Gate-area prices without city hassle at SCU T1
The Duty Free Shop sits airside in Terminal T1 at Antonio Maceo International, just past security and before the main international gates. It’s small, so you can walk the whole shop in under 5 minutes, but it still covers the basics for outbound flights. Stock leans heavily on rum, cigarettes, coffee, and a few snack items, with most bottles clearly priced in USD or EUR at the shelf.
Hours usually track the international schedule, opening roughly 2 hours before the first non-domestic departure and closing after the last evening flight boards from T1. If you’re on a late-night charter, don’t count on a long browse; staff start shutting cases once the final boarding calls hit the screens. Payment typically runs on cards and some foreign currency cash, but small Cuban peso notes won’t help much here.
Liquor is the main draw, with 700 ml bottles of Havana Club often cheaper here than in central Santiago de Cuba shops by a few dollars. You’ll also see standard Caribbean airport items such as branded chocolates and small coffee bags suitable for carry-on. Cosmetics and electronics are limited, and you won’t find big global fashion brands, so don’t plan last-minute perfume or headphones shopping.
Plan your visit right after clearing security in T1, before you settle at your gate; once a wide-body departure starts boarding, queues at the Duty Free Shop can add 10–15 minutes to your walk-out time.