If your dream is a trip to Cuba in complete autonomy and freedom, know that doing so is possible: just get organized and know some fundamental aspects.
During the organization of the trip to Cuba I came across several sites and blogs that advise against renting a car to get around the island due to several reasons: bad or poorly traveled roads, lack of fuel, difficulty in getting around the cities by car.
I organized my trip through an agency and they offered me several options: car rental with driver, car rental without driver o group travel by bus. Surely it would seem preferable to move in a group or in pairs with a guide but I prefer to have the freedom to move or stop in one place while remaining independent from others.
This is why we decided to rent a car without a driver and go on an adventure.
Car rental in Cuba: cons
I have to confirm what I have read on the web, that is driving in the city is not recommended, especially if you are in the capital. We have in fact chosen to spend 3 days in Havana, arriving by bus from the airport, and we moved almost exclusively on foot. To discover all the areas of Havana I recommend you do a taxi tours, old cars from the 50s, such as the very famous Chrysler, Ford and Chevrolet, driven by local young people who will be your Cicero. The cost is between 20 and 30 euros.
Outside of Cuba, the problem is actually the rough and deserted roads: we have moved between Havana, Casas Particulares Cienfuegos, Casa Particular in Santa Clara, Trinidad e Varadero. I must confess that while traveling we often almost regretted having rented a car: some roads were really desolate and at the same time the road surface was ruined and full of potholes.
As for the fuel, you have to be careful not to run out of water so my advice is to stop for gas even if the tank is not empty. You will save yourself from finding yourself in thin air with the car that no longer starts. It is not always easy to find the type of fuel your car needs but it is a surmountable problem.
Car rental in Cuba: pro
The rental cars are not the old Chevrolets of Havana but semi-new and equipped cars that arrive at their destination. They are well controlled by the staff of the agency, who are very kind and will take away any doubts about the functioning of the car, the roads that are best to travel and the behaviors to keep while traveling. In addition, in the event of a car breakdown you will have a contact number. It didn't help us but the agencies are serious and certainly won't let you down.
Another point in favor of car rental is theassistance, guaranteed by the agency in Italy but reserved for customers also by the structure in Cuba. We had a small hitch during the signing of the contract in Cuba that our Italian agency was very quick to solve.
The convenience of the service is the pick up at the hotel or in a nearby facility and the possibility of delivering the car to the other side of the island.
The most engaging aspect is obviously the adventure that you live by traveling the streets of Cuba with your “own” car and in absolute autonomy. All the more so for the fact that you only need your driving license to be able to circulate.
Latest tips:
If my experience has been convincing to make you choose to travel by car, before proceeding I recommend that you equip yourself with map of the island of offline maps, obviously to be downloaded before departure for Cuba. They will be very useful to guide you during the trip.
Personally I preferred to rent the car and I found myself extremely well, but the numerous agencies in Havana allow you to rent without problems even once on site.
One piece of advice that agency employees give is to do not pull over to pick up hitchhikers. They could stop you even with an excuse but you are justified in continuing. Trust me, you will find many along the main roads.
Now you are ready for your very own adventure. Whichever means you choose, I wish you have a good trip to the Caribbean.
