Cuban tour guide in Havana

[torogen]

I would like to know if anyone has any recommendations for a tour guide in Havana? I was privately messaged about Luis, the guy who runs gaycubatourguide.com but the very last thing he makes sure to include on his FAQ page is:

Q : Anything else ?

A : Yes. This is not an escort site. At all. So to those who are looking for escorts, I say : this is the wrong place. 

I don't know why he included that...if he wants to make sure people understand that he himself is not an escort, or that he doesn't want to offer advice about finding escorts, or...? In any case, I have written to him but haven't heard back. If anybody else has advice or experience hiring a tour guide in Havana, I would be very interested. It seems that it would be particularly helpful in this city to have a local who is able to explain the black market for WIFI cards, better exchange rates, etc.

[Guest KevinC]

I think what he said is pretty clear.  He is not an escort and not related to escort business.   So which part do you not understand?  As far as WiFi card or currency exchange, these are legit question to ask your guide, or you can Google it yourself.  It's called homework before you go on a trip.

[torogen]

27 minutes ago, KevinC said:

So which part do you not understand?  As far as WiFi card or currency exchange, these are legit question to ask your guide, or you can Google it yourself.  It's called homework before you go on a trip.

Don't treat me like an idiot. There are plenty of things a local can tell you that you will not be able to find out via searching. For instance, where can you find the best black market prices for wifi cards? I have done my research, and I am continuing to do it now...the reason I know there is a black market for those cards is BECAUSE I have done my research.

[torogen]

I did manage to track down an old post that included specific advice saying that Luis does not help you locate guys, but he will translate if there is a guy you are interested in. So that pretty much answers my question about his level of discretion, and it matches my wants and needs perfectly. I'm not looking for a pimp, but I don't want to hire a prude either.

 

[SolaceSoul]

Luis is a professional tour guide who is also gay and knows the Havana gay scene. He can take you on standard city tours, beach tours, nightlife tours and gay nightlife tours. He can act as an interpreter if you need it. He is a professional and is not an escort or a pimp. There is a gay casa particular in Old Town Havana in which the owner will be glad to introduce you to boys — many of whom are his friends and regulars. However, they may or may not be your type. Google “gay casa particular Havana” and it will pop up.

One of the easiest things to do in Havana is meeting guys who will play for money if you are a tourist and in the typical spots. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Why would you even need a third party facilitator?

[Latbear4blk]

7 hours ago, SolaceSoul said:

Luis is a professional tour guide who is also gay and knows the Havana gay scene. He can take you on standard city tours, beach tours, nightlife tours and gay nightlife tours. He can act as an interpreter if you need it. He is a professional and is not an escort or a pimp. There is a gay casa particular in Old Town Havana in which the owner will be glad to introduce you to boys — many of whom are his friends and regulars. However, they may or may not be your type. Google “gay casa particular Havana” and it will pop up.

One of the easiest things to do in Havana is meeting guys who will play for money if you are a tourist and in the typical spots. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Why would you even need a third party facilitator?

Why did he need to add such an unfriendly disclaimer? I would try to find some other guide. Is he the only one offering a gay tour for the city?

[SolaceSoul]

2 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

Why did he need to add such an unfriendly disclaimer? I would try to find some other guide. Is he the only one offering a gay tour for the city?

I can’t speak for him, but it seems as if you are viewing it through an Amerocentric lens. Think of the personal and public damage that this guy could endure if Cuban neighbors, government workers or police labeled him as an escort or a facilitator of prostitution in a still-Communist country.

[Latbear4blk]

You may be right. Still, if there is another guide who does not need to overact his non escort status, I would prefer him.

[SolaceSoul]

You may find other Havana tour guides online, but the likelihood of finding another one online who is also openly gay are slim to none. If you prefer, you can just take your chances when you arrive that you will meet or be introduced to someone who can act as a professional tour guide in Havana and has the necessary relationships. 

[floridarob]

On 11/1/2017 at 4:35 PM, torogen said:

..the reason I know there is a black market for those cards is BECAUSE I have done my research.

When you arrive at the airport...come out of the arrivals area, take a right and a little ways down you will see a telephone office. Go in there and you can buy internet cards at face value...I buy the $10CUC ones because the places in Havana usually run out of all cards and then you need to look for "black market" ones....this avoids that. Also, while at the airport , upstairs at the departure level....if you see anything you want, soda, sum, cookies, etc... if you see something you might want, buy it. Don't think, "oh I'll wait until I'm in town to pick it up" because there's a 75% chance it won't be available in the stores..... two Spanish phrases you'll learn fast in Cuba...NO HAY (there isn't any) or ESTA ROTO (is broken/out of service),lol

Cuba if fun to visit for 5 days MAX (Havana).....but most of the cuties that were good at sex have either left or working real jobs since they've opened the possibility of many different jobs not run by the government.

I used to rate Cuba on par if not a little better than Brasil.....these days 50% as good as Brasil on a good night 

[RA1]

floridarob-

Your description + a web site about the Gay Casa Particular Havana makes me want to drop whatever I am doing and go visit Cuba. A friend of mine suggested about 7 years ago that we fly (in a private plane) to Cuba.  I demurred because it was illegal then and US radar would have had us in a NY minute. 

Thanks and best regards,

RA1

 

[Latbear4blk]

Perhaps a straight tour guide has no problem with and has good contacts for contacting you with rent boys.

[axiom2001]

On 11/1/2017 at 5:08 AM, torogen said:

I would like to know if anyone has any recommendations for a tour guide in Havana? I was privately messaged about Luis, the guy who runs gaycubatourguide.com but the very last thing he makes sure to include on his FAQ page is:

Q : Anything else ?

A : Yes. This is not an escort site. At all. So to those who are looking for escorts, I say : this is the wrong place. 

I don't know why he included that...if he wants to make sure people understand that he himself is not an escort, or that he doesn't want to offer advice about finding escorts, or...? In any case, I have written to him but haven't heard back. If anybody else has advice or experience hiring a tour guide in Havana, I would be very interested. It seems that it would be particularly helpful in this city to have a local who is able to explain the black market for WIFI cards, better exchange rates, etc.

For better exchange rates, take Euros.  I took Canadian dollars in 2015 and Euros in 2017.  I did this to avoid that friggin' 15% rate for the exchange of dollars.

In regard to Luis, remember internet is expensive in Cuba although he does manage to post on his FB page somewhat frequently.  Give him a chance.  [In terms of escorts-- he might have written what he's written at his site to protect himself.  He does offer a "gay tour" as one of his tours.  

There's another guide--Yunior, but he's been ascribed as being "hit or miss!"  When I contacted him in 2015, my tour/s with him were a go; after I'd arrived in Havana and contacted him via phone-- he was unavailable and asked me if he could send a friend of his instead.  His friend arrived at my hotel, but because he looked so young-- I canceled.  To make it up to him and out of my feeling somewhat guilty-- I gave the young lad 1/2 of the total fee that I had planned to offer Yunior.  Yunior has a website that can be googled; he also has a FB page and has posted some pics of guys to whom he's given tours.

[torogen]

The exchange rate at the currency exchange in my city costs around 13% for both Euros and Canadian dollars, so it doesn't save anything. I will check the rates when I get to the airport. I've seen several articles stating that there are people in Havana who will buy dollars at 94-95%, but a local with whom I am chatting says that it depends on the timing--sometimes they are buying, and sometimes they aren't. His tip (also repeated in the article I read) is to bring $100 bills, as they prefer them and pay more for them: https://translatingcuba.com/cuba-money-is-better-in-dollars-ivan-garcia/

I found several tour guides (including one who offered to do it for free) on Scruff, but the paid guide is not responsive (understandable considering the lack of internet there), and the guy who offered to do it for free isn't sure he will be in town, as he splits his time between US and Cuba. Also found a very cute gay (actually gay, not gay-for-pay) guy who offered to be my guide on Rent.men, although he asked for twice what I would be willing to pay--but I think he is assuming that I want to also have sex with him--again, understandable considering that I found him on an escort website. But he's "cute" and smooth, like a muscled twink...attractive, but not exactly my type.

[Latbear4blk]

11 hours ago, axiom2001 said:

For better exchange rates, take Euros.  I took Canadian dollars in 2015 and Euros in 2017.  I did this to avoid that friggin' 15% rate for the exchange of dollars.

In regard to Luis, remember internet is expensive in Cuba although he does manage to post on his FB page somewhat frequently.  Give him a chance.  [In terms of escorts-- he might have written what he's written at his site to protect himself.  He does offer a "gay tour" as one of his tours.  

There's another guide--Yunior, but he's been ascribed as being "hit or miss!"  When I contacted him in 2015, my tour/s with him were a go; after I'd arrived in Havana and contacted him via phone-- he was unavailable and asked me if he could send a friend of his instead.  His friend arrived at my hotel, but because he looked so young-- I canceled.  To make it up to him and out of my feeling somewhat guilty-- I gave the young lad 1/2 of the total fee that I had planned to offer Yunior.  Yunior has a website that can be googled; he also has a FB page and has posted some pics of guys to whom he's given tours.

I like what he says in his website: "Havana is gay nightlife before Grindr".

[Latbear4blk]

 

Yunior has this disclaimer: Please keep in mind that we are not an escort service  & we do not facilitate such service. It is prohibited & punishable by Cuban law.

Pretty different wording than the other guy. Here it is clear that he is just fulfilling a legal need. I would rather chose Yunior instead of Luis if I were traveling over there.

[SolaceSoul]

2 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

 

Yunior has this disclaimer: Please keep in mind that we are not an escort service  & we do not facilitate such service. It is prohibited & punishable by Cuban law.

Pretty different wording than the other guy. Here it is clear that he is just fulfilling a legal need. I would rather chose Yunior instead of Luis if I were traveling over there.

Wow. This is really the textbook definition of “a distinction without a difference”. It is exactly what I mentioned to you in my previous text — that you seemed not to want to get or accept. But to each his own.

[Guest KevinC]

On 11/2/2017 at 4:21 PM, SolaceSoul said:

I can’t speak for him, but it seems as if you are viewing it through an Amerocentric lens. Think of the personal and public damage that this guy could endure if Cuban neighbors, government workers or police labeled him as an escort or a facilitator of prostitution in a still-Communist country.

Please explain what you meant by "Americocentric".  The issue is this guide explicitly indicates he is not an escort and has no connection to escorts.  Of course any sex tourist such as OP (or you, or I) should go find another guide if we want escort guide.  This is just common sense. So this makes us Americocentric?  A French sex tourist would do the same. Spanish, Chinese, Japanese sex tourists all the same -- look for another tour guide.  So why is this Americocentric?...unless you just enjoy bashing Americans.

[Guest bobbalino]

Sorry, the size function in the toolbar will not allow smaller font than this...

Pornography in Cuba is technically illegal, to start with a contextual example that highlights the uniqueness of culture and regulation therein. That reality is consistent with the state's aim to control profiteering.

Prostitution, per se, is NOT illegal. A local client and local sex worker can enter into a mutually beneficial arrangement with impunity. Procurement, however, is illegal.

Hustling (broad-based definition) in general for economic gain is prohibited. Though many would view sex tourism through the lens of exploitation of Cubans, the state's agenda is more aligned with prohibiting exploitation of visitors through goods and services offered outside of strict regulated parameters of supply and demand. Similarly, those higher in socio-economic status benefitting from advantageous liaison abroad are frowned upon.

Informal tour guiding can be considered to fall within the category of jockeying for gain by offering off-grid "black-marketing" services. Yet there may not be a formal licensing infrastructure for tour guides. 

I suspect that one way a tour guide can "legitimize" advertising and delivery is to add a disclaimer that distances from the notion of hustling in general. In the sociocultural context, it is not surprising they would underscore not brokering for sex services, but I would simply view this as their stated intent to not facilitate acquisition of counterfeit goods, private taxi, discounted cigars etc etc. Because there is negative sentiment towards sex tourism among those travellers as a whole that seek a guide, the disclaimer is efficient and obviates the need to impute to tourists a generic exploitive intent.

A tour guide with some degree of critical mass has a good thing going. My sense is that you can be transparent with him in person and perhaps expect some guidance about safety, etc, that might not be as accessible with a 'less formal' provider. And I suppose it helps to have someone locally if you get into a jam. But being a good client means respecting his limits and helping him to avoid the moniker of jineterismo.

[Latbear4blk]

9 hours ago, SolaceSoul said:

Wow. This is really the textbook definition of “a distinction without a difference”. It is exactly what I mentioned to you in my previous text — that you seemed not to want to get or accept. But to each his own.

Ja! Who do you think you are? I did hear you the first time but I just needed to collect more information. It seems you were partially right, but still there is a difference even if you do not want to see it. I have an option, and my option is Yunior. 

[SolaceSoul]

10 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

Ja! Who do you think you are? I did hear you the first time but I just needed to collect more information. It seems you were partially right, but still there is a difference even if you do not want to see it. I have an option, and my option is Yunior. 

Ok, sure, Jan. Whatever you say.

 

[axiom2001]

Some of you men like to debate "NEEDLESSLY" over an innocent query. 

Would it be wonderful if the initial subject could be addressed?  If there is a varying opinion-- let it be and continue to address without disparagement, ridicule, bickering, bitching, etc.!

So I do hope that the next poster will address the issue and NOT what Yunior and Luis have at their websites. 

The poster's inquiry has been addressed! 

BTW both guys are on my FB page, Luis more than Yunior! 

Luis has traveled a lot; I've loved the photos that he's posted of himself at these various places and cities outside of Habana as well as within.

[torogen]

An update: I have heard from a few guys via Scruff who have volunteered to be my guide for free (I put up a Scruff Venture trip with my dates) Seems like the standard thing there, to latch onto a tourist in return for buying drinks, paying cover, etc. I heard from Luis, who said that he or his "business partner" would be willing to help me. It seems there will be no shortage of options.