Post-instructions on how to get from Havana Airport in Cuba to Havana and the most popular resort on the island - Varadero.
- Havana airport code: HAV
- International airport name: Jose Marti International Airport
- Airport address: Avenida Nguyen Van Troi, Boyeros, La Habana, Cuba
- Local time: GMT -5
- Opening hours: 24 hours a day
- Visa: A visa to Cuba for Russians and Belarusians is not required when staying on the island for no more than 30 days. Citizens of Ukraine must obtain a visa to visit Cuba. A passport for visiting Cuba is valid for at least 1 month from the end of the trip. When arriving in Cuba, you must fill out a migration card in two copies.
- Currency of Cuba: Cuban peso, 1 peso = 100 centavos. Current exchange rate: 1 Cuban peso = 0.03 US dollars or 2.2 rubles. You can safely change money at the airport, because... the rate is the same everywhere.
- Date of construction of the airport: 1930
- Passenger turnover at Havana Airport: more than 4 million passengers
- Airfare Moscow – Havana: from 390 US dollars roundtrip
- Regular Aeroflot flights from Moscow fly from Russia to Havana airport.
- Location of Havana airport: Cuba island, 11 km south of Havana
- Distance to resorts: Havana Airport - Varadero 170 km
- Airport phone: (53 7) 266 4644 / (53 7) 33 5777
- Weather at Havana Airport throughout the year: the hottest months and the warmest sea are from July to September (average air temperature: +30 +32 °C, average water temperature: +30 °C), the coldest and windiest months are from January to March (average air temperature: + 25 +27 °С)
- Services at the airport Havana: ATMs, post office, currency exchange offices, paid Internet, smoking areas, offices of travel agencies and tour operators, car rental offices, taxi stand, VIP lounge, pharmacy, elevators, playroom for children, rum and cigarette shop, restaurants, cafeterias . The airport does not have luggage storage, hotel or free internet access.
- Beaches closest to the airport: Playa de Este (42 km from the airport), Playa de Jaimanitas (22 km from the airport)
Brief description of the airport
José Martí International Airport in Havana is the largest international airport on the island of liberty and a hub for Cuban airlines Cubana de Aviación. The airport connects Cuba with other Caribbean islands, the USA and Latin America, as well as Europe. The airport in Havana is the only airport in Cuba with regular direct flights from Russia. Travel time Moscow – Havana is 13 hours, flights depart every day.
Havana Airport Terminals
Havana Airport has 4 passenger terminals and 1 cargo terminal.
- Terminal 1 – Domestic flights within Cuba
- Terminal 2 – charter flights from the USA
- Terminal 3 – international flights (including flights from Russia)
- Terminal 5 – flights from the Caribbean
Shuttle buses run between individual terminals.
Among the most popular ways to travel from Havana airport to the center and resorts are bus, taxi, shuttle, and rental car.
Shuttle bus
This travel option is available to those who have purchased a package tour with transfer to their resort. When leaving the airport terminal, you will be greeted by a representative from your tour operator who will tell you which bus you need to take. Some tourists who fly to Cuba on their own make arrangements with transfer guides in advance and travel to their hotel on a bus with other tourists for 25-30 CUC per seat.
Bus to Havana and Varadero
There are no direct comfortable buses from the airport to the center of Havana. Local buses depart from Terminal 1, but fares are charged in Cuban pesos (CUP) rather than Cuban convertible pesos (CUC). The fact is that the money that is exchanged in exchange offices for tourists is the Cuban convertible peso, created specifically for the tourism sector and currency shops. Residents of the country make payments in Cuban pesos.
Some tourists get sophisticated and go from the airport to the highway, where they can wait for hours for a city bus P12 or P16 to get to Havana on a budget. The fare for this bus is 10 pesos for an adult and 5 pesos for a child. The operating hours of the route are approximate, even airport staff may not know it - from approximately 6 am to 21 pm. However, for me, searching for such a bus and waiting for it for a long time in the heat is a dubious pleasure, especially after a many-hour transatlantic flight.
To get to Varadero, you will first need to take a taxi to the bus station in Havana. The address of the bus station in Havana from which buses depart: Ave. 26 y Zoológico, Nuevo Vedado. Buses on the most popular route - Havana - Varadero - run 4 times a day. Travel time is 3 hours, ticket price is 10 US dollars. In Varadero, the bus station is located at Calle 36 y Autopista. Bus tickets are available for sale online at Viazul.com or at the ticket office at the bus station. In addition to Viazul buses, Cuba also has a budget bus carrier, Astro Bus.
Car rental
All rental companies at Havana Airport are located in the arrivals area or near the parking lot. In Terminal 3 there are offices of local car rental companies Cubacar, Rex, Havanautos and Via Transgaviota. It is recommended to book a car in advance, because... During high season, demand for rental cars often exceeds supply. Depending on the time of year and class of car, prices vary from 50 to 125 CUC per day. It is obligatory to purchase insurance at a cost of 15 cookies per day.
It only makes sense to rent a car at the airport if you are going straight from the airport to your resort. If you want to first explore the capital - Havana - then you will not need a car. In this case, you can rent it later in the capital itself.
Travel time by car from Havana Airport: 30 minutes to Havana, 1 hour to Playa de Este, 2 hours to Varadero. On the roads of Cuba you can often see Russian cars from the 1950s: Zils, Ladas, Muscovites. Traffic is not too busy. By car you can reach the most remote corners of Cuba and will not depend on public transport. For example, to the popular Russian hotels Iberostar, Amigo Atlantico, Brisas del Caribe.
If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can book an individual excursion with a driver around the entire island, which will take into account all your wishes.
Taxi transfer from Havana airport
Airport transfer is one of the most convenient ways to get to your resort or hotel. Local taxis can be taken from the stands located in front of all terminals. A taxi ride from the airport to the center of Havana takes approximately 20-30 minutes and costs 20-25 CUC (equivalent to 20-25 USD) one way. Always agree on the cost of the trip in advance, because... Although some taxis are equipped with meters, they are rarely turned on. Please note that taxis for locals are different from taxis for tourists. They are not equipped with air conditioning, broken and not always clean. But the fare for them is very low. There are now fewer and fewer rare taxi cars in Cuba, and orange modern Hyundai and Skoda taxi cars drive from the airport to the city.
Kiwitaxi works with professional transport companies, holding carriers to the same standards in different countries. This allows us to achieve predictable quality of service around the world.
The fastest way to travel from Varadero to Havana
The transfer is 1.5–2.5 times faster than public transport. Due to the fact that you don’t need to adjust to the schedule and don’t have to waste time on stops along the route.
Faster than a taxi on the spot by an average of 5–15 minutes, since the Kiwitaxi driver arrives at the appointed time, and you do not have to waste time searching for the right car and waiting for delivery.
A comfortable option without additional stress
The car you need will arrive. At the time of ordering on the website, you select capacity and additional parameters, for example, a child seat for the desired age.
We meet at a convenient place. At airports, drivers or Kiwitaxi greeters try to be as close to the arrivals area as possible with a sign with the client’s name on it, as far as the rules allow. In hotels we try to meet you at the reception; Varadero is no exception.
You don't need to know the language of a foreign country. Many Kiwitaxi drivers and greeters know Russian, and even more know English. As a last resort, you can communicate with a support manager who definitely knows Russian.
Serviceable cars and professional drivers. Kiwitaxi works with licensed carriers. Transfers are carried out using vehicles that have undergone maintenance and are no older than seven years. Drivers have professional licenses.
Service at an understandable price
The price is fixed at the time of order. Whatever payment option you choose, the price will not change. There may be an additional payment only if you need to travel deviating from the route or make a long stop.
Payment online. You can pay for the service by card on the website. This will allow you not to think about how to exchange money in order to take a local taxi to Varadero to Havana.
They have long been one of the main attractions of Cuba. Visiting them is an important item on a traveler's bucket list. Soft white sand and crystal clear water, despite the rapid construction of beach hotels, make this resort a place where you can enjoy beautiful nature and relax from the bustle of the city.
How to get from Havana to Varadero on your own? Varadero is not so far from Havana, only 134 kilometers. This distance can be covered in a couple of hours, although there are several stops along the way.
Excursion tour
Often travelers who fly to Varadero for a few weeks want to visit Havana. If the trip is planned with an overnight stay, it is better to take an excursion. The tour operator will arrange overnight stays at the hotel and transfers to and from Havana. The excursion will also include a sightseeing tour of the capital. Prices range from 120 CUC (7,500 rubles) per person for a day trip to 2,000 CUC (12,200 rubles) for an overnight excursion. This trip can be booked in advance or requested at the hotel reception.
Solo travel
How to get from Varadero to Havana on your own? If you are planning an independent trip, you can use a taxi, regular buses, or rent a car. Such a trip will save some money and time, because the tourist himself chooses what he wants to do in the capital: sightseeing, shopping or tasting local dishes and Cuban rum.
Bus
The easiest way to get from Varadero to Havana is to take the Viazul bus. The cost of the trip is only 10 CUC (635 rubles). The bus station in Varadero is located on the corner of Calle 36. The station can be easily reached from any hotel, for example, by taxi - the cost is 3-5 CUC (150-200 rubles).
The bus is a great way to get to Havana quickly and safely. It is possible that it will be filled with other tourists wanting to see the capital. It is better to reserve your seat in advance, at least a day in advance. Reservations can be made through the official Viazul reservation system. After confirmation of payment, the tourist receives a receipt by email, which must be printed and exchanged at the bus station ticket office for bus tickets.
In Havana, the bus stops in Old Havana and then in Vedado, the historical district of the city, ending at Vedado Occidental.
Taxi
The option of taking a taxi from Varadero to Havana is more comfortable, but costs much more. The standard cost of a trip is usually about 80 CUC (5,000 rubles), but you can find a cheaper car. Taxi drivers wait for passengers near the Viazul station, sometimes there are already one or two passengers in the car. You can try to join them and split the fare for the trip.
Getting to Havana by taxi will be much faster than by bus, because there will be no stops along the way, and the driver will bring tourists to their desired destination. You can and should bargain with taxi drivers about the price of the trip, because this is part of the Cuban adventure. In Cuba they are traded everywhere, the original price can be significantly reduced. Even if a traveler does not speak Spanish, English is also widely understood here.
From the capital to the resort
From Havana you can get to Varadero using the same methods: bus and taxi. You can also rent a car. Three major car rental companies - REX, Cubacar and Havanautos - offer good cars. The price includes a daily fee for the car, an initial deposit, insurance and several additional fees (delay and damage to the vehicle). This option is only suitable for experienced drivers. After all, driving on Cuban roads is still a pleasure and is often accompanied by increased stress.
Buses from Havana to Varadero leave from the main Viazul station on 26th Avenue, right opposite the old zoo. There are four flights a day: at 6.00, 8.00, 13.00 and 17.30. All buses are modern, air conditioned and very comfortable. The journey lasts three hours. During this time, the bus makes stops where you can have a snack or do a photo shoot.
There are also buses from different bus companies, for example, "Havantur", which go to Varadero, collecting passengers at various city hotels. This travel option is also safe and cheap.
Varadero Airport
From Havana Airport you can get to Varadero by public transport - Viazul buses. Flights depart to the resort several times a day. The journey takes about an hour, the cost is approximately 400-500 rubles per person. Cuban taxi drivers ask about $40 (3,000 rubles) for their services, but you can bargain for half that price.
How to get from Varadero to Havana Airport? The easiest way is a hotel transfer; its cost is often included in the package. If you go on your own, it is better to use a bus or taxi.
Considering the developing extremely deplorable situation with tour operators, we decided to organize our own trip to Cuba. I know where to look for flight tickets and hotels, but what about the transfer from Havana airport to Varadero? Is it possible to book a transfer in advance? Please provide links. Also, do you need insurance if you fly alone?
What is the situation with the transfer from Havana airport to Varadero?
Things are normal
Is it possible to book a transfer in advance?
Maybe
Also, do you need insurance if you fly alone?
No one will ask you for it just for show, but it’s probably still worth having.. :)
Write to LF, I’ll give you a couple of tips on transfers and Havana.
The easiest
www.solwayscuba.com
www.cubatravelnetwork.com
Through the latter we booked hotels in Havana Vieja, choose the one you like, write, we will advise.
You can also take a private driver from the airport, it will be cheaper. But it depends.
Insurance is definitely needed, my friends ended up in the hospital in Holguin, it was very useful.
People, please share your experience. What is the lowest price for air tickets? Well, we won’t take one-time price drops, but let’s say what price is considered the best. I would just like to know the price range. And then I look at Aviasales for March next year and get the cheapest price for two: 115 with two transfers there and one return, or 130 with 1 transfer both there and back.
And one more related question. I searched for a flight to Varadero. I flew to Thailand a lot. So let’s say if you fly to Bangkok, then the price turns out to be much lower than flying to Phuket. Is it the same in this situation? Are the flights to Havana and Varadero any different?
We took through Cubana, direct flight to Havana, 47,000 per person. And then they thought that it was a lot, but there was a direct flight and there were three of us on the flight, and we decided not to wait for the euro to fall, since certain dates were needed. Kubana's price depends on the euro, in my opinion it is 960 euros for a round trip ticket.
Kubana Aviation sells tickets for Aeroflot flights, but they are a little cheaper.
A ticket to Varadero is an unknown thing for me, only once we took it from Transaero, it was $600 one way, but it was from a travel agency, a few days before departure. They told me that they once sold tickets (September-October) to Varadero for 8,000 rubles. That is, these are prices from travel companies that cannot sell their block of seats.
A good price to Havana should be 1000-1200 dollars, it can be even cheaper, but rarely, sometimes people catch it.
Therefore, both 115,000 and 130,000 are expensive, especially with transfers.
What is the lowest price for air tickets?
I would put the price at 33-38 thousand rubles.
This is the real price that Air France-KLM had to Havana this year for some months, the same price is now for January-February 15th
Trances have 45,000 in Varadero for January
.
Are the flights to Havana and Varadero any different?
Explosive airlines fly to these airports..
AFL, AF and KLM to Havana, something else through Madrid..
Transaero, Airberlin and Condor on Varadero..
Prices may change, but this is mainly due to seasonality.
Tickets to Havana are always cheaper. Taking a transfer from Havana to Varadero is not a problem... Plus, Havana is an amazingly beautiful and interesting city... if you really want to go to Varadero, why not fly to Havana, devote at least a couple of days to this city, and from there go to Varadero?
Although I personally would do without Varadero... I would fly to Havana, and from there I would take a tour to Cayo Largo or Cayo Coco... anything better than Varadero would be.
I flew to Havana with Air France and Aeroflot... if the price was equal or there was a slight difference, I would definitely prefer Aeroflot.
I am now puzzled by the same issue of transfer from Havana airport to Varadero. We are going on November 2, arriving by Aeroflot at 5 pm, their regular buses are no longer running at this time. Tour operators do not sell group transfers, and so far I have found the cheapest taxi from a Russian guide for 95 Kuk one way (as I understand it, this is about 4,500 rubles). Tell me, who knows if it’s realistic to give some Russian guide money and get on some Teztur bus? Or is there no point in hoping for this and is it better to book a taxi in advance?
Tour operators do not sell group transfers
Have you tried contacting here? 25 CUC/person
http://www.havanatur.ru/499/502/960/
Is it realistic to give some Russian guide money?
The guides there are Cuban, but they love money no less...
AFL flights are always greeted from Teza; you need to approach the guide wearing a branded polo shirt in the arrivals hall.
If there are seats on the bus, then most likely they will take you, but what price tag will they announce???
If you get involved with a taxi, then it is better to order it; driving in a random car for three hours in the dark is unreasonable.
Have you tried contacting here? 25 CUC/person
http://www.havanatur.ru/499/502/960/
Yes, I called here, they only sell the transfer if you buy the entire tour from them, they don’t want to sell it separately. All tour operators have the same position.
I agree, with a late arrival it is risky to wander around and look for ways to leave on the spot. Do you know from whom you can order a taxi at a reasonable price? I contacted one Russian guide, he offered to meet me for 95 cookies. Is this a normal price?
On a nearby forum they write “At the airport, a ticket for a transfer from a Cuban tour operator costs 25 CUC, one agency is near the exit from the airport, the other is on the right. Private taxi, the lowest price is 70 CUC, but the speed is very low and suitcases do not fit. Official taxi, on a new one "The car wants 120 CUC. From a hotel in Havana, you can also buy a transfer to Varadero for 25 CUC. The transfer takes you to Varodero directly to the hotel. The agency can call a person who understands Russian. The price back is the same."
I don't know how relevant this is. This information is from a year ago. 95 is a good price for a taxi.
Havana and Varadero are among the most popular resorts in Cuba. Many vacationers want to visit both cities during their vacation. The settlements are connected by a direct Viazul bus. By public transport, Havana - Varadero can be reached in 3-3.5 hours. The first flight departs at 06:00, the last at 17:30. How much does it cost to travel from Havana to Varadero? Approximate price: 10 dollars. The bus is equipped with air conditioning, TV, toilet.
If you want to diversify your trip, take the train to Matanzas first. There, board a bus that will take you to your final destination. It takes about an hour and a half to get to Matanzas. Trains depart every 30 minutes. The bus will take you there in an hour.
If you plan to be on the Varadera beaches as soon as possible, use a taxi. You can also book a transfer from Havana to Varadero with Kiwitaxi.
Taxi from Havana to Varadero
Despite the conveniences of Cuban public transport described above, taxis are a more comfortable means of transportation around the island. There are tourist and local taxis in the country.
Tourist is more comfortable and expensive. It is equipped with a radiotelephone and air conditioning. You can pay in dollars. The company operator controls the trip, so it is relatively safe.
Local taxis are usually cheap, but driving such cars is not very pleasant. Most often these are old Soviet cars: Moskvich, Zhiguli. Many private owners do not have licenses and insurance, while transfer drivers always have them.
It is easy to distinguish between public and private taxis. The first ones have blue license plates, the second ones have yellow ones. Officials place the “Taxi” sign on the hood, roof or glass.
One kilometer of travel is usually equal to 1 dollar. The distance between Cuban resorts is about 140 km. It is easy to calculate that the average price of a taxi from Havana to Varadero is $140. However, you will have to pay extra for a large amount of luggage or passengers, as well as for boarding and waiting.
You can bargain with private owners and reduce the price. You will only be able to find out exactly how much a taxi costs from Havana to Varadero upon arrival at your destination.
Transfer from Havana to Varadero
Transfer Havana – Varadero is the most convenient and safest way to travel. Kiwitaxi will provide first-class cars that are no more than seven years old. The transfer interiors are perfectly clean, the seats are new, and the upholstery is smoke-free.
Anyone can find out in advance how much a transfer from Havana to Varadero costs. All information is presented on the website. The amount is fixed and will not change after booking. The cost of an individual transfer Havana – Varadero depends on the class of the selected car. The transfer catalog includes economy, premium and business class cars.
It is better to book a transfer in advance, at least 16 hours before the trip. Payment is made on the website. You can use rubles, dollars or euros. If you decide to first pay only part of the transfer cost, the rest of the amount must be handed over to the driver. If you encounter any difficulties when booking a transfer or have questions, you can contact the support service at any time.
The cost of the transfer is not much different from the tariffs of taxi drivers. In some cases it will be even lower.
Don't forget to indicate the need for child car seats in your application. Only in this case will there be special protection for children in the transfer.
About the route Havana - Varadero
The cities are 140 km apart from each other. You can get there by transfer or taxi in 1 hour 50 minutes. The condition of the track is decent, the roads are smooth. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as admire the streets of Matanzas and other Cuban cities through which you will pass.
