Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

120 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Getting To and Around Cuba

Airlines take a taxi. Official tourist cruise lines for “people-
taxis should cost about to-people” cruises.
Virgin Atlantic offers CUC$8–10, and you must Marinas around the
regular flights between agree the fare with the island act as official ports
London and Havana. Air driver in advance to avoid of entry for independent
France, Iberia, and KLM paying over the odds later. sailors. However, US
fly from Europe to Cuba, There are also inter- sailors currently require
as do charter companies national airports at prior approval from the
such as Air Europa, Air Varadero, Ciego de Ávila, Coast Guard and the
Berlin, and Thomson. Cayo Coco, Cienfuegos, Office of Foreign Assets
Air Canada, Cubana, and Santa Clara, Camagüey Control (OFAC).
many charter com panies (for Playa Santa Lucía),
connect Canada with the and Holguín (for the Traveling by Air
island. No US airlines fly resorts of Guardalavaca),
direct to Cuba, other than and Cayo Largo. Cubana de Aviación
charter companies for All visitors must present has regular connections
licensed travelers, but in a tourist card at Cuban between Havana, the
2015 negotiations began immigration upon arrival. provincial capitals, and
to relax restrictions, and The card costs around key tourist centers around
commercial flights for CUC$25 and is valid for the island. Although these
tourists from the US may 30 days; Canadians get can be useful, demand
be allowed in the future. one for 90 days. Cards are often exceeds supply and
Fares are lower off- issued when you purchase services are unreliable.
season, which runs from or check in for a flight to The code-linked Aero­
May to November, and for Cuba, and must be shown caribbean airline also
mid-week departures. As at passport control. offers some services.
far as possible, it is best to Tourist taxis are present
book in advance. Charter at international airports. Traveling by Bus
companies are usually As few taxi drivers use
cheaper than scheduled meters, it is customary to A reliable long-distance
airlines, although more agree a fare before setting bus service is provided
restrictions apply. off. Touts may attempt to by Víazul. It connects
steer you toward private Havana to provincial
Arriving by Air taxis, but always decline capitals and major
the offer. tourist destinations. The
Situated on the southern It is impossible to obtain buses are air-conditioned
outskirts of Havana, Cuban Convertible Pesos with restrooms. Online
Aeropuerto Internacional (see p123) outside Cuba, booking is possible.
José Martí is the main so exchange currency on Non-Cubans are barred
entrance for visitors to arrival in Cuba. CADECA from the Omni bus
the capital. There is no (see p124) offers money- Nacionales system.
bus service; travelers will changing services at the Guaguas are local buses
need to take a taxi for main airports. that are usually packed to
the 30-minute ride into the brim with passengers.
the city. You should agree Arriving by Ship Camellos (camels) – the
the fare with the driver local name for cramped
in advance – it should A few Caribbean-based arti culated buses pulled
be about CUC$20–25. cruise lines include by lorries – have been
The Aeropuerto Cuba in their itineraries, replaced by metro buses
Internacional Antonio calling in at the port in Havana, but they still
Maceo is about 5 miles facilities of Havana and, operate in provincial cities.
(8 km) south of Santiago less frequently, Santiago BusTour is an open-top
de Cuba’s center. Bus de Cuba and Cienfuegos. double-decker tour bus
services are unreliable, In 2015, the US govern- operating in ten key
and the best bet is to ment began licensing US locations islandwide,

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