Havana trip November 2017

[torogen]

I have been to Mexico and several Central and South American countries, but this was my first foray into Cuba. I spent 6 days in Havana and the surrounding area. This report encompasses my impressions of the city and the scene in Havana.

There are still many beautiful men in Havana. There are MANY guys trying to make money by having sex with tourists. The scene is mostly on the street, but also at the bars, and there are some peculiarities that I have not experienced elsewhere.

On my first night, I strolled down to the base of “La Rampa”, or The Ramp, which is a five-block-long incline that leads from the high point at Ave 23 and L Street down to the Malecon on the oceanfront. I noticed many guys sitting around on the raised wall of some planters along the route. The wifi in Cuba at this point is very difficult and glitchy—you must buy a wifi card for 2 CUCs ($2) and go to a public park to log in to the wifi signal, which is often weak, or which may disappear entirely at points. For this reason, apps like Grindr and Scruff and Planet Romeo are of limited use—I got many messages on them, but the guys often did not respond until hours later or the next day. In this way, Cuba really is a face-to-face cruising environment, which is fine with me.

The very first time I sat down and tried to log onto the wifi, a guy sitting about 10 feet away from me moved over and said hello. He was clearly a young gay guy, and he pulled out his phone to help him translate, since I couldn’t understand all of his rapid Spanish. I almost choked when he showed me the translation, which was “do you want a child?”—until I realized that he had typed chico, which is really just slang for boy, or (more accurately), “guy”. I laughed and told him that the translation was NOT a good translation, and explained a bit, and he immediately pulled out his ID (which all Cubans are very conscientious about carrying on their person at all times—in case it is needed), to show me that he really was 18 years old. He was friendly, but not exactly my type, and we chatted for a bit and I moved off to seek out some more fun.

I discovered during my trip that the Cuban gay nightlife is very organized, almost as if all the bars were owned by the same person, and the bars often cross-promoted with other bars (the most popular bar during the week, Club Las Vegas, which is standing room only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, does not even open on Saturday, just as an example—can you imagine a gay bar in the US voluntarily closing on a weekend night, just because that night was more popular at another bar?) A sidenote about the gay bars: the entertainment is extremely uniform across the bars. Wherever you go, there are drag queens, followed by a few group dance routines (including some professional dancers), followed by more drag queens. On the night of my arrival, on Tuesday night at Club Las Vegas, I was told that I needed to buy a bottle of rum for $25 if I wanted a table (it came with three colas as mixers), or I could simply pay a $10 per table fee. I opted for that. The show was capped off by the drag queen IMPERIO “El Icono Trans de Cuba”, and she sang (lip-synced) 8 fucking songs in a row as the finale. I have never seen a more self-indulgent display. She has her fans, but she’s her own biggest fan.

The scene for rentboys is this: along La Rampa from dusk until around 8 pm, guys gather to socialize and see if they can make some money. After sundown, many move to a restaurant called Toke, on the corner of Calle 25 and Infanta (a decent restaurant that makes good cocktails and offers cheap and totally acceptable food, but which only has seating for around 30 people, half indoors and half in front). That occupancy is if all the tables are occupied by the full complement of two or four guests, but the Cubans seated me by myself at a table for four, and many of the other tables were occupied by single guys, so the actual occupancy is more frequently limited to around 15 people. There were something like 30 to 50 boys hanging out on the street in front, trying to make some money. They will walk right up to you as you eat (if you are in front), and ask if you will allow them to sit and buy them a drink. This arrangement took place every night I was there, with the single exception of Saturday night, when the crowd gathered later in the evening, around 9 or 10 pm. When the bars open (around 11 pm, truly “night” clubs), much of the action moves inside. I had several guys beg me to pay their cover or take them in and buy them a drink. If you go in alone, you will continue to be hit up aggressively by the guys who are already inside the club, for drinks and sex.

At this point, it becomes necessary to mention one of the peculiarities of Cuba—even though it was clear these guys had almost nothing, and they really wanted to make some money, none of them wanted to come out and give a price. They responded with simple assurances such as, no, whatever we do is fine with me, and if you like me and wish to give me a gift, that is fine. They may express boundaries such as “I don’t get fucked”, but across the board, they were willing to suck dick (if, as it turned out on my first choice, somewhat amateurishly), but they were otherwise genuinely friendly and eager to please.

My type could be described as adorable masculine guys with (most important) a cute face, a nice body (which could be naturally muscular due to genetics and age, or could be a gym body), FRESH BREATH (this killed many of the otherwise beautiful guys I met in Brazil), nice dick, and friendly. I found this the first night with a 21 year old that I picked up on the street after leaving the bar.

When we got back to the place, we made out for quite a while, and he was an eager kisser and not at all squeamish. When it came to sucking dick, though, he was turned off by the obvious precum that I was producing. Still, he attempted to suck my dick (never suggesting a condom), while still stopping frequently to spit out the precum/quickly wipe his tongue. It was fun, but it was not really getting anywhere, and he had agreed to come with me based on whatever I wanted to pay, so I wasn’t too upset, partially because I have encountered this reaction many times before (it really is copious), and partly because he was such a nice guy and so eager to please. We ended up just shooting on each other’s tongues. I paid him $30 CUCs, and he seemed extremely happy, saying “thank you!” enthusiastically. Afterwards, he was enthralled by my NastyPig hat, and wanted me to take photos of him modeling it, so I have several photos, even though he never requested that I send a photo to him—I guess it just made him happy that a photo of him wearing that hat existed. He did want to see the photo, and he smiled when he saw it.

I went to the beach twice while I was there—Mi Cayito, which is the “gay” beach. It is a 30 minute cab ride from Havana—and all of the cab drivers I spoke to quoted me a price of $25 CUCs for the ride (taxis were the only expensive thing I encountered in Havana). The first cab driver offered to wait for me for several hours, rather than wasting gas back to the city, and I said yes. This arrangement isn’t a bad idea, but you will be able to find a taxi later on, so you shouldn’t worry too much about this point. If there are no taxis immediately available at Mi Cayito when you decide to leave, a 5 minute walk will bring you to a more populated area.

The scene on the beach was laid back. You can rent a chair and umbrella for 2 CUCs each. The stand is run by the government, and they close precisely at 5 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends. There is a little restaurant/bar over the dune, near the parking lot, and they offered drinks for around $2.25, plus food, and they were very friendly. I did see one older guy running food back-and-forth from the food stand, but he never approached me or my end of the beach, so I’m not sure if he was a freelance person who just showed up to offer his services as a waiter or what. That may well have been the case—there was a guy in La Habana Vieja who makes his living telling tourists on the street that there is a bar on the top of Hotel Ambos Mundos (something not immediately apparent), and then hoping for tips from grateful patrons who appreciated his assistance. Havana was full of people who had apparently carved out a similar extremely tiny niche for themselves.

The second boy I picked up was an 18 year old that I also met on the street. He had said hi to me the day before, but we finally connected on my second night in town. He was a darker guy with more African features, a large cock, and a wicked smile. He was also very dirty. He was conscientious about telling me that he need to take a shower before we could do anything. He also left my bar of soap covered with a dark film, so it was clear that he had needed the bath. He turned out to be less squeamish about sucking dick than my first guy, but he did quote a price to me: $25. He offered to let me fuck him bareback for an additional $5, but I skipped that option.

A last note: the first boy that I met on the street, the 18 year old who I had passed over, primarily because he was a little femme for my tastes, followed me for several days and kept trying to say hi, before simply telling me that he is great at sucking dick, and he swallows, and he would do it for whatever I wanted to pay…$10, or $15.  So if you aren’t picky, it would seem that Cuba still offers many eager guys who are willing to do most anything you would want.

[Alaskabear]

Thanks for the detailed report!   I am missing Cuba so much right now.  There is a cheaper option to get to Micayito beach and that is a tourist bus that leaves every hour from Parque Central in Old town.  I think it’s about five cucs.  Just tell the driver that you want to go to Micayito and they will drop you off as close as they can get.  It’s about a seven minute walk up the road to get to the entrance.   And those sand dunes and bushes and abandoned building on the route?  Great places for naughty fun with the beach boys.  How I miss watching guys walk the beach in underwear (few seem to have swimming shorts) with semi hard cocks swinging around.   Such a good time.  

Toke was my go to breakfast place.  I rented an amazing apartment right at the corner of La Rampa and the malecon.   Top floor with huge deck!   But the last time I was there at Toke (2015) the police seemed to be ever present.  In fact there were regular “sweeps” in the gay hangout areas on La Rampa which was a buzzkill.    Did you experience that as well Torogen?   I'm hoping that was a temporary thing.    

[mvan1]

What an excellent report.  Thank you very much. 

I have a few questions. 

Your report indicates that you went to Cuba last month.  The timing of your visit is why I have my questions.  

I read that a few months ago, Trump (after he and his family visited Cuba) reversed many of Obama's easing of travel restrictions for Americans visiting Cuba.  

Could it be that you are not American, and therefore,  were not affected by Trump's bizarre decisions?

I am aware that American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines all took major financial losses because they anticipated tourism to Cuba but because of Trump's pronouncements and reversals, the airlines cancelled or curtailed many of their existing and proposed routes to Cuba.   

There are new travel restrictions for Americans flying to Cuba when trying to book a ticket using U.S. air carriers.  

If you are American, do you have any advice for lessening the aggravation put in by Trump for Americans visiting Cuba?

Thanks in advance.

 

[torogen]

7 hours ago, mvan1 said:

There are new travel restrictions for Americans flying to Cuba when trying to book a ticket using U.S. air carriers.  

If you are American, do you have any advice for lessening the aggravation put in by Trump for Americans visiting Cuba?

I am aware of the travel restrictions. All I can say is that it is definitely more restrictive, punitively so, but that I fall into one of the categories that does not require a permanent paid escort (people-to-people, for example, now must be with a group, and must participate in a "full-time" schedule of activities, led by a paid escort working for the tour group). The system still works on the honor system, meaning you don't have to apply ahead of time for a visa, you just sign the OFAC statement before you board, and the airline keeps a copy of your general license authorization). I do believe the current/post-Trump system is confusing, and even many academic institutions have reacted by canceling their plans until it becomes more clear exactly what the rules are, and how they are going to be enforced.

A side note: I saw several of these paid tour groups, and the things they were doing with their tour guide were things like exploring shopping districts and visiting bars to have a cocktail ("Next we go down to the street and to the left to another bar, La Floridita!"). So it looked mostly like having a loud person herd you around. I was impressed with the Cuban educational system and the individual entrepreneurial spirit, because I heard two different tour guides giving directions in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, and I think Dutch. I befriended one gay tour guide, and he told me that he learned the languages at the university.

[HotBottom4U]

Thanks much for such a thorough trip report...  Are there any older men (preferably tops) that escort there?

[torogen]

5 hours ago, HotBottom4U said:

Thanks much for such a thorough trip report...  Are there any older men (preferably tops) that escort there?

There were plenty of guys of all ages. And all body types. I got the impression from many guys I met casually that they would be cool with making money in that way, even if they weren't technically escorts. There were also lots of guys just cruising for sex. One odd turnoff for me is that many of the guys in Cuba, even the macho/masculine ones, have plucked/shaped/arched eyebrows. It's just the style there, but I don't find it attractive at all. Tons of guys also wear these odd asymmetrical long t-shirts that look like dresses over their jeans.

[axiom2001]

Torogen, I, too, truly enjoyed reading your post.  ...have been to Cuba three times, the most recent was last March.  ...liked my trips but still have yet to spend the time and explore as I'd yearned ever since my most wonderful travel there in 2015, which at that time I was with a People-to-People, but it was much more enriching and beneficial than what you cited as an aside.  ...had planned to go in March 2018, but have since changed my plans.  To me I could give a "rat's fuck" to #45's policies.  If I do join a tour group-- I still plan to travel independently to get there, explore, then join my folks.  

Remember Cuba is a very poor country due to that Draconian embargo which the US imposed some 50+ years ago.  In March I took some goods to give to the young man who had volunteered to be my guide.  He was an amigo of a Brit acquaintance of mine.  Well, as it turned out, my second bag with the goods (which was unlocked) never appeared, so after an hour of meandering and searching-- I left the airport with my comely driver who transported me to my rented casa particular, a very welcoming and well-situated lodging.  I spent three days but left suddenly on day 4, for I woke up with the most horrendous back ache.  I had problems bending, etc.  Because I was to be traveling for long hours outside of Habana-- I did not want to chance it, so I cancelled.  I was to have been in the country for 25 days.  

The sunny Saturday that I decided to leave, my impending guide texted me; I can't text, nor can I read or speak Espanol, so I asked the woman from the company who was to escort me to the airport to read it;  she did but in a limited way; she too spoke limited English.  To cut to the chase-- I'd promised him the goods and had a nice fee (of my chosing) to give the amateur guide.  Since he was supposedly in dire need of them, telling me that toiletries are expensive to the locals, I sent what he had asked plus a very good gratuity for his services which I never directly received.  I sent via his cousin who lives in Miami who in turn posted to him.  It was an expensive undertaking, but I sympathized with him.  Occasionally, he posts on Facebook, but since my google doesn't translate my Espanol component, or I don't know how to do it-- I don't know what he's written.  I do know that he's asked for money in order to pay for his cell services; I've candidly stated that I am on a retiree's income and can only help my family.  He's stopped, and that I am grateful.

Well, I don't want to use anymore of your space or divert from it--so I'll stop.  Again, thanks for your insightful recapturing of some of your experience.  Next time you might want to take some bars of soap, condoms, toothbrushes, shaving cream if easy to pack.  The guys would appreciate receiving, for soap is apparently hard to come by or unnecessarily expensive.  [When I was with the P-to-P, many of us brought items to give to institutions.  I brought loads of condoms and lube and teas and bottles of Hershey syrup and gave to the owner of Cafe Libro, an operation managed by an American woman and her Cuban husband.  This was an experience  I shall forever remember as well.  Check out on TripAdvisor and or on Facebook.  Fin

[torogen]

7 hours ago, axiom2001 said:

Remember Cuba is a very poor country due to that Draconian embargo which the US imposed some 50+ years ago.  In March I took some goods to give to the young man who had volunteered to be my guide. 

The fact that Cuba is a poor country is obvious. There was a big billboard on the way into the city from the airport that called the embargo the biggest genocide in the history of the country.

[torogen]

One interesting little note: despite pornography being illegal in Cuba, I saw Michael Lucas there on the street cruising boys, clearly looking for his next new porn star. Or maybe just a fuck.

[likeohmygod]

You mean this Michael Lucas?

Pornstars everywhere :P...the weird thing is that while yesterday i remembered that while I was in Rio in november i am quite sure i have been speaking while queueing at the airport for a taxi, with this guy (DRAE AXTELL):

https://www.lucasentertainment.com/models/view/drae-axtell

I did a huge mistake....i was so tired that I did not try to get his number.

[floridarob]

On 12/9/2017 at 11:20 PM, torogen said:

 There was a big billboard on the way into the city from the airport that called the embargo the biggest genocide in the history of the country.

The biggest genocide in the country .....while there is a "Embargo"...the government doesn't call it that....they say is a BLOCKADE.......This conversation could get serious, especially if you've ever visited the Eastern part of the Island (Fidelistas)

[torogen]

17 hours ago, floridarob said:

while there is a "Embargo"...the government doesn't call it that....they say is a BLOCKADE.......This conversation could get serious, especially if you've ever visited the Eastern part of the Island (Fidelistas)

In the US, we say embargo, in Cuba they say El Bloqueo. We don't call it the Blockade, so I translated that as "the embargo". Not sure what the rest of your comment means, since I didn't visit that part of the island, and I'm not that informed about the political situation on the ground in Cuba. I mentioned something I saw. I did find it surprising that the citizens were almost uniformly positive about their government.

 

21 hours ago, likeohmygod said:

You mean this Michael Lucas?

And yes, that is exactly the Michael Lucas I mentioned. I have seen him on multiple trips: Puerto Vallarta (twice), Rio, and now in Cuba. His is an interesting life. He "discovered" Alejandro Castillo (his stage name) in Puerto Vallarta, a beautiful and sweet boy who was basically kind of a buff drifter, but who is now a porn star and a PV nightlife staple. Alejandro Castillo as a porn star:

And before becoming famous:

That hugely thick dick meant that boy was destined to become famous for it, IMO. The icing is that he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

 

[likeohmygod]

Holy cow.... looks like I will have to type Alejandro Castillo on Google rsrsrsrs

[12is12]

Thanks Torogen for a VERY useful report.

I'll be visiting Cuba in January, and would appreciate if you could answer some follow-up questions:

 

Did you feel safe walking around, day and night?

Anything on sightseeing in Havana and its surroundings? How many days are enough for that?

Since the wifi is so problematic, how did you manage without translation and navigation apps?

Any recommendations regarding hotels (that allow companions in) in the vicinity of Rampa-Malecon?

In these f2f cruisings, any acceptable polite way to pre-check the guy's size?

 

Thanks again,

(-:

 

[axiom2001]

Although you asked the original poster these questions, I thought I'd chime in since I've visited Cuba on three occasions, each different yet, in ways, incomplete.

Havana (Cuba) is quite safe as has been reported in books, at websites, and from experience. 

Go to www.TripAdvisor.com and do a "Things to See" and "Things to Do."  You'll be amazed at what you find.  Goggle gay tour guides in Cuba.  Two or three will come up; two have websites. 

No hotel allows one to have male or female companions.  They're strict on this.  My advice would be to rent a room in a casa particular operated by a gay tenant or that's gay friendly.  I'll get back to you with website and other specifics.  ...will even share an e address of a man who I have not met but who rents rooms and obtains guys.  I know of him from an acquaintance who's used his facilities.

...will return here within a few days; right now I am getting ready to drive to San Francisco!

I have lots of material which i'll share later at this site.  ...right now I am busy trying to get ready to drive to San Francisco.]

By next Monday I hope to return to your queries and cite specifics for you to use.

HOTELS don't allow guests:

[SolaceSoul]

Havana, Cuba is probably the safest city to visit in the Western Hemisphere. Cubans aren’t trying to get thrown in Cuban jails — and crimes against tourists are taken more seriously because the government doesn’t want the bad publicity.

That being said, doing something in public that is illegal or frowned upon can easily get you locked up, even as a tourist. So, don’t be stupid. No public sex, no drugs, no porn and no obvious solicitations.

Hotels do not allow Cuban visitors. Get a casa particular or rent a room in a casa where the owner or landlord allows in advance Cubans to visit, The law there requires all casas to register all visitors, whether tourists or Cuban, in a book at the house, and ID must be shown. This is usually just an informal book, like the kind you’d see at a wedding reception or a funeral. 

BTW, if you’re American, most hotels are now off limits, because they’re state-owned or operated.  Trump has banned this. Another reason to stay at a casa particular — they are all privately-owned.

[Yago]

Cubans are definitely hot, oh