Useful information about Cuba : Houses in Cuba : Renting private houses

CUBAN ROADS DESCRIPTION

Road Cuban Networks is composed by 71.500 km ( 44700 mi). Around 28000 km are acceptable surfaced roads and highways which connect all tourist destinations, towns and cities in less those 24 hours from one corn to the other.

Highways:

Roads with 4 to 6 lanes by path. Velocity limit is normally 100 km/h

(63 m/h), with no fence or Urgency Telephone Systems but almost all highways have mobile coverage. It is common finding crossroads with roads of fewer categories and railway tracks so you should be careful with that if you are thinking of driving.

Best highways are Havana- Matanzas, Matanzas- Varadero and Havana – Pinar Del Río.

Principal Roads:

Almost all road infrastructures are composed by these roads, with 1 lane by path and a velocity limit of 80 km./h ( 50 mi/h). Crossroads are very frequent. This roads use to have quite a lot traffic, especially Central Road. You also have to consider the

bicycle ‘s traffic.

Other Roads

Roads with 1 lane by path and a broad of 5 – 6 metres. Velocity limit is between 60 to 80 km /h ( 40 to 50 mi/ h). Crossroads are very frequent.

Tracks

Soil roads are used depending of rainy season. Not recommendable to light cars.

URBAN OMNIBUS

Almost all principal cities of the country has urban transport system but it is generally deficient because of less equipment, fuel, speared pieces so it is very common seeing an omnibus full of people. This service is also very slow so it’s not very recommendable, but if you still want to take you should know that people usually do queues. The price is 40 Cuban cents ( 2 $ cents) and you may pay attention to your valuables and put them in a secure place to avoid being stolen.

Omnibus:

Is the most used in Cuba. There exist several lines such as but Vía Azul (blue line) is the most recommendable.. Another omnibus and microbus companies are Veracuba or Astros.

ASTROS

Is the most important inter-municipality omnibuses company of the country. Terminus is located in Ave Rancho Boyeros, next to Plaza de la Revolución. It connects almost all villages and cities with Havana and with each other, such as Camaguey-Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba-Guantánamo and others. Omnibuses are generally in good conditions and the longest routes (around 200 km) have air conditioned. It is used by tourists but also by Cubans, so it is a good option if you want to mix them and live Cuban culture. Foreign tourist normally have to pay in dollars and it is easier to take seat few minutes before departure time but it is recommendable doing the reservation at least one day before. This company is quite punctual and prices are more economical than Vía Azul. Finally there are some destinations which don’t have daily departures (generally these that communicate little towns).

VÍA AZUL

The Terminus is located in 26 streets, in Nuevo Vedado, Havana city. This line is specialized in tourist transport and it connects all tourist destinations with the capital. It has an exact timetable, is comfortable and with economical prices. This company has a modern fleet of omnibuses, all of them with air conditioned, bathroom and amenities.

You can normally buy a ticket 30 minutes before departure time but it is recommendable doing the reservation at least one day before, at the main Terminus or by telephone.

Contact Vía Azul

Telephone: 881-1413

Email: viazul@transnet.cu

Site: www.viazul.cu

TAXIS

There is a good taxi service in Cuba at all tourist destinations and remarkable cities for a very good price. Tariffs starts in 0.50 $ / per km but it depends on the company ( Panataxi is the cheapest one). For long routes you can agree a fixed price with the taxi driver.

There also exist private taxis that can be more economical in long routes but not so comfortable and you have to agree the price previously.

Although the country has a wide railroad network in general the equipment has not been modernized and don't respond to the European or Americans standards. Trains have little comfort and it is frequent the no fulfilment of the itineraries. With everything it is mainly a good means of transport in the long distances, the most recommendable it is the special train Havana-Santiago de Cuba (51 dollars the passage), the rest are only recommended tourists with adventure spirit and good patience (it is necessary to point out that schedules and itineraries have been improved recently. In Cuba all trains have only seats, they don't have cars beds neither cars restaurants.

Cuba was one of the first countries with railway. Nowadays it counts with more that 9300 km ( 5800 miles) and it is the only Caribbean island that conserves railway network till these days, although its development has been blocked : electrified railway tracks do not exceed 200 km., and its punctuality is quite deficient. As with most public transport in Cuba, the vehicles used are second hand, and the most famous is the flagship Tren Francés ("French train") between Havana and Santiago de Cuba, which is operated by coaches originally used in Europe between Paris and Amsterdam on the ex-TEE express

Cuban Railway Network

This main of transport connects almost every city and village and for long distances it is cheaper than the omnibus, especially in Havana – Santiago de Cuba trips, that counts with the best train of the country.

Foreign tourists can purchase tickets few hours before departure in every LADIS office, located at Railway Stations, but it is recommendable doing reservation with at least 1- 2 days before departure.

Even when you can find light meals and soft drinks, it is recommendable take some food or water with you.

Useful Advises

Keep a torch with you

Don’t overlook your luggage

Take a thin coat, railways air conditioned are normally very cold

In case of arriving by sea, the ship crew should communicate to port authorities before entering in territorial waters (12 nautical miles from the insular platform).

This communication can settle down by Channel HF ( SSB) 2760 of Coast National Network and 2790 of Tourist Network; or by VHF by 86 Channel for Coast National Network or 16 for Tourist Network.

Sea access to Cuba can be carried out through the next ports and cruise terminals.

Marina Hemingway, in Havana City.

Cuban co, Cruise Terminal , in Havana City.

Puerto sol Tarará, in East Havana , Havana City.

Puerto sol Dock of Varadero

Chapelín, in Varadero.

Gaviota Varadero, in Varadero.

Puerto sol Cayo Coco-Cayo Guillermo, in los Jardines del Rey, Ciego de Ávila.

Marina Internacional of Puerto de Vita, in Holguín.

Internacional Diving Centre of Puerto sol María La Gorda, Pinar del Río.

Gaviota Isla de la Juventud, Río Las Casas, in Isla de Pinos

Puerto sol Cayo Largo del Sur, Isla de Pinos.

Puerto sol Cienfuegos, en Cienfuegos.

Punta Gorda, in Santiago de Cuba.

Cruise Terminal, in Santiago de Cuba.