How to Go from Trinidad to Santa Clara [7 ways to travel in 2026]

Traveling from Trinidad to Santa Clara looks simple on a map, but like most journeys in Cuba, the reality depends on timing, budget, and how much flexibility you have. Santa Clara is one of Cuba’s most historically important cities, Che Guevara’s mausoleum alone makes it an important stop, but it’s often skipped because transport options don’t always line up neatly.  The good news? You’ve got several ways to make this journey work. Some are fast and easy, others are cheaper but require the usual patience required for a trip to Cuba, and one option is genuinely the cleanest solution if you’re short on time. Here are all the realistic ways to travel from Trinidad to Santa Clara, ranked from easiest to most budget-friendly.

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Before you decide how to travel, it’s worth spending time in Trinidad itself — it’s one of the most popular stops in Cuba for a reason. If you’re still planning your stay, here’s my guide to the best things to do in Trinidad to help you make the most of it:  And once you reach Santa Clara, you’ll want a plan there too, this guide covers what to see once you arrive:

Where is Santa Clara?

Santa Clara is a city located in central Cuba and serves as the capital of the Villa Clara Province. Situated inland, it is roughly equidistant between the northern Atlantic coast and southern Caribbean coast, about 4 hours east of Havana. Santa Clara lies to the north-west of Trinidad, inland in Villa Clara Province, and the journey between the two cities cuts across rural central Cuba rather than hugging the coast.

How to Go from Trinidad to Santa Clara – Transport Options

In this guide on how to go from Trinidad to Santa Clara, we’ll cover the fastest way to travel go from Trinidad to Santa Clara, the easiest way to go to Santa Clara from Trinidad, and the cheapest way to get to Santa Clara from Trinidad, as well as the most iconic way to get to Santa Clara from Trinidad.  My guide to Santa Clara is here.

TOP TIP

Easiest Way from Trinidad to Santa Clara

This pre-bookable transfer from Trinidad to Santa Clara is the easiest way to travel this route. It gets great reviews, you can prepay it and relax. Make stops along the way and really make the most of your time in Cuba.

Book transport here

1. Taxi from Trinidad to Santa Clara

Taking a taxi is the simplest and most direct way to get from Trinidad to Santa Clara. There’s no timetable to worry about, no waiting around at bus stations, and no sharing space with strangers unless you choose to.  The drive usually takes around two hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. You’ll be picked up directly from your casa particular or hotel and dropped exactly where you want to go in Santa Clara, which means you miss all the hassles of arriving and departing on the Viazul Bus (read about those here)

This option is best if you’re traveling as a couple, family or small group and want maximum convenience, but it’s also the most expensive way to do the journey if you’re on your own.  You can arrange a taxi with your casa particular, ask around at the bus station (but make sure that you get a price for the entire car, or you’ll be paying per seat).  Alternatively, connect with daytrip.com (see below) and prebook it yourself.

2. Take a Private Driver (with sightseeing enroute)

If you want to turn the journey into part of the experience, hiring a private driver is a great option. This works like a taxi, but with the flexibility to stop along the way — whether that’s for photos, food, or short sightseeing detours.  You can read more about how private drivers work in Cuba here.

This is especially appealing if you don’t want to rush Trinidad or Santa Clara and prefer a slower, more comfortable travel day. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re traveling with family or want a stress-free travel day without the hassle of negotiating prices on the ground.

It is a great way to get more out of your trip to Cuba and this makes your trip from Trinidad to Santa Clara more special by stopping off along the way.  While taxi’s from Trinidad to Santa Clara will get you from door to door, this private driver service from Daytrip allows you to pick sightseeing stops along the way.  You’ll get collected from your accommodation in Trinidad and dropped off where you’re staying in Santa Clara – and get to pick from one or more of the following sightseeing stops along the way.

• Visit Torre de Manaca Iznaga
• Stop at Vegas Grande Waterfall
• Cool off at the El Nicho Waterfalls
• Or stop at all three!

You can input your route here – and then add in the stops that you want.  Pick the EXACT time you want to leave, or arrive and how long you want to stop at each place.  Face it you’re likely to visit Cuba just once, so make it extra special.  If you come back, then there are more places to explore!

3. Take a Day Trip from Trinidad to Santa Clara

For many visitors this is the best workaround to difficult bus timetables.  If you’re based in Trinidad and mainly want to see Santa Clara’s key historical sights — without reorganizing your entire itinerary — a day trip is the cleanest solution. Transport is handled for you, the timing actually makes sense, and you won’t lose a night of accommodation moving cities.

This Santa Clara day trip from Trinidad covers the major highlights and is especially useful if Viazul timings don’t work with your plans:

This option is ideal if:

• You’re short on time
• You don’t want to deal with Cuban transport logistics
• Santa Clara is important to you, but not an overnight stop

Check out what you get on the day trip from Trinidad to Santa Clara here.

This day trip starts with hotel pickup in Trinidad and turns the journey itself into part of the experience. On the way north, there’s a stop at Manaca Iznaga in the Valle de los Ingenios, a former sugar plantation from the colonial era, where you can climb the iconic tower and sample fresh sugarcane juice.  From there, you continue to Santa Clara (its about a 105 minute drive) to visit the city’s key historical sites, including the Tren Blindado monument, where Che Guevara’s actions helped end the Batista regime, and the Che Guevara Mausoleum, one of the most important revolutionary sites in Cuba. You’ll also have 90 minutes of free time to explore the city before heading back toward Trinidad, with lunch (it’s included in this day trip) and a final viewpoint stop along the way.  You’ll arrive back in Trinidad about 8 hours after you started.  Perfect.  And time for a cocktail.

4. Colectivo from Trinidad to Santa Clara

Colectivos, shared taxis, are common in Cuba, but they’re not guaranteed on this route. Unlike popular local and visitor corridors, there isn’t a constant flow of shared cars running between Trinidad and Santa Clara.  You can read my guide to colectivos and how they work here.

If you find one, it’s usually arranged through your casa host, at the Viazul Bus station, or by asking around locally the day before. Prices are lower than a private taxi, but you’ll need flexibility with timing, and there’s always a chance nothing materializes.  You will usually pay per seat.  If you want to depart before the colectivo is full, then you’ll pay for all the seats (or negotiate).  You can read an experience of negotiating with a driver for a colectivo trip here.

This is a workable option if you’re on a tight budget and not in a rush — just don’t build your entire itinerary around it, unless you have a long time in Cuba and a lot of patience.

5. Bus from Trinidad to Santa Clara (Viazul)

Latest copy of the Viazul timetable (January 2026), the bus from Trinidad toward Santa Clara runs only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, departing early in the morning (07:00) and continuing onward to Varadero.

It does NOT run daily and hasn’t for several years now.  You also need to check in one hour before departure.  This means you need to be at the central Trinidad Viazul Bus station no later than 06:00.  Rather you than me.  And then add to that, that the Santa Clara bus station is a “bit of a hike” into the center of the city. 

If it doesn’t fit your plans, there’s no backup bus later that day.  This is why many people struggle to make Santa Clara work using Viazul alone.

If you do want to understand how Viazul works in Cuba — including booking, luggage rules, and realistic expectations — then my guide here explains it clearly.

6. Train from Trinidad to Santa Clara

Trains exist in Cuba, but this route is not practical, Trinidad has not been connected to the Cuban train system since a hurricane destroyed a bridge in 1992.  If you’re curious about trains in Cuba in general, here’s my full guide.

7. Rent a Car and Drive from Trinidad to Santa Clara

Driving yourself is an option, but it’s rarely the easiest one in Cuba.  Rental cars are expensive, fuel availability is available at special gas stations for tourists, but sometimes can be inconsistent.  (Power outages mean no gas can be pumped, so I’d advise you to “always be filling up”.  You can read more about renting a car in Cuba in 2026 in my guide here.

Road signage is limited once you leave major highways and the roads are general not in great condition. That said, if you already have a rental car and are comfortable driving in Cuba, the route itself is manageable and gives you total freedom.  For most visitors, however, a taxi or day trip offers far better value with far less stress.

Popular Routes Around Cuba

Getting around Cuba is some of our most popular content here at Cuba’s Best, so here are some of the most traveled routes and your options for getting around.

• Cuban Transport – and overview
• How to go from Havana Airport to Havana
• How to go from Havana Airport to Varadero
• Varadero Airport to Varadero
• How to go from Havana to Varadero
• How to go from Havana to Vinales
• How to go from Matanzas to Havana
• How to go from Varadero to Trinidad
• How to go from Havana to Cayo Santa Maria
• How to go from Havana to Trinidad
• Going from Trinidad to Santa Clara
• How to go from Havana to Santa Clara
• Going from Havana to Cienfuegos

Going from Trinidad to Santa Clara – Options at a Glance

I’ve covered the different transport options for this route in detail above (and you can read more about general transportation in Cuba in my guide here), but if you just want the quick answer, here’s how the options compare.

The quickest way to get from Trinidad to Santa Clara

The fastest way to travel from Trinidad to Santa Clara is with a private driver. You’ll be picked up directly from your accommodation in Trinidad and dropped exactly where you’re staying in Santa Clara, with no waiting around or detours. Travel time is usually around two hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. You can check availability here.

The easiest way to go from Trinidad to Santa Clara

The easiest option is to take a day trip from Trinidad. Transport is handled for you, the timing actually makes sense, and you don’t need to reorganize your accommodation or worry about bus schedules. This is particularly useful if Santa Clara is important to you, but not as an overnight stop.

The cheapest way to go from Trinidad to Santa Clara

The cheapest way to travel from Trinidad to Santa Clara is either the Viazul bus or a colectivo. The Viazul bus only runs on certain days and requires an early check-in, while colectivos depend on availability and flexible timing. Both options work if you’re traveling on a tight budget, but neither is especially convenient.

The best way to go from Trinidad to Santa Clara

For most travelers, the best overall option is a private driver. It offers the right balance of speed, comfort, and flexibility, and avoids the biggest issues on this route — limited bus schedules and awkward timing. If you want the journey to be straightforward and stress-free, this is the option that makes the most sense.

Final Thoughts: What’s the Best Way to Go from Trinidad to Santa Clara?

If you want the simplest, most reliable option to go between Trinidad and Santa Clara, then, take a day trip or hire a private transfer. Both avoid the biggest problem on this route: transport schedules that don’t match real travel needs.  If you’re traveling independently on a tight budget, Viazul can work — but only if the timing aligns perfectly with your itinerary.  Santa Clara is worth the effort. You just need to pick the option that fits your time, patience level, and travel style — and avoid forcing Viazul to do something it’s not great at.

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