Is it safe to drink Mojitos in Cuba?
Replies: 22 - Last Post: Feb 7, 2013 6:58 PM Last Post By: smilecu
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Is it safe to drink Mojitos in Cuba?
Hello everyone!I'm going to Cuba for the first time in March and while I am very much looking forward to drinking mojitos, I know that drinking the tap water poses a risk. So, will drinking mojitos also pose a risk? Should I ask for them without ice?
On a side note, has anyone ever been to the Club Amigo Agua Azules in Varadaro? There are many mixed reviews online and would love to hear from someone here.
Thanks for the tips!
1
Ma'am, I have drank many mojitos with ice in Cuba, whether it be on resort, in the city, or on somebody's front porch and I have never had a problem (besides the odd, next day goosebump headache) with that and I do not particularly like rum either. You're right, you should always drink bottled water to be on the safe side. Everybody reacts differently.You're more apt to getting an answer regarding a Varadero resort on TripAfvisor as that is where many a resort goer dwells. i wouldn't worry much about having iced drinks on a resort but then again no one can guarantee that it is 100% without issue for some.
2
Everyone says tap water is bad in Cuba, but in 15 years and many trips each year we never had a problem drinking it in small amounts.3
There's enough alcohol in a mojito to kill anything in an ice cube, that's my theory & it's never proven wrong.Never been to the tourist ghetto of Varadero but have stayed at Club Amigo Guardalavaca which gets some bad reviews from the TA princesses but is a perfectly good budget resort IMHO
4
"drinking tap water poses a risk" - but that does not mean a small amount will kill you.In general, tap water in Cuba is OK. There are some places where the tap water is not good, and should be boiled. But it also might be that the mineral etc content is not what you are used to.
(After having lived outside the UK for years, I found that I could no longer drink London tap water.)
I suspect you are more likely to feel unwell from too much sun and alcohol than from the ice cubes.
7
Simon - I guess a mixture.A colleague visited an ice factory in Havana and he said having seen it, you wouldn't want to drink another mojito !
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Thanks everyone!As for the Varadaro resort, I was wondering if the poor reviews were from people who never backpack, which is much closer to what I'm used to. I'm only staying there for the first 3 nights of my trip so I could take advantage of a cheap flight. The rest of the time I plan on staying in casas.
As for ice, well, I guess I can limit my intake and see what happens... wish me luck! I got horribly sick in India and was out for almost a week, so I'm a little wary. On the other hand, I also got sick in Vegas and sadly that was not from drinking and sunshine!
9
Hey DebbyinVan, the water at the Varadero hotels is filtered at a main plant before pumping to the peninsula and is safe if not tasty at times. The Resorts have bottled water and the bars have coolers with the large bottles for refills.Like you, we checked prices and found, from here, it's cheaper to take a 2 - 2.5 Star AI Vacation Package than it is to book the airline, bus, visa, etc. Arrive at VRA, then use the 2 Star as your base and use Casas for the bulk of your travels/journey.
Have fun!
10
Most casas make their ice with boiled water. They also keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking.The bar by my casa in Havana makes their ice with water right out of the tap. I have never heard of a problem with their drinks. Personally, I never use ice without some rum poured over it and usually a slice of lime. Now I do use only one ice cube in my rum but never had a problem.
I always bring several pocket size bottles of hand sanitizer and use them before eating since almost no place has water, soap or a towel in the bathrooms. I try to ignore the fact that the cook and bartender just use nothing.
12
I'm trying to think of one thing in Cuba I dislike (hate really) more than a mojito.14
I have asked several Cuban friends from bartenders to ladies who make their living with their legs pointed skyward if they had ever seen a Cuban paying for a mojito out of their own pocket or if they only drank them when a tourist was paying. No one can remember a Cuban paying for one. I understand why.
