Street rate for USD is at 513 pesos today. Official rate for CDN is 347 pesos. You would still come out slightly ahead exchanging CDN for USD at home and then exchanging on the street in Cuba. I probably wouldn't bother though. I would still bring USD of course for taxi's and some hotels. And in case the street rate goes even higher, I would also bring $100 bills. Just in case.

Up again to now 51,500 CUP for a hundo USD. As it keeps going up, one can be assured they will receive almost the same rate from their street exchange because their USD will surely be worth more tomorrow too. The opposite is true if the rate were falling. Terry

A new 5000 cup note will be in circulation soon. Fidel's right hand "man" Celia Sanchez will be featured on the new bill. This will make my pile of Cuban currency much smaller and lighter.

Yes Simon, even those 1000 peso notes were starting to pile up last trip. Has the 2000 note been introduced yet? Somehow last trip I ended up with some 1 peso notes. I mixed them up with some higher notes and gave them to a waitress. She just raised her eyebrows at me.

An article on this very subject...

Central Bank of Cuba introduces new 2,000 and 5,000 peso banknotes

CW, I ended up with a few 1 Cup notes as well when exchanging money at a cadeca. I used them as bookmarks. Have no idea why these are still being printed. Funny, last time I exchanged officially, the teller had lots of 1 Cup notes, but nothing larger than a 100. Luckily I had my shopping bag with me.

Official rate…





Dreaming of a Cuba trip… at 360.20. Not bad.