Airport transfer
Havana (HAV), Varadero (VRA), Holguín (HOG), Santa Clara (SNU) and Cayo Coco (CCC) to your hotel or casa particular.
The single most useful booking you can make. Arrivals halls get overwhelmed when several flights land together.
Transfers
Private transfers in Cuba, explained
A transfer is a pre-booked private vehicle with a named driver waiting for you at an agreed place and time. In Cuba, where taxi queues are long and mobile data is unreliable, that certainty is the whole product. Every operator we point to is privately owned.
Book your transferWhat a transfer actually is
You book online before you travel, pay or part-pay in advance, and receive a confirmation with the driver's name and pickup instructions. On the day, the driver is holding a sign with your name at arrivals or waiting outside your accommodation. It is not a taxi you flag down, and the price cannot change on the road.
What is normally included
- A private vehicle for your group only — no other passengers
- A fixed price per vehicle, agreed and confirmed in writing before travel
- Meet-and-greet at arrivals with a name sign, or door pickup at your address
- Luggage allowance stated up front, including oversized bags
- Flight tracking, so arrival delays do not cost you the car
- A contact number or WhatsApp thread for the day of travel
The four transfers travelers actually book
Inter-city transfer
Long legs such as Havana to Trinidad, Varadero to Cienfuegos, or Holguín to Guardalavaca.
Priced per vehicle, so groups of three or four usually pay less per person than booking individually.
Hotel-to-hotel transfer
Moving between resorts or between a city casa and a beach hotel mid-trip.
Ask for a stop en route — most private drivers will include one for photos or lunch at no extra charge.
Day trip with a waiting driver
Viñales, Playa Girón or Las Terrazas with the same car and driver all day.
Confirm the number of hours included and what an extra hour costs before you set off.
When a transfer is worth it
You land after dark
Negotiating a fare at 11pm with luggage and no local currency is where trips go wrong.
You are three or more
Per-vehicle pricing makes a private van cheaper than separate seats almost every time.
You have a hard deadline
A cruise departure, a domestic connection or a paid tour leaves no room for a missed ride.
You are traveling with kids
Child seats must be requested in advance — you will not find one on a taxi rank.
Your casa is hard to find
Rural addresses and Old Havana side streets defeat drivers without instructions.
You are moving cities
Long legs with luggage in an unairconditioned shared car are a false economy.
How to book one properly
Five minutes of care here prevents the most common arrival-day problems.
- 01
Book before you fly
Prices rise close to the date and vehicles genuinely sell out in high season, especially larger vans.
- 02
Give your flight number
It lets the operator track delays. Without it, a two-hour delay can mean no driver waiting.
- 03
Write the exact address
Include the casa or hotel name, street, number, between-streets and a phone number for the host.
- 04
State luggage and passengers honestly
Two extra suitcases can mean a different vehicle class. Surprises at the curb cost money.
- 05
Save the confirmation offline
Screenshot it. Airport wifi is not something to depend on.
- 06
Re-confirm 24 hours ahead
A short message to the operator confirms the driver, the time and the pickup point.
Airport transfers, airport by airport
Indicative private-transfer times and per-vehicle prices from Cuba's main international airports. Prices are for a standard car; vans cost more but split further across a group.
| Airport | Usually going to | Drive time | Typical price per car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havana — José Martí (HAV) | Old Havana, Vedado, Miramar | 30–45 min | 25–40 USD |
| Havana — José Martí (HAV) | Varadero | 2–2.5 hrs | 90–130 USD |
| Varadero — Juan G. Gómez (VRA) | Varadero hotel strip | 20–35 min | 25–40 USD |
| Santa Clara — Abel Santamaría (SNU) | Trinidad, Remedios, Cayo Santa María | 1.5–2 hrs | 70–110 USD |
| Holguín — Frank País (HOG) | Guardalavaca, Holguín city | 45–60 min | 40–70 USD |
| Cayo Coco — Jardines del Rey (CCC) | Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo resorts | 15–40 min | 25–45 USD |
Your arrival day, step by step
Havana is the slowest arrival in the country. Knowing the sequence tells you when to worry and when to simply keep walking.
On landing
Immigration can take 20–60 minutes when several flights arrive together. Your driver expects this and waits.
Baggage hall
Bags are slow. Change some cash here only if the rate is fair — you can also pay your driver in euros or dollars.
Customs
Random bag checks are normal. Keep medication and electronics accessible to speed it up.
Arrivals exit
Private drivers wait just past the doors with a name sign. Match the name on your confirmation before handing over luggage.
If nobody is there
Wait five minutes at the sign area, then call or WhatsApp the number on your confirmation. Do not accept an unsolicited offer instead.
On the road
Confirm the destination address out loud. Journeys into Old Havana slow down sharply in the last kilometre.
Red flags before you pay
Skip any operator that cannot answer these clearly in writing.
- No total price in writing, or a price quoted per person for a private vehicle
- No vehicle type or luggage capacity stated for your group size
- Refusal to take your flight number or to confirm a meeting point
- Full prepayment demanded by an untraceable method with no cancellation terms
- No contact number or WhatsApp for the day of travel
- Vague answers on waiting time and what an extra hour costs
- A quote far below every other operator — usually a smaller car than you need
Common questions
Is a transfer more expensive than a taxi?
Sometimes slightly, but the price is fixed, the vehicle is confirmed and the driver is waiting. On airport runs the difference is usually small once queue time is counted.
Can I pay in cash on arrival?
Many private operators allow full or partial payment to the driver in cash. Confirm the accepted currency when you book.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Operators who take your flight number track it and adjust the pickup. This is exactly why the flight number matters.
Do drivers speak English?
Often, but not always. Booking in advance lets you request an English-speaking driver where it is offered.
Can I stop along the way?
On longer legs a short stop is usually fine and often included. Agree it before departure rather than mid-route.
Are transfers refundable?
Policies vary by operator. Check the cancellation window before paying, especially for peak-season bookings.
Book your transfer with a private operator
We are a guide, not a booking platform. Check live availability and prices with our partners and complete the booking on their site.