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Take the bus, Gus.
Best way to keep your budget on a roll is to travel by Viazul which is, in our humble opinion the best-run tourist business in Cuba : modern, clean and safe equipment, reclining seats, reasonable speed — 40-50 mph 65-90 kmh average which seems more and more like 35 mph 62 kmh — always on time, no loud music, manned by two professionals (a driver and a ticket/bagage handler who manage to make stops where they'll pick up fresh produce or somesuch to bring home) in some kinda non-freezing, air-conditioned safety.
• Viazul has a ticket office and picks up passengers from Cuba's main bus terminal, the Astro officially named Terminal de Omnibus Interprovinciales near Plaza de la Revolucion Map link here
• The main office is located in Nuevo Vedado on Avenida 26, corner of Zoologico, past the cemetery, in front of the Zoo; arrivals — from points near and far — are at the main terminal.
• Fares are payable in Convertible Pesos or by credit card - amount debited in US$.
• Phone (7) 81-1413, 81-5652 or 81-1108 Fax : (7) 66-6092 If main lines are busy, dial fax, someone will answer.
• Viazul also carries unaccompanied packages large and small; baggage may include a bicycle for a nominal extra charge — a 1cuc tip is expected, even for regular baggage handling. It's up to you.
• Contact viazul @transnet.cu
• www.viazul.com : schedules below were taken from that site. Check site for latest info.
• A bus is called a guagua (gwa-gwa).
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ALL THE ROUTES (RUTAS) OF VIAZUL
— THE BUS LINE RESERVED FOR TOURISTS
AND OTHER FOREIGNERS
CLICK PICTURE TO LINK TO THE CORRESPONDING PAGE ON THE VIAZUL WEBSITE, MATE. |
Viñales 2 x day via Pinar del Rio — Ruta 10
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Holguin 2 x day via Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas — Ruta 16
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Trinidad 2 x day via Entronque de Jaguey, Giron, Cienfuegos — Ruta 18
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Varadero 4 x day via Guanabo (Playas del Este), Matanzas, Aeropuerto de Varadero, Varadero — Ruta 20
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Santiago 3 x day via Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Bayamo, Santiago — Ruta 24
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Trinidad-Santiago 1 x day via Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Bayamo, Santiago— Ruta 25
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Varadero-Santiago 1 x day via Cardenas, Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, Bayamo, Santiago— Ruta 26
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Highway Guide
• 40 pages on major cities, • 12 double-page maps of the island, • 10 double-page maps of La Habana,
• Index of 2.500 cities, towns and villages,
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The national bus transportation service is called Astro, and its terminal (also called Astro) is in Vedado, near the Plaza de la Revolucion, part of a mall with shops, a bank and fast food.
Now air-conditioned, the Astro fleet of Yutong coaches is now 6 years older with seemingly — in Spring 2011 — problems getting spare tires as many busses are sitting on blocks.
Nowadays, most Viazul lines out of their main terminal pass through here because Viazul has an office dedicated to their passengers with coaches passing by here after leaving from the main terminal in front of the Zoo which is further away from the city center in Vedado and Vieja.
This being the national service, it caters only to Cubans who pay in Cuban pesos (Moneda nacional).
Avenida de la Independencia y Calle 19 de Mayo Tel (7) 830-4000 · 830-3300 |
Astro Bus in Holguin © sogestour
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