Safety

Cuba is generally a very safe country to visit; in fact it's even one of the safest destinations in all of the Americas, the crime rate is very low. Tourism is very important to Cuba's economy so strict and prominent policing and guarding make the streets and hotels places where tourists usually feel safe. But "safe" doesn't mean 100% crime-free so common sense should prevail obviously, and you should pay attention to your belongings, as you would do at home or in any other country.

You'll find a safety deposit box in every hotel room in Cayo Largo, to store your important documents, money, electronics, jewelry, etc. Some of them work with a magnetic card, others have a digital keypad and you have to choose your own 4-digit code. USEFUL TIP: After setting your code, do first a locking/unlocking test with the door open!

Every hotel in Cayo Largo have uniformed security personnel, 24/7. They also have fire alarms and fire extinguishers, and safety programs and procedures are in place. However, safety may lack in some adventure tours or activities so it's important for travelers to exercise judgment.

Most crimes in Cuba are neither confrontational nor physically-threatening, the most common being: purse-snatching, pickpocketing, solicitation, and prostitution. Violent crimes against tourists are very rare and they are very severely punished. Many Cubans are "entrepreneurs" and may try to sell you something of offer their assistance, but hustling and solicitation is usually non-insistent and not intended to be threatening. The Cuban people are mostly friendly, open and helpful.

And do not forget that Cayo Largo is a remote and uninhabited island resort, making it an even safer place!

Here are some the most common dangers and inconveniences reported in Cayo Largo:

Red flags on the beach:
Rough seas is not uncommon in Cayo Largo; sometimes making swimming more difficult and risky due to strong waves and currents, especially during bad weather (strong winds, tropical storm or hurricane). GREEN Flag: Low hazard, calm condition; YELLOW Flag: medium hazard, moderate surf and current; RED Flag: High hazard, strong surf and/or currents.

Where's the beach!?:
This is by far the most discussed topic in Cayo Largo forums... "How's the beach today in front of hotel xxxx?" The strip of sand frequently disappears (partially or totally) after strong winds and high surf, more often in front of hotels located on the east side of the hotel zone. But fortunately, Cayo Largo has 25 km or beaches, so there are always nice strips of sand nearby! The beaches west of the hotel zone and the ones at the western end of the island (Playa Paraiso and Playa Sirena) tend to be more stable.

Electrical outlet confusion:
ELectrical current could be 110V or 220V (depending on the hotel), and the electrical outlets are not always labelled. See our Electricity section for more details about voltage, converters, and adapters.

Scooter or quad (ATV) accidents:
The secondary roads in Cayo Largo, such as the path leading to Playa Paraiso and Sirena, are unpaved and may be dangerous for imprudent drivers due to the presence of potholes, pebbles, or soft sand. Skidding is quite frequent.

Hustling:
Mostly to sell cigars, rum, or lobster meal. If you're not interested simply say no with a smile, solicitors are generally non insistent and never aggressive.

Counterfeit cigars:
Most cigars sold on the street or beach and by bartenders or taxi drivers are counterfeit, even if they bear the label of a well-known brand (the branding on the box and the cigar band are also fakes). They will most likely tell you that these cigars come from a relative or friend who works in the factory in question, or that Cubans are allowed to operate within cigar “Cooperativa”, this is not true. In some cases, this doesn't mean though they're bad cigars or they aren't a great deal, but simply that they are fake. In other cases they can be of very poor quality and made entirely from the remains after the production of the real cigars, instead of entire tobacco leaves. Try one before buying a box! And, as always, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is!

Theft or personnal belongings:
Most often items left unattended.

Pickpocketing and purse-snatching:
This is extremely rare in an uninhabited island such as Cayo Largo, but it may occur during an excursion on the main island, mostly in downtown areas, crowded places or during special events, festivals or fiestas.

Overweight baggage charges:
In Cuban airports, some check-in agents may try to make you believe that your checked baggage is overweight, charge you excess fees, and then keep the money for themselves. If you're quite certain that your bag doesn't exceed the allocated limit, ask to speak to a supervisor, chances are the agent will quickly apologize saying that it was a mistake.

Theft in checked baggage at the airport:
Theft of items from checked baggage by airport employees has been reported in Cuba, though rarely in Cayo Largo. Avoid packing valuables and small electronics in your checked baggage. What we usually do is to put a "tie-wrap" on our suitcase zippers, of course they can cut it if they really want to open the suitcase, but chances are they might simply switch to another one easier and faster to open.