The Cuba Transportation system presents a range of options for foreign travelers. Getting around Cuba isn't difficult. It's among Central America's leading travel destinations, receiving a heavy footfall of foreign visitors every year. As a result, most Cuba transportation facilities have been upgraded to international standards.

Public Bus Services

Viazul bus service is Cuba's lifeline in terms of the regional bus service. The buses aren't very spacious but they are easy-to-locate and are reasonably comfortable. This makes them the favored choice for traveling long distances to nearby cities. Making reservations is not needed. Buying tickets a few minutes before a scheduled journey is the norm. Some of the buses run according to overnight schedules only, so making prior inquiries is seriously recommended.

Cuban Train System

Major Cuban cities like Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Santa Clara and Camaguey are well-connected through a public rail system. Train services are a bit limited among second-tier cities such as Manzanillo, Cienfuegos, Pinar del Rio and Sancti Spiritus. Some trains have become popular among tourists, owing to the regularity of their services. One such train is the Train Frances plying between Havana and Santiago de Cuba. Apart from such prominent cities, the rail network isn't very dependable. Delays are common and advance bookings are often flouted when traveling to smaller towns.

Traveling by Car in Cuba

Car rentals are found among most of the Cuban cities. The refundable deposits aren't steep and the daily charges are bearable. Visitors can choose from a wide range of Asian and European car models when seeking a car rental. However, violation of traffic rules can turn into a big issue. The local authorities aren't very forthcoming when foreign travelers are involved in traffic violations or similar problems. Visitors should be prepared with their own maps when driving in Cuban cities. The roads aren't well-marked and first time visitors can find it very difficult to navigate around the city.

Using Taxis in Cuba

The official cabs are rather expensive. Since sharing isn't allowed in such taxis, the fares for visiting the tourist landmarks can be a bit uncomfortable. However, many of the locals across most Cuban cities, have started an unofficial kind of taxi service. They take aboard passengers from just about any part of the city for a token amount of fare. It is advised that travelers planning to use these taxis travel in small groups as a precaution. Between these two variations of taxi fares, the coco taxis offer the mid-range solution. These are three-wheeled taxis. They are slower than the government-run cabs but more hospitable than the unofficial kind of taxis mentioned above. Their fares are also quite affordable. However, these taxis often don't ply along routes leading away from the central parts of the city.