Welcome to Cuba2Day! If you’ve ever dreamed of immersing yourself in the vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and rich history of Cuba, you’re in for a treat.
Traveling to Cuba is a unique experience that promises unforgettable memories and a deeper understanding of this enchanting Caribbean island. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make your trip to Cuba an extraordinary adventure.
1. Understanding the Basics
Before you embark on your journey to Cuba, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of the country’s history, culture, and current situation. Cuba boasts a unique blend of Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences, reflected in its music, dance, cuisine, and architecture. Keep in mind that internet access might be limited and expensive, so research and plan ahead.
2. Visa and Entry Requirements
For most travelers, obtaining a tourist visa for Cuba is a straightforward process. You can usually acquire a visa through the Cuban embassy or consulate in your home country. Alternatively, many airlines provide the option to purchase a visa when booking your flight. Remember to check the latest visa requirements and regulations before your trip.
3. Flights and Transportation
When booking flights to Cuba, major international airports like José Martí International Airport in Havana and Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport in Varadero are popular choices. Airlines from various countries operate flights to these destinations. Once in Cuba, you’ll find a range of transportation options including taxis, shared taxis (“colectivos”), and public buses to navigate within cities and explore the countryside.
4. Accommodation Options
Choosing the right accommodation is crucial for a comfortable and enjoyable trip. While Cuba offers a variety of lodging choices, from luxurious hotels to charming bed-and-breakfasts, consider opting for a more authentic experience by staying in a “casa particular.” These are private homes that offer rooms for rent, often managed by friendly locals who can provide valuable insights into Cuban life.
5. Currency and Money Matters
Cuba operates on a dual currency system: the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) and the Cuban Peso (CUP). As a tourist, you’ll mostly deal with CUC, which is pegged to the US dollar. It’s advisable to carry cash in major currencies like Euros, British Pounds, or Canadian Dollars and exchange them locally. Credit and debit cards from US banks might not work, so it’s wise to bring sufficient cash for your trip.
6. Language and Communication
While Spanish is the official language of Cuba, not everyone you encounter might be fluent in English. Having some basic Spanish phrases handy can help you navigate and communicate with locals more effectively. Embrace the opportunity to learn and practice a new language during your visit.
7. Must-See Destinations and Activities
Cuba is a treasure trove of cultural experiences and stunning sights. Don’t miss exploring the cobblestone streets of Old Havana, admiring the vintage cars that populate the streets, and savoring authentic Cuban cuisine. Beyond Havana, visit Viñales for its breathtaking landscapes, Trinidad for its well-preserved colonial architecture, and Varadero for its pristine beaches.
8. Embracing Cuban Cuisine
Cuban cuisine is a fusion of flavors and influences that reflect the country’s history. Indulge in dishes like “ropa vieja” (shredded beef), “mojito” (a refreshing cocktail), and “arroz con frijoles” (rice and beans). Engage with local eateries and street food vendors to truly savor the authentic flavors of Cuba.
9. Cultural Etiquette
Respect for Cuban culture and customs is essential. Cubans are known for their warmth and hospitality, so reciprocate by being courteous and friendly. Tipping is customary, and a small gesture can go a long way in showing appreciation for the service you receive.
Your Dream Airbnb in Havana
Ready to turn your dream trip to Cuba into a reality? Imagine waking up to the gentle rustling of palm leaves and the aroma of Cuban coffee in the heart of Havana. Look no further than our exclusive Airbnb listing.
This charming casa particular offers a comfortable and authentic stay, complete with personalized recommendations from your local host. Click here to book your stay and experience the true essence of Havana.
Unlock the Secrets of Havana with “Havana Like a Local” eBook!
Are you eager to delve even deeper into the heart and soul of Havana? Our journey doesn’t end here—there’s so much more to explore and uncover. That’s why we’re excited to introduce you to our comprehensive eBook, “Havana Like a Local.” This eBook is your ultimate guide to experiencing Havana in a way that goes beyond the typical tourist spots.
In “Havana Like a Local,” you’ll discover hidden gems, local hotspots, and insider tips that will transform your trip into an authentic adventure. From lesser-known neighborhoods to off-the-beaten-path attractions, this eBook is a treasure trove of information that will help you connect with the true essence of Havana.
What can you expect from “Havana Like a Local”?
Offbeat Destinations: Uncover the neighborhoods, markets, and cafes that locals frequent, giving you a unique perspective on the city’s daily life.
Cultural Insights: Dive deep into Cuban customs, traditions, and etiquette, ensuring you engage with the local culture respectfully and meaningfully.
Culinary Delights: Explore the vibrant food scene of Havana, from family-run eateries to street food stalls, and savor the flavors that make Cuban cuisine so unforgettable.
Interactive Maps: Navigate the city with ease using our detailed maps that highlight the best spots featured in the eBook.
Language Tips: Enhance your travel experience with useful Spanish phrases and expressions that will help you connect with locals and navigate the city confidently.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience Havana like a true local. Grab your copy of “Havana Like a Local” today and embark on a journey of discovery that will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Click here to get your hands on “Havana Like a Local” eBook and get ready to explore the hidden treasures of this captivating city. Your adventure awaits!
Welcome to a new post on Cuba2Day! Today we are going to share some tips about how you can go from Old Havana to the beach.
Havana with all its audacity and grandeur is a startling attraction for the tourists and the venturesome travelers like you. The atmosphere and the aura of this stunning city serve as a magnet to Cuba. The artistic and historical significance of Havana is quite appealing as well. There is so much for you to explore at Havana and keep your adventurous side satisfied. It is a loveable ride in the city of Havana as you get to vividly experience this amazing city.
But when the hustle and bustle of the city become too much for you, you can enjoy a day inhaling and absorbing the sea breeze at the beach and get the serenity and calmness of the view for a quick refreshment.
Your desire to relish bathing in the sun and swimming in the ocean will get fulfilled at Havana. There are many such spots located near the city. One such spot is The turquoise Playas del Este beach, which is a short ride of approximately 20 minutes from Havana city.
Situated on the east side, this beautiful beach is both swimmable and alluring. But the question arises here that How to get from Old Havana to the beach?
Do not worry because this guide is going to help you through the experience and help you get to Havana beach. So, you may soothe and calm your senses on the beachy atmosphere of Playa del Este.
Well, there would be two options for you to choose between, you may opt for the best suitable one. The first one would be to take a cab for your aimed destination from Old Havana.
You can easily get a cab in front of the train station near El Guajirito restaurant. A collective for locals is the most inexpensive choice which costs only $1 per seat. But here is a tip. The drivers are restricted to transport foreigners, hence they charge extra money to people from abroad. To save yourself from the extra expenses, you just have to follow these steps:
How to get to Playa del Este from Old Havana:
1. Get to the train station, and ask someone where to get a cab from.
2. Say “un taxi a Marazul”.
3. You can either decide to get a collective cab or one just for you. If you drive with other people it will cost you around 5 Cuc.
4. Pay around 15/20 CUC on the arrival of your destination.
5. And you are done!
You can easily get to Playa del Este from Old Havana by following these steps. Or else you have an alternative option to reach your needed destination.
The other alternative is the bus ride. Taking the T3 bus ride which has a scheduled time of departing from Central Park after every 40 minutes can be your other call to get to the beach. It will cost you 5 CUC together with the return ticket for that bus ride. You need to purchase the ticket directly while embarking the bus.
If you have no money concerns and would want a rather comfy and private visit, you can book a private taxi to Playa del Este in 50 CUC. You will get a private taxi for four hours at this price. Have fun at the beach and make beautiful and sunny memories on the Playa del Este with the help of this guide. Now hit the beach and swim in the ocean!
After following the ‘How to go to Playa del Este from Old Havana’ steps, when you reach Playa del Este, there is so much you can do. Well, the bathing in the sun idea which also includes swimming in the ocean persists. But to add to the beach fun and exhilarate you on your trip, there is more. On the beach, all the ecstatic swimming and stuff may get you tired and hungry. So, to help you feed yourself up there are arrangements at the beach for your convenience.
There are people at the beach selling tropical fruits. Hotel staff is also there to serve beverages, and food, to people who have rented lounge chairs or shade umbrellas. The goods that you will purchase there will cost you a little higher than usual but it is still quite affordable. There is a food store as well, which is open in the daytime, in which you can have a satisfying meal or you can try out the food stalls around. The food kiosks do not have a scheduled timing.
As a precaution, you should keep some snacks and food in your backpack. And, Bon Appetit fellas. Moreover, your stressed muscles and weariness can vanish with a massage offered to you by professional therapists at the beach. Yes, you heard it right. This is all one could wish for to have a great time and fun at the beach.
Food, massage, the calming sea sight, and the exotic sunny ambiance at Playas del Este is totally the kind of thing you might have been wishing for.
Your plan to relax at the beach will get fulfilled at Playas del Este. If you are visiting the beach on a weekend, then be ready to meet a crowd.
And so, you must prepare yourself to handle unpleasant situations too. Cuban people are generally friendly and frank. But if you are visiting Havana beach for the first time, you must beware of the scammers to avoid any mishap.
Some scamming events have been recorded by other travelers. It is to notify you of such a scenario and provide some short tips for your safety. Even at the beach, it is preferable that you have someone to accompany you. Or if you are a solo traveler, you should carry less stuff with you around and keep an eye on your belongings. These tips will surely help you out on your exhilarating trip to Havana beach. Hope you have a great time there.
That’s it for today and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @Cuba2Day
Havana is a great city, vibrant, colorful and rich of history. Especially if you visit Old Havana, you’ll be surprised by the beauty of the streets and the vibes.
In this post we are going to see together how to get from Havana from Varadero.
Many tourists prefer to enjoy Havana for about a week and them move to other beautiful locations across the island. One of these preferred locations is Varadero. With its wide and white beach Varadero is one of the most famous places in Cuba. Full of resorts and hotels, you will have the time to relax and enjoy 100% the beach and other facilities.
Varadero is considered the place where you can relax more than explore and discover the culture and history of the island. Havana is definitely the place to be if you prefer to explore and plunge into the Cuban culture. Even better if you decide to stay to a casa particular and not a hotel.
Anyway, many tourists prefer to explore the city and then move to Varadero for a few days to end their vacations. Havana also has a great beach (Santa Maria del Mar) and it’s about 20/30 mins from the city. You can get there with a taxi or with a bus (via azul)
How to get from Havana to Varadero
>>TRAVELING TO HAVANA? DO IT LIKE A LOCAL! GET OUR MINI GUIDE FOR ONLY $7! CLICK HERE
If you are planning to get from Havana to Varadero there are mainly two ways to do that. The first one is by bus. You’ll be together with other travelers and you usually don’t make any stops or travel detours.
The other solution is to book a taxi with a driver who will drive you from Havana to Varadero. The trip is about 1 hour and half, so it’s going to be pretty light. If you travel with other people you can split the ride cost and enjoy the trip more “privately”.
Booking a private ride allows you travel at your one terms and eventually plan some stops during the trip to take some pictures or visit other areas.
>>TRAVELING TO HAVANA? DO IT LIKE A LOCAL! GET OUR MINI GUIDE FOR ONLY $7! CLICK HERE
Traveling to Varadero
I had the chance to visit Varadero a couple of times. As I said, there are several resorts and big hotels, most of them built during the 80′. I went to one of those places and, to be honest, you can’t really feel if you are in Cuba or not. I stayed there only one night.
I recommend you to book a casa particular in the area, your overall experience will be different!
Also, unless you are a “beach mode” person and you want to lay all day long on the beach, I recommend you to pass only a few days in Varadero and then move to other areas such as Havana, Vinales, Pinar del Rio etc.
How to get from Havana to Varadero: book a tour
As you might know internet connection in Cuba is not the best ever! It’s definitely improving but if you need to make reservations online and you already know your calendar it’s better if you book in advance.
On the link below, you can book your taxi from Havana to Varadero. It’s like a tour so you will also have the chance to visit the local attractions and travel with an authentic car.
Hello! In this post I want to show you how to rent a car in Havana and have a safe experience in this amazing city.
Cuba is a hot travel location right now (especially if you are American 🙂
If it’s the first time you are traveling to Cuba you probably have a million of questions and things you want to know before jumping on your airplane. That’s why you have this blog!
Are you ready? Let’s start!
Rent a car in Havana: the city
Havana is a large city divided in four main areas: Vedado, Old Havana, Miramar and Centro Havana.
Especially if you are visiting the Old part of the city (which is the most fascinating and touristic one) you will have some trouble moving with a car. Most of the area is pedestrian only and there are not many parking.
Also, there aren’t many rent a car in Cuba and the prices are definitely high. Furthermore the Old City is pretty chaotic and driving in the city might be a little tricky especially during the night time.
How to rent a car in Havana: the solution
Since I think you don’t want to make your stay in Havana a problem the best solution I personally recommend is to have a private driver driving you around the city. It’s not that expensive and you don’t need to care about traffic and other dangers.
Usually to have a private driver for the entire day in Havana is about $100 (CUC, local currency). I have different contacts so I can help you to book a driver if you need one (check the bottom of the page)
Plus, often times, the driver can give you some precious tips to help you discover amazing places. If you arrive at the Havana airport
That said, you can hire a private taxi driver with a classic car (almendron) who will drive you around the city of Havana for a tour or for the entire day if you plan to have an excursionin Vinales or Varadero
Conclusion
Despite renting a car might be the best solution if you want to have a trip across the island, it is absolutely better for you if you move with touristic buses or with a private taxi as I’ve previously stated.
If you need help to book a car just click on the link below and you’ll be able to book your car in Havana.
Yes, it’s official! You can now book an apartment in Cuba on AirBnB anywhere in the world !
This is a great news for Cubans “cuentapropistas” looking to expand their hospitality business.
In fact, initially it was possible just to book apartments from the United States. So if you want to book your travel to Cuba on AirBnB, you can now do that anywhere in the world without any boundaries 🙂
Book an apartment in Cuba on AirBnB anywhere in the world
The news as been announced during the latest (and historic) visit of President Obama to Cuba. This new step of openness is just one of the recent changes involving the island.
During an entrepreneurial conference in Havana, Obama has outlined the interest of the USA in investing to grow the next generation of web entrepreneurs.
The US government plans to help the island in the technology development creating infrastructure and helping people connection to the internet and communicate with the rest of the world.
This is just one of the many revolutions happening now in the island. Since the tourism, especially from the USA, is booming many new casas particulares have opened their doors all over the island.
Many cubans have now the chance to generate a good income thanks to tourism and AirBnB is a valid help. So far the internet connection in Cuba is not that good.
The internet connection
During the last year many wi-fi hotspots have been activated all over Havana and you can now connect for $2 per hour. It’s pretty expensive for a Cuban but it’s a big improvement. In fact, just a few months ago, the only way possibile to connect was going to a hotel lobby and pay a crazy price of $10 cuc per hour.
Well, if you are all set it’s time for you to start exploring what you can do once you’ll get in Havana. In this post I am going to tell you how to book a city tour in Havana by car.
If it’s you first time ever in Cuba you might find everything absolutely new and incredibly fascinating. Although, once you’ll get to the airport in Havana you’ll find a little of mess around you. That’s why it might be better to book a cab before you arrive in Havana.
You won’t bother yourself to find a taxi or to negotiate the price. I can help you to book a cab and to have a person waiting for you once you arrive. If you want to know more about it, read THIS POST.
HOW TO BOOK A CITY TOUR IN HAVANA: CAR OR BUS?
Now, of course one of the most charming thing about Cuba are the old classic cars. As you have probably seen in videos or pictures of Cuba, there are tons of Old Almendrones all over the island! And the cool things is that they are actually working perfectly.
The first time you won’t believe what you’ll see. Some of them still have the original engine! And the most of those cars are before the Revolution. I have personally talked with several professional drivers about their amazing cars. They are all proud of their classic rides and they told me the history and how they got them.
Of course it’s almost impossible for them to find spare parts in case of damage and aging, but Cubans are really incredible in the art of improvisation and “bricolage”. I have seen real miracles inside some cars engine! 🙂
That said, there are several cars offering a city tour service in Havana and you have a wide choice of classic cars, convertibles or not.
In Old Havana you can find a lot of these cars in front of the National theater (Teatro Nacional) , or in front of the Parque Central Hotel.
So, you just need to approach a driver and ask him for a tour of the city. There are different routes and itineraries you can choose. Usually you can pick an hour or a two hours tour.
IF YOU WANT TO BOOK A TOUR BEFORE GOING TO CUBA FILL OUT THE FORM AT THE END OF THIS POST
A car is the best option if you want to have a typical tour of the city and enjoy it with your friends and family. Most of the cars allow you to ride in four people plus the driver.
The price depends on the itinerary and the duration but it’s not expensive considering the unique experience.
On the other hand you can decide to have a tour of Havana with a bus. There are several rooftop red buses you can take but of course my recommendation is to go for a car. First, you can ask the driver to stop for a second if you want to take a picture; second you can change the route and make little deviations on the itinerary; third you will have a more intimate ride with your family and friends.
Now let’s see the places you can visit with a quick overview of the city.
HOW TO BOOK A CITY TOUR IN HAVANA: THE ITINERARY
If it’s your first time in Cuba and Havana there are several places you must visit. It also depends on your travel and how many days you have planned to stay in Havana. Of course the most beautiful and charming part of the city is Old Havana, so be sure to have at least 3/4 days to stay in the capital.
As you can see in the map above, there are four main areas in Havana: Miramar, Vedado, Centro Habana and Old Havana.
With a city tour by car you can visit the areas you want, but it also depends on the time you have available. I’d say that you can visit all the four areas with a two hours tour.
But I recommend to visit Old Havana first and then consider to visit the other districts. You can also divide the tour in Old Havana-Centro and Vedado-Miramar , since they are closer each other.
Usually a city tour of Old Havana includes the typical and most characteristic places such as Capitolio, Malecon, The Royal Force Castle and the Tobacco factory. Of course there are several more spots to visit, but it’s better to visit them by walk since most of the places are not accessible by car. Also you will really enjoy walking along the streets and focus on every single detail of the old city.
If you want to visit Vedado and Miramar you’ll pass by the Malecon and drive north. In Miramar I recommend you to drive along the Fifth Avenue (5ta Avenida). That is a beautiful street full of colonial villas. Most of them are now embassies.
If you are doing a guided tour by car, you can drive across the streets of Vedado and watch the amazing colonial houses. I did a guided tour not long time ago with my family 🙂
I have visited just Old Havana and Centro Habana with a 2 hours tour and I went all over the main areas of the old side of the city and Plaza de la Revoluticion in Centro Habana.
Centro Havana is, as I say, the “real” Cuba since you can see the daily life of the city and not only the most touristic places.
If you are looking how to book a city tour in Havana, you can fill out the form below and book a classic car before being in Havana. In this way you can also decide the best pickup location (even from the airport) and organize better your tour, especially if you are staying in Havana just for a few days.
I can help you to set up your guided tour by car! Just click the link below to see more about the tour in Havana:
The first time I went to Cuba I was really impressed by the beauty of this land and its uniqueness. Havana, in particular, is a mix cultures, sounds and timeless charm.
As you know, during my travel to Cuba, I always stay in my wife place in the south of Havana. But if you are visiting the city for the first time it’s better for you to know the best areas where you can get the best of the city during your short or long-term stay.
In this post you’ll find several useful information about how to book and apartment in Havana and all the things you should know about the best areas.
BUT FIRST A HUGE FAVOUR 🙂 What do you think about sharing this post with your friends? You just need to click to tweet the tab below
HOW TO BOOK AN APARTMENT IN HAVANA: THE BEST AREAS.
If it’s your first time in Cuba and Havana, I always suggest my friends to stay in Old Havana. The reasons are simple:
You are close to all the main places to visit
You can easily move walking along the city
You can enjoy the most beautiful and charming part of the city.
That said, there are also several places in Old Havana, and I want to tell you the top places where you might want to stay. Below is a short list of the best places to where you can stay and book an apartment in Old Havana.
Plaza Vieja: It’s probably the most famous area of the city and it’s also a great place to hang out in order to enjoy the Cuban movida. You’ll find several places where you can eat and drink.
Calle Obispo: This is the main street of Old Havana. It starts from the famous Floridita, the favorite Hemingway’s place for a Diquiri, and it goes down till the amazing Plaza De Armas. A must place to visit!
Calle Mercaderes: This is an incredible street and amazing area of the city. It was the ancient street of shops and stores. You can find shops with spices and beautiful pieces of local art.
The three places above are to me the best places where you should stay during your visit to Havana. Of course, my tip is also to stay in a casa particular, where you can save money and enjoy the city as a local.
HOW TO BOOK AN APARTMENT IN HAVANA: WHERE YOU CAN FIND SOME BEAUTIFUL PLACES.
Now that you know where the most beautiful areas are, it’s time for you to discover where and how to book an apartment in Havana.
As you might no, AirBnB is now available in Cuba. This is a great news especially if you are American since, as of today, just americans can rent apartments via AirBnB. There are over 1,000 apartments available on AirBnB and you have a wide choices of houses and apartments.
Also, here is the list of the places I rent and I am pretty sure you will find it interesting if you are looking for a nice place to stay.
If you are not able to book an apartment using AirBnB you can see the apartments available below and send me an email using the contact form. I am sure that me or my partner can help you!
Along the city there are several small and big hotels, most of them are really nice and charming. Consider that the average price for a nice hotel in one of the areas I have listed above is between $150 to $200 per night.With a casa particular you can cut the cost over the 50%.
It also depends on how many people you are. Most of the apartment you can find on this list are from 2 to 5 people. That’s why if you are traveling with more than two people you can save even more money renting an apartment instead of booking two separated hotel room.
All the apartment are usually with a fully equipped kitchen, but you will be out for lunch and dinner several times to enjoy the local kitchen 😉
Also, in Old Havana, there are no supermarkets yet, so it’s not easy to buy food in a grocery store, except for fruits and vegetable that you can find along the streets.
One of the first thing you’ll need when you arrive to Havana airport will be a transportation. When you’ll put your step out of the airport for the first time you’ll be hit by your first cuban experience: find a cab 🙂
You’ll have several people asking to drive you to your hotel or to the city. You can pick one of them (ask the price before), or you can BOOK A CAB before to leave. We can help you doing that. We usually ask our partners to wait at the airport with a signboard with the name of the person they have to wait.
I hope this post about how to book an apartment in Havana was helpful. If you need to have more information about Cuba I invite you to check out the home page of the blog and you’ll get several tips for your first travel to Cuba!
Cuba is one of the countries with the lowest internet access. But now, thanks to the relationships with the US, it will be easier for the island to develop and improve communications.
New public wifi hotspots in Havana
By the end of July, in fact, the national telco company ETECSA, will activate 35 public wifi hotspots. Five of them will be opened in Havana.
The goal is to extend internet usage to the entire island by 2020.
Right now the cost to the internet access is pretty high but the fee will be halved from 4.50 CUC to 2 CUC per hour. The only places available today to connect are the hotels where most of the time you have to pay around 10 CUC per hour.
The new wifi hotspots will be able to hold about 50/100 connections at the same time.
“Ted Henken, a professor at Baruch College in New York who has studied social media and the Internet in Cuba, said the decision could mark a “turning point.”
“Their model was, ‘Nobody gets Internet,’ ” he said in a telephone interview. “Now their model is, ‘We’re going to bring prices down and expand access, but we are going to do it as a sovereign decision and at our own speed.’ ”
Government said that internet connection and communication development will be a main goal for Cuba.
Finally the island will no longer be so isolated 🙂
If it’s your first time in Cuba you’ll be impressed by your arrival to the Havana airport (Jose Martì). In this post I want to show you how to get from Havana airport to city center (Old Havana or Centro Havana). If you have booked a group holiday or with a tour operator you’ll probably have the transportation included and a bus bringing you to the hotel.
However I recommend to visit Cuba by your own, to better live the island and the Cuban atmosphere. You’ll be able to explore less explored places and alternative paths.
Arrival to the airport
If you are arriving with an international flight, you’ll see Terminal 3 and if you’re getting a local flight (USA or Caraibi) you’re probably arriving at Terminal 2.
After you’ve picked up your luggage, you’ll get out of the airport and you will be immediately plunged in the Cuban movida. You have two options now: change your money at the airport or grab directly a cab
Where to take a cab
You’ll be approached by several drivers once you’ll be out of the airport. You can trust all the taxi drivers over there because they need a regular license to stay in the airport. You can both take a “tourist cab”, you will recognize it because it is usually a yellow and black car, or an almendron cab.
>>TRAVELING TO HAVANA? DO IT LIKE A LOCAL! GET OUR MINI GUIDE FOR ONLY $7! CLICK HERE
What is an Almendron? Well an Almendron is the car you see in the picture of this post. It is a pre-revolution car, from the 50′ and they are the symbol of cuba itself.
Some of these cars still have the original engine (pretty crazy uhm? :-)) and some others have a Toyota or more recent one. These cars are also called taxi particular that means private or independent taxi. This is because, as you know, the most of the businesses are owned by the government.
But Cuba has recently allowed the entrepreneurial activities and so most of the taxi drivers are now self-employed. So if you decide do go with a particular, it doesn’t mean that it’s illegal but simply that he’s an independent worker.
If you want to book a taxito get you from Havana airport to city center just make a reservation on our trusted website below
Based on where you will house, usually a cab will cover you a standard cost that might go from 30 to 50 CUC (pesos cubano convertible) which has pretty much the same exchange rate of the Euro now.
Usually almendrones are really big, like six seats, and the trunk is really huge. So don’t worry if your spouse or girlfriend has three luggages 🙂
If you are going to visit Havana, you are probably staying in the Old Havana which is about 30 mins from the airport. During the route you will enjoy the view and your first impact with Cuba.
The cab is of course the fastest and safest way if you are looking at how to get from Havana airport to city center. There are also some buses available, but I never tried personally.
I usually take a cab when I arrive and if you speak Spanish you can start interesting conversations with the drivers, who are often very chatty. It’s a good way to start understanding the society from an “insider” and learn many things that are not listed in a guide.
>>TRAVELING TO HAVANA? DO IT LIKE A LOCAL! GET OUR MINI GUIDE FOR ONLY $7! CLICK HERE
How to get from havana airport to city center: my tips!
If you are lucky enough to be the only flight landing, the immigration line won’t be so long. Sometimes if there’s another flight coincidence the airport gets a little messy, especially Terminal 3.
Anyway, when you get outside of the airport you can immediately change some cash. The line it’s usually pretty long and it will take you sometimes half an hour or more to change your money.
If you want to book a taxi beforehand and you don’t want to worry about catching a taxi at the airport, you can book a private transfer online
A driver will meet you with a nameplate, will help you with your luggage and will wait for one hour for free if your flight was delayed. (and it often happens)
Otherwise I suggest you to ask a taxi driver if it’s ok for him to accept the money in your local currency. It shouldn’t be a problem to pay in euros or dollars. You can change your money later on in the city in a cadeca, hotel or the bank. The best solution would be to have a taxi waiting for you with your name.
I you want to book a cab in advance waiting for you at the Havana airport use the link below..
Hope this post on how to get from Havana airport to city center was useful for you. If you have any question just drop a line in the comments below or send me an email.
As I said I can help you with the reservation of a cab from the airport waiting for you when you’ll arrive, without pain and stress 🙂
If you want to book a taxi from Havana Airport to Old Havana or other areas, you can make a reservation right now. Click on the link below and you can easily book a taxi. The driver will wait for you at the airport with your name.
Everything is included and you don’t have to think about anything. The cabs are not almendron but newer taxi.
You’ll be able to simply book your cab and taxi service from the airport to the city center of Havana or even other locations such as Varadero. You will find a person ready for you waiting at the airport with your name.
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