havana cigars

Authentic Habanas! Great owner even better product! Conveniently located in the heart of town this is a must stop for cigar lovers!

There are a lot of fake cigars on the Island. I'm actually pretty sure this is the only shop that doesn't sell fakes. And I'm not just talking about Cubans, and cigars. They are a bit pricey here, but worth what you paid for. I bought over 25 cigars while I was here over 6 days. Carlos runs this shop because he enjoys it, and it shows. He was patient with us, we asked a lot of questions. He pointed us in the right direction based on what we liked. And he made it a little too easy to spend money with him. If you smoke cigars and you are on Ambergris Caye, stop by and see Carlos.

Just had to stop in for a Cuban while on the island. I don't trust countertop boxes or people on the street. This setup is basically a humidor and a counter and they have the real deal, kept the way they should be kept, in a humidor. I enjoyed a 'Cohiba Siglo II' and it was worth every penny! Prices here were the same as the duty free shop in the airport so support the locals and buy here. If you're in town, stop in if you're a cigar lover. They have many to choose from. You won't be disappointed. It's easy to miss so look for the Havana Cigar sign on the side of the building.

We visited Havana Cigars when we arrived in San Pedro, Carlos is authentic Cuban, and so are his cigars! Nowhere else in San Pedro carries real Cubans! His selection is quite large, and he is very knowledgeable, friendly and willing to order something special for you! We have been there several times for cigars, and his prices are good, his product is well maintained in a large humidor, and he sells one of a kind hand carved ashtrays made from local woods! If you are a cigar lover, this is the only destination in San Pedro to go!

When I came back to Belize in 2011 after about a 15 year hiatus I returned with a fairly mature taste for a good cigar in all shapes, sizes, brands and origins. I dont claim to be an expert by any means but after 6 years of reviewing and sampling I know what I like and I'm always open to new suggestions. At the time leading up to this visit I wasnt particularly enamoured with Cubans (cigars that is) but in line with my interest I was curious. Understanding the proximity of Belize to Cuba I thought the opportunity might arise to try something authentic. So on a whim I contacted the Habanos SA representative for the Caribbean prior to the trip and enquired about certified retail dealers in Belize. Surprisingly I was informed that there was only one authorized dealership in Belize (and it was most certainly not the Duty Free store at the airport). Instead it was a small shop in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Havana Cigars. Making a note of the contact information I looked forward to a visit on the on the second leg of our trip. During the first portion of our wanderings I sampled what was represented as being “authentic Cubanos” (Cohibas, Monte Cristos etc). These samples from numerous shops with signs hung outside touting "Cuban Cigars". So numerous that a dime a dozen was as an apt description and as I soon discovered also representaitve of the product quality.These were more often as not offered up from dry boxes on open counters and even the odd countertop humidor. After these trials (being a trial in more ways than one believe me) I was fairly certain the statistic about fake Cubans was true. In plain language, I have read and been told by people wiser than me that about 95% (plus) are not of Cuban origin but more likely as not, Mexican. Counterfeits. These “cigars” if you wish to be so generous in description, use a hash of fillers and binders indifferently wrapped with unmatched leaf giving the stick a subtle but distinctive zebra like appearance albeit in various shades of tan. Sticking with the Lion King allegories the draw, actually the lack thereof, was as if an elephant were jammed somewhere in the middle, definitley blocked. The band typically secured with a glue closer to epoxy than the traditional sugarcane juice based adhesive. Overall Experience: Disgusting. I will however give those products top marks for the incredible job of counterfeit reprographics which served to lure the unwary and overanxious. The bands, packaging, boxes and even the holographic certification labels on the boxes were simply amazing. So much so that Habanos SA actually had a serial number application on their website to verify box origin but had to discontinue its use when it appeared they simply could not keep up with the advances in duplication made by the those profiting in deception. After docking in San Pedro it didn’t take me but an hour or two from arrival to the doorsteps of Havana Cigars. Located on Front Street across from the Holiday Hotel and Caprice Bar and Grill (thumbs up) I introduced myself to Carlos the proprietor and a native son of Cuba. I’ll simply say we hit it off pretty well and much of that was the result of our mutual appreciation of a good cigar and the products he stocked and represented. I could tell immediately that he was interested in providing a quality product. Care had been taken to install a small but properly maintained and regulated walk in humidor. The selection pretty much covered the entire Habanos SA book. Among others (Cuaba, Uppman, etc) I chose to try a sample of the same Cohiba Robusto I had gagged on earlier that trip. Review: No comparison at all; an entirely different animal and not simply a properly humidified version of the aforementioned mummified stick. I will be honest, although it was a proper cigar with all the original components and good construction I don’t care for Cohibas as there are far better selections in the stable of Cuban cigars.The H. Uppman Mag 50 being one; a definite favorite. My take on Havana Cigars from the point of authenticity seemed to be well supported on that first visit when a couple of sailboat owners walked in. It soon became apparent they were regulars. It also became apparent, based on my discussion with them, they were far more sophisticated in such matters and held a better understanding of the pleasures of a good cigar and a real Cuban than myself. I learned quite a bit. Their simple statement made during the purchase of a couple of boxes of Habanos at that time was "George boy, these are the real deal". Nowadays I think, in general, there are better cigars at a better value from other countries than a lot of Cubans. Oh I certainly have a few favorites but by and large I think its simply the Cuban mystique. But if youre going to be mystified you might as well be mysitifed by the "real deal". Since that day and most recently over the holidays, Carlos and I have spent numerous hours discussing cigars and the various brands. (Did I mention I now own a home on Ambergris Caye? ) When difficulties with Customs made his Cubans difficult to obtain (but not impossible) he wisely branched out and began stocking good cigars based on Cuban seed from different appellations like Nicaragua, Dominica and Honduras. This variety is something you definitely wont find in other "cigar oriented" vendors in San Pedro. Of particular note is the fact that following some of our discussions Carlos became the first certified dealership for Padron outside the USA. He now stocks their cigar lines including the Serie 1926 and 1964 including some of the finer '25 and '64 Anniversario’s. Like most premium cigars they are not inexpensive but considering Belizean duty and import fees I still found the Padrons to be a few bucks less than my local Stateside tobacconist. Carlos is always exploring and bringing in new products unlike many other dealers on the island. He has moved to keeping more brands but in smaller quantities in order to have fresher product and not tie up as much capital on the shelf. I commend him for that strategy because even in a well-kept but small commercial humidor the effects of age aren’t always as nice as a perfectly kept private humidor. The higher turnover reduces if not eliminates that issue. Having just criticized small humidors I want to state that I have never had a bad cigar from Havana Cigars. Sure certain brands and styles I have not cared for but never one in poor condition. Carlos will even examine the cigar you’re buying to make sure its in physically good condition. I’ve had him take them from me and select another when I missed a torn wrapper (probably the result of injudicious fondling by a previous customer). Whether you're new to cigars or an aficionado I hope I've given you some insight as to the quality of product and service that many people have discovered and continue to discover when they walk in the door of Havana Cigars. I know that I have and Havana Cigars deserves all the stars for it.

I was glad to find this very nice cigar store on our visit to San Pedro,Belize. I found a great selection of Arturo Fuente cigars some Nicaraguans and real Cubans!!. Carlos was very helpful and knowledgeable. This is definitely the place to go if you are a serious smoker and you are looking for a selection of premium cigars.