[Mario]

in reply to: 14 day itinerary??? #7995

Hi, thank you for contacting me.

 

This will certainly be an adventure. I love it. It will not always be easy, but it will absolutely be fun. You will feel free and really experience Cuban culture. It will be as much a trip about exploring a different country as it is about exploring yourself.

 

Here are some of my tips and general remarks.

– Most locals in Cuba get around the island by basically backpacking. Young people generally don’t have cars or much money. When they have to get from one place to another they either take the bus or hitchhike.

– It will be harder for you to hitchhike, but not impossible. As an obvious foreigner (since you don’t speak Spanish) everybody will expect you to have money. You will have to adjust your budget accordingly.

– Or, you can just travel less. Cuba is not a huge country, but at the same time, if you want to get from the eastern tip to the western tip, it is over 1000 kms. You don’t have to explore it all just to experience Cuba.

–  It would be a good idea to know your budget a bit better. For 4 weeks you will probably need a minimum of 1500$ (USD). You might not spend it all, but it’s better to have left over than to not have enough. If you really rough it, you will probably only spend about 1000$… But it’s not much money.

 

– A rustic room in Havana will cost you about 15$ per night. And December is the peak season, so you will have trouble finding a room for those prices. You might have to explore the areas outside the city.

– Food will set you back about 5 to 10$ per day, depending on your diet. Bare minimum is 5$ per day, and you won’t get so much for that…. But you will survive.

 

– Will you be partying at all? Do you drink? Beers are 1$ each. Rum is cheap if you buy a bottle.. Locals drink more rum.

– Do you like biking? You might want to bring a bike and use that for cheap transportation.

 

My advice for an itinerary would be this.

 

1st week – Havana. Explore the city. Have some fun, make some friends. Explore Old Havana. The whole thing is like a museum. You don’t have to pay extra to get inside museums… just walk around and take in the natural sights. Get lost during the day exploring all the different neighborhoods. There will never be a dull moment. Don’t feel like you have to rush… Havana will be a culture shock (probably) so just take it all in.

 

Go to the beaches in Havana. December will be low season for the beaches so the casa prices there will be cheap. You can easily find a room a few blocks from the beach for 15$ per night. The best beaches are in Guanabo, about a 30 minute drive by taxi from Havana.. the price for a communal taxi ride there is about 2$ or less.. Check out my youtube page for all the details in the dozens of videos.

 

Now, you have 2 choices. Once you are done Havana, you can either go east or west. It depends if you want to travel further, or explore a smaller geographical area in more depth. Do you want to explore all of Cuba, or explore a smaller part of Cuba (western part) in depth? You won’t likely have to to hit both areas. You can, but you would be spending a lot of time in transit….

Option 1 (West)

2nd week –  When you get tired of Havana, got to Vinales. Take the Viazul bus to get there.. It costs about 25$, but you won’t likely find a cheaper route. The bus first stops in Pinar del Rio, then goes to Vinales. Vinales is probably one of the most amazing places in the world. Look up some photos of the valley online… There are valleys, hills (Mogotes), caves, rivers, and even a beach not far away. Fruit plantations, farms, tobacco fields, horseback riding….Stay in Vinales of close to it for 1 week or more. Live with a Cuban family… You will think that you have gone back in time 200 years… It’s a different lifestyle… You can get lost there. Explore the area around Vinales well. The locals will be glad to show you and if you make friends you will have an easy time. If you are looking for action “events” to fill every moment, you might be disappointing. But if you want a relaxing time, and can enjoy “slice of life” moments, then it will be heaven.

 

By now you will be at least 50% through your trip… I would suggest you start heading back to Havana, but take the slow route. Hitchhike back.. Take 5 days or more to get back. Stop in all the little towns. Housing in these areas will be very inexpensive. It might cost you 5cuc per day to crash on somebody sofa… In a small town in Cuba, that’s a lot of money and you can stretch every dollar if you are on a tight budget.

 

Once back in Havana, enjoy the city a bit more. You might have extra money left over, so enjoy a few nights out. The Malecon is a great place for meeting people. You will see the major differences between county folks and city dwellers…

 

Option 2 (East)

If, after your first week in Havana, you want to explore a large swath of Cuba, then head east… You can take the overnight bus all the way to Santiago. It will cost you like 45cuc, but it will be money well spent. Santiago is the easternmost big city on the island. You will have about 20 days left to explore Cuba and return back to Havana.

 

So, you can visit every major (and minor) city between Santiago and Havana.

 

Holguin – Beautiful city, filled with attractive women. It is am gorgeous place. There is a large hill in the middle of the city.. Go to the top for a beautiful view. There is a nice beach just a few hours away in Guardalavaca…

 

Las Tunas – Smaller city with great people.

 

Camaguey – A large, sprawling metropolitan. Playa Santa Lucia is close-by and very beautiful and underdeveloped. You can walk on stretches of this pristine beach and never see another human for miles… It’s really something.

 

Ciego de Avila – Another nice town. Small, but charming. You are about half way back to Havana now. 

 

Santa Clara – Always a popular city… Rich in history and known for it’s kind people.

 

Cardenas – Just beside Varadero. It’s a cheap alternative to Varadero, if you can’t afford a hotel. Varadero is the most popular beach in Cuba. It will be packed with tourists, butat least you can say that you saw it…

 

Matanzas – The closest major city to Havana. It’s a calm place but the locals know how to have fun. Maybe catch a baseball game while you are there..

 

Then back to Havana.. 

—–

Anyway, as you can see, the 2 types of routes are very different. In option 1 you will likely make closer friends with locals, since you will be staying in places longer. You will get a better feel for the real Cuban lifestyle and culture.

 

In option 2, you get to explore a larger area. You can say you have spend a bit of time in each Cuban city and you know a bit about each place. It will be much harder to make close friends, since you will be moving a lot. You will also spend more time in transit.

 

Anyway, tell me a bit more about yourself and I can try to suggest different things.

 

Also, as for surfing, Cuba is not really known as a great surf place. You can catch some small waves, but it is really beginner level stuff.

[Mario]

in reply to: Restaurants / Paladars in Old Havana ( Habana Vieja ) #7990

Hi Victor!

For restaurants in Havana, a great website is http://www.alamesacuba.com/en/la-habana/

It lists almost all the restaurants in the city, even the tiny ones, and in some cases even puts up the menu.There are lots of photos too. Unlike tripadvisor.com, on this website you get more facts and less customer reviews (which tend to be all over the place and confusing.

 

I have a short list of some restaurants in Old Havana which I have gone to and found to be a very good value. 

 

Doña Eutimia – A nice place. It’s a tourist restaurant, so the prices are not exactly low, but still, for the ambiance and the food, it is not bad. It’s close to Plaza de la Cathedral (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/dona-eutimia/#!/gallery)

Los Nardos – It’s probably the most popular restaurant in Old Havana, if not in Cuba. It’s hard to get into sometimes because there is a long lineup. Lots of tourists and locals. Ask for the Cuban menu, as the prices are lower. (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/los-nardos/#!/gallery)

 

El Asturianito – The prices here are cheaper. The restaurant is in front of the Capitolio. Local Cubans love this restaurant and it is starting to attract foreigners too. A good all around place. (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/el-asturianito/)

 

Habana 61 – This is a newer restaurant. I stumbled upon it one day and I was quite pleased with the food and service. It is a bit more upscale, but the prices are reasonable. The ambiance is modern/European. It’s a cool place and gives you an idea of what the restaurant scene in Cuba is developing into. (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/habana-61/)

 

La Moneda Cubana – A nice place. This is really a family run establishment. They will cater to whatever you want. Even if they don’t have a dish on the menu, they will make it for you if you want. Every day they have different specials. (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/la-moneda-cubana/)

 

Europa – A state run restaurant located on Obispo street. It’s tourist oriented and the prices are a little higher than the other restaurants on the list, but it is convenient and they often have live music playing. On the website you will see a pretty accurate price list. You can expect to pay about 10$ per person for a full meal, which is not bad for a restaurant in Old Havana. (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/europa/)

 

 

Also, restaurant La Mina is similar… you can check it out here (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/la-mina/)

 

Chu-Chu-Wah – For something casual, this is a good place. The prices are cheap, but the food is good. It’s like a fast-casual restaurant you would find anywhere in the world. They serve Italian food and also hamburgers.. They have a website with prices too (http://www.actiweb.es/chuchuwah/)

and (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/chu-chu-wah/)

 

Art Pub – Like a pub; food and drinks. Locals like this place. Popular with students. It’s small, but very clean and good looking. It’s a simple place, and that is part of it’s charm. Not expensive. (http://www.alamesacuba.com/es/la-habana/restaurant/art-pub/#)

 

I hope this helps you. I didn’t write much about the foods at the different restaurants. If you’ve been to Cuba then you already know that most restaurants basically sell the same types of foods. The list of available ingredients in local markets is low, so there is not a whole lot of variability in restaurant offerings. Pork, pizza, pasta, some fish, chicken. The main differences between restaurants is how they present the foods and the ambiance. All of the above restaurants should be appealing and they are a good value.

take care and have a great trip!

• This reply was modified 9 years, 5 months ago by Mario.

[Mario]

in reply to: 14 day itinerary??? #7988

Hi Brittany.

I can certainly help you organize your trip. I would just need to know a bit more of what you like doing. Do you like exploring the city, or the countryside, or both. Do you like the beach? Horseback riding? Hiking? Museums? Relaxing?

Cuba has something for everybody. You can visit Havana and have the best time of your life and it will not even be expensive.

 

Here are some examples:

 

Days 1 to 4 – Land in Havana and stay in a Casa Particular. I list dozens of great casas on my website. You just choose one that you like and I can make the reservation for you. They are spacious, clean and cheap. You can spend maybe 3 or 4 days exploring Havana. It’s a beautiful city and you will always find something interesting to do. Check out little shops, see all the sights, explore Old Havana, check out some museums, eat local foods, go to some shows, dance salsa at the Casa de la Musica, walk along the Malecon at night. You will love the city.

Days 5 to 7 – Go to Vinales. It’s a beautiful valley, located a few hours from Havana. It is one of the most untouched natural places on the planet. You can ride horses through the countryside, climb limestone hills (Mogotes), explore caves, see pineapple and fruit plantations, see how tobacco is farmed and prepared. This is the kind of Cuba that is natural and authentic. This is about as far away from modern living as you can get. It’s a wonderful experience.

Days 8 – 11 – You can go to the beach. Stay either in a hotel in Varadero (it won’t be very expensive) or rent a casa particular in Varadero or Guanabo (which is close to Havana). You can have fun on the beach and in the ocean, eat great food, dance and enjoy the nightlife. It’s a place to relax and enjoy yourself. Forget all your worries.

Days 12-14 – Return to Havana and visit some of your favorite places again. By now you know the city well, you have learned about Cuban culture a bit. You are comfortable and at ease in the Havana. You are probably already starting to make plans for your next trip to Cuba….

—-

The most important suggestion I can give you is to keep things simple. 2 weeks might seem like a long time, but Cuba is a big country. You won’t get to see all of it. Your best bet is to learn Havana pretty well, then spend a bit of time in the countryside and a bit at the beach. It will give you a good overview of Cuba. And you don’t want to spend too much time in transit. If you have to spend more than 4 hours to get to a location, then it’s probably not worth it, especially if you only have 14 days. Each day is precious and you don’t want to waste one sitting on a bus.

 

I can give you lots more suggestions and help. Just tell me a bit more about what you like.

 

take care,

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: 14 day itinerary??? #7987

Hi, I will give you a detailed response by this evening.

[Mario]

in reply to: Taxi tour in Havana #7951

Hi, all the taxis are owned by the government. The drivers are licensed by the state. Maybe I am not understanding your question correctly….

If there are agencies offering specific taxi tours then they are simply hiring local taxi drivers. I imagine those tours would be rather expensive. You might be best off just asking a local taxi driver to take you on a tour of the city. A lot of the taxi drivers hang around the capitol building waiting for fares. If you approach them as a foreigner, they will likely overcharge you a bit for regular trips, but offer you a great price for a taxi tour (compared to prices that “official” taxi tours agencies would ask).

 

If you need a specific list of places which I would suggest visiting on your tour, I have indicated them below. 

Starting in Vedado:

-Malecon (National hotel, US interest section, Riviera hotel built by Meyer Lansky, Melia Cohiba hotel,)

-Tunel of 5^th Avenue

-Miramar through 3^rd Ave till the Russian Embassy, the biggest one in Cuba, former Soviet embassy and then back through

– the 5^th avenue, embassies of Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and future US embassy….., park of 24^th and 5^th avenue with the big ficus trees more than 100 years old

-then the metropolitan park of Havana (the forest and the river), Nuevo Vedado quarter, bordering Colon Cementery

-Market of Tulipan for a juice, lunch or browsing.

-Revolution Square, Carlos III, Reina, China Town, Capitolio, Central Park, Prado Promenade

-Tunel of the bay of Havana, Christ of Havana for a global view of the city

-and then back through the tunnel and the harbor avenue, 4 caminos market area and the “interior” part of the city (Cerro)

 

End either in Old Havana or go back to Vedado.

 

A trip like this would likely cost about 30cuc to 40cuc. Not more. And last about 1.5 hours. At those rates, almost any driver in an old American car would agree to take you. A formal agency would likely charge at least twice that price. I have seen some drivers in nice shiny cars ask for over 100$ for this same trip.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 2 months ago by Mario.

[Mario]

in reply to: Where do I find cadecas? #7845

From my experience, maps are hard to come by in Havana. If you need a professional map, your best bet is to buy one (probably online) before you leave. But they don’t come cheap.

My advice would be to simply print out a map from this website. You can see here (https://bestcubaguide.com/best-havana-map/) the map that I always use when I am in Havana. It’s easy to read once printed out and it has all of the most common streets. You should be able to get around fine with this map.

As for CADECAs, I don’t think there is a map which lists all of them. But you really should not have trouble finding a CADECA. There are hundreds scattered all over the city. And once you change a few hundred dollars, you won’t need more money for a while. There are a few CADECAs on 23rd street and you will find them at most large markets. In Old Havana there are a few on the popular tourists streets (Obispo) and another near the Old Square. Basically, if you keep your eyes open for a CADECA, you will find one. No map needed.

[Mario]

in reply to: Where to put my stuff while I'm at the beach? #7833

This was always my biggest concern when I went to Cuba my first time. In reality, it was never a factor at all.

Are you staying at a hotel or casa particular? I’ve never had any trouble leaving money in my hotel room. Put away at the bottom of a luggage, or inside a hidden backpack pocket, it would be pretty safe. It’s rather uncommon for serious robberies to happen at hotels, since the staff is payed well and it would be so easy to determine which maid was working when your things were stolen.

If you are staying in a casa, you safety is even more assured. Casa owners are paranoid about guest safety because if you get robbed while staying at their place, they could lose their rental permits. I’ve always left my money in casas. Not out in the open, but in a luggage or in the freezer… Even if a thief somehow got into the house, he would have to search a while before actually finding anything. It’s unlikely. I won’t say these things never happen, but the chances are very low…

As for going to the beach… it’s a tricky answer. I would never suggest traveling around with all your money. You will probably have at least 1000$ will you… It’s not ideal to be carrying that kind of cash around, and it’s very uncommon. I would have to advise you to leave most of it in your room, (you can hide it in a few places if you are really concerned) rather than walking around with it. By taking it around with you, you are open to not only theft, but also lose by misplacing it. It’s double the risk. And it would be much more likely that it just slips out of your pocket than getting stolen. 

In my opinion, when i go to the beach, I bring about 100$. I have maybe 5$ in coins, which i keep in my swim shorts (in the zipper pocket) and the rest, I put in a small plastic bag, also in the zipper pocket. If you are planning to bring more money, then I suggest you pick up a little plastic container (usually sold at dollar stores) which can hold a roll of money, and can be worn around you neck. I have one, although i never used it. Here is an example : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-Container-Airtight-Case-Id-Keys-Money-Holder-Beach-Camping-Random-ST-/171650124250?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27f72509da

• This reply was modified 9 years, 7 months ago by Mario.

[Mario]

in reply to: Is El Cerro safe? #7832

Hi, I love Hemingway too. Almost an obsession. Visiting Cuba, you might get a feel for why he liked the country so much.

Now, about safety, I can say with 100% certainty that all of the areas you mentioned are safe. There will be some people who tell you to watch out or maybe they can name a single bad anecdote that they heard from somebody, but I say, it is safe, completely.

I have lived for months in Cerro, near the Plaza de la Revolucion. I’ve walked the streets day and night. The area has a bad reputation. There are dogs in the street sometimes broken bottles, but never once has anybody every even approached me to ask for money or anything. The most trouble I got was from a small dog barking at me once. In my opinion, there is absolutely no reason to be worried about walking around in this area. And if somebody ever comes up to you and notices you as a tourists and starts chatting you up (a clear sign that they are just setting you up to ask you for some small change), just continue walking, without responding. They will lose interest right away.

Casablanca/Cojimar/Regla is just as safe. Even on a busy day there will not be many people there. In the summer especially. It will be hot and humid. You won’t be hassled by anybody.

I will say, safety in Cuba is a top priority for the government. It is extremely rare for tourists to have serious safety issues. The street beggars and restaurant scams are the biggest concerns, and even if you are completely blind and fall for those things, the most you will lose is a few bucks. 

Assaults, robberies, things like that… you would really have to try your best to get into a bad situation for something like that to happen to you.

[Mario]

in reply to: Taxi tour in Havana #7777

As for the Havana tour, I think 2 hours would be enough. Tomas might ask you what you like to see. In my opinion, I would tell him this.

1) I would ask him to drive a bit around the Miramar neighborhood, (there is a place called La Puntilla, and there are large hotels and things in Miramar). It’s not super exciting, but if you are in Vedado, you likely won’t walk to this area, so at least now you get to see it a bit. This might take 25 minutes.

2) Then he can take you around Vedado, along 23rd street. These will be places that are more of interest to you. You might ask for a drive-by of Parque Almendares. It’s a nature park right under the 23rd street bridge. It’s joining to Miramar, so it is not far at all. Another 25 minutes maybe

3) Meander through Vedado and then get into Central Havana. Spend a bit of time driving along Infanta and then turn on Carlos Tercero. It will give you a great idea of the area. (20 minutes)

4) By now you will be in Old Havana, in front of the Capitol building. He can drive you around this area. Taxis can’t really go into Old Havana much, but he can take you for a tour around it. Drive by the harbor. Old Havana is a place that you explore on foot, and you will have tons of time for this later on your trip. 15 minutes.

5) From there, I would ask him to pass through El Cerro neighborhood. It’s a poor, densely packed area. You will see locals only in this area. He can take Maximo Gomez down into Cerro a bit and then turn up on Tulipan. (20 minutes)

5) At Tulipan and Ayesteran street, you will be in the neighborhood of Plaza de la Revolucion. His daughter (Gretel) lives here. Maybe he even invites you up for a drink. In either case, he can now drive past the Revolucion square and all the monuments to Cuban leaders. Your casa particular in Vedado is just a few blocks away and Tomas would bring you back there. You would get a good idea of Havana’s layout and you could explore the places which are most interesting to you later. (15 minutes.)

Anyway, maybe Tomas has an even better tour planned. This would just be my idea. Either way, it’s always great to drive around Havana in a vintage car.

[Mario]

in reply to: Cheap casa particulares #7772

Also, booking is available directly on the website. Just input your dates and your message will be automatically sent to the landlords and the booking will get confirmed.

[Mario]

in reply to: Taxi Varadero #7712

Hi, I got in contact with some of my friends in Cuba who are in that area and who work in tourism. Apparently, a lot of the cars are booked now. With the influx of American tourists you might have a hard time sourcing a rental car. All my sources are dry right now. I really won’t be able to help you in that area at the moment.

Renting a car is not idea. Really, there are many horror stories about tourists getting into accidents, leading to problems. There is a good chance you won’t have any problems at all. It’s just that when you do have trouble, they can quickly become major.

Getting a taxi to bring you from Varadero to Jibacoa would be an option, but it will be expensive. A ride like that would have to be at least 80cuc. If you can find it for less, it is a good value. The taxi option, in addition to costing about the same as a rental, and being safer, since you are not liable for accidents, also has the advantage that the driver is Cuban and will likely know the route to the destination.

I have heard that, in the general Varadero/Matanzas area, Jibacoa has the best places for snorkeling. But it’s also rather difficult to get to since it is a small community with not many tourists. There are only 2 or 3 resorts in that area. There are places closer to Varadero which will be almost as good. It really depends how hardcore you are. Coral Beach is about 20 minutes from downtown Varadero and a taxi would cost probably 40cuc to take you there. It’s not the best, but it’s an easy excursion. There are some reviews here (http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g147275-d2623390-Reviews-Coral_Beach-Varadero_Matanzas_Province_Cuba.html#REVIEWS)

Ultimately, snorkeling is very dependent on personal tastes. There are many people who take the catamaran from Varadero (most hotels offer this excursion) and it goes out about 5km from shore, and there are tons of colorful fish and ocean creatures. It’s not coral, but it only costs about 20cuc. For the average person, they have an amazing trip. But if you are really into diving and are more professional, this will not be so impressive. But, from what I hear, if you are a pro, then Jibacoa will not blow you away either.

In then end, I say, if you want to get out there and explore, Going to Jibacoa for snorkeling is a great idea. It’s away from major tourist areas, and it will be a fun trip. Going to Santa Cruz del Norte will be interesting as well. It’s a very small town, but it’s cool to see. Ultimately, I would have to say, the best recommendation on an excursion like this is to rent your own car. It will really give you a lot more independence and over the course of a few days it will be cheaper. But, if there are no cars to rent, then you might have to adjust your plans, perhaps opting to stay closer to Varadero and only taking a taxi.

As a side note, I will just say, if you get 5kms away from Varadero, already there will be no tourists in sight. 99.9% stay within the Varadero boundaries. So, if you just want to get away and explore an area where there are Cubans and no tourists, you really don’t have to go far. Even if you go for a long walk in the town of Cardenas, just beside Varadero, there is a good chance you will be the only foreigner.

Have a wonderful trip and if you have more questions, just ask.
Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Taxi Varadero #7711

Hi, I will consult some of my friends who live in that area and ask them what their best advice is. I will have a response for you shortly.

Thanks.

Mario

[Mario]

in reply to: Airport Pick-ups and taxis #7708

If you arrive in Havana, we can arrange an airport pickup to take you form the airport, directly to your casa particular. The cost is only 25cuc. This is cheaper than the standard rate for airport taxis (30cuc). You save 5cuc by booking ahead of time. If you need this service, just send me an email at Mario@bestcubaguide.com

The taxi driver will be waiting at the airport at the time your flight lands. Once you get out of the airport terminal, you will see the driver holding a sign with your name on it. He will take you to Havana and bring you directly to your casa.

If you need to exchange money at the airport, he will wait for you, it’s no problem. You don’t have to exchange all your money. But it’s a good idea to change a bit, just to start. The exchange office at the airport is open 24 hours… But the offices in Vedado close at about 7pm. For this reason, if you are arriving to Havana late, you should maybe exchange 100$ or 200$ at the airport, so that you have a bit of walking around money for when you get to Vedado. If you want to go out and have a drink when you arrive, at least you have some cash.

[Mario]

in reply to: Breakfast? #7707

Hi,

Breakfast is almost never included in the price. It usually costs an additional 3 to 5 cuc per person, per day. Honestly, this service is very convenient, and the breakfasts are usually very large and good. But at the same time, there are many local restaurants in Havana, and you can get a good breakfast sandwich with juice and coffee for about 1cuc per person. It really depends on your choice. When you arrive in Havana you can simply tell the host that you want breakfast, and it will be prepared for you. Most casas also offer meal services throughout the day. These are more expensive. The meals are typically really good. I recommend you try them at least once, just to get a taste of homemade, authentic Cuban food.

[Mario]

in reply to: Bike shop in Havana? #7589

Bike rentals are expensive. I suggest that you bring your own bike.
Where are you leaving from? You can usually bring a bike in your checked luggage for free, or low cost, and if you bring it back home after, it is usually free. Or you can leave it there and change a locals life… But really, buying a beater bike in Cuba will cost at least 60$. And it will be crap. Bring your own if you can. If you really cannot, then go to the area around the old Cuatro Caminos market, and there are dozens of sellers.

Warning, the bikes are mostly crap… But that’s what they have in Cuba.
As for rentals, it will basically cost even more to rent a bike, even a crap bike. Decent bikes will cost over 15$ per day to rent, and are always at risk of being stolen.

I made a video detailing some tips for biking in Cuba, you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4K_b4ql54A

There are other videos on my youtube channel with dozens of great places to see in and around Havana.
Have a great trip!

[Author]

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