Living Cheaply in Havana - Real Havana: Explore Cuba Like a Local and Save Money - page 137

Riding The Hershey Train
Cuba used to have one of the most well developed railway networks in Latin
America. By most accounts, the system is currently dilapidated, due to old
infrastructure and decades of neglect. Many of the trains still run, but delays and
breakdowns are frequent. As a mode of transportation, the rail option is rather
poor. But in terms of nostalgia and fun, it can be quite the trip.
Although there are several train routes in Cuba, I will only give you a quick break-
down of the one located closest to Havana. This is the most popular one used by
foreigners, although most of the travelers are Cuban. The Hershey train is an elec-
tric rail-car which departs 3 times per day from the Casablanca station, on the
eastern shore of the Havana harbor, and travels all the way to the city of Matan-
zas, located about 100 km east of Havana. In between, the train makes dozens of
short stops and, in many cases, will let you off on demand, anywhere along the
route, if conditions permit.
The Casablanca station is located outside of the city of Havana, on the other side
of the Bay of Havana. You can get to the station by taxi, but the cheapest and
shortest option is to take the Casablanca ferry. This is a ferry which departs from
the Havana ferry terminal (as mentioned in the Havana Suburbs section) located at
the corner of San Pedro and Santa Clara in Old Havana. When you arrive at the
ferry station, make sure to inquire if the next ferry is traveling to Regla or Casab-
lanca. You want to get on the one going to Casablanca. The ferry ride only costs
0.2 pesos (MN). Most foreigners don't have change this small, and simply pay 1
peso (MN).
Once you are at the Casablanca landing, you will see the Casablanca train termin-
al just to the north. It's a very small terminal, looking more like a tram stop. The
overhead electric wires will indicate exactly where it is.
The price to use the train depends on how far you want to go. The main stop
between Havana and Matanzas is located in the miniscule town of Hershey (re-
named to Camilo Cienfuegos). It is at the halfway point between the two cities.
Travel up to this stop costs 1.40 CUC for foreigners. Travel all the way to Matanzas
costs a total of 2.80 CUC. Most foreigners who simply want to take the train for the
nostalgic experience will simply take the first leg of the trip, getting off at the town
of Hershey for a quick exploration, and to wait for the return train to bring them
back to Havana. It's important to note that about 1 km north of the town of Her-
shey, there is the larger, coastal town of Santa Cruz del Norte. It's easy to walk to
and interesting to explore, and you are almost sure to be the only foreigner there.
In order to get back to Havana, simply go back to the station, pay the fare, and
take the next train.