Tipping in Cuba: The Ultimate Traveler’s Guide (Updated 2023) (2024)

Tour Republic January 9, 2023

Tipping in Cuba is highly encouraged. Tips are not only a big part of the income of the service staff at Cuban hotels and restaurants, but they are also a universally understood way of saying, “thanks for the awesome service!”

However, tipping in Cuba can be tricky for first-time travelers, especially if you come from a country with no tipping culture.

Who do you tip in Cuba? How much should you tip? We cover everything in our Cuba tipping guide below!

If you are a first-time traveler to Cuba, don’t miss the complete list of Cuba travel tips for 2023.

In this article…

Tipping Etiquette in Cuba

Cuba has a strong tipping culture, an interesting fact about Cuba. Generally, you should consider tipping costs while planning your travel budget for Cuba. Hotels, restaurants, museums, guided tours, and shops are common places to leave tips.

Plan to carry a handful of $1 or $5 notes of your home currency in your wallet (this is easier and less awkward than breaking larger bills into a change when you want to leave a tip).

You don’t have to tip everyone in Cuba the same amount. Some people will earn a higher amount depending on the service they offer. Look at the section below to learn more about how much to tip in Cuba.

Pro tip: In addition to tipping in Cuba as a token of your gratitude, Cubans also love when tourists speak Spanish with them. Even a few basic phrases will go a long way toward bringing a smile to a local’s face!

If you’re still new to Spanish or a little rusty since your last Spanish class, bring a handy guidebook like Cuban Spanish 101: Bilingual Dictionary and Phrasebook for Spanish Learners and Travelers to Cuba.

What Currency Do You Use to Tip In Cuba?

The best currency to tip in Cuba is the Euro because it has the highest “official” and “unofficial” exchange rates. However, tipping in any foreign currency, including the US dollar, is fine.

Here are the foreign currencies accepted in Cuba:

Canadian Dollar (CAD) – Yes, Canadian travelers to Cuba can tip in CAD.
Swiss Franc (CHF)
Euro (EUR)
Pound Sterling (GBP)
Japanese Yen (JPY)
Mexican Peso (MXN)

If you are traveling to Cuba from the US, you will be glad to know that US dollars are very sought by Cuban residents because of therecent spikeof the US dollars in the informal market.

Selling your USDs to Cuban individuals, especially if they own a private business, may even be an activity that qualifies for the Support for the Cuban People license.

Finally, since the Cuban Peso (CUP) is the only official currency in Cuba, you may be tempted to tip in CUP. And that would be ok, but keep in mind that the CUP is devaluated compared to your home currency. Check the current exchange rates and do the math to ensure you are tipping fairly.

NOTE: The tipping amounts below are in USD only for illustrative purposes. As we said, you can tip in Cuba in Canadian dollars or any other currency accepted on the island.

As of January 2023, 1 USD is worth about 120 CUPs if sold to CADECA, or more than 160 CUP if you exchange it in the informal market.

Tipping at Hotels

Hotels and resorts have many staff to help make your trip as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Hotel staff includes maids, bartenders, receptionists, and bellboys. It would be best if you tipped them each time they helped you.

Maids: 1-5 USD/night for each night of your stay

Bellboys: 1-3 USD at check-in and again at check-out

Hotel bartenders: 10% gratuity if the service is not included. At all-inclusive resorts, 1 USD for every few drinks is the most common.

Tipping at Restaurants

Cuba has tons of exciting restaurants to choose from. Don’t forget to add a 10% gratuity when your meal is done. Remember that some restaurants may automatically tack on a 5% gratuity. If you had a fantastic time at the restaurant, feel free to say “thank you” by leaving a larger amount!

Restaurants: minimum 10% gratuity

Tipping Tour Guides

The tip’s size depends on the kind of tour you sign up for. A simple walking museum tour doesn’t warrant as much as a day-long excursion or guided tour.

Museum guides: 1 USD/person

Bus tour guide: 3-5 USD/person

Bus tour driver (except for Viazul bus drivers): 2-3 USD/person

Private tour guide: 5-10 USD/person

Snorkeling, sailing, guided hikes, etc.: 5-10 USD/person

Tipping Taxi Drivers

Renting a car in Cuba isn’t easy, so chances are you’ll rely on taxis, classic cars for hire, and buses to get around the island.

Taxi drivers: 1 USD

If your taxi driver goes above and beyond the call of duty, like giving you directions, he’s earned an extra CUC or two!

Tipping Street Artists and Musicians

Cubans love music, and they love to share it with visitors, too. In big cities like Havana, you’ll come across dozens of street musicians, dancers, and live salsa music. If you stop to enjoy some tunes, it’s only polite to leave a tip–especially if you request a song!

Street Artists: .50 – 2 USD/person

Tipping at Stores

Tipping shopkeepers and cashiers in Cuba is quite common among visitors and locals. There’s no set amount for how much to tip, so most people round up the sum and tell the clerk to keep the change.

Store clerks: round up to the nearest whole dollar

Tipping Toilet Attendants

A toilet attendant supervises public toilets in Cuba. You’ll need to pay a fee and tip the attendant to use the restroom.

Toilet attendant: 0.25 – 0.50 USD per bathroom break

Tipping Parking Valets in Cuba (“Parqueadores”)

This is only important if you rent a car in Cuba, which most tourists don’t do since rental services are expensive and the roads are iffy at best. Instead of parking meters, Cuba has parking attendants who collect a fee and watch your car while you’re away.

Parking valets: 1 USD

Your Trusty Guide for Tipping in Cuba

That’s a wrap! In just a few minutes, you learned everything you need to know about tipping in Cuba and how much to tip in Cuba. Not bad, right?

If you’re heading to Cuba in the future, remember to bookmark this list to use it as a helpful resource during your Cuban adventures.

If you enjoyed the article, please share it so other Cuban adventurers can take a look (that’s how you “tip” us–we appreciate it!).

Let us know what you think in the comments!

Essential Travel Logistics For Cuba

Cuban Tourist Card –If yourCuban Tourist Card (a.k.a Cuban Tourist Visa)isn’t bundled into your airline ticket or travel package, buy it only throughEasyTouristCard.

Travel Health Insurance –Travel medical insurance is an entry requirement for Cuba, so you can’t skip it. Travelers can get travel health insurance for Cuba viaInsubuy. Travel protection benefits such as trip interruption and cancellation, baggage delay insurance, etc., are not required.

Essential Items to Pack –Bring the essential travel necessities that you may not be able to get in Cuba:

Read our complete packing list for Cuba.

Find Accommodations –Find hotels or casas particulares (private accommodations) on Skyscanner, which lists thousands of accommodations available in Cuba.

Book Your Flight –Book cheap flights to Cuba on Skyscanner, our favorite flight search engine to find deals on flights to Cuba.

About the Author

Tour Republic

Tour Republic is a marketplace where you can discover, book, and review the very best experiences Cuba has to offer. We are a team of tourism professionals and journalists who have partnered with Cuban entrepreneurs to provide travel experiences that can transform your trip into a life-changing adventure.We also share our profound love for Cuba through in-depth travel guides, myth-busting articles, and captivating narratives. Whether you want to explore Cuba's wonders or understand its intricacies, our blog posts are your gateway to the heart of this extraordinary country.

See Our Stories

Show Comments

23 Comments

HolyMole on September 28, 2023

Currency and tipping: the more I read, the more confused I get. I’m Canadian. Do I exchange Canadian $ for Cuban pesos on arrival at the airport? And don’t buy too many CUP because they can’t be exchanged back into $C when leaving? Many sources say to tip with Canadian $, but our smallest bill is $5. Tip with loonies and/or toonies? Bring down 10 or 15 lbs of Canadian coins? Or suffer the weak Canadian $ and buy a bunch of US 1$ bills for tipping? I also have Mexican pesos, including many 200 and 500 peso bills. Can they be exchanged at the airport for CUP? Do the all-inclusive hotels in Varadero exchange currency? Are they bound to official exchange rates, or do they routinely “gouge”? Sorry, but call me “Confused”.

Reply
- Tour Republic on October 10, 2023
  
  Hi HolyMole,
  Let me try to answer your questions.
  – Yes, you can tip in CAD, including loonies and/or toonies. However, if bringing so many coins is a hassle, I suggest you bring USD for tipping.
  – You can exchange foreign currencies at the airport, including Mexican pesos. However, you might have to wait in line for a while.
  – Many all-inclusive resorts provide currency exchange services. However, please reach out to your hotel and ask beforehand. Hotels will exchange your currency at the official exchange rate, which is way lower than the informal exchange rate (selling your currency in the informal market). Perhaps you meet a hotel worker who is willing to buy your currency at better rates, but it is not guaranteed.
  Hope it helps!
Vali on July 27, 2023

USD is the curency to bring in Cuba, informal exchange is about 200CUP for 1 Euro, as of July 2023. Euro and USD are equal in view of Cuban people so Euro is not beneficial for you as a tourist.

Reply
C Vanhorn on April 12, 2023

Yes it is okay to tip in Canada dollar BILLS, but I brought home over $400 in Loonies and Twoonies as like in any other country, Cubans cannot take Canada coins to the bank. If you want to tip in Cdn coins please, buy them all back with Canadian bills before you leave!!! Cubans much prefer $US as they are worth much more than their Peso.

Reply
Jen on February 11, 2023
See Also
Can Americans Travel To Cuba? [2023 Update] | Home To Havana

Is it okay to tip with Canadian coins? I had read elsewhere that Cubans can only exchange bills. Our smallest bill is $5. If I tip $5 for every drink I’ll be out of cash by the end of the first day! LOL Would it be better to take USD $1 bills instead, or get Cuban $$ before we go? Also, it appears maids appreciate gifts of much needed supplies. Is it okay to tip se supplies or should we also tip with $$?

Reply
- Tour Republic on February 11, 2023
  
  Hi Jen,
  Generally, the hotel staff accepts toonies and loonies. They later exchange them with travelers or at the exchange office in the hotel. However, I always suggest tipping in USDs. It’s easier for them to exchange. Maids will welcome your gifts.
Bob on December 4, 2022

Some of this seems to be in line with the past and and now younger Millennial and Gen Z current American / Canadian obsession with tipping and over tipping

Reply
Francine on June 14, 2022

Hello,
Travelling to vara cuba 2022
Is it still proper to leave gifts to maids in 5* resort.
Like soap, toothbrush, deodorant, toothpaste etc.
Thank you

Reply
- Tour Republic on June 14, 2022
  
  Hi Francine,
  Yes, definitely. In fact, they will appreciate it.
Pavi on May 28, 2022

US dollar is the only currency among canadian, euros and pounds which still use 1$ banknotes. The others have only coins below 5 denomination. Coins are more complicated to exchange for Cubans, they first need to exchange it for the banknotes from the same country.
So I better like to give to a waiter 1 UDS dollar which she/he can exchange on the black market for 24 to 100 pesos than change my canadian money and give her/him around 20 to 25 pesos. I am not cheap but we are tipping often and I want cuban employes to get as much they can from it.
If you dont feel great with black market idea… Country where you can sell hard currency in the bank but you cant buy them back is already a scam by itself :))). I am from an ex-communist county myself, we were use to it :)))

Reply
Harriet on May 8, 2022

This is such a helpful website and article, thank you!
My husband and I are traveling to Havana next month and staying in an Airbnb. Our lovely hosts are helping us exchange Euros for CUP and I’m wondering should I tip them for this and if so how much?

Reply
David Kirk on February 9, 2022

Talks about not tipping in US dollars and then every suggested tip is quoted in US dollars?

Reply
- Tour Republic on February 10, 2022
  
  Hey David,
  Tips are shown in US dollars for illustrative purposes. Please, check our Cuban currency guide to know more about using money in Cuba.
N on January 16, 2022

You think money is the only way to show appreciation to someone…you really are American!

Reply
- Pavi on May 28, 2022
  
  Clearly you never went to Cuba… :)))
Claudia on January 9, 2022

How much should you tip a private tour guide/driver for a good full day trip.Their websites say 20-30%. That seems a bit high to me.

Reply
- Tour Republic on January 12, 2022
  
  Hi Claudia,
  20-30% seems a little excessive. Not sure how much is the full day trip, but 10% should be ok to tip the guide. Perhaps they are asking 20-30% because they want you to tip both the driver and guide.
Roberto on September 16, 2021

Very informative article! Now when it comes to travel insurance, apparently residents of Puerto Rico can’t get insurance on RoamRight. I just picked Puerto Rico off the list and Boom! … NO CAN DO???
Do I have options?

Reply
Angela on May 28, 2021

I have been going to Cuba for over 20 years. I carry quality gifts and toiletries and they have always been appreciated. Also at the a la carte restaurants, i make sure each waiter who serves me (sometimes 3) is tipped, the same for the buffet. I tip for whatever good service I receive but I tend to sit in the same area at the buffet so that I end up with the same waiters. One lady told me they have many family members and friends who do not work at resorts so they share the gifts with them. I actually gave her an expensive top to give to anyone if it did not fit her. The next day, she told me she took it for herself and that cloths were also appreciated. It was not the first time that I took down summer tops and they were glad for them. I guess if they got 100 soaps, they would sell some. I always ask who is cleaning the room and on which day, because the same person don’t always work for the whole week. I give them a tip for the week before they leave otherwise, you can end up leaving the tip for the wrong person. I prefer to give them one large tip at the end of the week or on their last day. There will be a shortage of things because of closures during the pandemic.

Reply
Rosa on December 27, 2020

You have achieved to explain extremely well and clearly a great amount of information. Thanks!

Reply
Ruth on December 15, 2020

We have always tipped, and tried to be generous, when in Cuba. One thing we learned is that, particularly with the housekeeping staff at the resorts/hotels, they really appreciate ‘trinkets’ (hair accessories, children’s toys, stationery items, the list is endless). I leave these in addition to the cash.

Reply
- Tour Republic on December 30, 2020
  
  Thanks, Ruth. Those items are certainly appreciated in Cuba!
Don Macrae on April 27, 2020

Very informative thank you,

Reply

Greetings, fellow travelers and curious minds! I am an avid explorer with a passion for unraveling the intricacies of diverse cultures and their unique customs. Having traversed through numerous destinations and engaged with locals, my insights into tipping etiquette around the world are deeply rooted in first-hand experiences.

Now, let's delve into the fascinating realm of tipping in Cuba, as discussed in the captivating article by Tour Republic dated January 9, 2023.

Tipping Etiquette in Cuba: Cuba boasts a robust tipping culture, an intriguing facet of the country. Tips hold significant importance for service staff in Cuban hotels and restaurants, forming a substantial part of their income. The universal language of expressing gratitude through tipping applies to various facets of Cuban travel, including hotels, restaurants, museums, guided tours, and shops.

Currency Matters: The article emphasizes the choice of currency for tipping in Cuba. While Euro is touted as the optimal option due to favorable exchange rates, any foreign currency, including the US dollar, is acceptable. Notably, US dollars are in high demand, presenting an opportunity for travelers to engage in currency exchanges, potentially even qualifying for the Support for the Cuban People license.

Tipping Breakdown: Understanding how much to tip is crucial. The article provides detailed insights into tipping amounts for different services:

Hotels: Maids, bellboys, and bartenders each have specified tipping norms, ranging from 1-5 USD per night for maids to 10% gratuity for bartenders in non-all-inclusive resorts.
Restaurants: A minimum of 10% gratuity is recommended, with the option to leave more for exceptional service.
Tour Guides: Tipping amounts vary based on the type of tour, from 1 USD per person for museum guides to 5-10 USD per person for private tour guides and adventurous activities like snorkeling.
Taxi Drivers: A standard tip of 1 USD is suggested, with the possibility of additional tips for exceptional service.
Street Artists and Musicians: Patrons are encouraged to tip street artists and musicians, with suggested amounts ranging from $0.50 to $2 per person.
Stores, Toilet Attendants, and Parking Valets: Tipping norms extend to store clerks, toilet attendants, and parking valets, with rounding up to the nearest whole dollar or specific amounts recommended.

A Nuanced Approach: The article introduces a nuanced approach to tipping, dispelling the notion of a one-size-fits-all strategy. Some individuals may merit higher tips based on the quality of service provided.

Cultural Connection: A pro tip surfaces in the article—besides expressing gratitude through tipping, engaging with Cubans in their language, Spanish, is appreciated. Basic phrases can elevate the travel experience and foster positive interactions with locals.

In conclusion, the comprehensive guide by Tour Republic serves as a beacon for first-time travelers to Cuba, unraveling the intricacies of tipping in this vibrant and culturally rich destination. Whether navigating through the colorful streets of Havana or enjoying the rhythmic beats of Cuban music, this guide ensures travelers leave not only with cherished memories but also having made a positive impact through thoughtful tipping.