The Ultimate Guide to Casa Particulares Cuba

Visiting Cuba is a unique experience and there’s no better way to make it even more special than by staying in a casa particular.  These “private houses” are the homestays of Cuba.  They’re an opportunity to stay with locals while retaining your privacy and they’re an opportunity to contribute to the local economy and still save money on a hotel stay.  A stay in a casa particular will give you local insight and a connection to Cuba that will give you memories for years to come.

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What is a Casa Particular in Cuba?

The term Casa Particular, or the plural Casas Particulares, translates literally as Private House, although when it first came into general use in Cuba, in 1997, it meant “private accommodation”.    While the term casa particular is used generally to describe private accommodation rented out by private individuals in Cuba, there are a variety of descriptions as to what this actually means.

By specific definition, a Casa Particular must belong to a private Cuban citizen who has obtained a licence from the Government allowing them to rent their property out to tourists.  The license can only be obtained if certain quality standards are met.

Today, staying in a casa particular Cuba could mean that you’re staying in

• A private room in a Cuban’s house.
• A shared room (AKA a hostel room) in a house/hostel.
• A house or apartment that you have to yourself.

90% of casa particulars in Cuba have one or more bedrooms available for rental inside the same property that the landlord lives in with their family.  It may be, though that you are renting facilities on a different floor. 

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Book Your Casa Particular NOW!

We recommend using Homestay to book casa particulars in Cuba. Why? Because they don’t charge the Cuban owner any fees. So more of your cash stays with the owner and in Cuba.

Book a Casa Particular here

There are casa particulars that you can book online and there are those that you can’t. You’ll find lots of casa particulars on sites like Airbnb. However, I recommend for booking online that you use Homestay. Why?

Homestay doesn’t charge the Cuban owner a single cent to list or rent their property. (in comparison Airbnb charges the owner 3%). I prefer to recommend a site that maximises the income of the owner in Cuba). You’ll find some great casa particulars on Homestay.

Here are the casa particulars that you can book online with Homestay

Casa particulars can be similar to a homestay, a bed and breakfast, a vacation rental, or an apartment, depending on the casa particular that you book into.   If you are booking online, then the description is key to understanding what you will end up with.  It is not always obvious as to whether your booking will be a place that you have to yourself (including a kitchen for instance) or whether this will be shared with the family that you are renting from.

Some casa particulars will provide breakfast and other meals for an additional cost.  Our experience is that this is well worth it.

You will often find the term casa in particular shortened to casa.

Why You Should Stay in a Casa Particular in Cuba

There is no better way to experience Cuba than to stay with Cubans.  A stay in a Cuban casa particular will let you interact easily with your Cuban hosts and contribute to their income, rather than to the Government in their state-run hotels.  Choosing casa particular accommodation will give you the inside track on where you might want to go to see more of the real Cuba, it will help get your laundry done for less than a king’s ransom and you may even get to stay in some stunning buildings too.

Cuba makes it difficult if not impossible for her citizens to leave and travel the world, not least because of the financial straits most are in, staying in a Casa Particular helps the Cuban people interact with people of the world without leaving their own homes.

Staying in a Casa Particular helps you connect with the people of Cuba who have their ears to the ground as to current situations.

Are Casa Particulars Legal?

Official Casa Particulars obtain a license from the Government to rent their property out to tourists.  To get this license, the property must have air conditioning, hot water, a TV, and a fridge.

You can recognize casa particulars by the small sign they have on their door.  Two blue triangles (representing roofs) against a white background indicates that this is a legal casa particular for foreign tourists.   You may also see this sign but in red.  A red sign means that the casa particular is only for Cuban tourists.

These signs can be displayed once the license is obtained and after owners pay a monthly tax. The fee is the equivalent of US$70 per month for up to 2 rooms.  If there are more than 2 rooms to rent out, then this fee rises. I recommend homestay for booking Casa Particulars so that the Cuban owner doesn’t have any more fees to pay.

You can read more about the history of Cuban casa particulars further in this article.

Medical insurance is mandatory when visiting Cuba. Read my guide on Cuban insurance here, or get a quote for medical insurance from Visitor’s Coverage here.

Why is a Casa Particular different from a hotel or hostel?

A casa particular is, as we’ve discussed owned by a private Cuban citizen.  They tend to be cheaper than hotel rooms, which are particularly expensive in Cuba.   Hotels in Cuba tend to be state-owned and usually in need of refurbishing. Casa Particulars, tend, as they are privately owned and maintained, to be better maintained and scrupulously clean.

The service that you’ll get in a casa particular will also tend to be much better in a hotel.  Your Cuban host wants good reviews, a strong motivation for great customer service.   Cuban hosts of Casa Particulars also can add to their income by providing extra services.  They’ll offer you breakfast and sometimes dinner.  Want a taxi to the Viazul bus station? Or the airport?  Want to book a tour?  If your host can’t accommodate you, you can GUARANTEE that they know someone who can.  And as Cuba is primarily a cash society once you’re there, it can add significantly to their income.

Check casa particulars that you can book on homestay here.

In contrast, the staff at Cuban-run hotels are paid a low monthly salary, with little to no way of increasing this.  That surly service you’re receiving, it’s a lot to do with the fact that the average monthly salary in Cuba was 777 CUP (the equivalent of USD$29) in 2018 (source Trading Economics).  That’s no joke.  US$29 a month.  That’s a lot of surliness you can forgive.  But it’s also a reason to stay at a casa particular and help the local economy.

A Great List of Casa Particulares in Cuba

Are you looking for some of the best Cuba casa particulares? Want to check out Cuba casa particular prices? Check out this list of Cuban Casas.

Is it safe to stay in Casa Particulars?

Crime rates are low in Cuba.  Gun crime is virtually non-existent.  And while crime is on the rise, and you should take all the usual precautions with your valuables, we never felt unsafe at all in Cuba.  We felt that our belongings were safe, as individuals we felt safe and that the security of the casa particulars that we stayed in was of a comparable level to the rest of the world.

You will have to provide your passport when you check into your casa particular, it’s a requirement that your host registers you with the local immigration office.

We always travel with a “portable safe”, and lock our valuables into when we don’t have them with us.   We used it a lot in Cuba, but mostly when we were snorkeling and diving from the beach and where we wanted to all snorkel at the same time and secure our valuables on the shore (attached to a tree!).  Buy your Pacsafe here – they’re awesome!

You can also read our guide to the best portable travel safes for Cuba here.

What can you expect in a Casa Particular?

It’s not always obvious from descriptions of Casas online whether you’re getting the entire unit or apartment to yourself or just a room, so be sure to read them carefully.    Some mapping sites are not particularly accurate, so look for an address or cross street reference to confirm that the casa is in the location that you want.

Some casa particulars have ensuite bathrooms, some have kitchen facilities, and others have balconies and living rooms.  Any fridge in the casa particular will usually contain bottles of water, or beer all of which are available for purchase at the rates stated. Some Casa Particulars have wifi, although this is not usual. Read about wifi in Cuba here.

Want to be online whenever you want in Cuba? Get yourself a Cuban eSIM – I wrote about prebooking and prepaying for one here

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Do hosts speak English in Cuban Casa Particulars?

Not usually no.  You are unlikely to find casa particular hosts who speak English. Despite the increase in the uses of Cubans renting their Casas through booking.com and other sites, where the well-crafted descriptions might make you think your host speaks great English you are unlikely to find that your hosts will chatter away to you in English.  We had one stay, in a small village near Varadero, where both our host and his wife spoke great English, but this was because they had both worked extensively with international hotels.

On homestay you can find casa particular owners that speak multiple languages, including English. Take a look here.

Do you need to speak Spanish to stay in a Casa Particular?

No, not necessarily.  You will have a better experience if you do.    The Cuban accent is significantly different from the Spanish-speaking countries nearby, so you’ll need to listen hard and adapt.    If you don’t speak Spanish we recommend learning a few basic words of Spanish (please, thank you, yes, no).  However, at the end of the day, the Cuban people have had decades of making do and making things work with very few resources.  A smile goes a very long way.

Do you get an ensuite room in Casa Particulares?

There are many ensuite bathrooms available in Casa Particulars if you’re booking online (and if your time is limited, we certainly recommend this), then it should be clear in the online descriptions.  If you are a “walk-in”, then you’ll learn to ask for a baño privado (private bathroom)

Are casa particulars private?

When you see the listing for a Cuban casa Particular on Booking you can be forgiven for not being able to understand if you’re getting an entire private house, apartment, or simply bedrooms and access to shared facilities.

Many casa particulars are simply separate bedrooms (and the focus is often on more beds in each room rather than less) with bathrooms inside a private house.  Others will separate off a floor for visitors and you’ll get that floor to yourself, especially if there are 4 or more of you traveling together.

If the listing is unclear, please read the reviews, they will usually give you a clearer idea of the facilities.

As your budget goes up, so too does the amount of privacy and the facilities that you can expect. 

Will my room be cleaned in a casa particular?

Your hosts will be very considerate of your privacy.  They will likely ask if you wish to have your room cleaned, or your towels replaced.  If nothing else they will empty the toilet bins each day, but they will always ask if it’s possible to enter your room.

What facilities are available in casa particulars?

You should expect a clean bed, air conditioning (where stated) and a bathroom (shared or private as stated).  Depending on where you are staying you may also get access to balconies, sitting rooms, and a kitchen.  Most hosts will offer a laundry service, ask for the price before you hand over your clothes.  < That’s not because you will be ripped off, but it’s a good practice all round!

Is there Wi-Fi available in Casa Particulars?

The general answer to this is no.  Internet access in Cuba is generally provided in hotspots around the country, although some casa particulars have Wi-Fi, they are very, very few and far between.  If you want access to the internet while in Cuba, then the best option is to get a Cuban eSIM – I wrote about them here.

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Is it worth getting a casa particular with a kitchen?

Kitchens in casa particulars will include a fridge.  They may also have a cooker, coffee machine and some utensils.  You need, however, to be realistic.  This country has had rationing since 1962.  Foodstuffs are NOT readily available in stores – go to a shop and look for yourself.   When this is the case, there is no person better equipped to find food and provide it to you than the native Cubano.  The equivalent of US$5 for your breakfast should fill you up for most of the day, and the money that your host will make contributes to the local economy significantly more than if you spend your day schlepping around shops trying to figure out what to buy for tomorrow’s breakfast. 

That said, we took some staples to Cuba with us (we carry them as a standard when we travel) – our hot water boiler, our amazing GSI travel mugs and our coffee ensured that we never suffered caffeine withdrawal.  Get used to powdered milk too.  You’re unlikely to find pasteurised or UHT milk in stores, but you will find bags of powdered milk.

Can you get meals in Casa Particulars?

Absolutely, yes.  The best meals that we had were in casa particulars.  The breakfasts from Rafaela in Havana were simply enormous. The dinners on the rooftop of our casa in Playa Buren were stunning, incredibly tasty and made by our host, an ex-chef of one of Cuba’s top hotels.    There are standard prices for breakfast and dinner.  Expect to pay in local Cuban Pesos the equivalent of US$5 for breakfast, and US$15 for dinner.   Ask when you first arrive, although your host will no doubt beat you to it, if breakfast is available and if dinner is available.  It’s always best to agree on a time for breakfast there and then too.

How are meals in Casa Particulars in Cuba?

We had amazing breakfasts in Havana, in Hostal Playa Buren near Varadero and on the coast near Trinidad.  We had one ropey breakfast in Baracoa, but there seemed to be a distinct lack of food available in the town at the time, so don’t blame the host.  I suspect we ate more than she did that day.

We ate dinner only at two casa’s and that was because we’d specifically decided to stay there because of the food.  If food is your passion we recommend taking an in-depth look at the reviews from casa particulars and picking one that gets amazing food reviews.

You can get some GREAT Cuban cocktails from your hosts in Casa Particulars – check out these four Cuban Cocktails that chart part of Cuba’s history.

How much do Cuba casa particulars cost?

The cost of casa particulars in Cuba depends on the facilities and the location.   You can get a room in a casa particular for US$15.    A room with a shared bathroom will cost a little less than one with a private bathroom.  Want living space to yourself, then add a little more.    At the top end, if you want a villa with a pool, please do use my link here to book it. 😉

• Find the costs of casa particulares in Havana that you can book and prepay online
• Find the costs of casa particulares in Trinidad – book and prepay online here
• Find the costs of prebookable casa particulares in Varadero
• Find the costs of Casa particulares in Santiago de Cuba
• Find the costs of casa particulares in Baracoa
• Find the costs of casa particulares in Santa Clara
• Find the costs of casa particulares in Viñales
• Find the costs of casa particulares in Cienfuegos

What other services do Cuban casa particulars provide?

Your casa particular host will be able to arrange tours if you haven’t booked already.  We’d already booked a day trip to Viñales online, and a classic car tour of Havana, but our host in Havana offered that.  Her neighbourhood contacts got us to the Viazul bus station for our early morning bus.  You can expect your casa particular host to offer services such as

• Providing breakfast
• Providing dinner
• Doing your laundry
• Providing cold beers or waters in the fridge
• Booking a tour for you. Read about classic car tours here
• Selling you an ETECSA ticket to access the internet in Wi-Fi hotspots
• Buying a Viazul bus ticket for you, if any are available (note this is unlikely if you are asking within 4 days of travel, and for this specifically we recommend buying before you arrive in Cuba. Read our guide to the Viazul bus network.
• Organizing a colectivo or taxi to your next destination – want to know more about how transport works in Cuba Check out our Cuban Transport Guide here.
• Recommending where to eat dinner

Remember that when you are in Cuba, the country is primarily a cash society.  So if your host organizes something for you, it is 99% likely that you’ll be paying cash.  If you’re a US ATM cardholder, you’ll need to make alternative arrangements as your bank cards will NOT work in the ATMs.

We always recommend paying each day for any additional costs, in a society where rationing is still in place, we feel it’s appropriate to ensure that our host is never out of pocket, even for 24 hours, because of our stay.

What’s it like staying in Cuban Casa Particulars?

We love it.  We stayed in Casas where we had the whole place (well the floor of a multi-story house) to ourselves, including balconies and terraces.  We stayed in Casas that were in front of beaches in small bays that we had to ourselves for morning and evening swims and snorkelling.  We stayed in others where we had just a room with a bathroom and met other travelers at communal breakfasts.

When we didn’t have a booking for the next destination, our host organized for us to stay at the next casa through their network of connections.  That doesn’t necessarily work if you are on a tight schedule, but the Cuban “make do” attitude means that there will always be somewhere, so long as you’re not too fussy about the private bathroom or the additional facilities.

Should I book my casa particular before I go to Cuba?

In a word.

Yes.

If you are time-constrained and you know what your destinations are then yes we recommend you prebook your casa particulars before you get to Cuba.  There is nothing worse than not having much time and having to spend a good proportion of it knocking on doors.

Here are four great options for casa particulars in Havana to get you started.

The Casa Buenos Aires is in a superb location in the center of Old Havana, just one block from the Museum of the Revolution, making it easy to walk all the sights of Old Havana.  There are three private, ensuite rooms here, all with a private bathroom and a private balcony.  Breakfast and laundry are available here.  There is internet access here, a glorious garden, and a terrace with a bar where you can enjoy a fabulous Cuban cocktail.  See photos of the Casa Buenos Aires here.

The gorgeous Casa Giraldilla is a restored colonial house dating from the 1920s and has high ceilings and a glorious balcony for people-watching.   Carmen and Carlos speak English, Spanish, and a little French.   All rooms are ensuite and have either a window or a balcony onto the street.  There are two doubles and a twin room here.  Breakfast and internet access are available here.  There is a glorious terrace on the roof available to all guests.  Book a room here.

The Casa de La Plaza de Cristo is in a building that dates from 1903, an 8-meter-long balcony gives all guests a magnificent view of the Plaza de Cristo.  It is a fabulous location to stay in Old Havana.  Rooms here are bright and airy, simply decorated, and have air conditioning.  Rooms are ensuite and breakfast is available for an additional cost.  You can see the location of this great old Havana casa particular here.

The site that we recommend for booking (and prepaying) for casa particulars online is homestay

• Book casa particulars online in Cuba with Homestay here

We have prebooked casa particulars and also just turned up and knocked on doors.   We always found somewhere to stay, that wasn’t a problem, but if you have specific requirements, and want to stay in a certain area we definitely recommend organizing this before you travel.  And then when you get there just enjoy Cuba!

How to book a Casa Particular in Cuba

There are 4 ways to book a casa particular in Cuba.  All these methods of booking Cuban casa particulars are easy, which you choose depends usually on how you travel.

Book Cuba Casa Particulars online

There are a variety of websites set up where you can book your casa particular online.  There are two types of sites that enable you to book online.  The first type is those that have a list of casa particulars, and that you REQUEST a booking for.  Any online availability listed is, let’s say, flexible to say the least.  Those that spring to mind are cubajunky and mycasaparticular.   We did attempt to use sites like these, but despite giving a list of 8 Casas for a particular city, were never able to get the ones that were (supposedly) available.

However, as it reduces the fees (and therefore increases the earnings, I urge you, when prebooking casa particulars in Cuba to use Homestay

Book your casa particular in Cuba with a Jinetero

A Jinitero (pronounced Hin-i-tero) is a hustler.  These are the guys and gals who will wait outside the Viazul bus station, or near a taxi, point asking if you want a casa particular.   They’ll take you to a casa particular where they will be paid a commission by the casa owner for taking you there.    You will get fed up with them during your time in Cuba.   

In some further out-of-the-way places, you may also be met by the owner of the casa themselves – this happened to us in Baracoa, where the owner, having rooms available, was waiting for our Havana to Baracoa bus to arrive.   She had a laminated poster detailing the features and facilities of her casa particular.

Host-to-host booking of Casa Particulars

Once you are in a casa particular, your host will likely ask you where you are going next and if you have a casa particular booking.  If you don’t have a room booked then they will suggest Casas and offer to book it for you in your next destination.    All casa owners have a network of friends and family who they will pass you onto.  It’s a great way of traveling if you’re slightly flexible.

Knocking on Doors to book Casa Particulars in Cuba

You’ve read earlier in this post about how to recognize a legal casa particular, by the blue symbol on the door.  If you’re seriously chilled out about your trip to Cuba, then this is the fourth and final way to book a stay in a casa particular.  We did this in Santiago de Cuba and stayed in a great place.  Although, we did read a few reviews on TripAdvisor first and had a list of places where we were going to knock on doors.

Pros of Staying in Cuban Casa Particulares

• Help the local economy
• Hotels are expensive and of generally poor quality
• Clean rooms and facilities
• Breakfast provided (extra cost)
• Get local tips and hints from your host
• Learn about Cuba from the source

Cons of Staying in Casa Particulares in Cuba

• Usually No Wi-Fi (some hotels may have Wi-Fi in the lobby – such as the Hotel Sevilla in Havana)
• Sometimes little space other than the room you are in
• You’re in someone’s house

Check out our guide on the neighbourhoods of Havana and where to stay in Havana here.

The History of Casa Particulars in Cuba

The special period (“Periodo Especial”) of the early 1990s was, for Cuba, an extended period of intense economic pressure for the country.  It began in 1991 and was primarily due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which provided nearly 80% of its imports.  Equally, Cuba lost nearly 80% of its exports to the Soviet Union.  Cuba imported most of its petroleum products from the USSR and lost this almost overnight.  Cuba also exported unused amounts of this Soviet petroleum to other countries and therefore lost the income that this generated.    This fundamentally changed, not just transport, but agriculture and the availability of foodstuffs.    Power outages were common, and food shortages were rife.

To provide food for their families many Cubans began renting rooms out in their private houses, their casa particular to the trickle of tourists who began to arrive on the island.  This practice was illegal until 1997, although the Cuban government had never cracked down heavily on it, as the government had to encourage tourism to bring foreign currency into the country.  Some hotels catered for foreign tourists, but there was not enough to deal with demand.

And so, in 1997, the Government began to issue licenses to citizens who wished to rent out private rooms and homes to tourists, levying an annual charge for the issuance of these licenses.

How to Be a Good Guest in a Cuban Casa Particular

If you’re staying in a casa particular you’re staying in someone’s private home.  If staying in a homestay is the norm for you, then you won’t need these hints about how to make your casa particular stay better for you and your host.  If this is new to you, then read on:

Make an effort to speak at least a few words of Spanish. It will be much easier for you and your host if you can learn the basics of requesting meals, asking for laundry to be done, confirming your host’s name and any rules of the house.

Be respectful about making noise, especially at night. You’re staying in someone’s house.  Cuba isn’t a quiet place, what with the cars and the music and the outdoor lifestyle, but if your hosts are quiet, then you should be too.

Be cautious about politics. There is definitely a sense of “Big Brother” in Cuba, try not to be too intrusive.  A ration book might be a novelty to you, but it’s a necessity to the Cuban people.

Be aware of electricity and water usage. Turn your Air conditioning off when you are not in the room.  And the lights.  Don’t take 20-minute  It’s easy to take these things for granted, but waste isn’t an option in Cuba.

Leave behind items you aren’t going to use. Leftover shampoo?  Half a box of tampons?  If you’re not going to use, or miss these things, why not leave them behind for your host.  Just take a short walk around one of the stores and see the empty shelves, much of what we take for granted in Europe, The US and Australia are simply not available here.

Final Words on Cuban Casa Particulars

We loved our stays in our Casa particulars in Cuba.  We did a HEAP of research as to where we wanted to stay when we traveled without family – who initially wanted to stay in one of the resort hotels so that we got to stay in special places with special people.  We’re happy to say that the research was WELL WORTH IT and the holiday was an immense success.  After the family left we continued our travels in Cuba and winged it.  We knocked on doors, we got passed from host to host, and we even went back to Rafaela in Havana, when a bus trip fell through.  Our welcome to Cuba was inclusive and friendly and we loved all of our stays in our casas.  We hope you do too.  Let us know if you have any other tips, or where your favorite casa was!

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