or maybe a roof terrace to kick back on with a chilled Bucanero beer as you watch the sun set.
Are meals served in the casas?
Breakfast is usually prepared by your hosts and is included in your room rate (though it is likely to have been included in the cost of your tour; check with your holiday company). In larger cities such as Havana, people tend to eat out for lunch and dinner, but in more rural areas where there are few or no meal options, many casas will offer to cook – usually dinner – again, at extra cost.
There will usually be a fan in your room, air conditioning is rarer (especially as the large shuttered windows of the older houses don’t seal off the rooms). You’ll be provided with sheets and a towel; it’s a good idea to bring an extra towel for the beach. Bring all toiletries, be prepared to walk up a flight of stairs or two, and don’t expect a computer, internet or WiFi; this is typically accessible via outdoor hotspots, often found around the main plazas (your hosts can advise). Hosts will often offer a laundry service. Some casas will have a garden, or maybe a roof terrace to kick back on with a chilled Bucanero beer as you watch the sun set.
Are meals served in the casas?
Breakfast is usually prepared by your hosts and is included in your room rate (though it is likely to have been included in the cost of your tour; check with your holiday company). In larger cities such as Havana, people tend to eat out for lunch and dinner, but in more rural areas where there are few or no meal options, many casas will offer to cook – usually dinner – again, at extra cost.
What is the food like?
Homecooked casa meals are some of the best you will find in Cuba – a country notorious for its otherwise rather grim cuisine. Breakfast will be fresh tropical fruit such as papaya or pineapple, along with bread, eggs and coffee, and sometimes cheese and guava jam. Main meals tend to be a choice of pork, chicken, fish or lobster – pretty much always accompanied by a simple salad, rice and black beans, plantain or cassava.
Are they suitable for families?
Casas are a great option for families, although have a chat with your holiday company to explain what sleeping arrangements are available. Older children can have their own twin or triple room, or it may be possible to share the parents’ room. For babies and toddlers, bringing your own travel cot may be preferable – again, you’ll need to discuss to find out what facilities are available, and to ensure your room will be large enough.
Are the casas particulares safe?
Staying a casa is as safe as staying in any hostel or guesthouse. The hosts are very dependent on this business, and will go out of their way to keep guests and their belongings out of harm’s way – even outside the casa. Some rooms may have safes, and every guest is required to register with their passport on arrival – this information is passed onto the immigration office.
Our top Cuba Holiday
Cuba cultural holiday
Immerse yourself in Cuban culture on this 8 day adventure
From
US $690
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 1 Sep, 8 Sep, 15 Sep, 22 Sep, 29 Sep, 6 Oct, 13 Oct, 20 Oct, 27 Oct, 3 Nov, 10 Nov, 17 Nov, 24 Nov, 1 Dec, 8 Dec, 15 Dec, 22 Dec, 29 Dec
2020: 5 Jan, 12 Jan, 19 Jan, 26 Jan, 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 23 Feb, 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 19 Apr, 26 Apr, 3 May, 10 May, 17 May, 24 May, 31 May, 7 Jun, 14 Jun, 21 Jun, 28 Jun, 5 Jul, 12 Jul, 19 Jul, 26 Jul, 2 Aug, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, 6 Sep ...
2019: 1 Sep, 8 Sep, 15 Sep, 22 Sep, 29 Sep, 6 Oct, 13 Oct, 20 Oct, 27 Oct, 3 Nov, 10 Nov, 17 Nov, 24 Nov, 1 Dec, 8 Dec, 15 Dec, 22 Dec, 29 Dec
2020: 5 Jan, 12 Jan, 19 Jan, 26 Jan, 2 Feb, 9 Feb, 16 Feb, 23 Feb, 1 Mar, 8 Mar, 15 Mar, 22 Mar, 29 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 19 Apr, 26 Apr, 3 May, 10 May, 17 May, 24 May, 31 May, 7 Jun, 14 Jun, 21 Jun, 28 Jun, 5 Jul, 12 Jul, 19 Jul, 26 Jul, 2 Aug, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, 6 Sep ...
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Cuba or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Should I book an organised tour?
Of course, you can book your own casas across Cuba – but there are a number of reasons why we’d recommend organising your trip with a tour operator. Firstly, few hosts speak English – so if your Spanish is not up to scratch, making arrangements and ensuring you have the room and facilities you want can be tricky. Secondly, you will then need to find and arrange transport to your casa – these are not well known places like hotels. And of course, as internet is limited in Cuba, this makes booking and planning much harder.
Of course, you can book your own casas across Cuba – but there are a number of reasons why we’d recommend organising your trip with a tour operator. Firstly, few hosts speak English – so if your Spanish is not up to scratch, making arrangements and ensuring you have the room and facilities you want can be tricky. Secondly, you will then need to find and arrange transport to your casa – these are not well known places like hotels. And of course, as internet is limited in Cuba, this makes booking and planning much harder.
In addition, the rapid increase in the number of tourists travelling to Cuba means that it is harder to find good quality casas as these will get booked up fast. In places such as Havana, this has also opened the door to people opening casas illegally (ie without a licence). Staying in one of these puts you at risk; a holiday company will ensure only legally registered casas are used.
Another thing to consider is that prices are per room, rather than per person. If you are on a budget, booking a small group tour means you can share your room with another person of the same sex from the group, therefore avoiding the extra cost.
History of the casas particulares
As Cuba’s communist regime began to soften and tourists began arriving again, small opportunities for entrepreneurship were permitted, where previously everything had been government owned and run. These opportunities for self employment included taxi drivers, the opening of private restaurants, called paladares, and, in 1997, the possibility to rent out up to two rooms in a private house to tourists.
This small move was a game changer for Cubans. Those in cities popular with tourists – particularly Havana, Viñales and Trinidad - now had the opportunity not just to make an additional income, but to earn the far more valuable Cuban convertible peso (CUC), a currency only used by tourists, equivalent to the US dollar, and worth 25 times as much as the regular Cuban peso (CUP). While the government charges high fees for the tax and monthly licence, even a few of these CUCs were enough to make huge differences in the lives of Cubans, who would previously have earned the standard government salary of 15-25 CUCs per month, even as teachers, doctors or engineers.
This economic anomaly has had predictable results: highly skilled workers have given up their jobs to focus on renting out rooms in their homes – and are earning far more each month. It has also meant that a class system has once again been created in Cuba, after decades of relative equality under communism, as those with larger houses in the city centres have access to tourist money. Meanwhile, those off the beaten track are struggling to get by on the monthly rations and have no alternative to the pitiful government income.
Responsible Travel’s writer and editor, Vicki Brown, stayed in casas particulares across Western Cuba. She found it to be a great way to meet local people – as well as to gain a sometimes uncomfortable insight into Cuban life:
“Our first host was an architect named Roberto. He and his wife had set about restoring his stunning colonial house, dating back to the 1700s, and he was able to earn far more that way than he had as an architect. We then stayed with his brother in law who had given up his job as a petrochemical engineer to become a host. We were treated like long lost family members throughout our stay, nothing was too much trouble. On the very last day, it rained – and we saw him gratefully pumping water using an old, 1950s pump. We had no idea that the water we’d been using wasn’t limitless, and that he and his wife had gone without to ensure my friend and I could shower. We were then shown their ration books – and the realities of living in modern Cuba kicked in. It’s not obvious on the surface as they are all so highly educated and had high level jobs – but they really had nothing.”
Being a good houseguest
As with any homestay, there are certain unwritten rules to abide by when staying in a casa particular in Cuba, which will make your stay more pleasant for both you and your host.
Do make an effort to speak some Spanish. It will be much appreciated, and any words you attempt to learn will make things easier for you, as you can make meal requests, ask for tips on what to see, ask for your laundry to be done, and so on. Even if you have a Spanish speaking tour leader with you, it’s still much nicer to build up a personal relationship with your casa family.
Be conscious of the amount of water you are using. In many areas, water is pumped manually following the rains; in dry periods there may be very limited supplies and your hosts might have to go without so you can shower.
If you have dinner at your casa, you will be served a huge amount of food. Don’t feel guilty if you can’t eat it all – nothing goes to waste in Cuba. Food left on communal dishes will be eaten by your hosts, other scraps can be fed to animals.
Bring some gifts to give your hosts – or leave behind anything you don’t need. Speak to your holiday company to find out what will be most useful – we’re not talking a bottle of wine or a bunch of flowers here. Families with school-age children will appreciate pens, exercise books and pencils (all strictly rationed and expensive), other families can make use of clothes, towels, over the counter medicines and so on.
Vicki Brown, from Responsible Travel:
“We virtually emptied out our suitcases before we left Cuba. We offered our host family a few items of clothing for their teenage daughter. They had got some small marks on them during our trip, but this was not a problem – clothes are difficult and expensive to obtain, and these were good quality. We gave them a broken umbrella – the host mother was delighted as she explained ‘the man who fixes umbrellas comes on a Tuesday!’ We also gave her a box of tampons, and after explaining what they were, she was thrilled – they are not available on the island.”
More about Cuba
With temperatures hovering between 20 and 35C, and the water bathtub warm all year round, Cuba has a classically cosy Caribbean climate...
Few nations have the romance of Cuba; a beautiful, tropical island that fought its way out of capitalism led by charismatic comrades...
Cuba is bigger than you think. If you’re planning to spend a week or two here then take a look at our interactive map to help you choose a route...
Cuba's charms are not all cultural; its natural wonders have been recognised by UNESCO, including the ethereal, karst-filled Valley of Vinales...
Cuba has 5,700km of coastline, so there are quiet beaches, beaches for water sports, reefs to snorkel, deserted coves and family friendly facilities...
Our favourite cities include Havana with its classic Malecon, Cienfuegos - the 'Pearl of the South', and labyrinthine Camaguey - designed to confuse pirates...
Our mini guide reveals the pros and cons of public and private transport, self drive options and classic cars when planning your Cuba holiday...
A self drive holiday in Cuba offers independence, flexibility and just that extra little pinch of adventure, as you explore at your own pace...
Diving in Cuba reveals a marine culture that is just as fascinating as the one on land: a rainbow of reef fish, sponges, turtles and gorgonians...
You cannot hope to understand Cuba if you don’t understand the Caribbean island’s culture of music and dance - dancing holidays in Cuba are one of the best ways to immerse yourself into everyday life.
Travel to Cuba is still straightforward from the United States, despite President Trump's increased travel restrictions, announced in November 2017...
Communism may hold the promise of equality for all, yet as Cuba’s LBGT community can attest, this is far from the truth.
As with most Latin countries, Cuba welcomes children with open arms. But it does so without malaria, altitude or crime; this is a fab family spot...
We have asked destination experts to share their insider Cuba tips and anecdotes with us, from what to eat and pack, to staying in casas particulares...
We've explored some of the big issues facing this little island, from the end of communism to the dual currency; donating goods and keeping an open mind...
Find all of our Cuba guides in one place, for different types of Cuba holidays we offer such as scuba diving or walking in Cuba.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Balint Foldesi] [Top box: DirkvdM]
[Bedroom: Enrico Pighetti]
[Cuban people: Enrico Pighetti]
[Blue casa: DirkvdM]
[Chicken dish: Kobako]
[Families - washing: Bo Jorgensen]
[Should I book an organised tour?: q phia]
[Taxi driver: Bud Ellison]
[History - 2nd para: Javier Ignacio Acuna Ditzel]
[Vicki's quote - Cuban man: Les Haines]
[Vicki's quote - children: James Emery]
[Politics: Charlottetat]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
