Average prices for taxis in Havana
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2
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Average prices for taxis in Havana
I've seen this link on tripadvisor https://www.facebook.com/cubacab and I'm interested in some of that tours but I'm unable to determine by myself if the prices are fair. Have anyone been to Cuba before? What are the averages prices for taxis there? Thank you.
Matt
Matt
#2
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
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Everything depends. I know this is a frustrating answer, but we found no consistency between trips around town. Often a cab will have a paper printout with a price to go to a certain site, this price is not set in stone, and you can always work out a better deal.
For Example. We stopped a beautiful cherry red convertible to take us to Hemingway's house. The driver insisted on the hourly rate of 40 CUC, making our trip cost 80+ CUC. We walked away, looking a cheaper option, and the driver chased us down the street and offered to let us take the trip for 40 total. We were gone for 2 1/2 hours for 40 CUC.
You can barter with anyone for a better price, we had a driver take us to the beach, and pick us up three hours later for 35 CUC total.
Same day different car, it took 50 CUC round trip to get to the Tropicana and back.
Always ask for a better price, walk away if you don't like the counter offer and they might call you back (literally ever time I tried this they called me back), classic cars will cost more, convertible classic cars cost the most, have a number in mind when you approach a driver, and tip well. We would get better service at the cab station since the drivers knew we tipped well.
For Example. We stopped a beautiful cherry red convertible to take us to Hemingway's house. The driver insisted on the hourly rate of 40 CUC, making our trip cost 80+ CUC. We walked away, looking a cheaper option, and the driver chased us down the street and offered to let us take the trip for 40 total. We were gone for 2 1/2 hours for 40 CUC.
You can barter with anyone for a better price, we had a driver take us to the beach, and pick us up three hours later for 35 CUC total.
Same day different car, it took 50 CUC round trip to get to the Tropicana and back.
Always ask for a better price, walk away if you don't like the counter offer and they might call you back (literally ever time I tried this they called me back), classic cars will cost more, convertible classic cars cost the most, have a number in mind when you approach a driver, and tip well. We would get better service at the cab station since the drivers knew we tipped well.
#3
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
That site quotes for city to city trips. Try taxivinales for city to city trips.
Did you mean around Havana? Tours rather than point to point taxi ride?
In general, anything booked online from home is going to be more than arranging it from there.
If you are staying in a casa particular, ask the host to help arrange transportation.
Did you mean around Havana? Tours rather than point to point taxi ride?
In general, anything booked online from home is going to be more than arranging it from there.
If you are staying in a casa particular, ask the host to help arrange transportation.
#4
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
In March of 2017, I was in Habana for four days prior to my plan to join a small, intimate tour group for 20 days. Well, in terms of taxis-- the ones that I hailed charged me from $10CUC to $15 CUC to get to and from my specific destinations. Always settle on the price before boarding, and always tip, for these drivers primarily do this in order to receive the currency used by the tourists. Wages are low; thus many professionals have given up their profession in order to work in the service industry.
Tourists pay more for riding in taxis in contrast with what the locals fork out.
Tourists pay more for riding in taxis in contrast with what the locals fork out.
#5
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
"these drivers primarily do this in order to receive the currency used by the tourists. Wages are low; thus many professionals have given up their profession in order to work in the service industry."
Those private taxis are only a small part of the fleet. They keep their earnings. Tips above that?
There are also many state owned taxis whose drivers get a state salary and have not given up a profession that required more education.
Tourists pay more for riding in taxis" because they "settle on the price" rather than bargain, and have no idea of the actual price for the route. Before going out the door, ask your casa host what the going rate should be.
Those private taxis are only a small part of the fleet. They keep their earnings. Tips above that?
There are also many state owned taxis whose drivers get a state salary and have not given up a profession that required more education.
Tourists pay more for riding in taxis" because they "settle on the price" rather than bargain, and have no idea of the actual price for the route. Before going out the door, ask your casa host what the going rate should be.
#7
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Likes: 5
for getting around Havana cheaply, you can use the "collectivo" taxis which run on set routes and keep picking up until they are full; it's 50c [half a CUC] pp for whatever part of the route you travel. You need to know how to ask for your "stop" though, so knowing a bit of Spanish is helpful.
Then there are the ordinary taxis, [yellow ladas] and others which seem to be old foreign cars [not the big american convertibles] where you have to haggle. Finally there are the up-market cars that are featured in all the movies - they will cost quite a lot but again, you need to haggle to get a good price.
If you want to do a specific trip, you can book one through one of the tourist agencies in Havana - they are variously called "Havana tours" or "Cubanacan" - each office is slightly different but if the first one you find can't do what you want, they should tell you how to get to one that can. They will arrange the taxi at the official price - and you may find, as we did, that it's cheaper than doing it privately through your casa owner.
There are also buses - Viazul and in some cases Transtur - operate between the main cities.
This may help:
http://www.cuba-junky.com/havana/hav...sportation.htm
Good luck!
Then there are the ordinary taxis, [yellow ladas] and others which seem to be old foreign cars [not the big american convertibles] where you have to haggle. Finally there are the up-market cars that are featured in all the movies - they will cost quite a lot but again, you need to haggle to get a good price.
If you want to do a specific trip, you can book one through one of the tourist agencies in Havana - they are variously called "Havana tours" or "Cubanacan" - each office is slightly different but if the first one you find can't do what you want, they should tell you how to get to one that can. They will arrange the taxi at the official price - and you may find, as we did, that it's cheaper than doing it privately through your casa owner.
There are also buses - Viazul and in some cases Transtur - operate between the main cities.
This may help:
http://www.cuba-junky.com/havana/hav...sportation.htm
Good luck!
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#8
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Usually a taxi from/toward the Airport will cost around 30-40 CUC to the main neighborhoods in Havana. If you are interested in visiting Viñales or Varadero usually the ride will cost between 80-120 CUC depending on transport quality.
Taxi drivers are very decent and friendly most part of the time, however some of them may try to charge you more if possible, so you should negotiate for a fair rate if required.
Hope it was helpful.
Taxi drivers are very decent and friendly most part of the time, however some of them may try to charge you more if possible, so you should negotiate for a fair rate if required.
Hope it was helpful.




