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Getting Around By Air
Cubana (www.cubana.cu) and AeroCaribbean are the principal carriers, operating flights between Havana and Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Cayo Coco and Cayo Largo.
Getting Around by Rail
The national rail company is Ferrocarriles de Cuba, often shortened to Ferrocuba (tel: (7) 861 4259 for train times in Havana or (22) 62 2836 for train times in Santiago de Cuba). There is no official website, but further information is available from The Man in Seat Sixty-One (www.seat61.com/Cuba.htm). The principal rail route is from Havana to Santiago de Cuba. Some trains on this route have air conditioning and refreshments. There are also through trains from Havana to other towns. Previously, the rail network connected the vast majority of the country but has been badly affected by natural disasters and now only certain parts of the country are accessible by rail. The trains are slow and punctuality does not seem to be a priority, but journeys are scenic and relaxing.
Getting Around by Road
What traffic there is here drives on the right. Very few Cubans own cars, and outside of major cities almost the only vehicles on the road are agricultural deliveries, whose drivers know their routes by heart. As a result, signposting is a low priority. Buy the best map available at the Infotur office in La Habana Vieja (the Guia de Carreteras).
Large sections of the autopista (motorway) are in a diabolical condition, potholed and poorly lit; to join or exit the motorway, drivers must often cross oncoming lanes, assuming lane markers exist. With heavy goods traffic concentrated on the motorway, many provincial primary roads are in fairly good condition. Always stop at level crossings, which are often unmarked and almost always un-gated. The lack of traffic makes Cuba a popular choice for cycling tours. Coach/bus: All tourists must use the national tourist service Viazul (tel: (7) 881 1413; www.viazul.cu), with daily well-appointed coaches connecting most major cities. Car hire: All car hire companies are state-owned. Prices are negotiable up to a point, but expect to be delayed when picking up the vehicle. It may be easier and has proven to be cheaper to book car hire through a specialist tour operator in your own country. Regulations: Speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on the motorway, 90kph (56mph) on primary roads (highways), 60kph (37mph) on rural roads, 50kph (31mph) on urban roads and 40kph (25mph) near schools. Motorcycle traffic police and stationary check points are common, and they are usually very strict. Drivers must be aged 21 or over. Documentation: Valid national driving licence required. Getting Around Towns and Cities
Plentiful buses, and shared taxis criss-cross Havana, but are almost always overcrowded and, in the latter's case, are not licensed to carry foreigners.
Taxis: Opt for a modern air-conditioned vehicle, or for special occasions a vintage American car (available at the best hotels). All official taxis have meters but watch out for taxis with ‘broken' meters, especially in Havana. Unofficial ‘private taxis', not licensed to carry foreigners, can be hailed on the street. The latter are often old Ladas with blacked-out windows (private taxis are illegal but informally tolerated and in general safe). In view of serious accidents that have involved tourists, travellers should not use mopeds or the three-wheel coco-taxis that are seen around tourist areas. Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Havana to other major towns in Cuba.
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