Traveling from Havana to Santiago de Cuba is one of the longest journeys most travelers make in Cuba. Santiago de Cuba is typically used as a base, and getting there is a big commitment — this isn’t a route you casually squeeze into a tight itinerary. The main challenge is distance. Santiago de Cuba sits at the far eastern end of the island, and in Cuba, long distances almost always translate into long, slow travel days. While there are several ways to make the journey, each comes with trade-offs between time, comfort, reliability, and cost. Here’s my guide on going to Santiago de Cuba from Havana.
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The good news is that there are realistic options. Some are faster but riskier, others are slower but dependable. In this guide, I’ll break down what actually works so you can choose the option that fits your schedule, budget, and tolerance for long travel days.
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This is a route you want to plan in advance. Last-minute decisions don’t work well when you’re crossing almost the entire length of Cuba, especially if you’re relying on fixed transport schedules. I would also ALWAYS recommend, when traveling to Cuba, to go to the place “furthest from your flight home first”. This means that you’re “always on the way home”, and have the least distance to travel to your homebound plan closer to your departure date.
If you’re heading to Santiago de Cuba, it’s worth allowing enough time once you arrive. The city has a very different feel from Havana, with a strong Afro-Caribbean identity, music scene, and history, and it rewards slowing down rather than rushing straight through.
Here’s my guide of things to do in Santiago de Cuba
And – because this is a revolutionary city, check out my 7 day “Revolutionary Cuba” Itinerary. It’s covered in my ebook of itineraries, that you can buy here.
Where is Santiago de Cuba?
Santiago de Cuba is located in the far east of the island, close to the Caribbean Sea and backed by the Sierra Maestra mountains. It’s one of Cuba’s most historically important cities and feels noticeably different from Havana in culture, pace, and atmosphere.
Its location is exactly what makes this route challenging. Santiago de Cuba is a long way from Cuba’s main tourist centers and the western part of the island, and almost every transport option involves either a full day (i.e. 24 hours) of travel or at the very least serious commitment of time.
How to Go from Havana to Santiago de Cuba – Transport Options
There are several ways to travel from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, but not all of them make sense for every traveler. Below, I’ll go through each realistic option and explain when it works — and when it doesn’t.
1. Bus from Havana to Santiago de Cuba (Viazul)
The Viazul bus is the main transport option on this route and the one most travelers end up using.
Viazul runs daily, with five departures per day at 01:00, 15:40, 16:10, 16:25, and 23:55. Depending on the service you choose, the journey takes anywhere from 13 hours 35 minutes to nearly 20 hours. This is because of the different stops these services make. The quicker the service, the lower the number of stops.
Whichever option you take this is a brutally long trip. You’ll need to check in at least an hour before departure, expect overnight travel on some services, and limited comfort. That said, Viazul is predictable, widely used, and gets you where you’re going. For many travelers, this is still the best overall and most reliable option. You can read my guide to using the Viazul Bus here.
2. Flights from Havana to Santiago de Cuba
Flying is the quickest and easiest way to get from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, when flights run that is. Read my guide to fuel shortages in Cuba and how that’s impacting flights.
Domestic flights take around 1.5 to 2 hours, which is dramatically faster than traveling overland. Services operate on specific days of the week rather than daily, and schedules can change. The main issue is reliability. Flights in Cuba are prone to cancellations and delays, sometimes with little notice. When flights operate as planned, they’re excellent. When they don’t, you can lose a full day or be forced back onto the bus at short notice.
Flights are best if you:
- have buffer days
- are flexible
- or are willing to accept the risk
If your itinerary is tight, Viazul is still the safer bet.
There are 6 scheduled flights from Havana to Santiago de Cuba each week (note, this doesn’t mean that they all depart).
The first four flights below are operated by Cubana – which you can book via the Cubana office in Havana, or via email [email protected]
- CU7981 Tuesday 11:30 – 15:30
- CU471 Tuesday 18:45 – 20:20
- CU7887 Thursday 23:30 – 01:00
- CU473 Friday 18:45 – 20:20
These next flights are operated by Aviatsa and can be booked via Holiplus
- LEM1781 Tuesday 17:30 – 19:30 (flies via Varadero)
- LEM1781 Saturday 17:30 – 19:30 (flies via Varadero)
The best source of information on internal flights, and flights in general in Cuba is ECASA – – the Cuban Government-owned company that owns and operates 22 airports in Cuba, it’s the best place for figuring out the flight schedules. https://www.aeropuertoscuba.com.cu/ .
However. Somewhat cunningly, they don’t publish the content on their own website, the most useful information is their telegram account – https://t.me/EcasaCuba
3. Taxi or Private Driver from Havana to Santiago de Cuba
A taxi is not a realistic option for this distance, but a private driver can be. Driving straight through takes at least 12 hours, which is exhausting for both driver and passengers. For that reason, this route works best as a multi-day journey, breaking the trip into manageable sections and turning the transfer into part of your travel experience.
I’ve written about using private drivers in Cuba here. It allows you to make stops of your choosing and turn the journey into an adventure. Check out where you could stop here.
A private driver is a good option if you want to see more of the country at your own pace, but it’s expensive and requires advance planning. Driver fatigue, overnight stops, and overall cost all need to be factored in. There’s more on how to configure this trip with a private driver here.
4. Colectivo from Havana to Santiago de Cuba
Colectivos are not a realistic option for this route. Shared taxis rarely run end to end over such long distances, and this isn’t something you can reliably arrange on the ground. For Havana to Santiago de Cuba, colectivos can be ruled out unless you decide to “colectivo hop” along the country. So for instance, go from Havana to Trinidad, Trinidad to Camaguey, Camaguey to Holguin, Holguin to Santiago de Cuba. It will take you days to do this, but my guess is that it would be fun. And exhausting. Definitely exhausting. Best read my guide to colectivos in Cuba here.
5. Train from Havana to Santiago de Cuba
Trains exist and are used a lot by the locals in Cuba, but they are slow, infrequent, and unreliable over long distances. Journey times are significantly longer than the bus, and schedules are subject to change. There are several trains a week to Santiago de Cuba from Havana – BUT there are challenges with
- Buying tickets – you can’t do it online
- The schedule being maintained
- Comfort (there’s no sleepers, just seats)
For most travelers, trains are not a practical way to reach Santiago de Cuba, but if trains interest you, then ready my guide to trains in Cuba – it includes the schedule, how to buy tickets and the routes its sensible for.
6. Rent a Car and Drive from Havana to Santiago de Cuba
Renting a car is possible, and if you’re planning to see the whole island as a long road trip, it can make sense. However, this is not a casual drive. You won’t do it in one day. You shouldn’t drive after dark. Fuel availability can be inconsistent, roads deteriorate the further east you travel, and planning overnight stops is essential. Driver fatigue is a real factor on a route this long. Definitely read my guide to renting a car in Cuba here.
If you’re already committed to a multi-day road trip, driving is doable. Otherwise, it’s far more effort than most travelers want to take on.
Going from Havana to Santiago de Cuba – Options at a Glance
I’ve covered all the transport options for this route in detail above, but if you just want the quick answer, here’s how the fastest, easiest, cheapest, most reliable, and most practical ways to get from Havana to Santiago de Cuba compare.
The quickest way to go to Santiago de Cuba from Havana
Flying is the fastest option when going from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, taking around two hours when flights operate. Flights don’t operate each day, and I’d use caution on selecting this option.
The easiest way to go to Santiago de Cuba from Havana
Flying is also the easiest option when going from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, avoiding an overnight journey.
The cheapest way to go to Santiago de Cuba from Havana
The Viazul bus is the cheapest option when going from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, though it involves a very long and tiring travel day.
The most reliable way to go to Santiago de Cuba from Havana
The Viazul bus is the most reliable option for going from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, with daily services and predictable schedules.
The best way to go to Santiago de Cuba from Havana
For most travelers, the Viazul bus is the best overall option when going from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, balancing cost, availability, and reliability.
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Final Thoughts: What’s the Best Way to Go from Havana to Santiago de Cuba?
This is one route where there’s no perfect solution. Flying is fast but risky. Driving gives flexibility but demands time and energy. Trains and colectivos don’t realistically work. For most people, the Viazul bus — long as it is — remains the most dependable way to reach Santiago de Cuba. Planning for the journey, rather than trying to shortcut it, makes all the difference on a route of this scale.
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