Planning a trip to Santa Clara
Parque Vidal, also called Plaza Mayor, is Santa Clara's center. In addition to having the greatest concentration of colonial-era buildings, most of the city's banks, businesses, and tourism operators are based within a 2-block radius of the park. The city is ringed by a beltway, or Circunvalación.
Infotur can be found at Calle Cuba 68 between Candelaria and E. Machado (tel. 42/22-7557). Cubanacán, Colón 101 corner of Maestra Nicolasa (tel. 42/20-5189), Cubatur, Marta Abreu 10, between Máximo Gómez y Villuendas (tel. 42/20-8980), Havantur, Máximo Gómez between Independencia and Alfredo Barreras (tel. 42/20-4001), and Paradiso, Independencia and L. Estevez (tel. 42/20-1354), can supply you with information and arrange a wide range of tour and onward-travel options. There are a couple of banks and a CADECA branch near the Parque Vidal.
For medical emergencies, head to the Hospital Arnaldo Milian (Hospital Nuevo, tel. 42/27-0069) on Circunvalación and Av 26 de Julio. Farmacia Internacional (tel. 42/20-8069), Colón 106 between 9 de Abril and M. Nicolasa. Ring 104 for emergency.
Internet is at the ETECSA building, Martha Abreu and Villuendas and is open daily from 8:30am to 7pm.
Getting Around
Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive in Santa Clara. If you can't find one on the street or if your hotel can't hook you up, call Cubataxi (tel. 42/22-2555) or hop on a horse and carriage or tuk-tuk (bicycle or motorbike with a carriage).
Car-rental agencies in Santa Clara include Havanautos (tel. 42/21-8177), Cubacar (tel. 42/20-2040), Micar (tel. 42/20-4570), and Rex (tel. 42/22-2244). Mopeds are available from Havanautos.
Getting There
By Plane
Santa Clara's Abel Santamaría Airport (tel. 42/21-4402; airport code SNU) accepts both national and international flights. The latter are predominantly international charter flights bringing tourists on package tours to la Cayería del Norte.
By Bus
Víazul (tel. 7/881-1413 in Havana, or 42/22-2523 in Santa Clara; www.viazul.com) travels daily to Santa Clara on the Havana-Santiago de Cuba, Varadero-Trinidad, and Havana-Holguín lines. From Havana, the bus departs at 9:30am, 3pm, and 10pm arriving at 2:10pm, 7:10pm, and 2:05am respectively; the fare is CUC$18. From Santiago, departure times are 3:15pm and 10pm, arriving at 3:20am and 8:30am respectively; the fare is CUC$33. From Varadero to Trinidad, the bus leaves at 8:15am and arrives at 11:30am; the fare is CUC$11. From Trinidad to Varadero, the bus departs at 2:50pm and arrives at 5:45pm, costing CUC$8. From Holguín to Havana, the bus departs at 9:20am and arrives at Santa Clara at 5:50pm, costing CUC$27. From Havana to Holguin, the bus departs at 9:20am and arrives at 12:40am, costing CUC$18. From Santiago to Varadero the bus departs at 10:35pm and arrives in Santa Clara at 7:40am, costing CUC$38. The main bus station is on the western edge of town, on the Carretera Central, between Independencia and Oquiendo.
By Car
Santa Clara sits right on the Carretera Central, and just off the Autopista Nacional, 270km (168 miles) east of Havana. It's a straight shot on the highway and generally takes about 3 1/2 hours.
Autopista Scam -- Many visitors to Cuba rent a car in Havana and set off looking for the Autopista A1. However, the Autopista isn't marked or easily identifiable, so some visitors spend hours negotiating their way out of the city, leaving themselves as easy targets for scam artists. Some wily Cubans flag tourist cars down (identifiable by the T-branded red license plate) and offer to escort them to the correct turn off. One report Frommer's received suggested that the Cubans did escort the tourists to the right exit, but then demanded CUC$40 for their troubles. Another report suggested that Cubans returned the travelers to the same (wrong) spot but still demanded CUC$20. We have also heard reports that some Cubans are stealing signposts to divert and charge tourists. To avoid the scam, drive down the road you believe is the Autopista and then ask somebody if you're on the right road. If you are on the wrong road, it is easy to make a safe U-turn.
