Getting around Cuba: transport and apps

Between cities

• Viazul is the long-distance coach network aimed at foreigners - air-conditioned, bookable, and the standard way to move around. Book ahead; seats sell out and the schedule thins when fuel is short.
• Colectivos - shared taxis, usually an old American car - run the same routes for a similar price and leave when full. Faster and less comfortable.
• Domestic flights exist and are unreliable enough that most visitors do not use them.
• The train is a Cuban experience rather than a transport option.

In the cities

• Havana is walkable in Habana Vieja and Centro, and large everywhere else.
• Classic-car taxis are for tourists and priced accordingly - agree the fare first.
• Almendrones are the shared fixed-route cars locals use and cost a fraction of that.
• Coco-taxis - the three-wheeled yellow bubbles - may be in an unsafe condition, which is the FCDO's phrasing and is fair.

Driving yourself

• Rental is possible, expensive and scarce, and cars must usually be booked far ahead.
• Do not drive at night. Poor lighting, unlit vehicles, cyclists, carts and potholes.
• Fuel shortages are real and a queue at a station can last hours. This is the main argument against a self-drive itinerary.

The east

• Infrastructure and services including electricity and water remain severely impacted in eastern Cuba after hurricane damage. Check the current position before committing to Santiago, Baracoa or Holguin.

What you need before you go

• The D'Viajeros QR code, downloaded and printed. File it in the 72 hours before entry.
• Offline maps of everywhere you will go. Maps.me and organic-maps handle Cuba well; Google Maps offline is weaker here.
• Your accommodation addresses on paper. Casa particular addresses are hard to find and a taxi driver will want the street and the number.
• Insurance policy number and assistance line, offline.

What does not work

• No Uber, no Bolt, no ride-hailing of any kind.
• No international card payments since 6 June 2026 - so no app that ends in a card charge.
• Booking.com and most Western booking platforms do not process Cuban properties in the normal way; casas are booked directly or through specialist agencies.

What does

• La Nave and similar Cuban apps exist for taxis in Havana but need a local number and a Cuban payment method.
• WhatsApp is how Cubans communicate and how a casa owner will confirm your booking, when they have signal.
• Nauta wifi cards from ETECSA are the traditional way to get online in a park or hotel lobby, and are still sold.