Page 309 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  307

Taxis
Certainly the safest and most
comfortable way of getting
about in Havana is by taxi. There
are many cars bearing the word
TAXI, but not all of them are
authorized to pick up tourists.
Official taxis can be recognized
easily because they are new and
well-kept, comfortable, and
usually have air conditioning. Look out for the Cubataxi logo, found on all official state-owned taxis
Avoid illegal taxis, which have Bicitaxis
no accident insurance and may as well as the driver. It costs
be more expensive. The official more than a taxi and doesn’t A more environmentally friendly
taxi company is Cubataxi. have a meter. The driver does but slower alter native to taxis is
Taxis can be summoned by not give receipts, however, it is to use bicycle rick shaws, known
phone or hailed in the street. very useful for short rides. as bicitaxis in Cuba. These are
Taxi ranks are found in front of used by Cubans and tourists for
hotels, at the airport and in the short rides in the centre.
following two places in La They circulate in La Habana
Habana Vieja: by Plaza de Armas Vieja and Centro, or can be
behind el Templete, and at the found outside hotel entrances.
corner of Calle Empedrado and
Tacón. A quirky alternative is to Driving in Havana
hire an old American convertible
car, which are also official taxis; People who are used to heavy
easily recognisable because traffic in big cities will not find
they have the Taxis Cuba sign driving in Havana too difficult.
and logo on both sides. These The yellow cocotaxi, an unusual But it is important to stay alert
can be found outside the Hotel three-seater scooter at all times and watch out for
Nacional (see p257) and around the many cyclists, pedestrians
Parque Central (see pp84–5). Horse-Drawn Vehicles and even dogs, which often run
Tourists can also legally ride In La Habana Vieja it is possible free in the streets. Keep speeds
in local taxi colectivos – old to go on an enjoyable sight- low in order to be able to spot
American cars, which bear the seeing tour in a horse-drawn and avoid the many potholes
sign TAXI in the window. Each carriage – either a perfectly and bumps. The road signs and
journey within Havana costs restored old cart or a colonial- markings are reasonably good.
10 Cuban pesos. Foreigners style carriage, quite unlike In the city centre there are
may pay in convertible pesos those used by Cubans outside three tunnels. Two pass under
and will be given change in of town. the Almendares river, connecting
moneda nacional. These carriage tours are not Vedado and Miramar (see p113).
cheap, but can be a romantic The other, which begins in Plaza
and picturesque introduction Mártires del 71, behind the
Cocotaxis
to the city. Tours last from one Castillo de la Punta, takes you
An original and unusual means to two hours. The carriage and rapidly to the other side of the
of transport is the cocotaxi, an gig rank is located in the square bay and the Morro and Cabaña
egg-shaped yellow scooter between Calle Empedrado and fortresses (see pp114–15). The
that can carry two passengers Calle Tacón. latter is especially useful for those
heading for the beaches in Playas
del Este (see p117). The alternative
is the long, winding port road,
though it is easy to get lost.
DIRECTORY
Taxis
Cocotaxi
Tel 7873 1411.
Cubataxi
Tel 7873 8752.
Taxis Cuba
Tel 7883 1587.
A horse-drawn carriage in Calle Obispo, La Habana Vieja

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