A good synthesis of a journey to discover and browse by most Caribbean islands as a whole.

Guide a Journey Through Cuba

Cuba is the ideal site for tropical tourism: sandy beaches which resembles diamond powder, warm water whose color evokes the feathers of a peacock, bottle green mountains and valleys dotted with green jade spectacular formations, ancient cities where the balconies are decorated with flowers, rococo churches, palaces and castles that can recreate the Spanish past. You will find, among other things, nightclubs, mojitos, the Cuba free, and the best cigars in the world – rolled in front of you – that you will enjoy while you browse the highway in a Cadillac in 1955 and listening to a rumba that transmits radio.

The possibilities are endless in this country. Cuba is a large island. Many tourists are surprised by its size – 1,250 km from one end to the other. So where to go? You will need at least two weeks to explore the most prominent sites and a little more time to visit the eastern provinces. I offer you an ideal course of 21 days (driving your car) which covers the whole territory.

Driving in Cuba

Cuba leads lead to certain difficulties, that try to guide you. The signals are rare, even in the main tourist areas and the Carretera Central (Central Highway). Get yourself a good map, ie the Guía de Carreteras.

On the road, the dangers are many and sometimes spectacular cyclists that occur unexpectedly; plows pulled by oxen moving slowly nest-holes as large as the cattle that occasionally wanders on the road, pedestrians – who are mostly self-stop – at the edge of dark roads. The vehicles are sometimes lights off. Cyclists, some environmentalists, believe that the lights are not made for their means of locomotion. So be careful, especially at night.

Among the most dangerous roads include the Circunvalación, south of Havana, La Farola (mountain road with sharp curves connecting Guantánamo Baracoa) between the Autopista Palma Soriano in Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad mountain road in Topes de Collantes. And do not forget the railway crosses the highway east of Ranchuelo in the province of Villa Clara, two hours from Havana, to the east. No barriers or signs warn you not to advance. The Autopista Nacional, four-way, lack of signal lines, hence the need to push to the extreme precautions night. You will also find farmers in the middle of the road trying to sell strings of garlic, guava paste and cheese.

Be very careful when driving and never exceed the speed limit. As elsewhere, the driver incurs criminal liability in case someone is injured and imprisonment in case of death. Remember that if you violate the terms of the insurance policy and if the car is completely damaged due to an accident, you can not leave Cuba after the corresponding compensation.

On main roads you will find checkpoints operated by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR). It is not quite clear warning signals but you still need to make an effort to identify and reduce the speed limit. We will ask you to pay a fine in cash. Fines must be recorded by the police officer on the lease of the car (which you should always carry with you or in the car). This fine shall be paid at the time of making the car rental company.