Transportation: Getting Around The Island

Although Cubans enjoy freedom of movement within Cuba, traveling to foreign countries is only allowed for the very few - diplomats, athletes, or retired persons. Reality for Cubans is even harsher - poor econom ic conditions do not really allow them to travel easily within Cuba either.  There is simply a lack of vehicles to transport people, and most Cubans cannot afford the transportation that does exist.  The roads between cities - which tend to be in good condition - are mostly empty as can be seen in this picture. Cuba has a total of 60,585 kilometers of highways and 638 km of expressway or "interstate".  Of the total only 29,820 km are paved.  If one mile equals 1.609 kilometers, how many miles of paved roads does Cuba have?

Distances in kilometers between a few major cities:

BUS...

Bus fares which might seem very inexpensive to North Americans or Europeans are often simply unaffordable to a Cuban, thus limiting their ability to travel.  The national bus service is called Astro Bus.  Cubans pay their fare in pesos, but foreigners traveling with Astro Bus will pay in dollars.  Much more comfortable - and expensive - is Viazul.  A $12 fare from Habana to Viñales is probably out of reach of the average Cuban. Check their website . http://www.viazul.cu/home.htm

Below - A bus schedule from the Viazul station in Santiago. How much does it cost to travel from Santiago to Habana?   How long does it take?  How many miles is it?  How long would it take you to travel an similar distance where you live?

Train...

Cuba was the sixth country in the world and the first in Latin America to have a railroad.  Cuba is the only Caribbean country to have a passenger rail service.  It runs the length of the island serving all the provincial capitals and has a total length of 4,807 kilometers.  Unfortunately the condition of the track has deteriorated with the poor economic conditions caused by the embargo, and the trains are reported to be notoriously unreliable.  There exist conflicted reports however, and the service seems to have improved in just the last few years with the purchase of used train cars from France.  You must purchase a ticket in dollars at the state office LADIS.  Food service is minimal; and if you want to buy some coffee on the train, you must bring your own cup, as these are not provided. 

Freight trains also exist - 7,162 kilometers of track are used to haul sugar, one of Cuba's major industries. 

Careful!  Railroad crossing!	The main train station in Habana.  Rail travel is a good way to get to meet Cubans, but is not for the faint of heart.

Plane...

Chances are that if you fly to Cuba you will land at Jose Martí International Airport in Habana.  This airport was named in honor of the national patriot and poet of Cuba, José Martí, who died in 1895 fighting for Cuban independence from Spain.  His likeness and quotes grace numerous monuments throughout the country. Often he is referred to as the "apóstol" or apostle for his thoughts.

The Cuban national airline is Cubana.  Cubana offers not only international flights from Germany, Spain, Mexico, France, Turkey, Canada, England, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina among other countries, but also domestic flights from Habana to various cities on the island including Baracoa, Bayamo, Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Guantánamo, Holguín, Las Tunas, Manzanillo, Moa, Nuevo Gerona and Santiago de Cuba.  There are also other flights between these cities.  For complete information check their website at www.cubana.cu .  Cuba has 78 airports with paved runways.

The safety record of Cubana is, alas, among the lowest of any carrier in the world.  In addition to som e f airly recently acquired Airbus A320's and a few DC-10's leased from AOM French Airlines, their flee t is compos ed of numerous sturdy but aging Russian made planes such as the YAK-42 (shown at right at the José Martí International Airport), Ilyushin IL-62's and Tupolev TU-154's.  Once again lack of money for proper maintenance takes it's toll.  Additionally the service is considered sometimes lacking.

Cubana runs a charter service called AERO CARIBEAN, which flies many destinations.  There are also the companies AERO-TAXI which flies only biplanes to smaller destinations and INTER which flies mostly small 14 passenger Cessnas around the island.

Rental car...

Rental cars are out of economic reach of Cubans.  Here we can see a Hyundai.  The red colored license plate beginning with the letter T indicates a rental car.

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