Can anyone help? I am wondering how accessable Havana is from Varedro? we are staying at beaches varedro in october and desperatly want to go into Havana. will it be possible to get cheap transport? ive heard that native cubans have the right to be picked up on street corners by the bus contuctors if they are seen to be hithchiking, can tourists do this or do we have to pay.
i also want to go into the jungle by foot, how realistic is this, we will be in Varedro for two weeks on a package holiday?
RETIRING IN SANTIAGO DE CUBA:
I’m interested in retiring, as a senior citizen, in Santiago. I seek any advice as to where to find the most informative data; i.e., accommodations (monthly), meeting other retirees, prices for foreigners, etc. JJY
In response to the inquiry regarding transportation to Havana: The simplest thing is to go to the Viazul bus depot on Calle 36 in Varadero. Pick up a ticket for 10 dollars and enjoy the comfortable ride there. There are about three trips a day - you can enquire at the office or go to the Viazul website.
One warning: The bus stops half way for a bathroom break and refreshments. The prices of pop and beer are highly inflated at these places.Wrong change has been given back to inexperienced tourists.
You will need to take a taxi from the Viazul station in Havana to downtown or old Havana. Depending on the season, expect to pay 3 - 5 dollars.
if anyone ever wants to make an unusual trip from Varadero to Havana try this:
Take the peso bus to Matanzas and go to the Hershey station (not the main train station). From there the last remaining electric train in Cuba (some say in all of latin America) meanders through the back country to Havana’s Casablanca station via Hershey. The 3-4 hr ride costs 2.40 CUC one way. Don’t expect comfort because the trains are old Spanish trains that were built in 1945 and served in Spain for 50 yrs, before Cuba acquired them. DEfiniely a trip outside of the box. Can provide more details in case anyone is interested (Do not confuse this with the tourist train that runs to and around the town of Hershey).