When we entered Cuba by boat customs had us list our laptops and GPS devices. They photographed each GPS, wrapped them in a plastic bag and left them with the captain. The devices were probably checked by customs as we left the country, but I don't know for sure. If you decide to sneak a GPS into Cuba, don't mount it on the bike! Be prepared to be stopped roughly once a day to have your documents checked.

Its very strange, Open Street Maps has very detailed maps of Cuba, but taking a device into the country is prohibited. Obviously there are people that have devices in Cuba and have recorded many of the roads.

The only countrywide maps I found in Cuba are in tourist map books. The country is broken down into sections and the detail outside of Havana is high-level at best. Havana is represented in several sections, which makes piecing together and understanding the outskirts of the city very difficult. Forget using Google Maps, et al, while in Cuba. Internet access is extremely slow, expensive and generally not available. I highly recommend trying to find robust maps before arriving, if available.

Last thing, there are more political signs in Cuba then road signs. Some major intersection have poor or non-existent signage. The on ramp to the major highway north of Santiago de Cuba that heads to Havana has no signage, none. I took a guess that it was road I needed.

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

I thought signage was fine, even outstanding in a lot of cases. I was prepared for a lot more blundering around than turned out necessary. And I can't recall any document checks at all in my week and a half, but maybe I've forgotten one or two. Certainly not once a day.

Internet was a bit of a pain, but not that bad. I'm not a Googlemaps fan under the best of circumstances. I agree that best bet is to bring a map with you.

Mr. Throttlemeister has more experience using a hay pay essay in Cuba than anyone else I've heard about.

The number of times I had to pull over for a documents check has probably grown in my head more than in fact. The officers were always civil, with a mild undercurrent of suspicion, but isn't that universal with law enforcement? I recall checks always happened on the highways or open road between towns, and I can't remember ever getting stopped in a city. In 27 days, riding nearly the length of the island, over 1,800 miles, I was pulled over no less than 6 times and probably more like 8 or 10.

The pull overs were no big deal. No long delay and I never got hit up for a bribe. After a while I only produced the "driver’s license" document and sometimes threw in the passport. With very interaction, even stopping to ask for directions, the officer gave me a quick salute. A uniquely Cuban custom. I suspect the treatment of tourist changes every few years as the political climate shifts. I rode a F800GS and the headlight lamp is always on. Apparently riding with lights on is either reserved for emergency vehicles or is simply not done. The headlight might have contributed to getting pulled over, but it was never mentioned. People walking down the street would make a hand gesture like a duck quack, to inform me that my light was still on...regardless that I couldn't turn it off. After I figured out why people were quacking at me, I felt it was an indication that Cubans are in some way involved with the enforcement of rules. One day I counted 12 quacks.

There is a lot of good signage, but every now and then nada, when you would expect something. Like much of the emerging world, many of the streets have no name. Damn, now I have the U2 song going through my head...

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Very interesting info on the Cuba ride.

The people gesturing at you because of the daytime headlight is
not something exclusive to Cuba though. It is quite common to receive
that fingers-opening - and- closing " quacking" or pinching-like gesture in Mexico and Central America.
I think the concern for daytime running lights is partly out of frugality, the idea being that running the headlight is not needed to see and it is using electricity in a wasteful manner and driving up your utility / fuel bill.
The same idea must probably be behind all those silly drivers in the USA
who refuse to turn on their headlights until after the sun has set

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93