Provincia de La Habana Travel Forum

hi I wanted to know is it safe to drive in cuba or it is better to use a public transport? thanks

Hi.
When we visited Cuba we used public transport, but the driving "paterns" in the island seem much better than in other countries I have been. Main roads are in a not bad condition, and they respect the international rules.

The problem you may find is if the car brokes down. They are running out of pieces and not many garages...so it is on your own. Public transport or private drivers may take you everywhere.

Enjoy.

We (couple) rented a car and traveled the country west to east in 2 weeks back in 2001 (flexidrive formula). No trouble what so ever with traffic or our rented Audi80. Traffic is calm compared to what most of us are used too and I never did feel threatened. Best to stay on the main roads, cause the rest is not suited for a normal car (dont go northwest starting from Baracoa for example). The road signs especially in Havana are not a great help. Make sure you have a good road map.
Enjoy Cuba,
Benny

Hello...Rent a car, that's for sure. If U relay on public transport U'll throw lot of hours that U could spend visiting places. Forget about trains, U can get stuck in one of them for 5 hours and only travel about 50km and trust me, I know what I'm saying, I travelled all around cuba on buses, trucks, sometimes on trains and even hitch hiking.

Be sure to have a good uptodate road map. Signs are almost inexistent outside havana and the "ocho vias" the main highway in Cuba has no protection against animals so U can spot cows, horses or dogs in the middel of it. Tourists are used to drive on highways a very high speeds...don't to it!! it's very dangerous and at night extreme precautions as U can find bycicles or even cars with poor lights or even no lights.

Once again, if U are short in time on your travel rent a car. Only if U're adventurer enough and have lot of time on your hands then and only then U can realy on public transport....good luck and have fun!