Page 123 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

Getting To and Around Cuba ❮❮ 121

seats and a somewhat
with a hop-on/hop-off limited and sporadic DIRECTORY
service at stops en route. refreshment service. INTERNATIONAL
Buying a ticket through AIRPORTS
Traveling by Car the FerroCuba state Antonio Maceo
agency can be tricky. Santiago de Cuba
Car rental is widely Havana’s principle train § (22) 69 8614
available, but expensive. station closed in June Cayo Coco
All rental agencies are 2015 for a three-year § (33) 30 9165
government owned. renovation. Most trains Frank País
Responsibility of the car now depart from Le Holguín
maintenance is placed on Coubre terminal, while § (24) 46 2512
the renters by contract. those for Cienfuegos and Ignacio Agramonte
Rex is the most reputable Pinar del Río depart from Camagüey
company but also the the 19 de Noviembre § (32) 26 1010
least cost-effective. (Tulipán) terminal. José Martí
Driving can be quite Havana
a challenge due to poor Traveling by Taxi § 7266 4133
roads, a lack of signs, and Juan Gualberto Gómez
numerous obstacles. Poor There is no shortage of Varadero
street lighting makes taxis in the main tourist § (45) 24 7015
night-driving hazardous. areas. However, most Máximo Gómez
Tránsito (traffic police) drivers do not use their Ciego de Ávila
enforce speed limits of meters so as to negotiate § (33) 22 5717
30 mph (48 km/h) in towns, a fare. Cocotaxis are egg-
37 mph (59 km/h) on rural shaped, bright yellow US GOVERNMENT
roads, 55 mph (88 km/h) scooters; they cost the OFFICES
on highways, and 62 mph same as a regular taxi Office of Foreign
(98 km/h) on freeways. and work well for short Assets
distances but are not as ∑ treas.gov/ofac
Traveling by Rail safe. Shared colectivo or LOCAL AIRLINES
peso taxis can be used by
Cuba has 3,030 miles foreigners; they operate Aerocaribbean
§ 7832 7584
(4,876 km) of public on fixed routes.
railroads, serving all the Bicitaxis – crude bicycle- Cubana de Aviación
provincial capitals. Branch rickshaws – are a staple Calle 23 No. 64, Havana
§ 7834 4446
lines extend to other cities, means of getting around ∑ cubana.cu
while small commuter within cities. They provide
trains provide service to a fun, but slow, way to BUS SERVICES
some Havana suburbs travel short distances. BusTour
and provincial towns. Antique horse-drawn § 7835 0000
The Ferrocarriles carriages are a good ∑ transtur.cu
Nacionales de Cuba way of sightseeing in Víazul
operates the dysfunctional Old Havana, Varadero, § 7881 1413
train service using aged and a few other cities. ∑ viazul.com
and usually unclean
carriages. Schedules Getting Around CAR RENTAL
change frequently, trains on Foot Rex
rarely operate on time, ∑ rex.cu
and cancellations are Cuba’s compact colonial Transtur
common. An effort to city centers are perfect ∑ transturcarrental.com
modernize the system for exploring on foot. RAIL
was initiated in 2010, Licensed guides can
including new Chinese be hired in Old Havana, FerroCuba
§ 7861-9389 or
locomotives. “Especiales,” Trinidad, and Santiago de 861-8540
which cover the Havana– Cuba. Beware of hustlers
Santiago route, have air- selling tours on the street,
conditioning, reclinable as they cannot be trusted.

120-121_Top_10_Cuba.indd 121 27/06/2016 15:51