The compact old town of Bayamo is very simple to get around on foot. You're only likely to need a taxi to get back and forth to your hotel, if you stay out at the large Hotel Sierra Maestra, or to get to the airport or bus station to move on. Contact Cubataxi (tel. 23/42-4313) for local and long-distance taxis. Alternatively, you can take a horse-drawn or bicycle taxi anywhere in town for CUC$1 to CUC$2. It's sometimes difficult to locate a Cubataxi at night, so a bicitaxi might be the only option.
Getting to the Sierra Maestra mountains is rather more complicated, necessitating a rental car, hired carro particular, or organized excursion. If you wish to explore the Sierra with any degree of independence, or make the coastal drive to Santiago de Cuba, your own wheels are virtually indispensable. There are Transtur offices within the Servi-Cupet gas station on Carretera Central (tel. 23/42-7375) and in the Sierra Maestra Hotel (tel. 23/48-2990). Transgaviota are based in the Hotel Royalton (tel. 23/42-7372). Rates are about CUC$45 to CUC$85 per day for a standard four-door compact car.
To get to the Sierra Maestra for a day's hike it's often cheaper to organize the excursion with a casa particular than it is to go with a state travel agency.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
