Orientation

Matanzas is divided into three distinct sections by the Yumurí and San Juan rivers. All let out onto the broad bay, Bahía de Matanzas. The northern section and the first you'll reach coming in on the Vía Blanca from Havana is Reparto Versalles. The central section, Reparto Matanzas, is where you'll find the city center and most of the local attractions. Heading south and out of town toward Varadero is Pueblo Nuevo.

The main post office is located at the corner on Calle 85 between Calles 288 and 290. There's an Etecsa center at Calles 28 and 83 (tel. 45/24-3123). There's a CADECA branch on Jovellanes and Milanés (tel. 45/25-3558).

Getting Around

You can easily visit all the principal sites in downtown Matanzas on foot. Taxis are readily available in Matanzas, and tend to gather around the Plaza de la Vigía and Plaza de la Libertad. A taxi out to the Castillo de San Severino from downtown should cost around CUC$2-CUC$3 each way.

Getting There

By Plane -- The nearest airport is Varadero's Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport (tel. 45/24-7015; airport code VRA), located more or less midway between Varadero and Matanzas. See "Varadero," below, for more information.

By Bus -- The bus station is located at the corner of Calzada de Esteban and Calle Terry. Víazul (tel. 7/881-1413 in Havana, or 45/29-1473 in Matanzas; www.viazul.com) has three buses daily for Varadero, stopping in Matanzas to drop off and pick up passengers. The buses depart Havana daily at 8am, 10am, noon, and 6pm. The trip takes about 2 hours to Matanzas, and the one-way fare is CUC$7. The return bus for Havana leaves Matanzas at 8:55am, 12:15pm, 4:25pm, and 6:50pm.

By Train -- One interesting alternative means of reaching Matanzas is the Hershey Train, a legacy of the famous chocolate company's formerly vast network of sugar plantations in Cuba. This slow-moving electric train leaves from Havana's Casablanca Station (tel. 7/862-4805). The Hershey Train station in Matanzas is located at Calle 67, in Reparto Versalles, just north of the Río Yumurí (tel. 45/24-7254). This scenic trip takes between 3 and 4 hours, making numerous stops, and costs CUC$3. There are three departures daily in each direction, leaving more or less simultaneously from each terminal station at roughly 5am, 11:30am, and 5pm. However, the train rairly departs regularly each day because of deteriorated service; call ahead to find out the schedule.

By Car -- Matanzas is connected to Havana by a modern coastal highway, the Vía Blanca, which begins as you exit the tunnel connecting La Habana Vieja with Habana del Este. It's a straight shot and scenic drive that generally takes around 90 minutes.

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