Santiago de Cuba Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

The National Bus Station (cnr Av de los Libertadores & Calle 9), opposite the Heredia Monument, is 3km northeast of Parque Céspedes. Astro (62 60 91) buses go to all Víazul destinations for CUC$3 to CUC$9 cheaper. There are also alternate day departures to Pilón (CUC$10.50, 7½ hours) and Niquero (CUC$10, seven hours).

Passage on Astro buses to Baracoa and Guantánamo are only sold the day of departure (read: if a bus materializes) at the ticket window in the back of the station. Competition is heavy for seats; you're better off traveling with Víazul or taking a truck. Tickets to all other destinations on Astro are sold in Convertibles at the Víazul window beside the station.

Víazul (62 84 84) buses leave from the same station.

The Habana bus stops at Bayamo (CUC$7, two hours), Holguín (CUC$11, four hours 20 minutes), Las Tunas (CUC$11, five hours 35 minutes), Camagüey (CUC$18, seven hours 35 minutes), Ciego de Ávila (CUC$24, 9½ hours), Sancti Spíritus (CUC$28, 11 hours 35 minutes) and Santa Clara (CUC$33 13 hours). The Trinidad bus can drop you at Bayamo, Las Tunas, Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila and Sancti Spíritus.

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Air

Antonio Maceo International Airport (69 10 14; airport code SCU) is 7km south of Santiago de Cuba, off the Carretera del Morro. International flights arrive from Paris-Orly, Madrid, Milan and Rome on Cubana and from Toronto on Air Transat (www.airtransat.ca) and Skyservice(www.skyserviceairlines.com). AeroCaribbean (68 72 55; General Lacret btwn Bartolome Masó & Heredia) flies weekly between here and Port Au Prince, Haiti and twice weekly to Santo Domingo.

Cubana (68 62 58; cnr Calle Saco & General Lacret) flies nonstop from Habana to Santiago de Cuba two or three times a day (CUC$114 one way, 1½ hours). There's a Sunday-only flight to Baracoa for CUC$32.

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