Transport in Cuba, in particular, municipal, is not very well developed.
The main types of transport in Cuba:
- Buses: these include ordinary, crowded to capacity, and "sedentary" (the passenger compartment provides for passage only on seats) vehicles. The lack of a timetable, as well as an insufficient number of buses, which, moreover, often break down, are significant reasons why tourists are not recommended to use public transport. You can get to various cities by fixed-route taxis or intercity buses, but they also run no better and are always filled to capacity with passengers (tickets should be purchased in advance).
- Rail transport: if you decide to use the services of trains, it should be borne in mind that they run chaotic, often late (there are often cases when trains were 20 hours late), and tickets for foreigners are sold at higher rates than for Cubans.
- Sea connections: if you wish, you can reach the numerous islands on cruise ships and other ships sailing from the seaports of Havana, Matanzas and others. In addition, there is a ferry service, for example, between Santiago de Cuba and Havana.
Taxi
In Cuba, taxi services are provided by 3 companies - Turistaxi, Cubanacan (the highest rates), Panataxi (inexpensive rates, but this company works only in the capital).
In the resort areas, private cabbies can offer you their services, but they cannot guarantee you the safety and quality of services. Therefore, it is advisable for you, as a tourist, to use tourist taxis - modern cars with air conditioners and radiotelephones. They can be ordered at the hotel or by phone.
In addition, short distances can be covered by taxi-mopeds, designed to carry 1-2 people.
Car rent
To rent a car, you need to have an IDL. And if, when returning the car, your plans do not include payment for unnoticed defects, you should carefully inspect the car before signing the lease (any defects found must be recorded in the contract). It should be borne in mind that traffic on Liberty Island is right-hand, there are a lot of cyclists on the roads, and there are practically no markings and signs.
Cuban cars have numbers of various colors, and cars with "tourist" brown numbers have certain benefits. So, for example, you can park with them in the wrong places or drive through tunnels closed for repairs. It is worth noting that the local traffic police turn a blind eye to the commission of minor violations by drivers of "tourist" cars.
If your goal is to travel around Cuba, it is best to do so with a rental car.
