On our tours to Cuba, we primarily use Casa particulares to accommodate our guests.

Casa particulares – or “casas” as they are commonly known – means “private homes” in Spanish. As the name suggests, they are a kind of private accommodation where you stay at the home of a Cuban family. They can best be described as bed & breakfasts.

“Casas” became an official form of accommodation when the Cuban government made it possible for Cuban families to set up their own businesses and earn money from renting rooms to foreign visitors.

Cuba is a poor country in the Caribbean, and a total lockdown in connection with Covid-19 has not made the situation any easier for the Cubans. Fortunately, they are hardy people who do not let themselves be beaten so easily, and one can only have the deepest respect for the ubiquitous joie de vivre and fighting spirit.

At TourCompass, we love casas!

For visitors, it’s a unique and authentic way to get close to the Cuban people, and for the local people, it’s a good source of income for the entire local area.

When we ask our customers about the experiences they remember best from their tour to Cuba, the casa experience is nearly always one of the first things they mention. The casa hosts often only know a few words of English – and the guests often only a few words of Spanish – but smiles and gestures get you a long way. Your visit makes a difference – and you enjoy the experience of a lifetime!