What do you recommend?

There are at least two daily flights to Havana and often three. CLICK--a subsidiary of Mexicana---and CUBANA both fly there. Look at the websites for specific dates and fares. You will not find lower fares than what you see online. You can buy your tickets while you are in Cancun.

CLICK--Mexicana

CUBANA

If you are in "downtown" Cancun, the most popular travel agent for Cuba is called "Divermex" (nothing to do with diving...and their office is located in Plaza Americas...

You will need a tourist visa for Cuba, too. You get it at the airline counter in Cancun at the same time you buy your ticket. I think it cost US $15 or $20. It's a small form you fill out with the usual name, passport #, etc. Also you must list the name of a hotel or licenced casa (Cuban's equivalent of our B&Bs) where you will be staying. You don't actually have to stay there, as they never check, but you do need to write it on the form, and if asked, give the same info to the immigration official. It actually is a good idea to have a hotel reservation for at least the first night. After that...well, whatever. Easy to find both hotel rooms and casas licenced to rent rooms to foreigners. This is what you'd want to research--there are several websites with info on casas--and have a list of the casas you think you'd like, to choose from when you get there--like, if one is full, then you can go to the next. Or you can just go back through old posts looking for recommendations.

The Havana airport is small and modern. As soon as you have passed through immigration and picked up your luggage and gone through customs, the next thing you need to do is go upstairs to the departure lounge, to the CADECA (currency exchange booth) and change whatever foreign currency you have for Cuban currency. (Called pesos convertibles, and usually written as CUC). The exchange rate will be posted. It's a good idea to have a small calculator, and stand right there at the window and don't leave the window until you have figured out what you are supposed to get, and are sure you got the right amount, PLUS a receipt for same from the cashier.

Next go over to the map table, which is nearby, sort of across from the airline checkin counters, and buy whatever maps you think you will need, as this is the best place to get them. Again, check prices against the change you are given to make sure it is correct. (You'll want to do this in all bars and restaurants, too, as small "mistakes" are the norm.)

Lastly, you go out to the curb and there will be a line of taxis waiting. It should cost you about 20 CUC to get to just about any part of the city. If it's more than that, you might want to look for another cab. Good to have the name and address of your hotel written down to give to the driver--especially if your Spanish is not fluent. The trip to Habana Vieja, Habana Centro, or Vedado should take about half an hour.

If you have not been to Cuba before, and plan to travel around the island a bit, I would recommend that you only spend that first night in Havana, then catch the Viazul bus to one of the smaller towns that have good facilities for visitors, like Vinales (4 hours to the west of Havana) or Trinidad (5 hours to the southeast). These are both very different from one another and from Havana, and because they are so much smaller, it is much easier to get around there and see/do what's of interest to you. Once you've gotten a sense of how things work in those smaller towns, you'll find the city much easier to cope with, and spend the last part of your Cuba visit there. (This will also put you in the city as the time for your return flight approaches, so you don't have to worry about rushing back to Havana from some far place.)

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Thanks alot for your detailed info. Is a huge help. Cheers