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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
-
Cuba Maps >>
-
Cuban Road List in KM >>
- Road Maps of Cuba,
BUY ONLINE >>
- Itineraries >>
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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. BUT
... since July 2006 Cuba-Junky also offers direct car rental online
and give you confirmation in a minute. Above you can select your car and make a reservation, with the possibility of collecting and returning your car in rental offices throughout Cuba. 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. |
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Good to know when renting a car!
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.
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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
-
Map of Cuba, BUY ONLINE >>
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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. |
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.
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Astro Bus The
regular National public transportation This
bus drives all over the island, a bit cheaper than the Viazul
Bus but less comfertable and reliable. Since
2005 The old Astro bus is replaced by this new bus above (see
picture) These busses come from China. |
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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! Usefull links |
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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 |
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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. 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. 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. |
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Ferry Does there exists a ferry from ... to Cuba ??? NO! There
is no such thing as a ferry service from Cancun or whatever country
to Cuba. One of the ferries that do exist is the ferry in Havana to Regla neigborhood, see the picture. |
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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.
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Camel bus ... El Camelo ... Gua Gua! Public
transportation in
"La Habana" * Since June 2008 the camel busses in Havana are replaced by new Chinese busses |
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Bike Rent I only know of one address where you can rent a bike in Cuba ... Edificio
Metropolitano But ... I recommend, if you want to rent for a longer period of time, bring your own bike. |
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Airports |
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| Hav |
Pinar
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Mata |
Vara |
SCl |
Cienf |
SanS |
CdA |
C.C |
Cama |
Tuna |
Holg |
Baya |
SandC |
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| Havana | * |
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| Pinar del Rio | 147 |
* |
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| Matanzas | 98 |
264 |
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| Varadero | 142 |
308 |
36 |
* |
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| Santa Clara | 270 |
425 |
199 |
194 |
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| Cienfuegos | 256 |
421 |
197 |
184 |
55 |
* |
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| Sancti Spiritus | 348 |
513 |
284 |
279 |
85 |
150 |
* |
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| Ciego de Avila | 423 |
588 |
359 |
354 |
160 |
220 |
78 |
* |
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| Cayo Coco | 491 |
656 |
420 |
422 |
219 |
286 |
170 |
92 |
* |
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| Camaguey | 533 |
698 |
469 |
464 |
270 |
330 |
186 |
116 |
202 |
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| Las Tunas | 657 |
823 |
594 |
589 |
395 |
465 |
310 |
235 |
327 |
125 |
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| Holguin | 734 |
900 |
671 |
606 |
472 |
532 |
387 |
312 |
404 |
202 |
77 |
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| Bayamo | 757 |
897 |
670 |
655 |
471 |
531 |
386 |
311 |
403 |
201 |
76 |
73 |
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| Santiago de Cuba | 860 |
1025 |
797 |
792 |
598 |
658 |
513 |
438 |
530 |
328 |
203 |
134 |
127 |
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| Guantanamo | 910 |
1075 |
847 |
842 |
648 |
708 |
563 |
498 |
580 |
378 |
253 |
132 |
177 |
86 |
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