Hi,

I am interested in trying my first authentic habano, but I know there are ALOT of fakes out there. I did a google search and found this place as recommended to find true cuban cigars:

http://www.lacasadelhabano.cu

They supposedly have a store in San Jose here:

San Pedro, Montes de Oca de La Fuente de la Hispanidad 100 Metros Este, 100 Metros Norte

Not sure where that is (San Pedro mall?). If I want to take a taxi there, do I give them that complete address?

Thanks for your help. I'm sure I'm not the first to try and find cuban cigars in CR...

You can find true, authentic cuban cigars throughtout Costa Rica, and throughout most of the Caribbean. The authentic ones will still be in the original wrapper/box from Cuba. I don't think you will have a problem finding what you are looking for in the local markets.

That is good news.

One last question. How can I bring a few of these home with me? Will they get confiscated? I'm sure inspections at the airport is very familiar with what cigars look like in an xray machine, and they probably can stay stocked up just from the "confiscations"...

Maybe I'll ask the cigar shop owner to put some other labels on a few that I want to bring back...

Thoughts or experiences?

My sister and BIL "smuggled" some from Havana (Journalist Visas) to the US, but if you are caught, you will be fined.
A non issue here in Mexico.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

I hope that customs doesn't read this. lol. buy a box, or pack of cigars that are not Cuban and swap with the real thing, just make sure that none of the cigars have labels and that they are all the same. Put them in your suitcase or carry on. As long as you don't look suspicous or trying to hide anything, you won't get into any trouble. You didn't hear this from me.

The best selection of genuine Cuban cigars, lowest prices, licensed dealer....Havana Humidor Room, San Jose, Costa Rica. Located in Barrio Amon, 2 blocks north and 1 block west of the downtown Holiday Inn. Ave 9 y calle 3A

No personal experience, but you cannot bring Cuban cigars into the U.S., even if they were purchased outside of Cuba.

I doubt the original poster is still alive this thread is so old.

Well Katzgar you may be right, but in case someone else is looking for Cuban cigars, there are 2 shops in Jaco that hand-roll cigars as well as import directly from Cuba. The owners are Cuban and they know a lot about cigars. The stores are called Jaco Cigar Mart #1 &#2. The "cuban's" being sold on the street are most times fakes made in Nicaragua.

For some reason I thought if you bought cigars that were rolled in Costa Rica, but from Cuban tobacco leaves, that you could bring them home. And that it's just the ones rolled in Cuba that you can't. Is this not the case?

No, hip. Any tobacco product that has any portion of Cuban origin is barred from import.

If you buy a Costa Rican rolled cigar, their is no problem with US Customs. If you buy a fresh rolled cigar anywhere and think it is a good smoke, you are just an amateur cigar smoke. A rolled cigar needs to be properly aged anywhere from 3 to 9 months in proper temperature and humidity before it is ready to smoke. Many amateurs think fresh is good and squeezing a cigar is okay. Rookie mistakes. havanahumidorroom.com

Thanks for clarifying that for me, Jeff.

Just smoked the new H. Upmann LE 2012 robusto. New white box has 25 delicious robustos. Dark wrapper and a rich complex flavor. Found them at The Havana Humidor Room, San Jose, Costa Rica