Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- There are flights three times a week on AeroCaribbean and Cubana from Havana to Baracoa; however, flight schedules are notorious for frequent changes and cancellations. Fares run between CUC$95 and CUC$120 one-way. Flights arrive at the small Aeropuerto Gustavo Rizo (tel. 21/4-5376; airport code BCA), west of the bay near the Hotel Porto Santo and about 4km (2 1/2 miles) west of downtown. Although flights are infrequent, Cubana flies here occasionally from Santiago de Cuba, and the fare is a very reasonable CUC$40 one-way. By taxi, the trip to town costs about CUC$3 to CUC$4.

By Bus -- Most visitors arrive overland; the ride from Santiago de Cuba is especially spectacular, if lengthy. A Víazul bus (tel. 22/62-8484 in Santiago, or 21/4-2239 in Baracoa; www.viazul.com) departs Santiago daily at 7:45am and arrives in Baracoa at 12:30pm (CUC$17). The trip makes stops in Guantánamo and four other small towns. The same bus departs Baracoa at 2:15pm and arrives in Santiago at 7pm. The route is very popular, especially in high season; make reservations for the trip at least a day in advance, as these buses sell out frequently and fast.

The Baracoa Terminal de Omnibuses (tel. 21/4-2239) is located at the end of José Martí near Avenida de los Mártires.

By Car -- You can drive to Baracoa from either Santiago de Cuba, along the scenic La Farola highway, or from Guardalavaca/Holguín along the northern coastal road through Moa. Allow between 3 1/2 to 4 hours for either route.

Getting Around

You can easily get around most of Baracoa on foot or bicitaxi. To reach the beaches, rivers, and mountains around Baracoa, you'll either need to contract a taxi, rent a car, or sign on for an organized excursion. Turistaxi (tel. 21/4-3581) and Cubataxi (tel. 21/4-3737) make local and long-distance runs.

A car is a good idea if you really want to do some independent exploration of the surrounding area, or travel to, say, Santiago de Cuba or Guardalavaca. There's a Havanautos office at the Baracoa airport (tel. 21/4-5343); Cubacar (tel. 21/4-5212) and Vía Rent-a-Car (tel. 21/4-5137) also have agencies in Baracoa. Rates are about CUC$50 to CUC$80 per day for a standard four-door compact car.

Orientation

The Havanatur office at Antonio Maceo 120 (tel. 21/4-5358) can provide travel information, as can the personnel of the tour desks at the Hotel El Castillo and Hotel Porto Santo. Other tour agencies include Gaviota in the Hotel El Castillo (tel. 21/4-5165); Cubatur, Martí 181 (tel. 21/4-5306); and Archipiélago, Coronel Cardoso 24 (tel. 21/4-3665), which specializes in outdoor trips in the area.

A Banco de Crédito y Comercio branch is on Calle Antonio Maceo. Traveler's checks can be cashed at the Hotel El Castillo and Hotel Porto Santo.

For medical attention, go to Hospital Octavio de la Concepción, Carretera a Guantánamo (tel. 21/4-3014). There's a small policlínico (medical clinic) on José Martí 427, and a pharmacy on Antonio Maceo 132.

The main post office is on Calle Antonio Maceo 136, near Plaza Independencia; it's open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm. You can make local, long-distance, and international phone calls or use one of the two computer terminals at the Etecsa office on Calle Antonio Maceo, just past Plaza Independencia; it's open daily from 8am to 8pm.