Road Trip in Cuba: Pros & Cons of a Cuban Car Rental

What could be more fun that a Caribbean road trip?! What can be more frustrating than trying to get a car, navigate and get around an island?! See how one question can produce two VERY different answers. A self-driven road trip for some is a dream vacation, while for others, a nightmare. So if island driving is your thing, what are the pros and cons of a Cuban car rental and what is it like driving through Cuba?

Go Take A Drive

There are so many reasons to rent a car in Cuba. Island driving in general is a really fun and important way to see a Caribbean country. Not only do you have the luxury of moving around more freely, but you can get beyond the typical tourist trail. Why does that matter? It is actually an easy change towards a more ethical way to travel. When you leave the resort hotels, you can move your tourism dollars more locally, keeping economies thriving.

How are the Roads?

Roads in Cuba can vary pretty drastically. The main highways are paved and well marked and then you can quickly find yourself on some bumpy country roads. We stuck to driving during the day and avoided night travel so we would limit the number of times we got lost or decrease the likelihood of an accident.

What’s the deal with Cuban car rental?

Because of the issues with the embargo you may think you’ll be driving around a sleek vintage car like you’ve seen in the photos. While they are inviting, they are not for rent. These cars are often driven by locals, or are private taxis. Our rental was an Eastern European model that was a high milage manual transmission machine. Listen, it wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done. Most Cuban rental cars are manual transmission vehicles with wear and tear.

Car rentals in Cuba can be pricey. You pay a deposit along with a per day fee that ranges from $50 to $100 a day (depending on the season). There are a couple of rental car agencies in Cuba, Via Havanautos, Cuba Car and Rex, but they are government run so the prices are pretty consistent across the board.

Reservations are NOT a guarantee that a car will be waiting for you upon arrival. We reserved a car and there were none available for pick up when our plane arrived in Havana. We spent the first full day trying to acquire another car at four different locations in and around Havana.

Travel Tip: Add a couple of buffer days into your road trip itinerary. Thankfully we didn’t overbook ourselves and had wiggle room in our schedule for possible issues like mechanical problems or itinerary changes. Flexibility is key!

Getting Around

Google maps is not working here and your cellular service may be limited or non existent. While we used a (gasp) traditional road map, you can also download maps.me app if you prefer. Download your maps before you get to Cuba, since you may not have access to update the app while in the country.

Learn a little Spanish! People are more than happy to help you out if you ask. While many people are bilingual, once you get away from more touristic areas, the local language really can be helpful. I took immersive Spanish lessons in Nicaragua, but I’ve continued my studies on the DuoLingo app. It’s FREE and can really help you learn more local phrases to communicate better while on vacation.

Gassing Up

Getting gas is a mini event each time. Once we got further out of the touristic areas, you see fewer gas stations and few people speak English. Keep your tank half full and practice your Spanish! You’ll see there are two types of gas, ‘normal’ and ‘special’ or ‘modern’. Choose ‘special’, it’s more expensive but a better choice for your rental. We were asked for our passports when getting gas pretty frequently. Have your information on hand just in case.

Um, so Abbie, what makes you such an expert?

On my last trip to Cuba, myself and two friends rented a car and drove from Havana to just east of Camaguey and back again to Havana. We covered a lot of ground over the few weeks we were in Cuba and it was one of the better decisions we made when getting to the best places to visit in Cuba.

Go Along for the Ride

Some people don’t even like to drive at home, let alone driving on vacation. If that’s the case, there are several options if you don’t want to rent a car in Cuba. There are other forms of transportation that you can take, if you decide a rental car isn’t your speed.

Buses

Viazul is your choice for a tourist bus option. They have clean buses that run well and are comfortable. You are supposed to be able to book tickets for this online, but the website is not always reliable. If you do purchase tickets online, bring a paper copy of the ticket and payment confirmation. During peak tourist season, seats can sell out so be sure to secure your spot as soon as you hit the ground in Havana at either a bus station or Infotur office. There are local buses as well, and while they are extremely inexpensive, they are often overcrowded. Save space on the local bus and buy a tourist ticket.

Taxis

Often it is the taxis that you’ll find are the iconic vintage cars. Many offer day tours around Havana and you can also hire drivers to do intercity trips. Taxis are metered and start a 1 USD base price. You may get offered a flat rate first, so if you know the distance to your next destination, the amount should work out to be about 1 USD a kilometer. In any country arrange a flat rate or meter usage BEFORE you start your journey.

Colectivos

Think of a more simple version of an Uber pool. You are basically in a shared ride, all passengers going towards a similar destination. You can learn tricks on where to get picked up and the going rate for colectivos with a trusted local, like your homestay host or hotel.

Hitchhiking

Lots of Cubans don’t have cars, so hitchhiking is common practice. While I didn’t hitch a ride in Cuba, I have hitchhiked before and in countries where it’s safe and commonplace, it can be a good way to get around.

Tour vs Independent Travel

If options like Cuba car rental confuse you OR you’d rather have a trip where you arrive and not worry about a thing, a guided tour may be a better choice for you. Remember, not all tours are created equal! Be sure you’re working with a tour operator that’s paying their workers fair wages. Your tour company should be engaging in a positive way with local communities and empowering local business. A great option is a ViaHero Cuba vacation. It is like having the expertise of a tour operator with the luxury of being a more independent traveler. ViaHero will take into consideration how you’d like to travel and match you with a local who will customize an itinerary for you to use on your own. Honestly, it’s the best of both worlds. You get ideas and activity suggestions from a local source AND you have the opportunity to travel at your own pace.

The Best Places to Visit in Cuba

Cuba may not be the easiest country to visit, but you’ll have a fantastic time when you go. As an American, we learned what could be considered a skewed version of our history with the island. In recent years international relations with Cuba have been in flux, making it confusing for some (Americans) to keep up to date about how they can travel here. Travel to Cuba is 100% legal, allowed and encouraged. It’s a safe country with people eagerly awaiting our arrival. Tourism has the power to positively effect the economy. Going to Cuba and spending your money more locally can help smaller communities thrive.

Navigating things like preparing for a trip to Cuba, Cuban food and the logistics of travel to Cuba can feel daunting. Fear not! There is less sensationalized information out there to make this process as easy as possible. Don’t fall victim to the trap of seeing mainstream media outlets barrage travelers with the idea that you can’t go to Cuba. It’s simply not true. While the restrictions of how you can travel are constantly evolving, there are other visa opportunities like “support the Cuban people” where your vacation can fall into the visa requirement.

Our Route

We took a lot of stops and side roads along the way, but this is roughly the route we took over the course of our trip. Originally, our plan was to drive all the way to Santiago then back to Havana, but we took too many stops along the way and our itinerary changed nearly daily! We took side roads and longer routes in order to see more of the country since we had the time. In the end, I think a Cuba car rental is the perfect way to craft your own Cuba itinerary.