Transportation in Cuba – Viazul or Cubanacan busses

Transportation is pretty good throughout the country so are most of the roads. I moved around using buses from Cubanacan and Viazul. The main difference is:

1. With Cubanacan you can be sure that you get your paid seat.
2. With Viazul, your paid seat is not always guaranteed. If, for example, the Viazul bus originates in Trinidad and you are trying to catch it in Cienfuegos to get to Havana, it might have filled up and you will have to wait for the next one tomorrow and hope for the best.

Both companies use good busses

Busses from both companies are generally clean and airconditioned.

Cubanacan busses pick passengers up from various hotels which might delay your departure for an hour.

Vial leaves from the bus terminal. So you obviously need to get there.

Buy ticket 24 hours before departure

You need to buy tickets for either bus at least 24 hours before travelling.

Tickets for Cubanacan you get locally at any big hotel or agency.

Viazul tickets can be bought online.

Transportation in Cuba include shared taxis to move between cities

For long hauls, there is an amazing well organized network throughout Cuba of shared taxis.

Albeit, be prepared that half way through the trip you will have to change your taxi to another one. This might occur in the middle of the night. So, choose your departure time wisely.

Getting your private ride

Other possibility is renting a car, of course, but this will turn out pretty expensive.

Trains in Cuba

There are some trains in Cuba. Taking a ride on them will give you great insight into the Cuban countryside.

However, be prepared that it is pretty slow but, more importantly, somewhat unreliable.

The Hershey train takes from Havana to Matanza.

Flights

If in time constraint, you can move around with either Aerogaviota or Cubana Airlines. There are several international airports in Cuba and smaller ones catering for internal flights. Flights are easily booked online.

Public bus and other ways to move around in Havana

Taxies

Taxies are available in the main squares or in front of large hotels.

Public bus in Cuba is a no go for tourists

Forget the public bus. As a tourist, you are not allowed to catch ride on it.

Shared taxi

Apart from the regular taxi, you will find the shared ones which are amazingly cheap. However, you will ride with other people in a possibly fully cramped car. Make sure you have local currency to pay for your ride.

Rickshaws in Havana

Rickshaws are alright for short distances.

Yellow cubicle taxi

The yellow cubicle taxies are very much disliked by locals and far more expensive in comparison.

Renting an Oldtimer car

If you choose an Oldtimer, make sure you agree on the price before starting your tour.

Make sure you know how much you will be charged

This actually goes for every taxi in town apart from the shared taxies which have fixed rates for the route they make.

Hop on hop off busses

While very touristy, they still get to sites that you might want to visit.

________________

My destinations in Cuba were Havana, Trinidad, Vignales, Cienfuegos, Varadero, Santiago de Cuba

Enjoy the reading!