📌Province
San Juan de los Remedios (better known simply as Remedios) is a small colonial city in Villa Clara province, in the central region of Cuba, about 45 km northeast of Santa Clara and very close to the north coast and the cays. With barely about 25,000 inhabitants, it's one of the oldest towns in the country and keeps a beautiful and very quiet historic center, organized around one of the most charming main squares in Cuba. It's famous throughout the island for its Parrandas, a popular festival declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO
📌Service town
Remedios is a small destination and is toured on foot, but the logistical base of the area is Santa Clara (provincial capital, about 45 km away), which has Abel Santamaría International Airport (SNU), a long-distance bus terminal and the station of the central rail line. From Santa Clara depart collective taxis, private cars and connections to Remedios. The city also functions as a land gateway to the northern cays (Cayo Santa María, Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos), connected by the causeway that starts in Caibarién, a few kilometers away. There are casas particulares, paladares, ATMs (better to stock up on cash in Santa Clara) and basic tourist offices
📌Best time to go
The best time to visit Remedios is the dry season, from November to April, with sunny days, less humidity and pleasant temperatures: it's also the high season of the nearby cays tourism. Summer (May to October) is hotter and more humid, with the rainy season and the risk of hurricanes between August and October. But there's one date that marks the whole calendar: the Parrandas of Remedios, which culminate on the night of December 24 (Christmas Eve). If you want to experience that unique festival, you have to go on those dates and book lodging well in advance, because the city fills up
📌Suggested days
Remedios is known well in 1 day or, better, one night and two days: it's enough to calmly tour the Plaza Mayor, the two churches, the Museum of the Parrandas, walk the little colonial streets and have a drink in the square at dusk. With 2 to 3 days you can use Remedios as a quiet base to combine with Caibarién (the neighboring fishing village), a beach excursion to Cayo Santa María or Cayo Las Brujas via the causeway, and a getaway to Santa Clara to see the Che Mausoleum. For the Parrandas, add the days around December 24
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There are towns that seem frozen in time, and Remedios is one of them. This small colonial town in central Cuba, one of the first founded on the island, revolves around a Plaza Mayor that many consider one of the prettiest in the country: tree-lined, surrounded by low colorful houses and presided over, an unusual case, by two churches. The rhythm is slow, people greet you as they pass and the visitor has the sensation of having found the authentic Cuba, far from the bustle of the big destinations.
But Remedios hides a double soul. Eleven months of the year it's a haven of colonial peace; but each December it transforms into the scene of the Parrandas, one of the oldest, loudest and most spectacular popular festivals in Cuba. The town's two historic neighborhoods —San Salvador (the rooster) and El Carmen (the hawk)— compete in a battle of monumental floats, plaza works, lanterns and, above all, fireworks that light up the sky throughout Christmas Eve. That tradition, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, defines the Remedios identity.
This guide covers the essentials of Remedios with a practical and warm eye: what to see in its historic center, how to understand and experience the Parrandas, how to combine the town with the beaches of the northern cays and with Santa Clara, where to sleep in casas particulares and how to get around. Remedios is one of those places where less is more: a small town that gives one of the most genuine experiences of Cuba.
San Juan de los Remedios was founded in the early 16th century (its origin is usually placed around 1513-1515, around the arrival of the first Spanish settlers to the area), which makes it one of the oldest towns in Cuba, although it doesn't appear on the canonical list of the 'first seven towns' founded by Diego Velázquez. Born near the north coast, it suffered during the 16th and 17th centuries the attacks of pirates and corsairs who ravaged the Caribbean, which even led to a famous attempt, in the 17th century, to move the whole population inland to found what would be Santa Clara: part of the residents moved, but others refused and kept Remedios alive. From that era of uncertainty and the strong religiosity of its inhabitants come many of its legends, like that of the goblins or 'jimaguas'. The city then prospered with cattle ranching, tobacco and sugar of the central region. Its great mark of identity, the Parrandas, is said to have arisen in the early 19th century when, according to tradition, a local priest (the popular figure of Father Francisco Vigil de Quiñones) encouraged the children to go through the streets making noise with cans and horns so that people would come to the Christmas dawn Masses (misas de Aguinaldo); from that festive din were born, over time, the parrandas that pit the neighborhoods of San Salvador and El Carmen against each other. Today that tradition is Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The full history is on our history page.
Read the full history →🗺️ What to see
1
Plaza Mayor (Parque Martí)
One of the most beautiful colonial squares in Cuba, tree-lined and surrounded by colorful houses, with the unusual case of having two churches.
The heart of Remedios is its Plaza Mayor, officially Parque José Martí, considered by many travelers and specialists one of the most charming colonial squares in all of Cuba. It's a serene, tree-lined space, with shaded benches, a bandstand and lampposts, surrounded by low pastel-colored colonial houses, arcades and stately buildings like the former Hotel Mascotte. The rhythm of the town is lived here: neighbors chatting, kids playing, retirees reading the newspaper.
What makes this square unique is an architectural rarity: it has two Catholic churches overlooking it, something uncommon in Spanish-American towns, where the usual thing was a single main church per square. The main one is the Iglesia Mayor de San Juan Bautista; the other, smaller, is that of Buen Viaje. That double religious presence reinforces the special character of Remedios and intertwines with the festive rivalry of its two neighborhoods.
The square is also the natural stage of the Parrandas: here the 'plaza works' are set up (the gigantic decorated and illuminated structures of each neighborhood) and from here the fireworks of Christmas Eve are experienced. Touring it by day, calmly, and returning at dusk to have a drink at one of its cafés is one of the great pleasures of visiting Remedios.
ℹ️ Distance: Historic center of Remedios; everything is toured on foot from the square · Best time to go: By day to tour it; sunset to have a drink. At Christmas, the epicenter of the Parrandas · Entry: Free (public space) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours (combined with the churches and the museums)
2
Iglesia Mayor de San Juan Bautista
The main church of Remedios, with a dazzling high altar covered in gold and a carved wooden ceiling.
The Parroquial Mayor de San Juan Bautista is one of the most beautiful and surprising churches in Cuba, and the architectural jewel of Remedios. Its exterior façade is sober and colonial in air, but the interior holds an unexpected treasure: a magnificent baroque high altar covered in gold leaf, which shines in the church's dimness and leaves speechless anyone who enters without expecting it. The ensemble of gilded altars is one of the most notable in the country.
The church also has a lovely wooden ceiling of Mudéjar style (alfarje), with carved coffering, and other curiosities that are discovered with an attentive visit, like an image of the pregnant Immaculate Conception, an iconographic rarity. The 20th-century restoration, financed in large part by a patron linked to the city, brought to light and highlighted these treasures that for years had been hidden under layers of paint.
It's a place to enter with respect, in silence, and let yourself be impressed by the contrast between the modesty of the town and the splendor of the altar. Together with the Iglesia del Buen Viaje, it forms the unique duo of churches that overlook the Plaza Mayor. It's best to confirm the opening hours, which are usually limited.
ℹ️ Distance: On the Plaza Mayor (Parque Martí), center of Remedios · Best time to go: During opening hours (usually limited; check locally) · Entry: Free or donation; climb to the tower ~US$ 1 (verified July 2026). Check when you visit · Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
3
Museum of the Remedios Parrandas
The museum that tells the story of the town's most famous festival, with models, lanterns, flags and costumes of the two neighborhoods.
To truly understand what the Parrandas are —especially if you don't travel at Christmas—, the essential visit is the Museum of the Remedios Parrandas, the only museum in Cuba dedicated to this tradition. Housed in a colonial mansion near the Plaza Mayor, the museum covers the origin, evolution and meaning of the festival that pits the town's two historic neighborhoods against each other every December: San Salvador, represented by the rooster and the color blue, and El Carmen, represented by the hawk and the color red (or brown).
Among its rooms are displayed models of the 'plaza works' (the enormous illuminated structures that each neighborhood builds), handmade lanterns, banners, historic photographs, costumes, fireworks and the whole material universe of the Parrandas. The explanations help to understand the festive rivalry, the role of the music (the Remedios polka), the ringing, the floats and the magic of Christmas Eve, when the sky fills with fireworks.
It's a short but very revealing visit, which lets you appreciate the pride and dedication with which the people of Remedios prepare their festival throughout the year. After going through the museum, touring the town and looking at the houses and the flags of each neighborhood takes on a completely new meaning. Confirm the hours, since they usually close at midday or some day of the week.
ℹ️ Distance: Steps from the Plaza Mayor, center of Remedios · Best time to go: All year (key to understanding the Parrandas outside December) · Entry: US$ 1–3 per person (verified July 2026). Check when you visit · Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour
4
The Parrandas of Remedios (Christmas Eve, December 24)
The most spectacular popular festival in the region: two neighborhoods compete with floats, plaza works and a fireworks war.
The Parrandas of Remedios are one of the oldest and most dazzling popular festivals in Cuba, and the reason many people know this small town. Declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO (within the dossier of the parrandas of central Cuba), they are a tradition that is lived all year but explodes on the night of December 24, Christmas Eve.
The festival pits the town's two historic neighborhoods against each other: San Salvador (symbol of the rooster, color blue) and El Carmen (symbol of the hawk). For months, in their secret workshops, each neighborhood prepares its works: the 'plaza works' (gigantic structures of wood and lights that can reach many meters in height), the allegorical floats, the handmade lanterns and, above all, the fireworks. On the night of the 24th, the Plaza Mayor becomes a festive battlefield: the Remedios polka plays, the illuminated floats parade and the sky lights up in a pyrotechnics competition that lasts hours, amid the smoke, the roar and the delirium of the two crowds of supporters.
Experiencing the Parrandas is an intense and massive experience, not suitable for those seeking tranquility: there's deafening noise, a crowd and low-altitude fireworks, so it's best to take precautions and respect the instructions. If you travel on those dates, book lodging very far in advance. If not, the Museum of the Parrandas lets you get to know the tradition all year.
ℹ️ Distance: Plaza Mayor and streets of the center of Remedios · Best time to go: Night of December 24 (Christmas Eve); preparations in the previous weeks · Entry: Free (popular street festival); book lodging well in advance · Duration: The whole night of the 24th (the festival extends into the early morning)
5
Caibarién, the town of the crabs
The neighboring fishing village, gateway to the causeway to the cays, with its seafront, its huge cement crab and a decadent air.
About 9 km from Remedios, on the coast, is Caibarién, a fishing village that was a prosperous sugar port and today has a melancholic and authentic charm. Its symbol is a huge cement crab that welcomes you at the entrance to the town, in tribute to the area's fauna and its former shellfish wealth (hence the nickname 'the white town' or 'the town of the crabs'). Caibarién is also famous for having its own parrandas, sisters of those of Remedios.
The town keeps a seafront facing the sea, a central park, buildings with a decadent air and an atmosphere of deep Cuba, very little touristy. Strolling through its streets, seeing the fishermen return and having a drink by the water is a way to get to know the daily life of the north coast of Villa Clara. It's also a good place to try fresh fish and seafood.
The most important thing for the traveler: Caibarién is the gateway to the causeway, the long elevated road over the sea that connects the mainland with the northern cays (Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Santa María). Anyone who wants to combine the colonial Cuba of Remedios with a day of Caribbean beach in the cays necessarily passes through here. It's easily reached by taxi, bicitaxi or car from Remedios.
ℹ️ Distance: About 9 km from Remedios (taxi, car or bicitaxi) · Best time to go: All year; ideal on the way to the northern cays · Entry: Free (town); the causeway to the cays has a checkpoint and toll ~US$ 2–5 per car (verified July 2026) · Duration: 1 to 2 hours (or on the way to the cays)
6
Northern cays (Cayo Santa María, Las Brujas, Ensenachos)
The Caribbean beaches of white sand and turquoise sea reached by the causeway from Caibarién, ideal for a beach day.
Although Remedios is an inland town, its great advantage is its closeness to some of the most beautiful beaches in Cuba: the northern cays of Villa Clara, connected to the mainland by an impressive causeway (elevated road over the sea) that starts in Caibarién and stretches for dozens of kilometers over the lagoon and the mangroves. The landscape of the causeway itself, with water on both sides, is already worth the trip.
The main cays are Cayo Las Brujas (the closest and most accessible, with a lovely beach and a quieter air), Cayo Ensenachos (very exclusive) and Cayo Santa María (the most developed, with big all-inclusive hotels and spectacular white sand beaches and turquoise sea). They are sun-and-beach destinations in the classic Caribbean style, with calm waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
From Remedios you can go to spend the day at the beach, whether with your own car, taxi or excursion. Keep in mind that access to the causeway is usually controlled and that, in some cases, there may be requirements or costs to enter the tourist areas or the hotel beaches. It's the perfect combination: sleep in the authentic and colonial Cuba of Remedios and take a Caribbean dip in the cays during the day.
ℹ️ Distance: Via the causeway from Caibarién (Las Brujas, the closest; Santa María, the farthest) · Best time to go: Dry season (November to April); sunny days · Entry: Public beaches free; causeway toll ~US$ 2–5 per car; day pass at a cay hotel US$ 25–60 (verified July 2026) · Duration: Half a day to a day
7
The historic center and the colonial architecture
The little streets, the mansions, the arcades and the minor museums that make Remedios an intact and quiet colonial ensemble.
Beyond the Plaza Mayor and its churches, the whole historic center of Remedios deserves an unhurried stroll. The town keeps an intact colonial layout, with cobblestone streets, low colorful houses, iron grilles, arcades and porches that invite you to walk with your head up, discovering details. Being a small town and little touristy outside the Parrandas, a calm is breathed here that has been lost in more crowded destinations of Cuba.
Among the points of interest of the center there are several museums and historic houses that can be visited depending on the hours: the Alejandro García Caturla Music Museum (dedicated to this prominent Cuban composer and musician who lived in Remedios), colonial houses turned into small museums and galleries, and the former Hotel Mascotte, on the square, loaded with history. Every corner has its anecdote and, often, its legend.
Remedios is also a land of legends: the stories of goblins and apparitions (the famous 'jimaguas' or Remedios goblins), born from the strong religiosity and the isolation of the town in colonial times, are part of its identity and can be heard from the mouths of the residents themselves. Touring the town chatting with people, having a coffee or a drink in the square, is the best way to capture the soul of Remedios.
ℹ️ Distance: The whole historic center is walkable from the Plaza Mayor · Best time to go: All year; by day for the museums, sunset for the square · Entry: Touring the town is free; museums US$ 1–3 each (e.g. Caturla Music Museum) (verified July 2026) · Duration: Half a day
💵 Prices
Tickets
| Type | Price |
|---|
| Plaza Mayor (Parque Martí) | Free (public space) |
| Iglesia Mayor de San Juan Bautista | Free or donation; climb to the tower ~US$ 1 (source: local guides and reviews, verified July 2026) |
| Museum of the Remedios Parrandas | US$ 1–3 per person (source: Cuban provincial museums, verified July 2026) |
| Alejandro García Caturla Music Museum | US$ 1–2 per person (source: Cuban provincial museums, verified July 2026) |
| The Parrandas of Remedios (December 24) | Free (popular street festival) |
| Beaches of the northern cays | Public beaches free; causeway toll ~US$ 2–5 per car; day pass at a hotel US$ 25–60 (source: Villa Clara operators, verified July 2026) |
| Caibarién (town) | Free (open access) |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
Activities and tours
| Activity | Price | Duration | Operator |
|---|
| Guided visit to the historic center and the two churches | US$ 10–20 per person or small group (verified July 2026) | 2-3 h | Local guides and casas particulares |
| Beach day excursion to the northern cays (Las Brujas / Santa María) | US$ 25–50 per person on an excursion; taxi for the day US$ 60–100 (verified July 2026) | Full day | Local agencies and taxis |
| Experiencing the Parrandas of Remedios (December) | Free (street festival) | One night (December 24) | The town's popular festival |
| Excursion to Santa Clara (Che Mausoleum) | US$ 30–60 round trip by taxi for the day (verified July 2026); Che Mausoleum free | Half a day to a full day | Local taxis and agencies |
| Trip to Caibarién (fishing village and seafront) | US$ 8–15 round trip by taxi (verified July 2026) | Half a day | Local taxis and bicitaxis |
| Ride in a horse-drawn carriage or bicitaxi through the town | US$ 2–5 per ride (verified July 2026) | 1 h | Local coachmen and bicitaxis |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🚌 How to get there and distances
Getting around
| Mode | Price | Duration | Notes |
|---|
| On foot | Free | Variable | Remedios is very small and its historic center is toured entirely on foot. The Plaza Mayor, the churches and the museums are all a few blocks apart |
| Bicitaxi / horse-drawn carriage | 20–60 CUP per stretch in the town, in cash (verified July 2026) | Variable | They are the real local transport of Remedios (and of Caibarién): pedal bicitaxis and horse-drawn carriages. There's no urban bus with a fixed route or transport app: the town is so small that almost everything is done on foot. It's best to agree the price before getting in; paid in cash, in Cuban pesos (CUP) |
| Private taxi | To Caibarién US$ 8–15; to the cays US$ 60–100 for the day (verified July 2026) | Variable | To go to Caibarién, the northern cays, Santa Clara or the airport. The taxis have no meter: agree the price beforehand, especially for the cays via the causeway. Paid in cash (CUP or foreign currency as agreed) |
| Collective taxi / private cars to Santa Clara | US$ 5–10 per person in a collective; US$ 25–40 in a private taxi (verified July 2026) | Approx. 45 min to 1 h | The usual connection with the provincial capital, where the airport, the train and the bus terminal are. Paid in cash |
| Transport apps and payment method | — | — | Remedios is a small town without its own urban transport app (Moovit and Transit have no lines loaded; the real-time MW Urbanos app only covers Havana). Everything local —on foot, bicitaxi, carriage, collective— is paid in cash in Cuban pesos. For the long-distance buses, the official Viajando app lets you buy national bus/train tickets with payment via Transfermóvil; the Víazul tourist buses (which reach as far as Santa Clara, not Remedios) are booked at viazul.wetransp.com and paid with an international Visa/Mastercard card |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
How to get there
| Route | Airlines / operators | Avg. price | Duration |
|---|
| Santa Clara → Remedios (collective taxi or private car) | Collective taxis and private cars | US$ 5–10 per person in a collective; US$ 25–40 in a private taxi (verified July 2026) | Approx. 45 min to 1 h (about 45 km) |
| Havana → Remedios (Víazul bus via Santa Clara or taxi) | Víazul (to Santa Clara) + local connection; private taxis | Víazul Havana–Santa Clara ~US$ 22–24 (€22), with a Visa/Mastercard card when booking at viazul.wetransp.com + transfer US$ 25–40 to Remedios (source: Víazul / Cubas Best, verified July 2026) | Approx. 4 to 5 h to Santa Clara + transfer |
| Trinidad / Cienfuegos → Remedios (via Santa Clara) | Víazul to Santa Clara + connection; private taxis | US$ 8–15 by bus to Santa Clara + transfer; direct taxi US$ 60–90 (verified July 2026) | Depending on origin, with a transfer in Santa Clara |
| Northern cays (hotels) → Remedios (taxi via the causeway) | Taxis and hotel transfers | US$ 30–60 depending on the cay (verified July 2026) | Approx. 1 h to 1.5 h depending on the cay |
| Abel Santamaría Airport (SNU, Santa Clara) → Remedios | Taxis and transfers | US$ 30–45 in a private taxi (verified July 2026) | Approx. 1 h |
🔄 updated monthlyOfficial / reference values · double-check when buying
🏨 Where to stay
No exact prices: a scale from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (luxury), with 2-3 options per category.
| Category | Price | Recommended options |
|---|
| Casas particulares in the historic center | $$$$$ | US$ 20–40 per night; restored colonial houses, many around the Plaza Mayor, with charming rooms, homemade breakfast (~US$ 4–6) and a personal touch. The way to experience the town from within. Book well in advance for the Parrandas |
| Colonial boutique hotels (center) | $$$$$ | US$ 65–110 per night; small hotels in historic buildings (e.g. Hotel E Mascotte and Hotel Encanto Barcelona, both on the square, ~€70/night). Comfort without losing the colonial atmosphere |
| All-inclusive resorts in the northern cays | $$$$$ | US$ 90–250 per person/night all-inclusive at Cayo Santa María and Cayo Ensenachos (e.g. Meliá, Iberostar, Grand Memories), beachfront, a causeway trip away. They are not in Remedios, but in the cays |
| Budget homes and lodgings in Caibarién and surroundings | $$$$$ | US$ 15–25 per night; casas particulares and simple lodgings in the neighboring fishing village of Caibarién, a cheap base close to the entrance of the causeway |
🍴 Where to eat
| Type | Price | Options / signature dish |
|---|
| Paladares (private restaurants) of the center | $$$$$ | US$ 6–15 per dish; family restaurants in colonial houses with Cuban creole cuisine (ropa vieja, roast pork, congrí, cassava and plantain). Intimate atmosphere and good value |
| Fish and seafood (Caibarién and the coast) | $$$$$ | US$ 10–25 per dish; fresh fish, lobster, shrimp and the famous crab in Caibarién and the coastal area, at paladares facing the sea. The great gastronomic bet of the north coast of Villa Clara |
| Cafés and bars on the Plaza Mayor | $$$$$ | US$ 1–5 (coffee, mojito, beer); cafeterias and bars with shaded tables around the square, ideal for a drink at dusk looking at the churches. The most typical plan of Remedios |
| Budget food and neighborhood cafeterias | $$$$$ | US$ 1–5; pizzas, sandwiches, natural juices, ice cream and creole fast food in the town's simple cafeterias, very accessible for day-to-day |
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is it worth visiting Remedios?+
Yes, especially if you're looking for the most authentic and quiet Cuba. Remedios has one of the prettiest colonial squares on the island, two beautiful churches (one with a dazzling gold altar), an intact historic center and very little mass tourism outside December. It's ideal to slow down for a day or two, and it combines perfectly with the beaches of the northern cays and with Santa Clara.
What are the Parrandas of Remedios?+
They are one of the oldest and most spectacular popular festivals in Cuba, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Every Christmas Eve (December 24), the town's two neighborhoods —San Salvador (the rooster) and El Carmen (the hawk)— compete with floats, gigantic illuminated structures ('plaza works') and a real fireworks war. It's intense, loud and massive. If you don't travel in December, you can get to know it all year at the Museum of the Parrandas.
When is it best to go?+
The best general time is the dry season, from November to April, with sunny days and ideal to combine with the cays. But if your goal is the Parrandas, you have to go around December 24 and book lodging very far in advance, because the city fills up. Summer (May to October) is hotter, more humid and with a risk of hurricanes between August and October.
How many days do I need in Remedios?+
A day or, better, one night and two days is enough to tour the Plaza Mayor, the two churches, the Museum of the Parrandas and the historic center calmly. With 2 to 3 days you can use Remedios as a base to go to the beach in the northern cays for a day, visit Caibarién and make a getaway to Santa Clara.
How do I get to Remedios?+
The most usual is to arrive via Santa Clara, the provincial capital (about 45 km away), which has an airport, a train station and a long-distance bus terminal (Víazul). The Víazul bus Havana–Santa Clara costs ~US$ 22–24 (€22), is booked online at viazul.wetransp.com and paid with an international Visa/Mastercard card. From Santa Clara there are collective taxis and private cars to Remedios in about 45 minutes to an hour (US$ 5–10 per person in a collective). You can also arrive by direct taxi from other destinations of the center or from the cay hotels via the causeway. Prices verified July 2026.
Can you combine Remedios with the beach?+
Yes, and it's one of its great attractions. From Caibarién (9 km away) starts the causeway, the elevated road over the sea that leads to the northern cays (Cayo Las Brujas, Ensenachos and Santa María), with white sand beaches and turquoise sea. You can go to spend the day by taxi or excursion and return to sleep in the colonial Cuba of Remedios.
Where is it best to stay?+
The most recommended and authentic option are the casas particulares of the historic center, many in colonial mansions near the Plaza Mayor, with homemade breakfast and a personal touch. There are also small boutique hotels on the square, like the historic Hotel Mascotte. For the Parrandas, book well in advance.
How do I get around Remedios and how is transport paid?+
Remedios is so small that almost everything is done on foot: the Plaza Mayor, the two churches and the museums are a few blocks apart. For longer stretches or to Caibarién there are bicitaxis and horse-drawn carriages, which are paid in cash in Cuban pesos (20–60 CUP for a short trip) and without a meter, agreeing the price beforehand. There's no local app to see where the bus is (Moovit and Transit don't cover the town; the MW Urbanos app is only for Havana). For the national buses there is the official Viajando app with payment via Transfermóvil, and the long-distance Víazul buses (to Santa Clara) are booked online and paid with a Visa/Mastercard card. To go to the northern cays or to Santa Clara, the practical thing is a taxi or a collective, agreeing the price beforehand.
Sources consulted (15)
- Wikipedia (ES) — «San Juan de los Remedios»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_de_los_Remedios
- Wikipedia (EN) — «Remedios, Cuba»: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remedios,_Cuba
- UNESCO — «Las parrandas del centro de Cuba» (Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial): https://ich.unesco.org/es/RL/las-parrandas-del-centro-de-cuba-01405
- Wikipedia (ES) — «San Juan de los Remedios»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_de_los_Remedios
- Wikipedia (EN) — «Parroquial Mayor de San Juan Bautista de Remedios» / «Remedios, Cuba»: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remedios,_Cuba
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Cayo Santa María»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayo_Santa_Mar%C3%ADa
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Caibarién»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caibari%C3%A9n
- UNESCO — «Las parrandas del centro de Cuba»: https://ich.unesco.org/es/RL/las-parrandas-del-centro-de-cuba-01405
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Parrandas de Remedios»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrandas_de_Remedios
- Víazul (ómnibus, oficial; reserva y pago con tarjeta, Habana–Santa Clara ~€22): https://viazul.wetransp.com/
- Cubas Best — «How to Go from Havana to Santa Clara (2026)» (precios y opciones): https://cubasbest.com/havana-to-santa-clara/
- Cubatramite — «Comprar pasajes con la aplicación Viajando» (app oficial + Transfermóvil para buses/trenes nacionales): https://cubatramite.com/comprar-pasajes-con-la-aplicacion-viajando/
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Aeropuerto Internacional Abel Santamaría»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeropuerto_Internacional_Abel_Santamar%C3%ADa
- Wikipedia (ES) — «San Juan de los Remedios»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_de_los_Remedios
- Wikipedia (ES) — «Caibarién»: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caibari%C3%A9n
