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Destinations

-Havana
- Havana City
-Pinar del Rio
- Pinar del Rio City
- Viñales
-Matanzas
- Matanzas City
- Varadero
- Cardenas
Villa Clara
- Santa Clara
Cienfuegos
- Cienfuegos City
Sancti Spiritus
- Sancti Spiritus City
- Trinidad
Ciego de Avila
- Ciego de Avila City
- Jardines del Rey
- Cayo Coco
- Cayo Guillermo
Camaguey
- Camaguey City
Las Tunas
- Las Tunas City
Granma

- Bayamo
Santiago de Cuba
- Santiago de Cuba City
Guantanamo
- Guantanamo City
- Baracoa
Holguin
- Holguin City
- Guardalavaca
Isla Juventud
Cayo Largo


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Want to make a dream come true?
Rent an old Chevrolet with driver for your trip in Cuba!

More information you can get at Our Man in Havana; Pototo
- email Pototo at Pototo@cuba-junky.com


Traveling around Cuba

When going to Cuba with the intention of traveling the whole or a part of the Island on your own; prepare yourself with a good map, a good guidebook and visit good discussion boards on the Internet like the Lonely Planet Thorntree, where people can give you advice on how to plan your vacation.
Remind Cuba is a HUGE island of 1200 km (745 miles) long

Usefull links:

- Cuba Maps >>
- Cuban Road List in KM >>

- Lonely Planet Thorntree >>
- Map of Cuba, BUY ONLINE >>


Renting a Car
Cupet Gas Station

Renting a car is no problem in Cuba, there are many companies to choose from. Such like Transtur/Cubacar, Via Rent a Car and the bit more expensive REX Cars.

You have to overthink a few things before you decide driving in Cuba.
Be in time if you want to make a reservation on forehand. Cuba does not have enough cars during high season (Dec/Jan/Feb and July/August) besides this, most car rental agencies have to ask availability in Cuba by email which takes time, sometimes even weeks, it all depends what kind of car and from which company you want to rent.

BUT ... since July 2006 Cuba-Junky also offers direct car rental online and give you confirmation in a minute.
Cuba-Junky.com has selected the best offers for car hire in Cuba, for now: REX Cars, Palco and Transtur/Cubacar

Below you can select your car and make a reservation, with the possibility of collecting and returning your car in rental offices throughout Cuba.

Car Rental Cuba

Pick-up Place:
Pick-up Date:
Pick-up Time:
Drop-off Place:
Drop-off Date:
Drop-off Time:
Driver's Age:

Usefull links

- Car rental homepage
- Terms and Conditions
- Car rental offices
-
Gas Stations in Cuba
- Routes around Cuba
- Itineraries

Renting a car in Cuba is expensive but the other side is you can stop where you wanna stop and have all the time for your own, its well worth the money.

What and where do have to pay what?
When making a reservation at home:
Mostly you only pay the bare rental price at home to your agent or online reservation.
The insurance, drop off and refundable deposit in Cuba. All this can be paid by creditcard or cash. All prices depends, of course, on the type of car you want to rent.

How works a deposit?
The car rental company on location will take a blanco cheque from your creditcard with your signature on it. By the time you drop off the car and didn't make any damage they will destroy the blanco cheque.
If you are from the USA, take enough cash with you to pay this part in cash.

Do I need a 4X4?
No! Sometimes a 4X4 is handy when you intend to go to small towns in the middle of nowhere but 95% of the tourists do not need a 4X4 in Cuba

"Tigers and Bears!"
Below this paragraph the most common "Tigers and Bears" in case of car rental in Cuba. It is not to frighten you but to help you be aware of scams and other nasty situations you might get.
Cuba-Junky absolutely recommend hiring a car in Cuba, it is the best way to see the country.

Check the car before you leave the office!

You will receive a copy of your contract, at this copy the already existed damages are marked. Check this and even better, when you have a digital camera take pictures of the car from all 4 sides, front, back, left and right. This in specific when you drop off the car at the airport right before your departure home at the airport ...

If there is something wrong with your car, and you drop it off at the qirport, you do not have the time to discuss this with all parties, and you will, OR miss your flight OR have to pay for damages which are probably not yours. With pictures you have proof.
Remind, Cubans are poor and some try to get fulas (Cuban slang for money) out of your pocket. The above is a very common scam for car rental agencies in Cuba

I want my money back!
If you hire, a car be sure you want to rent it all the time you reserved it. Most International agencies only refund money at a rightfull complain, in combination with a copy of your rental contract, which you get from the car rental company in Cuba.
Be sure when you think you have a rightfull complain, contact directly the agency from whom you have made your reservation with. Ask your agent if they have someone on location to help you when things do not go as smoothly as you want them to go. Good agencies do have at least one host in Cuba to help you solving the "problem"
Cuba-Junky's reservation and help department is located in Havana, when having problems you can always contact them.

Map:
Take a good road map with you, "Guia de Carreteras" is the best.
There are almost no signs at the autopista and in the inlands you will even find none! Guia de Carreteras is for sale in Cuba (Havana) at Calle Obispo #521 at a store called Infotur and costs for about 8 CUC
Speaking Spanish is best, in that case you can ask where to go. On every corner are Cubans who will point you in the right direction. If you don't speak Spanish, no problem, Cubans are very patient and love to help you ...
Some tourists take Cuban hitch-hikers, nice and fun and a good way to let a Cuban show you the way but beware ... don't leave anything out of sight in the car. Cubans are poor and some are eager to help you get rid of your belongings. Don't trust any Cuban you do not know very well.

- Map of Cuba, BUY ONLINE >>

Gas and Gas Stations:
Cupet-Cimex and Oro Negro, are the regular gas stations, at good Cuban road maps, these stations are marked. Take good notice of this, because the autopista is not overwelmed with Cupets Gas Stations!

Fill up your tank FULL with gas if you are intended to drive a long distance, do not think there will be another gas station within the next 50 km.
A good roadmap like the Guia Carretera shows all the gas stations along the road, but even then, don't count on it.

Roads
The Central Highway (Carretera Central) is the most important communication axis of the country. It joins the main urban centers all along and to the center of the Isle and it is connected with other main ways such as the National Freeway, the Monimental, Via Blanca, La Farola, etc. It is a narrow way with two lanes and it was built in the thirties

The National Highway, even more modern, connects the western part of the country, all along the Isle to Ciego de Avila, located in the center of the country and near the eastern part of the country. It is most rapid, modern and wide way, provided with several lanes. However, it doesn't get to the eastern provinces of the country. It extends all through the south center of the island. It is a wide way, with 6 and 8 lanes and it was built in the seventies

And once again ...
Don't forget that Cuba is about 1200 km (745 miles) long!
La Isla Grande remember ...

Usefull links

- Car rental homepage
- Terms and Conditions
- Car rental offices
-
Gas Stations in Cuba
- Routes around Cuba
- Itineraries


Your Highway Guide
To make it easy for you ...

We have created 12 pages on how to drive best around Cuba. Routes from one city to the other and what to see on the way.
Check out the print friendly version of this handy document, print it out and take it with you to Cuba.

- Higway Guide >>
- Highway Guide - print friendly version in PDF >>
- Map of Cuba, BUY ONLINE >>

 


Viazul Bus (tourist transport)

Most easy and cheapest to go around Cuba is by the Viazul Bus
A hyper modern airconditioned bus with video and toilet
For a good price you can travel between all the big cities of Cuba p.a. a ride from Havana to Varadero will cost you 10
cuc.
One suggestion is to bring a sweater because it can be a bit chilly inhere.

Make your reservation a day before your departure by phone, online through their website, or just go to the busstation.

Usefull links

- Viazul website >>

 


Astro Bus
The regular National public transportation
Cubans will pay with CUP, foreigners in CUC.

This bus drives all over the island, a bit cheaper than the Viazul Bus but less comfertable and reliable.
The Astro bus has a few places for tourists per bus!

Since 2005 The old Astro bus is replaced by this new bus above (see picture) These busses come from China.
We do not have a schedule from the Astro bus, if anyone is able to help us please send it to info@cuba-junky.com

 


Train
Since the last years the Cuban railways bought French first class airconditioned trains. Train schedules in Cuba are not reliable, you have to have some patience. I must say it is a real Cuban experience to go through Cuba by train, in specific for train fans, back-packers, and people who love to mingle with locals.

The nr 1 and 2 trains from Havana to Santiago de Cuba v.v is 4 hours faster than the Viazul Bus!
Remind that all other trains besides the number 1 and number 2 are never on time

Usefull links

- Train timetables >>
- Photo Gallery Cuba and trains >>
- Cuba & Trains, Buy Online >>

 


Domestic Flights

Yeah, sounds scary, a domestic flight in Cuba :)

But its ok, you can easily take a flight within Cuba. I personally only have heard of one crash with an excursion flight from Cayo Coco to Trinidad area in 2004

Taking a domestic flight saves you a lot of time to go p.a. from Havana to Santiago de Cuba. Besides this, if you would like to go to Cayo Largo you have no choice and have to take a domestic flight simply because there is no ferry transfer to this part of Cuba

Flights on Cuba-Junky are ready for purchase and will be confirmed instantly. Via Cuba-Junky flights can be booked 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The entire booking process only has 5 simple steps and can take as little as 5 minutes.

Usefull links

- Book your domestic flight
- Photo Gallery domestic flight
- Book your flight from London, Nassau, Santo Domingo and Toronto

 


Public Transportation

How Cubans move from one place to the other ...

"No es facil", the Cubans used to say when these kind of topics come up.

All the drivers of cars who are owned by the state of Cuba (blue and light red) have to take all hitch-hikers with them, after they finish work. Can be (empty) tourist busses as well the trucks.
That's why you see alot of hitch-hikers standing next to the road on the autopista or at crossroads in the inlands.

To be sure of a fast ride people bring all kinds of merchandise like garlic, chickens, money, cheese ... everything they can trade to get a fast ride.
The perfect solution when a country as Cuba has a terrible public transportation like busses and trains.

Remind that by Cuban law, a Cuban without a taxi-licencee is NOT allowed to take you, a foreigner, with them in their car. Not even when it is your best friend.
Of course you will meet Cubans who want to drive you to where-ever, but it is not allowed. The risk you take is that when the police stops you, the driver gets a fine and you have to out of the car, even when it is in the middle of no-where!

 


Ferry
Does there exists a ferry from ... to ...???

NO!

There is no such thing as a ferry service from Cancun or whatever country to Cuba.
Yes, there is a company who has daytrips from Jamaica to Cuba by boat, but this company does not take passengers for just a transport to Cuba.

One of the ferries that do exist is the ferry in Havana to Regla neigborhood, see the picture.

 


Differency in Cuban numberplates
Cuban cars have different colored numberplates, these numberplates tell who is the owner of the car, where he comes from. Handy for you foreigner to know that yours will be red and starts with a T so people can see you are a tourist.

 

- Classic Cuban Car Books, BUY ONLINE >>

Yellow - Private Car
Dark Red - Beginning with a "T" (tourismo) is a rented Car
Orange - Second letter a K is a car of a foreigner working in Cuba
Light Orange - Managers and important people, free gasoline
Light Red - State own, have to return after working hours
Blue - State own, can go home after working hours
White - Officials / ministery
Black - Embassy
Green - Army
Light Green - Interior ministery  

 


Camel bus ... El Camelo ... Gua Gua!

Public transportation in "La Habana"
More then 300 people are fitting in this bus, but for the real Cuban experience you most try at least once, take care of your belongings


Bike Rent

I only know of one address where you can rent a bike in Cuba ...

Edificio Metropolitano
San Juan de Dios
esq. Aguacate, Habana Vieja
Tel: 53- 7 - 860 8532
Costs about 12 cuc a day
btw; they have better bikes than the picture shows :)

But ... I recommend, if you want to rent for a longer period of time, bring your own bike.

 


Airports

Havana Airport

 

Aeropuerto “Ignacio Agramonte”
Aeropuertos
Camagüey
Telf.: (53 322) 6-100

 

Cubana de Aviación office
Hotel Tryp Cayo Coco
Tel.: (53 33) 30 1300. ext. 710

 

Aeropuerto “Carlos M. de Céspedes”
Bayamo
Telf.: (53 23) 42-3695

 

Aeropuerto “Frank País”
Carretera Central Vía Bayamo, km. 15
Telf.: (53 24) 42-5271
Fax: (53 24) 46-2534

 

Aeropuerto “Antonio Maceo”
Aeropuertos
Santiago de Cuba
Telf.: (53 22) 9-1014

 

Aeropuerto “Máximo Gómez”
Aeropuertos
Ciego de Ávila
Telf.: (53 33) 3-2525 y 4-3695

 

Aeropuerto “Jaime González”
Aeropuertos
Carretera a Caunao, Cienfuegos
Telfs.: (53 432) 55-2267 y 55-2047
Fax: (53 432) 55-132

Aeropuerto “Mariana Grajales”
Aeropuertos
Guantánamo
Telf.: (53 21) 3-481

Aeropuerto “Rafael Cabrera Mustelier”
Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud

 

International Airport “José Martí”, Avenida Van Troi, Havana (53 - 335155

 

Jardines del Rey International Airport
Cayo Coco
Tel.: (53 33) 30 9165

 

Aeropuerto “Sierra Maestra”
Manzanillo, Granma
Telf.: (53 23) 5-4984

 

Aeropuerto de Moa
Moa
Telf.: (53 24) 6-7678

 

Aeropuerto “Hermanos Ameijeiras”
Aeropuertos
Las Tunas
Telf.: (53 31) 4-2484 y 4-290

 

International Airport “J.G. Gómez” , Carbonera Matanzas, Varadero, 614783

 


Distances in Kilometers
 
Hav
Pinar
Mata
Vara
SCl
Cienf
SanS
CdA
C.C
Cama
Tuna
Holg
Baya
SandC
Havana
*
Pinar del Rio
147
*
Matanzas
98
264
*
Varadero
142
308
36
*
Santa Clara
270
425
199
194
*
Cienfuegos
256
421
197
184
55
*
Sancti Spiritus
348
513
284
279
85
150
*
Ciego de Avila
423
588
359
354
160
220
78
*
Cayo Coco
491
656
420
422
219
286
170
92
*
Camaguey
533
698
469
464
270
330
186
116
202
*
Las Tunas
657
823
594
589
395
465
310
235
327
125
*
Holguin
734
900
671
606
472
532
387
312
404
202
77
*
Bayamo
757
897
670
655
471
531
386
311
403
201
76
73