General Cuba Tourist Information - Real Havana: Explore Cuba Like a Local and Save Money - page 36

common occurrence. Because most vehicles in Cuba are old and the roads are
heavily patrolled by police, drivers are very respectful of the speed limits. Just be
mindful not to choose a taxi which looks too old, as breakdowns on the road are
common and can lead to trip delays.
Local Taxis
There are two official forms of taxis in Cuba: State taxis and Taxis Particulares .
States taxis are usually painted yellow and black and have a taxi placard on the
roof of the vehicle. These taxi vehicles are owned by the state and the fleet is
mostly composed of boxy, Soviet-style cars dating from the 1980's, or more mod-
ern Chinese or Korean brand vehicles. The taxis will pick you up and drop you off
directly at your destination. They have a fare meter which can calculate the trip
cost, but these meters are rarely used. In the vast majority of instances, the fares
are negotiated before the trip. While prices vary according to your location, trip
distance and negotiating ability, a general rule of thumb is to estimate about 1
CUC per kilometer of travel (for short-haul trips). Cross city trips usually cost less
than 5 CUC. Always negotiate the fare beforehand so as to avoid unpleasant sur-
prises. These taxis are plentiful in all large cities and it is usually not a problem to
hail one from the side of the road by simply raising your arm into the street.
The other form of taxi in Cuba is the Taxi Particular . These are officially licensed
taxis which are operated out of privately owned, older model vehicles, usually dat-
ing from the 1960's or before. They have taxi placards in the window, but other
than that, they are almost indistinguishable from other vehicles on the road.
These taxis operate along a fixed route and will pick you up and drop you off at
any point along that route, but will not bring you directly to a particular destination.
These taxis are communal, and they usually hold 5 to 8 passengers, plus the
driver. They basically operate like tiny buses. Next to walking and taking the bus,
they are the most common form of transportation in Cuba. The cost to use these
taxis is 10 pesos (MN), payable when you exit the taxi.
How to Hail a Taxi Particular
If you want to explore Cuba like a local and save a lot of money in transportation
costs, you definitely have to learn how to use Taxis Particulares. The process of
hailing one of these taxis is very simple. Just wait along the sidewalk of a main
road leading in the general direction that you wish to travel. Extend your arm into
the road and try to make eye contact with the passing drivers. Within moments a
car will pull to the side and stop. Simply tell the driver the destination you desire
or the neighborhood which you want to visit. If your destination is close to his
route, the driver will tell you to get in. If your routes do not match, the taxi will
simply drive off without picking you up. It might take a little bit of practice at first,
but eventually this will become your easiest and most economical form of