Travel Inspiration with a Rental Car

Cuba is an ideal destination for driving, thanks to its low traffic density. You’ll quickly adapt to the local quirks and may even find yourself smiling at the unique vehicles and moments on the road. It’s not uncommon to encounter horse and ox carts on the highways or trucks carrying passengers. Stopping on the highway to purchase a kilo of cheese or onions from roadside vendors is also perfectly normal.

We want to present you two classic road trip routes: one for the western part of Cuba and one Cuba road trip intinerary for the eastern part. With a rental car, you can easily explore additional interesting sites along the way without needing to plan overnight stays. If you wish to explore all of Cuba in a single vacation, consider combining these two routes. However, you’ll need more than 14 days to fully experience both regions.

Discover Western Cuba from Havana

Most flights arrive in Havana, making it a common starting point for rental car tours. You can pick up your car directly at the Car rental Havana airport and begin your journey. In Havana itself, having a car is less necessary, as the city is easily navigated on foot or by affordable taxis. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town features narrow streets with limited parking. Before picking up your rental car, check with your accommodation for recommendations on secure parking options.

In the more spacious residential areas of Vedado and Miramar, the wide streets offer more parking opportunities. However, it's still important to ensure the car is parked in a secure location.

Before embarking on your round trip, we recommend exploring the capital's highlights in style in a vintage convertible. This will give you a taste of the local roads and how Cubans navigate traffic. The tour will take you past landmarks such as the Capitol, through Centro Habana to the university, along the Malecón harbor promenade to Revolution Square, and through the city forest. You'll also visit the Miramar district, known for its villas and embassies. The Cuba vintage car rental is only possible with a Cuban driver and not for self-drive.

Alternatively, consider driving to the other side of Havana Bay to see the impressive Christ statue or the El Morro fortress. You'll pass through the tunnel under the harbor entrance, which is also the route taken from the Old Town toward Varadero or Trinidad.

Experience has shown that rental cars are typically collected on the morning of the round trip’s start. However, despite pre-booking, the car may not always be available at the scheduled time. Therefore, it is advisable to pick up the rental car the afternoon before your trip begins. This allows you to start your journey relaxed and gives you enough time for stopovers, such as in Soroa or Las Terrazas if you're heading towards Viñales like in our example round trip, or if your first destination is Cienfuegos or Trinidad you may have a break in the Bay of Pigs. You can drop-off your car at several points: Car rental Trinidad, Cienfuegos car rental, Varadero car rental in the town or at the car rental Varadero airport.

Exploring Eastern Cuba from Holguín

If your focus is solely on the eastern part of Cuba, Holguín International Airport will likely be your first point of contact with the island. Upon arrival, you can either collect your rental car directly at the airport or, if you prefer a more relaxed start, pick it up later from a rental point in the city center or a beach hotel in Guardalavaca. Another options is Santiago de Cuba car hire in the city centre or car rental cuba at Santiago airport.

The “Oriente” region is renowned for its lush landscapes and unspoiled charm. The terrain includes steep ascents and some severely damaged roads, making an SUV or jeep the best choice for navigating the area.

However, the effort is rewarded with breathtaking views. Notable spots include the Farola Pass between Baracoa and Guantánamo, and the route to Santo Domingo, which serves as a gateway to hikes to the Comandancia de Plata rebel camp or Pico Turquino.

During the dry season, you can drive along the stunning southern coast between Pilón and Santiago de Cuba. This drive offers a unique experience, but the rougher sections of the road are only passable with a 4x4. For a break, you can find simple beach hotels in Marea del Portillo and Chivirico, where the Sierra Maestra Mountain Range forms a majestic backdrop as you cool off in the sea.

You can view our recommended itinerary for the eastern region here. If a direct flight to Holguín is not available, you can also travel by bus from Havana. With Viazul, this route is often offered at night, so you lose little valuable travel time. The car rental agencies in the different spots are VIA rent a Car Cuba and for automatic transmission we can offer Cubacar car rental and Havanautos car rental. Depending on the season, it may be worth comparing Cuba car rental prices.